What a difference the humidity drop made this week. My overall mood has changed significantly. I spent Tuesday puttering in my own garden. It’s been a while since I have had the pleasure. I tried to enjoy the vegetable garden without beating myself up over the neglected tasks. I watched several goldfinches on the perennial sunflowers. I didn’t notice them at first since they were the same color. At that moment, an osprey flew overhead with a fish in its mouth.

I had a lone collard plant last year. I reseeded tons of babies. Wonder of wonders, they were untouched by the heinous cabbage moth. They were apparently too busy devouring all the other cole crops. I meant to cover the crops with row covers or dose them with BT. Isn’t the road to that well-known place paved with good intentions? The cucumbers and zucchini are having a banner year. Also, the winter squashes and pumpkins are performing well. One of the pumpkins is larger than a basketball. The variety is Connecticut Field. I like to grown them for the great-grandchildren. For eating, I prefer the Small Sugar.

I started dahlias from seed. They are just starting to bloom. A three-dollar seed packet yielded 20 plants. A single specimen can run $20 at the nurseries. For several years, I have grown Black-Eyed Peas. They don’t seem to be bothered by pests and/or critters. I couldn’t resist picking several handfuls to eat as a fresh bean. Usually, I let them dry on the vine and store them for winter. In order to do them fresh—the entire pod needs to be boiled briefly, and the bean will pop right out.

For as much as we detest the Japanese Knotweed A.K.A False Bamboo, it is very pretty right now. Apparently, our ancestors brought it to England from China and Japan because they were impressed with the flowers. Yikes! It’s everywhere now. Cutting and poisoning along the highways only deters it for five minutes. It is back in spades next year.

There is a nice row of Crape Myrtle along the side of Cumberland Farms. It is becoming a favorite summer blooming shrub or tree.

I have a major pet peeve. Did folks not get the memo in elementary school to walk on the left facing traffic. I’m amazed there are not more accidents.

I cannot understand the popular Republican talking point that they are better for the economy. They’ve been using that lie since Ronald Reagan who, by the way, exploded the national debt with his tax cuts for the rich. Finally, Bill Clinton balanced the budget until Bush II came in with wars and more tax cuts. Things began to stabilize after Obama, until Trump. Granted, I’ll excuse him for the Covid economy. Joe Biden did his best and brought us out of Covid on a better path. Who knows what will happen now? We are $40 trillion in debt as a government with $77 trillion in credit card and personal debit.

My parents, when first married in the 1940s, opened a charge account at the local gas station. They happily took long Sunday drives. After the first bill arrived, they made the decision that if they couldn’t afford it, they wouldn’t go. I try to live by those principles. Too bad our country doesn’t.