Summer Time 2010
Ah, summer, the season of lovely, growing things. Summer’s about to kill me.
All around us, there has been rain, but oh no, not here. We often claim we live in some sort of meteorological black hole. Our weather only sometimes resembles the forecast and rarely matches that of our neighbors. An old high school acquaintance posted on Facebook recently that he was so happy there had been no days over 100 degrees — and here it was the middle of June in Central Texas. HELLO — Our thermometers at strategic spots on various decks and porches have registered as high as 109 — and certainly well over one hundred several afternoons. Like I said, we’re in our own zone. So I spend much time watering. I water the garden. I water the flowers. I water the dog.
Ah, the summer garden. I water. I weed. I pick. I wash. I pinch off bugs and worms. I shell black-eyed peas, cut the “spines” from the spinach leaves. I cook squash. And squash. And squash. Don’t get me wrong. I do love squash. It’s just sort of labor intensive, but not nearly so much as the peas and spinach, which I also find delicious. With all the peelings and scrapings and discarded parts, I’m often tempted to start that compost pile I’ve always threatened. But that would be yet another project demanding my attention, and extra time is something I truly don’t have in the bank.
Soon there will be potatoes to dig, wash, and prepare. And onions. And peppers and okra to pick. And tomatoes. And cucumbers. And cantaloupe. And whatever else I forgot. If I don’t go out to pick the asparagus each and every day and sometimes twice, it turns into little trees before I know it. Asparagus and okra are impatient vegetables. I think sometimes they can grow visibly larger in the time it takes for me to walk from one end of the garden to the other.
Although our plums are barely ripe, our kind, generous neighbors offered me enough of theirs to make two batches of jelly. This was a new experience for me, and one that deserves its own story. (Stay tuned). Soon we will have peaches to freeze and grapes for more jelly — and for wine. I can’t think about that yet. So much work. And hot work to boot!
So for all my trouble, I was stung by something in the garden that burned like fire and now itches uncontrollably. But we’re eating well. At least I am. When Zack is hungry, he’s apt to grab the first thing he sees — or want meat and tomatoes as quickly as possible. I warned him if he didn’t start helping eat some of this squash, a garden would not be on my agenda next year. Although Zack does a huge amount of work plowing, tilling, planting and mowing around the perimeters— it seems he always becomes consumed with some other major project just about the time the garden becomes a real chore. Then the weeding, watering, picking, cleaning and cooking all falls to me. And sometimes the eating — unless I put it in front of him and tell him, “You’ll eat it and you’ll like it.”
The ducks and ducklings flew away when our tank dried up. I guess those babies learned to fly just in time – -and I hope they found another home close by. From what I could see, of their newly discovered navigational skills, they might not have made it very far.
A bird has been feeding her little ones — in one of my hanging baskets. She occupies herself, for hours a day, fussing at one of the cats. And he, in turn, spends an inordinate amount of time staring at her and the little “peepers” in the nest. It isn’t the first time a bird had chosen this particular piece of real estate for a home.
The dog seems to need more attention in this weather. He certainly has more baths. I’ve found a trick to keep him still while I shampoo and rinse him with the hose I will share this with you because I’m a true humanitarian. I discovered quite by accident last year that if he has one of those chewy stick things in his mouth, he’ll stand stock still for the entire ordeal until I release him to shake off and enjoy his treat. Other than the drooling, it’s a minor miracle. You’re welcome.
The humans around here need more showers in the summer time too. Spending most of our time outdoors and with the kinds of “job descriptions” there are here, we always seem to be hot, dirty or both. I’m grateful we don’t live in the desert. We might think it’s dry here, but I know for a fact it can be worse.
I also discovered that I can keep the dog still much more easily for his “pedicure” if I sing to him. If you ever heard my voice, you might think he’s betting I’ll stop sooner if he’s still and we get it over with quickly. I prefer to think he’s the only one who truly appreciates my dulcet tones.
Have a lovely, HOT week everyone. Remember the sun block and drink plenty of fluids!
