It has finally been raining steadily.  Actually, this is an excellent time of year for it, since it allows trees to really develop root systems.  It has also finally softened the ground up.  All summer the ground was hard, lacking in any give.  The soft soil is a good thing…I was not looking forward to trying to plant however many crocus and daffodil bulbs in bone hard soil.

On the other hand, I have a certain impatience for frost at this point.  The vegetable garden looks horrid.  The tomatoes succumbed completely a while back (with some help from yours truly yanking stakes for something else).  The beans are played out, the tomatillos are a disaster zone, the squash is gallant but ugly…and the thrice blasted caterpillars continue to infest the kale…   At least the chard, carrots, broccoli raab, peas, and parsnips all seem happy.  But I did finally break down and buy some lettuce today, guests coming.