Hank and I go for a big walk every morning on the driveway. He wakes up at 5am for breakfast.  He is crazed with energy. Jumping, nipping and generally tearing around the kitchen. I read in the Dog Whisperer that every dog needs 45 minutes of exercise before they are ready to start listening and training. Hank starts focusing about halfway down the driveway.

The garden is lush and full of produce in August

Lettuce, Zinnias, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Tomatoes, Corn, Beans and Squash.

I made a delicious yellow squash casserole.

Saute onions and squash which has been sliced 1/2 inch thick.

When squash is soft and onion translucent, pour into casserole dish. Cover with crushed Ritz Cracker crumbs. Top with parmesan cheese. Add layer of sliced tomatoes. Bake for half an hour at 375 degrees. Yum. There were no leftovers for lunch.

Hank was born on May 3, 2012. Craig read about him in the Caledonian-Record personal ads on July 6. We found him in a big box with his two brothers at a yard sale in Passumpsic the following day. Love at first sight. He has brought joy and sweetness into our lives. This is Hank sleeping in the sheets. The nostalgic smell of his play-mates. Oh Hank.

Hombre smelling the Holllyhocks

It’s another gorgeous, high cloud summer day in Vermont. We have been watering the garden every morning for the past week because of the heat wave. No rain for the past 10 days. Daylilies, Bee Balm are blooming. Peonies are going by. Anenome which signifies “anticipation” still going strong. Craig weeded the entire vegetable garden with the small rototiller. We planted more beans, peas, parsnips, leeks and fennel.

This is the first ripening tomato of our 2012 garden season. The vine is tied to the post with a slash of pink pantyhose. I think it’s festive. Fairly certain that this is a Roma Tomato. Good for sauce.

Raised beets

Corn, potatoes and squash plants in this  end of the garden.

We have finally figured out the secret of making compost. It came from the Paul Parent radio show. You add loads of grass to the tumbler which  heats up and cooks the ingredients into black gold.