Checking in

I've been busy cooking, gardening, and resting.  Yes, at this age I rest a lot.  I can't believe how tired I get sometimes doing the simplest things.  

We had a big Fourth of July celebration on Saturday, the third.  I took pictures of babies and other partiers that day, but I have misplaced the dongle I use to upload pictures to my Mac, so I will wait until my new dongle arrives to share those pictures (dongle is a silly-sounding word, isn't it?  Almost naughty-sounding... or maybe my mind takes the wrong road sometimes).  The picture above is me on my Missouri Foxtrotter, Boogie Midnight Rhythm Blue, in 2007.  Longtime readers will recall my many long rides with Blue.

Cliff, our son, and Arick, the resident grandson on the place, got one of my husband's two recently purchased tractors in good shape to use or sell yesterday... the 1650 Oliver.  Cliff has owned several Olivers through the years.  This one was in better shape than most of the others were when he bought them; it has very few small dents and excellent tires.  Trust me, that's rare on these old tractors.  Those big tires do not come cheap!  The fuel tank wasn't on it when he brought it home, but that was no problem except for the fact that it had to be cleaned out; Cliff took it somewhere to get that job done.  Usually when our son visits each July, there's some projects the three of them can work on together; since this one is done, they have started on my favorite, the big White tractor.  

I took a notion the other day to get some June-bearing strawberry plants.  Greenhouses and such don't sell plants this time of year, as far as I know, but there were several sellers on Ebay.  I ordered 25 plants and have been tilling up a spot for them little by little.  At this time of year I will have to water them a few times, but it will be worth it next spring when the you-pick places are asking $5 for a pint even though you are doing the picking yourself.  I will laugh myself to the kitchen, take a couple of Tylenols, and rejoice.

I've heard many people all around me talk about the racoons getting their corn, but I've never had it happen until now.  The corn isn't quite ready, but I found an ear at the end of the garden with the husks pushed back and the tiny kernels chewed on.  From what I've heard from others, I imagine that's the end of my sweet corn; time will tell.  

This year stayed cool for so long, the tomatoes are slow to ripen.  I've eaten about three cherry tomatoes; that's it!

I'll be back to share pictures and stories of our very noisy celebration on Tuesday or Wednesday, I hope.  I hope all my friends online had a great Independence Day.

Peace.