Summer's End

Greetings, All:  It's been a while but a lot's been happening here in the Mid Atlantic region.  Of course, hurricane Irene just barreled though and left a lot of devastation in its wake.  We had a lot of downed tree limbs, pine cones and detritus on the ground, and especially in the swimming pool, which is now avocado green.  I suppose we'll just cover the pool, drain, clean and refill it next summer.  It's too much to even consider fixing at this point in time.

It's' been a good summer and a fleeting one.  My main goal this summer was to have an organic vegetable garden.  I went on line to Seeds of Change and ordered tons of organic seeds.  When the seeds came, I got my neighbor to plant them for me, as bending over for any length of time hurts my hips and legs.

 I decided not to have the conventional row garden, and planted the garden in small squares.  After the garden was planted, I went grocery shopping out of town and when I returned and glanced at the garden, I saw our yard man walking all over my newly- planted seeds.  I ran outside, screamed at him, and asked him what in the hell was he doing, walking all over my organic seeds.  He, of course, was shocked, as he said he didn't know there were seeds in the ground.  I had told my husband earlier that the garden had been planted and to please be careful when he had his tomatoes planted in the space that I had left him.  He said, when questioned concerning the stomping of my seeds, that he didn't know there were seeds there.  What, are you deaf, I said.  Actually, he is a lot deaf.

It took me quite a long time for my ire to be assuaged, but I finally accepted the fact that the seeds probably wouldn't come up and most of them didn't.  I did have some carrots, corn, squash and bush beans, but not many and they hardly produced any vegetables.  My garden was a failure, after all of the time, money and effort that had been put into it.  After a while, I just didn't care any more.  One thing we did have was lots and lots of Roma tomatoes.  These had been started indoors from seed and after they got their second set of leaves, then their third set of leaves, and had reacthed a height of approximately eight inches, I planted them outside my kitchen door and they thrived.  They grew to six feet and produced and produced and produced.  In fact, I had my last tomato sandwich for lunch today.  Oh well, maybe next year.

I've spent most of the summer inside, as the heat really does a number on me.  I've never been able to deal with heat.  Any temperature over seventy-five makes me feel like I'm going to lose my mind - really.   When I was a teenager, I remember trying to mow the grass in the front yard, using a push mower, and nearly passing out when I was finished.  I don't know why, but my body temperature gets too high with a certain amount of exertion.

I have enjoyed spending time with my great grandchildren this summer.  They're growing up so fast, it's hard to believe they're eight, two, and seven months now.   They're such beautiful and wonderful children. I sound like a true grandmother, don't I?

I have tried to sew a couple of dresses for the girls but find that my heart just isn't into sewing any more.  I makes me nervous and I certainly don't need that.  I think my sewing days are long gone.  It's a shame, because at one time I really loved it and did a pretty good job making clothes for my children, myself and  my granddaughter.

I guess I'll just grow old making jewelry and reading.  I really love to read.  Right now, I'm rereading a book by Rosamunde Pilcher entitled September.  All of her books are good, set mostly in Scotland.  The best book I've read by her is The Shell Seekers.  If you're a reader, don't forget to read this one.  You won't be disappointed.

I'm still making jewelry but have branched out into other aspects.  I'm working in metal now.  I like to hammer metal into shapes, stamp it and use it for bracelets, earrings, rings, etc.  I really enjoy doing this and I feel it might be an inherited talent, as my Dad customized cars and was a welder, as well.  I could hammer and stamp all day.

I certainly am dreading winter this year with the gas prices being so high.  My husband and I are going to try heating our home partly with wood.  We have a fireplace insert with a fan that will heat at least one half of the house so we'll use part wood and part propane.  Propane has gotten almost cost prohibitive.  We spent around $2,000.00 last winter for fuel, not counting the electric bill to run the house.  Our electric bill this summer has been at least $450.00 a month.  Of course, the pool counts for some of that and I've kept the AC at around 74 degrees.  I don't know how people are going to live if things get too much higher.

Well, it's time to go beddy bye, so I'll close until next time.  Be blessed and safe, Nana