I need a compass, draw me a map; I'm on the top, I can't get back..

It may be the heat, but I feel like I've entered some unforgiving stage of limbo. Waiting. It's making me somewhat cranky. Why, you ask, has this sense of humdrum suddenly pitched a tent and camped out on the sofa? Dunno. I wish I could tell him to poke someone else and go elsewhere. Blah. Shall I explain?

It's been all over my facebook page, but I've started the house-buying process. It's been incredibly exciting, somewhat worrisome, time-consuming, question/research-inducing and full of uncertainty, leg-work, phone-calls and disgruntled experiences with lenders. Finally though, I think I've narrowed my areas, driven around and around, scrutinized exteriors, yards & ugly facades and received word that I've been approved by the 2 lenders I was specifically talking to. Even better, right?! I was able to pick the lender that had far more experience with FHA loans and 1st time home buyer services and who seemed to be more interested in working with me. We're meeting tomorrow in person to go over info and submit paperwork. Lender, check. I've also selected a group of 8 houses that I really like so far, in good areas that seem to be in my price range. Ready to scope out the inside now. Possibles, check. Doing pretty well so far, I 'spose. This is where my brain starts to interfere, though. Do I attempt to have this accomplished by the end of the summer? Thats where my planting conundrum comes into play. (Come on, I know you were waiting for the relevance.)

I have my veg box and we're reaching that point where various plants are starting to wane. It's nature, I get it. The miserable FL heat is pretty much ensuring that everything except the tomatoes and peppers are wilting pathetically in the blistering sun. I'm itching to do more, but I'm technically working on rented space. Auntie Lynn sent me this amazing book on garden rooms, but again, borrowed space. My mother would not appreciate me digging up her yard and honestly, I want my own to be be able to plan and plant. So, do I gear up for the coming fall and replant? Or do I wait until I get a better handle on the new house situation and start again? Urgh. Alright, ready to dig into the visuals?

Backyard Domination

Right now, my tomatoes are thriving. Well, honestly, I am still of the mind that they are secretly plotting to devour the backyard. They've promptly overgrown all stakes, basket-weaving, poles, hoops and other supports created for them and are now crawling across the lawn. Quite happily, I might add. Part of me wants to mercilessly hack them into submission, but they are absolutely -covered- with fruit. How's that for jeering taunts? "We completely know that we've overgrown the box, aren't supposed to be in the yard and also know how much you like order, but we like it here and you aren't going to chop us down because we're covered in adorable little green gems that will soon grace your table. Haha!" Yup. I swear that they said that to me. So for now, they stay.

Cherry Tomatoes - Cute, eh?

Super Happy Tomatoes

The peppers are almost as ecstatic, gleefully soaking in the sunshine. I have one little lone green pepper and am very excited about cooking with him when he finally reaches maturity.
                                                       Green Pepper

Other than that, corn has been harvested and pulled up. I won't go into too much detail about the few tears shed over their removal. Jaeden and I plucked about 20 ears of teeny tiny ears of corn from the stalks. Adorable. Juicy and sweet too. I definitely want to plant corn again.  

Bush Beans - Still Coming!

Beans are probably the most successful crop in the garden so far, although the tomatoes may beat them when the fruit matures. I've been picking beans for the past month and have already had about 10 small harvests that I've stockpiled in the fridge before cooking with them. They've been wonderful. Even more encouraging is that all those harvests have come from one small section of the garden, probably less than 10 plants. They continue to produce too..which has been awesome. Definitely doing those again too.

Other Vegs? Potatoes continue to grow pretty happily in their box - still not sure what lies beneath. Onion tops are green, which I guess means they aren't done yet. 2 lone cucumbers left - pulled remainder of cantalope plants.

2 cucs left

Another tragedy; they just didn't do well. Plenty of flowers and lots of growth, but they all seemed to succomb to downy mildew and were starting to die. Thus, all pulled. Probably won't plant them again either since they nearly brought down the corn on several occasions. Cucs seemed to have it too. I couldn't bear to pull this last little plant, with the 2 very last cucumbers linging pitifully to the vine. Finally though, my garlic has sprouted. See the pretty green against the barren brown? 

                                                                                 

                                                                                                             Garlic Shoots

Potato Box

And now to the strawberries. Desired to start a strawberry pyramid and ordered about 50 plants from a farm in WA that are supposed to be bred for our climate and seasons. Very excited, however, again, feeling unsure due to the house limbo. I've already built the pyramid (photos to come soon - I did this all by myself!), plants are on the way and I'm going to have to assemble it upon arrival. Somewhat uncertain about that. I can't imagine trying to move them once they've been planted. Suggestions..thoughts?  

                                              Empty Rows - Fall planting?

Strawberry Pot - Ready for the pyramid

            

 Strawberry Runners/New plants - Ready for the pyramid

I really would like...

to have a self-sustaining garden. I've been thinking alot about houses, land, acres, farms and pretty much about everything and all related to creating a space of beauty and bounty. So, now comes a list. Hopefully followed by pictures of the current veg box later.

1. Now - A house with at least 1/4 - 1/2 acre of land
2. Eventually - A house with about 5-15 acres (Does this sound like too much? Could one get lost on this much land?)
2. A large assortment of raised beds hosting veggie gardens & small fruit plants (ie. strawberries, blueberries, blackberries) - the goal here is to avoid shopping for all berry & veggie produce
3. A small assortment of espalier fruit trees, including apple, pear & peach
4. Chickens (of the hen type, probably just a small assortment, probably no more than 5)
5. A goat or two
6. Horses. Absolutely. Probably 2-4 that can roam, mow the lawn and be ridden
7. More than anything, land of my own to beautify, transform into a variety of different 'garden rooms,' play spaces and host sites for animals