Two immature butternuts harvested (vines dead); one immature butternut still on vine

I wonder if these two harvested immature squash will ripen. One is well on the way but definitely not there yet; the other is very green with just a touch of tan at the stem.

White throated sparrow, tan-crowned (/aka tan-striped)

Finally had a chance to i.d. one of these mottled brown birds in my yard, thanks to the binoculars and thanks to the bird posing on the feeder for a few minutes. This one must be a White throated sparrow, tan-crowned (/aka tan-striped). I noted the white throat, brown(/gray?) underside and body, and stripes on the head alternating black and a browny colour.

Cold nights, down to ~0-1! So far no frost.

Asparagus near compost bin also now infested with aphids

Oh well. I hereby declare that next year I'm going to eat whatever I can, before all three patches are permanently kaput.

Dud baby winter squashes are delicious as fried squash fingers

Dang, I should have started doing this sooner! The dud baby winter squashes (butternut and cushaw) that never took off were delicious as fried squash fingers. The relatively bigger ones I peeled first, the others I didn't peel. Next time, try not peeling any.

Used last of last year's butternut squash -- it was fine

Roasted it, for Scooter. Last year's harvest is all gone now.

Rabbit!!

For the life of me I couldn't figure out what Jasper was so excited about today while I was working. I'd go downstairs and look in the yard, but didn't see anything. Thought it was maybe one of the birds hopping around... but he doesn't usually get too excited about birds. Then I went downstairs to have another look, and ------ what did I see but the fuzzy white behind of a rabbit, between the fence and the central patch!! That deffffffinitely explains it. Rabbits and groundhogs are his favourite. The winter squash vines are all over in that area, so they provide a good spot to be hidden from view. I tried to flush the rabbit out but have no idea if it worked or not. Not sure how the rabbit got in... must have squeezed in under the gate? Well, will have to be super careful with letting Jasper out in the yard for a while.

Harvested the one butternut

The stem is still green, but the body is nice tan and I worried about something eating it if left out much longer.  It's very nice, same size as my one remaining butternut from last year.  Quite the mystery why only this one single winter squash took.  So far it appears none of the others have taken, even though quite a few have been flowering.  Well, there is one butternut that put on some initial growth, but it seems to have stalled out. Maybe it will just be a small butternut.