Convicts, Crops and Coincidence?

The Chicken Convicts are on the loose daily now.  Every.Stinkin.Day.  At least they don't go far.  They run the fence and talk to each other instead.  I don't understand why they can't figure out how to get back in if they were smart enough to get out. 

Remember when I said all that rain we had last month would hit us on the opposite end of the spectrum?  Yup.  Dry as the bone out there.  We went from 15" one month to .11" this month and I am having to water. 

Last month:

This month:

I have spotted grasshoppers here and there but not too many other pesky critters.  And although the Japanese Beetles haven't been bad this year, they are terrorizing my raspberries.  If they keep it up, I am going to sick The Convicts on them.

After what seems like a very long 'forever' this year, we had our first whopping garden harvest:

A whole .25 oz.!  I think I should leave the peas to the professionals.  Planting on both sides of the trellis didn't even overcome a bad year here!  Bummer.  Debating if I should plant a Fall crop of peas or not.  I will say this, Lincoln did better than the Little Marvel for me.  Worth the learning curve.

We pulled all the garlic too.  It was a bit disappointing also, but I will take what I can get.  I was lucky to have found the marker stakes because for the life of me, I could not remember what varieties we planted.

This is the Little River Giant:

They are the closest to size one may be accustomed to.  So I will try these again next year based on best production in our ground.

This is the Inchdium:

Like the Chesnok Red and Ailsa Craig, they are very small.  I suppose in the end and all things considered how this season has gone, I am pleased enough.  We harvested several hundred bulbs.

The weather has given us a few beautiful days at least.  It got so hot that I managed a few sewing days even:

I have a few other projects to work on when this next heat wave hits as well.  Seeing as how the weeds are relatively under control at least.  Last year by this time, I picked blueberries on July 9th.  They aren't even ready yet.  Next thing you know, it will frost.  Errrrr

And how do you like this for a coincidence? 

Look familiar?  It's not the same one that crashed Greek Easter.  Yup.  The plant behind the last plant that blew had a fire yesterday.  This was a big'un.  No evacuations as it is a rendering plant.  Good thing the wind wasn't blowing in our direction.  Do you think they will send a gift certificate or free lard?

This is why people move to Minnie-soda. 

Did I get that right?  ;-}