Sorry, no pics of the devistated tomatoes. It’s just too painful yet.

Up in the tree a Pileated Woodpecker busily hammered and cracked an old alder’s branches. I tried and failed to snap a picture. But my, those birds are big.

And we’re back from our annual road trip to Wisconsin (Family Vacation!) and ready to settle in for fall. The tomatoes are dead. But I have plenty of basil and nasturtium leaves for pesto. I’m trying to savor this last bit of summer by staining my lips with blackberries and ocean sunsets.

She makes concrete look comfortable.

*We found this awesome idea here.

We got into the car during a discussion about building, so we didn’t turn on the engine or radio right away.

We were interrupted, however, by the sound of tiny feet scurrying over our heads. Several sets of tiny feet! Deer mice had somehow gotten up in the headliner. Nathan opened the glove box and there, a nest, complete with mama and babies. They disappeared up  where the glove box lights go. Our base model didn’t come with them (whatever).

Immediately we rushed to the internet. Crazy how many people have this problem. We learned that cars are not only not mouse-proof, but enticing to mice and rats. We read lots of stories, but few good solutions. Several people used smoke bombs to remove rodents. I only had some Nag Champa incense, so I lit three of them and shut up the car. It worked!

We kept the incense going and did a bit more research. Then we found this site. So we built one out of lumber we had and 20″ flashing. So far, so good!

No idea what this is but it’s cool.

Some have asked us about cleaning. If you know me at all, you know that cleanliness is not a strong point of mine. But I have improved a bit because keeping messes contained reduces critter stress. That being said, we use a cleaning solution made of vinegar and essential oils. Smells good and clean with no noxious chemicals. For mild abrasive, add baking soda. Clean, healthy, safe and cheap!

These pictures show how we step up the stones so the stem wall stays level. We are at level in the front, the back needs to be built up. But the progress is amazing. We are working slowly and carefully while still enjoying the summer.

My concept for a garden was simple. Build decks that would add living and garden space. We built one deck this spring and adorned it with containers of mixed vegetables, herbs and flowers.

Due to previously mentioned woodrat mischief, it’s obvious that next year we need to build an enclosed mini-greenhouse, or cloche, to protect it from sharp little teeth. I have a bird net over the most vulnerable plants now and I bring the basil inside each night. Also, if we get the cloche completed before September, we can start kale, lettuce and a late-season garlic for winter (another reason to love the pacific northwest).

The wonderful thing about container gardens, is that each pot is its own little garden. When I go sit on the deck I am among my many gardens.

My biggest contains tomatoes, marigolds and nasturtiums. Another holds creeping rosemary and garlic. Sweet woodruff’s tiny white stars fill in between purple and white lavenders. Four varieties of thyme grow out the edges of a wooden wine cask, surrounding a dwarf sunflower. I love the look and smell of corsican mint spilling out of some smaller pots randomly placed on chunks of brick or marble. (We dumpster dive for marble and tile at countertop warehouses and shops. Bricks are occasionally free on Craigslist.)

Another reason container gardening rocks is the weeding and digging factor. I didn’t want to take part of this wild land, already abundant with life, and force it to grow what I wanted. Containers provide their own environment and can be moved around until a comfy spot is found.

I am not into matching pots and showy annuals. I like to grow plants I intend to use. I can dry the lavender for culinary or strewing purposes. I make and can pesto from the basil and nasturtiums leaves. Rosemary and dried thyme can season our soups all year.

It’s a small-scale operation, minuscule, really. But a little bit of gardening adds delicious flavor to a simple life.