Turning Into Carl Spackler

Carl Who? Yeah, I had to look it up in the Internet Movie Database. The name of Bill Murray's character in Caddyshack.

There is one tenacious gopher in my yard.

At least, I think it's just one.

It refuses to eat any of the poisoned bait (yes, I have resorted to that) nor get trapped. Instead, it taunts me with new gopher mounds every day.

Big Dog's friend who does landscaping for wealthy clients visited us last week. When I told him of my plight, he suggested luring it/them with sliced apple.

"They can't resist it," he said. "After you get them used to eating the apple, then put the apple in the trap."

Fortunately, there was still one apple tree filled with apples. Unfortunately, my gophers are a lot smarter than his (or his rich clients.) They recognize bait for what it is.

They are driving me crazy. The whole ordeal is turning me into Carl Spackler. I am ready to blow up the entire yard.

Everyday is STILL Christmas

You'd think I was stuck in Christmasland, there is so much red and green on our table. Dining table, that is.

Beets, chard, tomatoes. Hibiscus tea, bloody marys, pinot noir. Cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, zinfandel.
Collards, arugula, brussels sprouts. Avocado, jalapenos, nopales. Salsa verde, green tea, wasabi.

Sweet potato, butternut squash, kabocha. Carrots, oranges, screwdrivers. Guess there's enough orange for a nice dose of Halloween, too.

My canning and freezing frenzy last fall is now proving to be a Very Good Thing, as I supplement my garden harvest of greens and lettuces with the preserved produce from our summer harvest.