I meant to post this last weekend, but time got away from me (that and I've been re-reading Harry Potter so my level of motivation after work is almost nill). I cleaned out what was left in the garden last Sunday; I picked and shelled the rest of the black beans and there were so many that I soon lost gumption so there are still a couple of bean-laden plants out there. I filled a large yogurt container with beans and that should last us quite awhile. Of course, chili season is coming up so it may not last as long as I think. Perhaps I should go out and pick the rest...
I also picked the four- count 'em four- butternut squash that grew. I was leaving them out there as long as I could to let them ripen (especially the smaller ones). The vines had all died off; two squash are ripe and two are still a bit green on the top. I was hoping for many more because we love butternut squash, but I have only myself to blame since it was a dry summer and I wasn't good about watering them. It's just hard carring buckets of water all the way to the other end of the garden, but Art said that next year he will buy me a really long hose and hook it up in the shop so that my lazy butt doesn't have to walk so far (my words, not his).

So the garden season is over. It wasn't my best year, but it was still good year. Sure I didn't get any tomatoes, but I have seven months or so to make plans and prepare for next summer's crop!