Last week’s warm, sunny and spring-like weather was just a tease. Here it is Tuesday morning and brrr! I did enjoy yesterday’s rain as I was able to make, probably, my last batch of bread until next late fall. Good thing I have plenty in the freezer. I slice it before tossing it into cold storage, so we can just grab a few pieces to thaw in the toaster. I never use a recipe but try to use various types of flour and seeds. Honey is my preferred sweetener but of late blackstrap molasses is a welcome change.

The garden doesn’t seem to mind the cooler temperatures. Every day something new pops up. Daylilies and irises are emerging. The daylilies are reminding me to locate the deer repellent. They are nibbling the two-inch tall plants right to the ground. Honestly, it’s amazing I have any sense of humor. While on the subject of animal damage, I found some newly-planted (last year) trees with life-threatening damage to their trunks. It was about two feet up. I realized it was probably bunnies walking on top of snow. Wonder why I did not think to protect them when planting? Wait, I know, never got around to it!

I noticed some heather blooming at the automated pay station for parking across from the Chamber of Commerce next to Cumby’s in Vineyard Haven. It’s not as large and nice as the one at Shirley Kennedy’s cottage at the corner of causeway and State Road. I was bragging mid-winter about the still nice-looking Feather Falls variety of ornamental grass. It never pays to be smug. The deer polished it off overnight.

On Saturday night, Violet and I were lucky to attend the annual Meat Ball. Our friend, Charlie Granquist of Slough Farm was the chef. Island meats were made into various meatballs. We are so fortunate to have so many sources here on the Island: Flat Point, Leaf to Beef/Fork to Pork, Mermaid Farm, Morning Glory, Allen Farm, Island Grown Initiative, Ghost Island, Blackwater, North Tabor Farm, not to mention the many volunteers who prepare the feast. The Flying Elbows provided the music — all ages enjoyed dancing.

While still on the subject of farms, a drive-by of farms is recommended. There is an impressive Witch Hazel at Brookside Farm on Middle Road. I said many times, I missed my calling in advertising. I was in Falmouth on Tuesday, killing time before my ferry. I had been to a dentist visit. I was not a fan of the procedure and was looking for non-chewable food. I found a little shop on the main drag before the CVS called the Blended Berry. It is now a must stop on all my off-Island trips. I enjoyed a delicious, freshly mad to order smoothie.

I was in need of a small piece of sheet metal and was whiny about having to shop for it. As I pulled out of my driveway, a piece of it fell off a truck. Now that’s something you don’t see every day. I should have bought a lottery ticket in keeping with my apparent good luck.

I was sorry to hear of the passing of Robert Mueller. I guess I had forgotten that he was appointed and confirmed by the senate 98-0 one week before 9/11. He was a Vietnam War hero with both the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Therefore, it was upsetting, at best, to have the sitting President of the United States say “Good! I’m glad he’s dead!” I didn’t even like it when folks cheered when Osama bin Laden was killed. Hey, you fake Christians out there, didn’t Jesus say: “It’s not the will of the Father that any should perish.”

DJT would be wise to go by the old saying: “I don’t get enough credit for not saying what I think.”