Independence dispatch

Our 4th of July has come and gone. SIL invited us over for a barbecue. Her family was all gathered and we thoroughly enjoyed being amongst them. The food was delicious and plentiful. The drinks were adult and cold. The quick rain shower cooled things off. Just a fun day.

Days before that we got brave and ventured to the sporting goods store in our neighbor city. We didn't linger like we used to do. We each found shoes and a couple of new t-shirts. Shopping is not satisfying nor fun right now. I circumvented shoppers not donning their mask.

New shoes. They are cushy and comfortable right now.

Bought them Thursday. Have walked 9+ miles in them already.

They will take me far. 

Friday my County Agent Friend called me to come pick up my corn that I ordered.

We put up 8 dozen ears. Some on the cob and some cut off.

It took 4+ hours. 

Wilson was a huge work force on this project.

Woke up early on the 4th and walked before breakfast. 

I figured that warranted a red, white, and blue breakfast. It was hearty.

Granny would have approved.

On the downhill side of summer now. Days will start to get a little shorter. 

The heat will ramp up.

Some vegetables are waning. We pulled up the yellow squash in the front bed. Still have a few in a container in the back yard. Okra is coming in. Green beans are still producing. Have three little watermelons, so far, on the compost volunteers. Cucumbers are producing one or two a day. Tomatoes are playing out. Blueberries almost got tasty this year. They were sour for the most part. I hope that improves with plant maturity. Our two fig trees are growing and will be ready to put in the ground this fall. 

My little pollinator garden in finally attracting a butterfly or two. It is starting to look rangy. 

That is my garden report for today. 

Shalom. 

Dramatic dispatch.

Our very own drama troupe is visiting today. 

P & M arrived via Hamilton mid-morning.

They hit the ground running and we had harvested vegetable before lunch. 

Full tummies, a FT visited with their dad, and after Granddaddy's nap we needed something to occupy our minds and time. 

We hatched the plan and put it into motion. 

Much work had to be done. 

Creative juices flowed and this little clip came together.

We hope you enjoy! 

On with the show!

Delayed dispatch.

Man I am getting old. I'm slipping and so I have to make a double birthday post today...

Our Caboose celebrated his birthday yesterday.

The tree. And the apple.

See it?

It didn't fall far. 

Born with his very own sense of style. 

His feng shui is all his own. 

I have been captivated since the beginning of his existence. 

I am so glad he was born. 

He is icing on the cake. 

His offspring celebrates her #5 birthday today! 

She follows the beat of her own drummer for sure!

She is a spark of light!

"When  you blow out the candle,

One light stays aglow.

It's the love light in your eyes

Where ere you go!"

-Tom Chapin

Namaste!

Birthday dispatch: The sequel.

June 14, 1981. This 10 lb. baby was born.

He has not stopped rocking the world ever since.

Never met a stranger.

Always sees the best in people. 

We are so proud of the wonderful husband father he has grown to be. 

God's light shines in and through this man.

Happy birthday Bob.

We love you.

A birthday dispatch.

May God rain down his blessings on Daughter today, her birthday.

Some peaks at the past...

Yes. I think that was a Smurf lunchbox.

That is Nana's profile. This was on the brick patio.

Some cousins in Nana and Pa's driveway.

Kindergarten. 

Oh tooth fairy?

This one reminds me of our Cecilia for some reason.

Words fail me.

She is a gift.

She is so like her Dad.

Smart and funny.

Deep and mostly introverted.

Fierce.

Happy birthday Daughter!

I love you.

D-Day dispatch.

Every month I write new messages on two chalk surfaces in my home.

This little one is in my kitchen.

This is the month of many birthdays.

In celebration of the anniversary of the day before our first child was born we revisited the same breakfast that we enjoyed 42 years ago.

The egg McMuffin. 

Thank you McDonalds for being a part of our family lore. 

***

Thank you, also, to the Greatest Generation for all of you sacrifice and service.

Shalom. 

Sweet dispatch.

Last Thursday when we were feeling a little free we went to town and bought supplies to start our sweet potato project.

We had already picked up the crates from our DIL.

We visited the local Lowe's for the landscape fabric and pine bark compost. 

Then it took three more stops to find the sweet potato plants. 

The crates got lined with the fabric.

The pine bark compost was wheeled to the site.

The crates were filled. 

We purchased the sweet potato plants from a local feed & seed store. 

All done. Now all we have to do is water and wait.

Until September. 

We had such a good time watching our red skin potatoes grow this spring.

Now we are going to watch the sweet potatoes do the same thing.

Meanwhile...

We are harvesting yellow squash, cucumbers, green beans, small onions, and cherry tomatoes.

I have picked my first heirloom cherokee purple tomatoes. We have better boy and cherokee purple growing on the northside garden. 

I have "who knows what" tomatoes from compost growing on the southside garden.

I know one is a roma tomato just from looking at the shape of it.

Bell peppers and okra are growing.

And my one popcorn stalk is looking healthy.

Yesterday we planted more green beans in the spot where our red skin potatoes grew.

I picked some dill today for drying.

Yesterday I tried my hand at pickled green beans.

Our two fig rooting look gorgeous.

Blueberries are slowly coming along.

Elderberry is about to bloom.

Not so sure about the gogiberries.

Already starting to think about our fall crops.

Our nano garden. 

We feel like farmers with our little patch of ground.

What else do we have to do during quarantine?

Shalom.