Today I focused on bringing in all of my containers, etc. that cannot be left in the garden over the winter. So we pull everything out of the garage, sweep well and then start putting everything in for the winter. So in the middle of all of this (which is already not fun), I felt something on my neck. I swatted it away and got stung on my finger by a wasp.

The good news is that is stung my index finger on my right (dominant) hand, instead of my neck of back. Thankfully I am no allergic to wasps (first time sting).. It is very uncomfortable, but we still managed to finish cleaning the garage. Sigh.......Feels like someone is poking my finger with little dull needles

Today I focused on bringing in all of my containers, etc. that cannot be left in the garden over the winter. So we pull everything out of the garage, sweep well and then start putting everything in for the winter. So in the middle of all of this (which is already not fun), I felt something on my neck. I swatted it away and got stung on my finger by a wasp.

The good news is that is stung my index finger on my right (dominant) hand, instead of my neck or back. Thankfully I am not allergic to wasps (first time sting).. It is very uncomfortable, but we still managed to finish cleaning the garage. Sigh.......Feels like someone is poking my finger with little dull needles

Ouch, Linda -- those stings can really burn and hurt. (How did you manage to go until now without ever getting stung before? )

@cybrczch, you know that Elephant Garlic isn't a garlic, right? It is more of an onion/leek.

Weedwhacker said:Ouch, Linda -- those stings can really burn and hurt. (How did you manage to go until now without ever getting stung before? )

Ouch for sure. Hate those wasp stings!!

Well, at least your garage is clean and your plants are tucked away.

Pulled out my cucumber vines, 8 of the tomato plants, and a monster catnip plant that I had let grow in the garden for both the cats and the bees. I have to say, the Mexico Midget tomato plant did NOT give up without a fight... I think the roots were spread out over 3 counties and the vines were definitely draped over 4 of my tomato cages .

Also moved some of my storage totes from the greenhouse to the garage, and cleaned out some of the stuff that I have no use for, in preparation for getting started on the new greenhouse project. Seems like there's an awful lot to do before we can move the old GH out and start constructing the new one, but if we don't get it done this year I'll just start my seedlings in the small hoophouse next spring. It will definitely be worth the wait!

Weedwhacker said:Pulled out my cucumber vines, 8 of the tomato plants, and a monster catnip plant that I had let grow in the garden for both the cats and the bees. I have to say, the Mexico Midget tomato plant did NOT give up without a fight... I think the roots were spread out over 3 counties and the vines were definitely draped over 4 of my tomato cages .

Also moved some of my storage totes from the greenhouse to the garage, and cleaned out some of the stuff that I have no use for, in preparation for getting started on the new greenhouse project. Seems like there's an awful lot to do before we can move the old GH out and start constructing the new one, but if we don't get it done this year I'll just start my seedlings in the small hoophouse next spring. It will definitely be worth the wait!

The tomato plant on steroids!!

Hurray for the new greenhouse project!!

Well, after I harvested the last of the tomatoes and eggplant I proceeded to make a bunch of Eggplant Parmesan. I watched a video on youtube where this person baked the eggplant instead of frying it. I thought that would sure go faster doing a whole cookie sheet at a time. So I did it that way. Then put it together with the tomato and cheese. When it was finished I poured a tall glass of Merlot and served myself a generous portion. UGH! It was so tough I couldn't get a fork through it. The taste was fine, just really tough. I ended up throwing the whole thing to the chickens. I usually don't have cooking disasters so I have no idea why it was tough. Two things come to mind. One was the baking verses frying or grilling that I've done in the past with good results. The other is that I wonder if having gone through a frost if that made them tough. I only used nice young ones that didn't have the seeds developed yet, so I'm at a loss for why that happened. Any ideas?

I don't know the answer to why it would have been so tough, Tom -- other than to say I've made eggplant parmesan by baking it and didn't have that issue. Maybe the frost did affect it that way? (I'm sure you had eaten some from the same plant(s) before now and they weren't tough earlier in the season, right?)

What a bummer to go to the trouble of making it, and looking forward to enjoying it, and having that happen!

Yes, all of the previous ones I ate were normal.

Oh Boy, that really is a shame as eggplant parm is usually just so tasty. I have no idea why it might happen either.

Hey, Rita,
Not sure what I'll do with this fresh batch, although, this talk of baked eggplant Parmesan might be right up my alley, LOL!

I can dredge the eggplant planks (these are too small to mess with coins), run them under the broiler, then layer a "mock" parm and bake it while I run outside to install the pipe strapping for the winter hoops.

Decided to go with the strapping instead of more 12" pvc anchors on the outside of the raised beds, cause I keep knocking those loose with the lawn mower. I can install the straps higher on the outsides, or, even go on the insides.

My neighbor makes the most fabulous eggplant parm and I just love it. In fact I can just about smell it now. I want some.

OK now I want eggplant Parmesan.

1hugaholic said:OK now I want eggplant Parmesan.

It is always so good, and I was looking forward to it so much, Oh well, maybe I can buy one and make it.

tveguy3 said:It is always so good, and I was looking forward to it so much, Oh well, maybe I can buy one and make it.

That just seems wrong, Tom!

Well, I just drank an extra glass of Merlot to drown my sorrows

tveguy3 said:Well, I just drank an extra glass of Merlot to drown my sorrows

Did it work? Do you no longer care about the eggplant parm?