This picture is from 2013, and that year we just let the pumpkins grow up the net behind our square foot garden instead of on the ground. It cracked me up (well, it still does) to see pumpkins growing, basically, up in the air. People are surprised that the vine will hold once they've gotten so big, but the vine somehow knows it needs to be able to support it differently than it does on the ground. It just does. This year we have four containers that each have a tomato plant in them -- two plum tomato and two of a heritage tomato that are kinda small. The plum tomatoes are finally putting on some fruit, and the heritage tomato has had little fruits for a couple weeks. Next year, we'll remember to plant a slicing tomato. We have one container with a zucchini plant in it. Jim said he saw two small zucchinis on it, so that's good. In our square-foot garden, we have strawberries, and we are still pulling a small or medium berry or two or three or four every day. We have not had a large berry in a week or two now. Jim wanted to make something artsy out of gourds, so we planted one in each of the back four squares in the garden. We've got them trellising up the net at the back of the square-foot garden, like the pumpkin pictured above, and they all have blossoms on them. This is the first year we've tried to grow them, and they seem to like all weather -- hot, cool, wet, dry. Well, so far. We planted two varieties of pumpkins and one heirloom watermelon. They are all booking right along and the pumpkins all have blossoms. The watermelon does not, and we have heard that it is never hot enough long enough here to grow them, but we try every year anyway. So far, this year's vine is the largest, at a whopping 1-1/2 feet. Still. . . maybe one day. Oh! And cucumbers. We're growing them in a large container, and trellising them up a big tomato cage. So far, lots of little yellow blossoms and some pickle-sized cukes. They are a pickling variety, so some are about ready to be plucked. We also planted three lavender plants this year. Next year, we'll plant a bunch more if they seem happy and do well, and we can use them in soaps and stuff.
One thing I do miss this year is my gardening buddy, Nugget. He's been gone a year and two months now. Last year, I didn't -- no, couldn't -- plant anything without him helping me. This is what I we see as I sat at the kitchen table cleaning and preparing whatever we'd bring in from outside. He was helpful that way, ya know. Sweet pup.
What has happened to us? Our ancestors, from today, all the way back before the Revolution, are rolling in their graves, and will have turned their backs to us. The government takes our rights and we have done nothing. They trample the Constitution into the dirt, and we do nothing. They train our military people to go to war, then the veterans hospitals will not help them, and their rights are trampled. The Government pulls benefits. And, here we set. The government treats all of us like we are little children who need to be taken care of. Like we need them to wipe our noses and butts and make ALL of the decisions for the American people because the government knows best. Come on in to our country, no one will stop you. How about a free iPhone? How about we put you on welfare so you don't have to work? The government is here to take care of you! We will suck up to other countries so that we will not "offend" them. We let elected officials make a career out of being in office, with big raises and their own special medical insurance. While we are at it, how about life-time security and body guards? I mean it is only tax payer money. Vacations? No problem -- tax payer dollars! And our ancestors roll in their graves more. We have heard, that Ronald Reagan carried a .38 revolver while in office. I wonder how many of the hon yuks in office around this country are packing, while the rest of us are not allowed to protect ourselves. I'm heartsick every time I hear of a shooting. We don't need new laws on the books for this. Enforce the laws that we have now and quit medicating young people with anti-depressants. No more knee jerk reactions to a shooting! Taking firearms from the law-abiding people will solve nothing. Banning ammo or the government buying and stockpiling ammo will cause more problems down the line. The people in government need to quit living in their fairy tale land, and wake up to what is bringing down this country. Unless, that's their plan. And if it is, the whole world is done.
Our ancestors keep rolling in their graves. Flags, monuments, free speech, firearms, religion, civil rights, constitutional rights. . . where will it end? Will it end? Our ancestors fought for so much, and we still fight to this day. Are the end times knocking at our door? Some think so. Are we going to have to have another revolution in this country? Some think so. Has the government over-stepped the boundaries? On a lot of things, hell yeah they have! There is no respect among thieves, and that is what a lot of them are. There are tons of quotes from our founding fathers. I would say that they still hold truth today. We need term limits, we need to clean house, from state to state. From top to bottom. From coast to coast. We need to secure our borders. We need a strong military, and a strong people in this country. Not a bunch of people with their hands out wanting to be taken care of. We need people who want to work. We need people to start new businesses. And YES, you built that! Time, long over due, to make those in office do what the people want. Not what they think we want. Or they just don't give a damn. It's time to change things. Our ancestors deserve better than what we have done so far.
