Saturday, August 6, 2011

Little things

It's been nine days since my last post. I thought, well, not much has been going on. But that means I only post when the material comes easy, and that's not really fair to the community. So, here's a list of the little things.

1. We picked a quart of strawberries a day for two weeks from the plants in our six earth boxes along the driveway. I got sick of strawberries this year, for the first time in my life. They're done now, and in a couple of weeks they'll be cut back or pulled up and replaced by their runners for next year.

2. We're now in a contest with the peas. Can they produce pods faster than we can eat them? They're planted in a four by eight raised bed. Very few have made it to the kitchen; Art and I stand outside and eat them in the sunshine. We're almost sick of peas. A good thing, too, as the plants are getting pale, one by one, which means it's time to pull them up to make room for the bean plants coming up right behind them.

3. Last year the end of the tomato season left several hundred green tomatoes on the plants. The weather never warmed enough to ripen them. This year will be different. Already the cherry tomatoes are getting pink. Next week it will be time to start picking tomatoes.

We have four raised beds, each four by eight feet. Not a lot of garden. But enough to keep us busy.

4. The little girl next door has a piercing high giggle. This morning I heard it outside, accompanied by several other shrieky voices. I figured the neighborhood kids were playing in the inflatable water structure our neighbors bought for when their grandkids visit. I was right. Thirty minutes later, all was quiet on the property to the north. I love the sounds - and the silence.

5. We've ordered the Netflix disks for season five of Friday Night Lights. The first four seasons we watched on streaming Netflix during the last two months. Love the show. Love it. Love the values of the characters, the pace, the dialogue, the integrity of the production. I will miss it.

6. I just finished reading The Omnivore's Dilemma. Oh, my. It will change the way I eat. Glad to have found the book at the library after several people recommended it to me.

7. We leave for Alaska early Monday morning for a weeklong visit with my sister and her husband. Alyx (sister) is cooking "Daddy's spaghetti" Monday night. One of our oldest comfort foods, even coming from a dysfunctional childhood. The elders are all gone now, so we're the new elders, and we're much more functional. We've worked on it, though.

8. My granddaughter Mary's glasses arrived and she opened the box last night at her dad's house. She is wearing them most of the time, so far, thinks she looks very cool, and says she can see the TV and the computer and books easier. Her twin sister Malayne thinks she looks weird.

9. I am a believer in logical consequences for choices we make. I'm curious to see how many more people vote in the next election, and what kind of people we put in office. We live in interesting times.

10. I am playing online scrabble games with a niece and a friend. They win almost every time. It's good for the character.


24 comments:

DJan said...

I loved The Omnivore's Dilemma, read everything else he wrote. So those little things are not so little. Glad you're back, Linda! I did miss you, truth be told...

Deere Driver said...

Glad you read The Omnivore's Dilemma. You didn't know corn had such a history and a sex life, did you!

The book really pushes you to know where your food comes from without trying. It provides a backbone to make good, conscious decisions about your food.

Pass it on.

Freeze those peas too. You'll love them in November.

karen said...

I'm going to have to look for this book. Thanks for mentioning it. Summer has been quite busy, and blogging has been a bit slow for everyone...but I see what you mean about the community. Sometimes it feels good to take little breaks from it...sort of making room for other activities.
Hope you're a pleasant weekend.

Midlife Roadtripper said...

Your life sounds most content right now. I'm jealous that you have actual producing plants in your garden. I will pull up my tomatoes tomorrow. Been way too hot for them to blossom and I feel deeply sorry for their struggle for survival. Seems the kindest thing for us this year is just let everything die.

I enjoyed the Omnivore's Dilemma - think it is the best of his books. Have a great time in Alaska.

Beth said...

Thanks for catching us all up on your news. I so miss having a garden and it sounds like yours has been really prolific.

Enjoy your trip.

June said...

I don't think I want to read the book. I have more than enough to worry about right now, and it sounds like a worrisome tale.
We've never had great luck with strawberries. