Ok, it's Friday

Tried a new farmers market yesterday---it was pleasant enough and we reduced the red ant population a bit. There was a large colony right in the middle of the sidewalk, so every time we walked through there were a few less ants. Then we watched them haul the dead away from the nest, where the little black ants promptly carried the carcasses away.

Philosophic observation of the day: Don't try to build a house on the highway...

I absolutely love it..

when adults who have no relation to my family whatsoever urge my child to do something which will require active participation on my part without first consulting me.

Zucchini

We're starting to eat zucchini----yum! Had it in tomato sauce over pasta, fried and breaded and chopped with eggs and peppers...
The corn is tasseling, so sweet corn soon.

I keep thinking I'll stop making beads and just concentrate on gardening, but it hasn't happened yet. Either I get a great idea or I have a sudden pressing need for the green that doesn't grow on trees...either way, the torch isn't as idle this summer as I wanted it to be!

Bill & Marsha Burns this morning

THE TRUMPET by Bill Burns -- July 20, 2009:
The enemy is trying to re-establish generational curses by sending familiar spirits to harass and torment. This is in conjunction with the spirit of death that has been released over the nation through the focus and media attention given to the deaths of many celebrities in recent weeks. We're in for a fight against death and destruction on many levels.

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns -- July 20, 2009:
I had a vision of thousands of warriors beating drums in a perfect and distinct rhythm. It reminded me of the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics and the Chinese drummers. And, I heard the Lord say, "Listen to the rhythm of the warrior. His heart beats like the pounding of the drum with mighty courage and strength. You are My warriors. Get ready for battle, for I am taking you to a new level of intensity and effectiveness in warfare. Prepare your hearts, and let Me lead you to victory."
Jeremiah 51:20 "You are My battle-ax and weapons of war: For with you I will break the nation in pieces; With you I will destroy kingdoms.

Something shifted

in my brain....at least as far as cooking goes. I've gone from being quite structured and downright OCD about getting every last thing right to almost the complete opposite. I've been noticing it when someone asks how I cooked something or what recipe I used----I'll often have to stop and think, and my reply is usually something like "until it looks/tastes right, and cook til it's done". Perhaps it's middle age creeping up on me? I'd call it "dontcareitus", except that everything turns out fine...

Fresh friday

Another sunny day in the great wide open......there was a faint haze rising off the corn fields and that slight burnt smell that lets you know it's going to be a hot day. We watered the garden well last night, hoping to fend off the mid-day droops.

The orange fleshed purple smudge tomatoes are blooming, and I've noticed that they have darker stems, much like red sunflowers, you can tell from the stems if they'll yield red blossoms.

Dinner soon

I planted squash in a few different places this year, mostly in the strip between sidewalk and street, just so I could save the better ground for tomatoes. Which aren't doing as well as I'd hoped this year....
I also put them out by the street behind the garage, thinking that if someone needed one it would be easier, and I certainly won't miss a few!

New discs

Too funny

Whew

Time to sit down and rest.....three weeks of what turned out to be strep for all of us, a round of antibiotics for me (it got in the glands in my neck), a trunk show packed and mailed---thanks to everyone who bought those focal discs, that helped with the shipping!

The corn across the way is waist high, my green beans are in full bloom, and the summer squash are just starting to bloom....
We've been eating chard and mustard greens for a couple of weeks now, too. I was somehow expecting the mustard greens to be as big as chard, but they aren't, and they are beginning to put on a flower stalk, so I assume they're not going to get much larger. They taste fine, though!

We bought Con a new bed at a yard sale, still in the plastic. We did notice that her dresser need to be moved over to make room, but it didn't dawn on us until we tried to put sheets on it that something wasn't right. The guy told Chuck it was a regular/full, but it's actually a queen. Con is beside herself, she feels very grown up. We're wondering how many toys and books she can fit on this one!


Time to take a ten minute nap, than off to pick strawberries....the u-pick farm has a deal where you pick forty pounds and keep ten....it's a good deal, since otherwise the strawberries are 2.50 a pound.

Of sky and clouds

Talavera

A trail of crumbs

Thursday night Paul Cox was in town, and we went on a whim.....he had some surprising insights, and some things fell into place for me.

Time to buy a new copy of ANOF----gave mine to the village clerk. hopefully a seed planted.

More storms, so I still haven't had to water. I'm pretty disgusted though, we had suspected a water leak, and it's confirmed. We used more than 20,000 gallons last month, unless the first reading is incorrect. I'll have the village double check the reading on Monday. After all the care I've taken not to waste water on the garden, I really thought that we'd get by with just the base rate for water....drat and double drat...time to make some beads and time to do some digging!

Sarah

Stepping down?
Wow, just wow......
But, on the other hand, could be wise as a serpent, gentle as a dove....time will tell.

Brings back memories

Clicked over to ADN yesterday afternoon just in time to see the story about a Cardinal circling Merrill with inop landing gear. Thankfully the instuctor was on board, could have been a mess if it was a low-time student. As it is, she'll have this under her belt, and be much better prepared if she ever has a similar problem on her own. Money can't buy that kind of experience!

I have decided...

that facebook is bad news for blogging. At least for me. I get tied up in it and feel as if I've done something when I haven't.

It's been an interesting week, hot and dry until yesterday. A thunderstorm rolled through and watered the garden wonderfully. The Con is taking swim lessons in the mornings, and having a blast---I am not quite so impressed after being bitten repeatedly by fire ants while watching her at the pool. I had one crawl down my waistband and bite his way down the back of my leg....yow! Time to buy some grits to sprinkle around...

The green beans should be blooming in a week, maybe sooner, they are covered with buds. They're doing better now that we've gotten more mulch in betwen the rows to hold the water in a bit.