Now I'm going to test this blog site before I rewrite the entry I've written twice before.  I'm not sure why I'm having so much difficulty making an entry but we'll check it before I spend the time to rewrite this.

 

In short, Xena is now part of the household.  A delightful little puppy.  Bittersweet 

 

A late good afternoon to you.  I see the site has made a few changes.  Hopefully good ones!  Well I feel much like the weather in Carnoustie ! Wet, cool and change at a moments notice. I'm not use to this 60's degree weather and rain, showers and winds every day. A week of this nonsense.

 

Well the awning is up and quite handsome. After all this effort the orchids are sitting on the driveway so I can pull the plant stand in when i can.  They have gotten more rain than I'd like but I think it will be good in the long run.  They haven't gone underneath the awning only because we roll the owning up because of the wind.  Ok....the awning was a good idea if the wind doesn't blow!  Who would have thought of the wind!!!!

 

Well the fields are cut, and i can now see the deer again.  Actually quite a few are hovering around and even have the nerve to walk into the garden. Of course they are attracted to the apple trees that surround the garden. They were planted as shade trees on the lawn across from the driveway and I guess they feel they have the right to enter.

 

Our corn is out but I must admit that the first two times it wasn't the greatest. Much to my surprise and disappointment.  But I think because it was the first day or two, they may have picked more than they could sell, so ended up selling corn that was picked much earlier.  But looking forward to some corn this weekend.  Our garden tomatoes are doing well. Some have started to rippen so hope we have some fresh tomato real soon.  Love making some tomato salad with onions, a little oregano and a light vinegar and oil dressing. One of our favorites.  Our basal ran away on us but I can get some at the farmer's market. Love making my own pesto and adding it into pasta with shrimp. While the pesto ran away, i am enjoying my fresh dill. Love fresh dill in the cucumber salad.

 

I will say that my daylillies are wonderful this year.  They have never looked as healthy as this year and I think it is all the effort we put into cleaning out the weeds last year.  We've also tackled the iris bed; I pulled out all the hostas that were  encroaching on the irises and am sure I lost a number of them.  So this fall I'll thin out and replant and perhaps add a few just to say I added to my collection. I've had to make a concerted effort at limiting myself the past few years and will hold to the rule of no more than 12 new bulbs. I really have to replant many of them - perhaps in the cleared out space.

 

So what's on my reading list?  I think I'd like to read Elizabeth Edwards book and Hillary Clinton's and Barrack Obama's book.  I think it's going to be a dog fight between Clinton and Obama, but we'll see.

 

For now.....be well.  Bittersweet on-the hill.

 

 

 

Somehow things have caught up with me. I'm running hard to stay ahead of the shadows but they seem to be gaining on me.  How did ten days escape me?   Well computer was down and it almost seemed as if I lost a friend here.  But we are up and running and hopefully by tomorrow I'll get a proper entry to all of you.

Right now I'm downright cold.  We're playing with maybe 70 degrees and tonight high 50's, low 60's.  Just doesn't feel like summer.

Well my neighbor farmer died and it is kind of sad. He was one of my early memories of when I moved here.  I'd come home from work at around 4:30 and have to stop for the cow crossing.  The barns and fields were separated by this country road and I always got a kick out of it when they'd swing the gate out across the road and let the dairy cows cross. Now that is talking country!   Unfortunately the dairy buy-out of 12 or 15 years ago has made that experience a memory but the 100 acres of hay are still being cut yearly and I still get a charge out of watching the fields being cut and the balers going through and watching the bales of hay being tossed up on the wagons.

The hay growth this years was almost out of control so was happy when my farmer came this weekend to bush-hog my fields. So now the deer feel they have a playground and they enjoy the low cut fields and the freedom to wonder without walking through 4 or 5 feet of hay.

I must confess I did have my share of strawberries.  Locally this was the best crop in ten years and I made sure we enjoyed.  Now comes the local corn.  It usually comes out the weekend after labor day so I'm looking forward to the Silver Queen, and the Sugar and Cream etc. I claim that we have the best local corn in the state.

Anyway, I'm working via my broker to sell my home in Tucson.  Very sad in some ways.  But in this economy two homes is a bit of a struggle. And I'm shocked at the deplorable condition the folks who rented it left it.  They certainly tarnished my trust in people. In essence they almost stole away into the night.  But another story.....maybe tomorrow.

So folks.....I'm hoping to do a blog stroll tomorrow. Anyway, have a good 4th; good food shared with friends and family but also a safe 4th. Bittersweet