They Call It Stormy Monday, But Wednsday's Just As Bad

I went to bed earlyish the night before, but when I woke up wednsday morning it was hosing down rain from the heavens.
There were these slate-gray clouds and the wind was blowing at gale force. The rain was heavy and almost horizontal.
As I sat by the living room window down on the traffic and unfortunate bicyclists I felt a bit gloomy at the prospect of getting out in that to bike over to the lotty to prepare the fruit and veg for the Food Bank.
I sort of had a little shivver and cupped the tea glas in both palms as I just stared out the rain-streaked window not quite awake and looking like a fish looking up through a foot of ice in the winter time. The steam rising out of my cup of tea moved faster than my brain.
I blinked slowly and rolled my eyes slowly downward to look at my watch. I thought...."Wash, eat breakfast and head-out......in this".
"Where was my enthousiasm?", I wondered as I recalled how little there was in the crates the day before. I wondered if people were being kept away with the weather lately, or were they simply giving-up on the Food Bank.

By the time that I was ready to leave, the rain had slackened to a heavy drizzle and draped myself in a big, red raincoat and headed out the door to get my bike.

When I got to the lotties, I made a quick round to see if there was anyone that had something to give for the Food Bank. There were only two other persons present and they had nothing. After the rounds I went to my lotties to get things set up and cut some Perpetual spinach and some Swiss chard. I also wanted to get some crook-neck courgettes and some of the other green ones. I found some beans that needed picking as well--so I had to hurry a bit although I had about an hour.

Once the harvesting was done I loaded it all up and headed back up to the clubhouse and proceeded to the place where the crates were.
I was taken aback! There were now a total of FIVE crates plus a small mini-crate chock-full of beautiful veg. My co-members had come through afterall. I guess that while I was the lottie people arrived and brought their stuff.
Boy, was I well chuffed, 'er wot!


I loaded the crates onto the wagon and pulled it to the front of the clubhouse.


It was lovely to see--all the very nice veg and the variety! Here was a pumpkin from Nettie and the Swiss chard and perp. spinach that I had just cut.


The courgettes, beans and beetroots were really good quality and there were so many!


Well, after the Food Bank folks had come and gone...it began to rain again, so I headed off to my lottie. I paused by the water point in the old lottie and saw a Vanessa atalanta sulking on the post. I don't think that I have ever seen one that was so contracted. He was not a happy bunny.


I closed-up and headed over to the garden center across the road from our complex to pick up a few things. I thought that I would show a couple of shots of how it looks inside, although there is very little available for planting outside, as the season is drawing to a close.
Here is a section of the "house plants".


Next were the cacti, etc.


...and a closer look at the cacti table.


Further along there were some patio plants and some that you could plant in your garden.


It was a dreary day and miserable day weather-wise, but somehow I felt pretty good when I got back home.

 

It sounds like you ended up with a very good day at the lottie. Would that be the first pumkin of the season? I'm loving a trip through the garden center. Lets see, umm, I'll take one of those and one those there and oh, hey look at all those pretty cacti. Its been a fun trip.

 

All the food looks delish! Your garden center looks better than any I have seen around here or even in Dallas where I am from. You had a great day after all!

 

When I started reading this thread I felt sorry for you, but that stopped when I saw all those lovely veggies. Now I feel sorry for the butterfly.

 

Sjoerd, you didn't think a little bit of rain would stop your co-members, did you?
Your garden center looks wonderful!

 

What a nice bounty to give to the food bank I'd love to visit your garden center.

 

Its nice to see so many people came through for the food bank.Poor little butterfly.I didn't know our Netty lived close to you.What agreat looking pumpkin.I had a grand trip through your garden center.Thank you for letting me go with you.

 

Thank you guys for your very nice words. I was beginning to feel a bit down in the dumps when I arrived at the lottie to sort the veg for the Food Bank--there was so little when I arrived, and when I look at the plots--there is so much.
Well, they did come through in the end and boy, was I happy.

The garden center whiuch is right across the road from the lotties is very handy, but looks like a ghost town inside compared to how it should look during the height of the season.
The garden center has recently changed hands and they haven't really got the hang of things yet--hopefully next season they will have twigged what the custoimers here want and put that on the shelves. We'll see.
Eileen, I am sorry to report that there is no free coffee and apple pie available from the new owners. It's hard to get used to...I've been spoiled, I reckon.
I know what you mean about iotchy hands, Eileen--I had it too and just couldn't help from going by the seeds to see what they had in.

Heh heh heh Glenda--I wifh that Netty did live near by--I'll bet the we'd sit around and chat about plants all day long whilst we sipped tea and ate sweets.
I don't know when I'd get the work done though, exactly.

 

That sounds wonderful Sjoerd! Actually, I am usually unable to sit still for any amount of time so we could work in the garden all day and THEN sit down for tea and sweets

 

Ha ha ha... that sounds like a winner to me! That way I could actually get something done in addition to socializing (which I am very guilty of ...to a fault, in fact)

 

All of those veggies look soooooo good. The garden center is so neat compared to the ones I visit. If I could I'd plant one or two or three or four or five or ...of everything. But, then, I'd have to take care of it. I've been downsizing my gardening this year. Maybe next year I'll do more. I've been helping out at the farmer's market and getting lots of nice fresh things at a reasonable price.
I love your posts, Sjoerd! It takes awhile for the pictures to load on dialup but it's worth the wait. dooley

 

Thanks Dooley, I am so glad that you liked the posting this time.
I didn't know that you worked at the Farmers' Market. That must be fun to do. I can just imagine being surrounded by veg and fruit....heaven. hahaha