I'm three jars shy of two cases of pints of pickled okra. For my friends and neighbors this will be a very good year (they will be ready to open by October or November). I eat some of it, but the locals really gobble up this stuff.

While I've spent time in the yard and the kitchen writing chores have piled up. It's time to thin that list a bit. They won't declutter anything or result in less paper on my desk, but they'll move me nearer to cool-weather projects.

I'll make another batch of babaghanouj today and I need to freeze a lot more peppers. All week it is supposed to be scorching weather, most days topping out at 100^o. I overslept this morning and it was several degrees too warm to walk the dogs, so I'll make a point of getting up earlier tomorrow.

I haven't made a final canned tomato count, because while the height of the ripe tomato season has passed, fall brings the green tomatoes that are picked before the first frost. One year I made nearly two cases of green tomato relish. I'll do the same this year if the crop allows - I love that stuff but it does also make a great gift. If I start putting some of the pickled okra in quart jars I can save the remaining pint jars for relish.

Time to go pick okra then clean and fill the bird baths.