I've turned into a total wimp

At least in regards to hot weather. Ten years ago you'd hear me say, "I don't want air conditioning; I like the doors and windows open."

Six years ago we began using A/C in our bedroom; last year we moved to this mobile home with central air, and I can barely pry myself away from it to go outside, on days like these.

My mom told me, years ago, that this would happen. "When you're older," she warned, "You'll have to have air conditioning."

What did old people do a hundred years ago when the temperatures rose to a hundred degrees?

I've done a little trim mowing and some weed pulling today, but I would work for fifteen minutes, then come inside and rest forty-five. I was careful to wear my straw hat, because these days I get sick when I'm overheated.

We had a vegetarian dinner today: Fried green tomatoes, peas and new potatoes (I'm really enjoying the Yukon Gold potatoes), and zucchini, onions, and sweet pepper stir-fried with plenty of soy sauce. Good stuff! All the veggies came from the garden.

My sweet peppers are going to be a variety of colors; obviously, the pale-green ones are the earliest. There are several of them ready to eat, while most of the others are just setting fruit.

I've been wanting to try my hand at making borscht, and the beets are ready. But it looks like I'm going to have to buy a head of cabbage; mine is just starting to make heads. Besides, dust as I might with Sevin, those white moths that lay the eggs that turn into cabbage worms are very persistent. We shall see whether I get to eat my own cabbage or not.

I went to Cliff and Rena's garden to get the zucchini. Then I decided to check their cucumbers, since mine aren't ready yet. Lo and behold, a big snake had shed his skin beneath the leaves of one of the cucumber vines! I'm glad all I found was the skin. Their cucumbers are no nearer ready to eat than mine are, by the way.

In case you're interested, here's how I prepare my fried green tomatoes: slice them about a half-inch thick. Salt and pepper the slices, and let them sit for fifteen minutes or so. Then, dip them in milk; then flour; then beaten egg; and finally corn meal.

I could eat my weight in them.