28 October 2007

Every year we go to our friends' couples Halloween party. It's a great tradition. Our favorite part is seeing our friends dressed up. Favorites this year were Captain Ahab and Moby Dick, Nacho Libre and his sidekick Steven, Warren Jeffs and 2 of his wives (the sister of a friend was visiting), and the white trash couple (a dentist and concert violinist in real life and completely unrecognizable). Brandan went as an Indian and Becky as a cowgirl.


The gorgeous fall weather is lingering and we're loving it--great weather for outdoor projects. Saturday Brandan took out the railroad ties that surrounded our raised vegetable beds. We decided the tar and creosote in the railroad ties probably didn't belong in our organic garden. Now the trick is trying to give away the railroad ties. Sure, we think they're poisonous, but go ahead and use them in your garden.


It's also time to cut back our perennials, including the lavender hedges that border our vegetable garden. We cut off a wheelbarrow full of brown lavender stems. They make the compost pile smell heavenly. Sophie saved a bucket of the flowers that were still pretty for projects. She's sitting on the edge of one of the new raised beds-- this time built out of 2x8 cedar boards.


A final look at our patio before winter. Yesterday we planted a few creeping thyme plants between the stones. We'll see how they grow over the winter before planting more. Of note in the photo is our brilliant October Glory maple tree on the left. It certainly lives up to its name.

Helen threw up spectacularly last night. We don't think the Wild River Pizza Company will welcome us back. Becky stayed home from church with Helen today and we had so much fun it might be hard to get us to go to church next week.