Rain, rain, go away... my tomato garden & clean carpets

Every day this past week has given us rain.  I'm not really complaining; I'm confident the weather will shift into warm/hot/dry soon enough, but lately--- it's been wet and cold.  Last Saturday, however, was nice and HOT.  I'm glad I used that day to get the straw around the tomato plants, because now... I just sit back and watch the garden grow!

In NW Wisconsin, we follow a rule -- "wait until Memorial weekend to plant."  Some cold tolerant plants can see the ground a week or so prior (ie: beans, peas, corn...), but tomatoes & peppers -- you wait!  

The tomatoes had adjusted nicely due to decently moderate temperatures, but we really have not had many warm days lately.  We have other crops in the garden, but I'm known for my tomatoes.  I love growing them!  I dare say I've pretty much mastered growing them too, without sounding too ego-ridden.   So last Saturday, they were weeded and the soil was built up to bury the stems before laying straw along the cattle panel trellis.

We rotate the patch around every year, so before tilling the rest of the garden, the previous patch location was strolled, all the while looking down for one reason -- VOLUNTEERS!

I think we have some cutworms in the garden, because I had lost half a dozen transplants.  Enter our volunteer rescues to help fill in the empty spots.  I also only plant heirloom varieties now.

And speaking of volunteers -- ha!  Next to our driveway, I spied this garlic chive plant!  I remember planting them in the old upper garden years ago, so... shrug... I don't know when or where this baby actually came from, but she's on my list to transplant into the lower garden.

With another rainy, gloomy day in today's forecast, quilting endeavors are certainly planned.  A design wall will be set in place in the guest bedroom (formerly known as Caitlyn's room) now that it's been cleaned.  ........ and OH!  Clean, it is.  The borrowed carpet cleaner got a workout in yesterday.  

Can you see the difference?  This is the center of the loft;  left side having been completed.  The loft area isn't excessively large, but three full 'loads' were used to clean up the carpet.

I didn't need to show this, but... ugh!  ick!  It's been TWENTY years that we've been here, with girls (and dogs for the past six) that have walked that carpet.  Annnnd, since we had the cleaner, I figured cleaning Caitlyn's carpet right next door to the loft would be smart.  I'd attempt Candace's, but she's still home (our recent graduate), and her room is occupied and fully lived in.  Caitlyn, however, has shifted into young-adult mode and is doing 'adult thiings' in her college-town.  

Off to putz to see where the days leads my quilting tasks...