"Reflect on your present blessings, of which every man has many; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." --Charles Dickens,English novelist "We learn by example and direct experience, because there are real limits to the adequacy of verbal instruction." --Malcolm Gladwell, author from "Blink:The Power of Thinking Without Thinking" "The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work." --Richard Bach, American writer "If at first you don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything." --Bill Lyon, Sports columnist
I've waited to post this, to see if anything more was said on the news or something here in Denver. Wednesday night at DIA, the news reported that there were things going on, but that they could not get close enough to check it out. An area at the airport was blocked and walled off, part of a runway, and some buildings for "training." They said they did not know who all was involved. Heard nothing else about it all day Thursday on any of the news stations. Did not hear anything on the nightly news. Was it Jade Helm? Even after they said it had been canceled for the Denver area, I don't know, but I would sure like to know more. It all kind of makes your a-hole pucker just a bit, don't you know. We will see what goes on here this weekend and next week.
Last week, we had hazy and kind of foggy weather. BUT, we were told that it was smoke from up north. Way up north, from Canada. So I kept inhaling and smelling. It was very disappointing. I had my heart all set for it. Years ago, just before they closed the Homestead Act in Canada, my Dad, Mom, sisters, and I went to Canada. WOW! We had a great time. And the people were so nice. We stopped off in Vancouver for breakfast on our way to Vancouver Island. I wish I could remember the name of the place. When we walked in, the place smelled of coffee and great food. It was packed full of people. By the time we were able to set down, I thought that I was going to pass out from all the smells and looking at the food that other people were eating. Stacks of pancakes, biscuits, gravy, eggs, sausage, and Canadian bacon. Well, I ordered wild blueberry sourdough pancakes, two eggs over easy, and Canadian bacon, milk, and juice. The pancakes were over-hanging the plate by at least a half inch. And the blueberries were HUGE! The yolks on the eggs were a deep yellow and were done just right. The Canadian bacon was the best I had ever had. I don't even remember what everyone else ate. All I do remember is I ate every single bit; I was ready to lick the plate even. I do remember a few family members moaning a bit trying to get back in our van. We made the ferry, and found a place to camp on Vancouver Island. We did not eat until supper time that night. It was a great trip. The air here never did smell like Canadian Bacon. What a bummer.
"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn." --Elizabeth Lawrence, garden designer and writer "We are born charming, fresh and spontaneous and must be civilized before we are fit to participate in society." --Judith Martin ("Miss Manners"), American writer and etiquette authority "Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action." --Benjamin Disraeli, former British prime minister "Beware of the man who works hard to learn something, learns it, and finds himself no wiser than before." --Kurt Vonnegut, American novelist and satirist
We got home late after going to the movies, and it was supposed to be my turn to post. I apologize. Instead, here is a picture I took of a gator a few years ago when we were in the New Orleans area. This was in the Honey Island Swamp, taken from a boat when we were on a swamp tour. The guide threw marshmallows to tempt the gators out close enough that we could see them. As you can see, it worked. He looks rather grumpy, don't you think? Have a great Tuesday!
Last Saturday as Kathi and I were lounging and trying to decide what to have for breakfast, we were listing to classic country and western music. (I was ready to grab Kathi and do a two step around the living room.) We listened to Johnny Cash, Merle, Jim Reeves, and I could go on and on. Good music on a Saturday morning to go with our coffee. As we sat there, and talked, and listened to the music. A song that I have not heard in over 25 years popped into my head. It had me talking to Kathi about when my best friend Ed and I first heard it all that many years ago. It hit a cord with us as we could identify with the lyrics. So, before I tell you all what the song is, and who sang it, I'll tell you why it was kind of strange. I was told this many, many years ago, and I believe this in my very soul: when someone passes, whether family or friend, and if you're open and thinking of them, that there can be some kind of contact. It could be a butterfly that lands on you; the smell of that person's perfume or after shave. I know someone who swears that after his mom died, he received a phone call from his mom's home phone with her answering machine message calling. His mom had passed three weeks before. So, maybe there is something to it. Anyway, back to the story of what happened. I sat with Kathi and told her about this song that Ed and I always played when we went to this restaurant. I could not remember the title, but the tune was in my head. The song is titled "Rollin' With the Flow" by Charlie Rich. All of a sudden, the song started up. We both looked at each other, Kathi's eye's as big as dinner plates, and I got goose bump's all over and the hair stood up on the back of my neck. Coincidence? Maybe. But I (and Kathi) think it was Ed. Maybe just to say, "Hey! I'm here." You can laugh and say it was nothing. Or that It was just our imaginations. But me? I think it was Ed. It brought a tear or two to my eye, but it made my day and strengthened my belief. Is there an afterlife? I think there is. And I'm glad that Ed stopped by.
