It’s the weekend!

We’re doing a first pass at packing up things in the island house and heading home this weekend. I’m looking forward to a Saturday night cocktail in our Arlington backyard.

Have a great fall weekend.

When I decided to work remotely from Martha’s Vineyard this summer, I planted my raised vegetable bed with kale, Swiss chard, sugar pumpkins and two kinds of winter squash. I covered the bed with salt marsh hay. I pulled my fig trees out of the garage to jump start their summer growth, but instead of putting them in their usual spot in the driveway, where the heat might help them deliver one or two figs, I put them under the trees in my backyard. I left things to Mother Nature.

We had a rainy summer in New England and my outdoor plants thrived. The critters ate their fair share of my squash, but I harvested a handful of squash and a few beautiful pumpkins. The kale and Swiss chard thrived and we’ve been enjoying it. Tom harvested it on a couple of trips back to the mainland and we indulged, including making several batches of kale pesto. The fig trees didn’t provide any fruit, but they are covered with lush green leaves and that is enough to make me happy.

My indoor plants didn’t fare so well. They are mostly succulents, so I figured that they could survive the long stretches between Tom’s watering. About half of them didn’t make it. I’m hoping to nurse back the last stem of aloe, from a beautiful plant that had grown from a couple of pieces that my sister gave me.

I’ll need to pick up a few houseplants, so the first article that I am sharing is perfect timing for me. I hope that it is helpful if you also need a plant or two.

• Behold: The 12 Best Indoor Hanging Plants to Breathe New Life Into Your Space — I love the Monstera Adansonii, Red Mistletoe Cactus and Fishbone Cactus. (Camille Styles)
• What Is the Ultimate Pair of Forever Jeans? — I’ve recently purchased some Levi’s and I feel that I’ve come back around to a classic. Also, I love flares. I think that it’s all those bell bottoms I wore in my youth. (New York Times)
• Six Fall Vegetables and Their Love Stories — We can count on Jenny Rosenstrach for cooking advice and I’m not surprised she can also advise us on vegetable love affairs. (A Cup of Jo)
• GUIDE TO MAKING FRIENDS AS AN ADULT, ACCORDING TO HADES, GREEK GOD OF THE UNDERWORLD — If you are looking to make friends, here’s some advice to not take too seriously. It will put a smile on your face. (McSweeney’s)
• Brown Butter Apple Bread — A batch of this bread will make you look forward to breakfast! (Sea Salt and Sailor Stripes)
• Goodness: The Circular, Drought-Resistant Gardens of Senegal — I hope that these gardens are successful! (KOTTKE.ORG)

About the photo: Sand dune and sea grass blown by the wind on a stormy day.