Mid-August and that means spending at least part of the day in the kitchen preserving the bounty. Green beans are frozen and also pickled. A big pot of broccoli soup and kettles of tomatoes simmering. Pesto. Lots and lots of pesto. Sweet pickles, sour pickles, mustard pickles. Probably some relish, too. Yesterday some fresh cabbage slaw and later in the month, a crock of kraut will be made.
Beets roasted for tonight’s dinner ( along with a chicken in the oven) and sprinkled with blue cheese. Dessert? How about homemade ginger biscuits with peaches and blueberries? Ice cream? Yes!
Then, this afternoon, along with tending the nursery, we’ll keep working on our latest construction project…the new outhouse! We had a long conversation with my cousin Barbara and cousin Ronnie during dinner last night about furnishing the outhouse with one seat or two. They have a two seater, who goes in there together? I don’t know. Apparently, a traditional two-seater outhouse has two different size holes. One for big bottoms and one for smaller. Well, that makes sense, we wouldn’t want any little folks falling through! Cousin Barbara has made her own privy into quite the luxury palace…fancy curtains, a linoleum floor, and art work hung on the wall. I can imagine all of her guests lining up outside the outhouse happy to “do 
their business’ in such fine surroundings. I bet there’s probably some good reading material in there too. Our outhouse is still taking shape, but I’ll glean some inspiration from cousin Barbara and be thinking about ways to make our own “one holer” a pleasant place to sit for a spell. If you want to read up on some outhouse facts, go here, http://cottagelife.com/environment/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-outhouses
Fernwood Nursery & Gardens 
I grew up in an old farmhouse in Maine, and in the attached shed was an outhouse with a two-seater. We only used it when the power went out 😉 Very smart, though, putting it in the attached shed. No tromping through the snow for the people who lived in that farmhouse. 😉
My old house, where we lived when the kids were born, had an outhouse through the ell that lead to the barn. When we first built the house we live in now, we had a home-made composting toilet, which was basically an indoor outhouse with some improved technology!
I’ve personally been in the two seater, and must say it it quite lovely and enchanting.
Now i’m wondering if we need to build an addition already to accommodate another seat…we’ll see!!
Two seaters are great. Had lots of good chats with my kids. Our summer cottage had one. Will be glad to have one for next summer. Thanks, Mary Dreghorn
> fernwoodnursery posted: “Mid-August and that means spending at least part > of the day in the kitchen preserving the bounty. Green beans are frozen and > also pickled. A big pot of broccoli soup and kettles of tomatoes simmering. > Pesto. Lots and lots of pesto. Sweet pickles, sour pic” >
Never thought of what a great opportunity for chatting it up with the person sitting next to you….great!
My grandmother had a two seater and a sears Roebuck catalog. Fond memories.
Isn’t it funny that we have such find memories of the outhouses we remember, yet, those big green plastic porta-potties always seem slightly offensive and we kinda dread having to use them! Old fashion, stick built, outhouses all the way!!
i read this and am so tired i had to sit down for a while.
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There’s a very new ‘seat’ just waiting….if need be!!! Thanks for reading along and we’ll post pictures once the good ol’ outhouse is finished!
I remember visiting folks in NH and VT when I was young and using their outhouse – single and double. 🙂 I only wish I had an old Sears catalog to send to you. 🙂
I have to admit the idea of using an old Sear’s catalog makes me cringe a bit, we’ve gotten quite spoiled with the downy softness of rolled T.P. But I do think it would be quite fun to have an old Sears and Roebuck in the outhouse for old times sake!! Are you of coming to Fiber College?
That Fiber College sounds amazing but the majority of the classes are way beyond my current skills. Are you attending or teaching at it?
I won’t be teaching this year but i think I may take the ” Vegan Sheepskin” class and use one of fleeces. Fiber College is a great place to mingle with fiber enthusiasts….you would love it and i bet you’d be a star pupil in any class ( I’ve seen examples of your work from your posts….always beautiful work!!!). We finally got a good dumping of rain here in Maine….thank goodness!!