I spotted her as I was finishing morning chores, happily waddling out of the blackberry patch, her cream colored breast feathers stained with berry juice. Miss Sassy was the current matriarch of the duck patrol, and she and the other patrol members regularly rooted through the mulch of the berry patch, hunting for tasty morsels.

On that particular day, she had found more than berries and bugs, as a large bulge protruded from the right side of her crop. The bulge tried to work its way back out, but Sassy found the nearest water bucket and determinedly washed it back down. She then wandered off to rest in the shade of the solar panels, looking quite pleased with herself.

Sometimes nature is beautiful, and sometimes it can be rough - especially if you're a frog in duck territory, or dealing with uncooperative weather. Knock on wood, we've largely been missed by damaging storms this summer, but unfortunately we also continue to be missed by much needed rain.

It's been three and a half months now with rainfall well below average. This is the driest growing season we've dealt with since we moved here over 21 years ago. Rain falls nearby - my husband was in Green Bay on Thursday (around 20 miles away) and got caught in a downpour - but it keeps missing us. Thankfully the thick mulch, soil life, abundant vegetation, and microclimate trap and hold what moisture does come our way, but she's dry out there.

We broke ground recently on a new outbuilding for solar equipment, nicknamed "the juice box". We had to replace our inverter last year, and the new inverter hums like a jet engine when we get full sun, so it's time for it to have a new home.

Part of the building process involved trenching new electric lines between the juice box and house. That trenching process confirmed just how dry it is. Going through the yard, the soil that was dug up was powdery. I'm sure it was easier for the crew to work in than dealing with mud, so that's some small blessing.

As part of the trenching, the electrician opted to route through one of my flower beds, so as to make sure to avoid the existing power lines, and the vegetable garden. The needed work was done, and it was the safest route, but it was sad to see the little bed destroyed. It's a good reminded to take the time to enjoy life's beautiful moments when you can, as you never know when they'll be gone.

I think I'll try to relocate the remains of the phlox and other flowers over by the dome, as the phlox were passed down from my mother. They are survivors, so they should come back. I'm holding off with transplanting until we start getting some rain again.

This Week’s Resilience & Abundance Boost

• Appreciate what’s here today. Pick the flowers, take the photo, enjoy the sunset, call the friend. Some of life’s gifts are fleeting, which makes noticing them all the more important.
• Build resilience into the landscape. Mulch, organic matter, shade, diverse plantings, and healthy soil help gardens weather extremes better — and the same principle of building buffers applies to our homes and lives.
• Save what you can and begin again. Plants can be divided and transplanted, damaged things can sometimes be repaired, and setbacks can become the beginning of something new.
• Keep a little flexibility in your plans. Weather changes, projects take unexpected turns, and sometimes the safest route goes straight through the flower bed. Being willing to adapt makes the bumps easier to navigate.
• Preserve things that carry a story. Heirloom plants, family recipes, useful skills, photographs, and traditions connect one generation to the next. Pass them along when you can.

Resilience doesn’t mean holding everything exactly as it was. Sometimes it means carrying forward what matters, adapting to what has changed, and finding a way to grow again.

All our best to you and yours,

Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan)

P.S. Duncan has finished massage school and passed his mBlex exam! Now he's waiting for the paperwork from the state to make it "official". He's setting up a home office and will be ready to take clients soon.

Making the Most of Late Summer

The seasons keep moving whether we're ready or not, so it's good to enjoy each harvest while it's here. Late summer brings berries and tree fruits to preserve, plenty of fresh garden produce for the table, and, around here at least, some feathered helpers eager to sample the bounty. Here are a few practical ways to make good use of what the season provides.

Two tasty ways to preserve blackberries

When the blackberry harvest comes in faster than you can eat it, turn those berries into something you can enjoy long after summer is gone.

Blackberry fruit leather makes an easy grab-and-go snack, while low sugar blackberry jam lets the flavor of the fruit shine through without burying it in sugar.

Read: Blackberry Fruit Leather​
​Read: Low Sugar Blackberry Jam​

🍐 Save those pears for winter

Pears can go from stubbornly hard to overripe remarkably quickly. Canning lets you capture them at their best and stock the pantry with ready-to-eat fruit for breakfasts, desserts, or simple winter snacks.

Read: How to Can Pears​

An easy side for late-summer gatherings

Crunchy broccoli, smoky bacon, cheese, and a creamy dressing make this an easy dish to bring to a picnic, potluck, or weekend get-together — and leftovers hold up well, too.

Read: Broccoli, Bacon and Cheese Salad​

What should ducks actually eat?

Miss Sassy may consider frogs, blackberries, and anything else she can catch to be fair game, but a healthy duck diet needs a little more planning. This guide covers what ducks can eat, what they shouldn't, and some healthy treats to supplement their regular feed.

Read: What Do Ducks Eat?​

Late summer abundance doesn't have to mean keeping up with everything. Enjoy what you can, preserve what makes sense, share what you have to spare, and let the rest go.

Need to stock up for canning and preserving season? Azure Standard carries sturdy jars, pectin, bulk lids, and other canning supplies, as well as organic bulk produce, conveniently delivered to drops across the country. They also have a TON of wonderful recipes on their site.

​Shop canning supplies on Azure Standard now.​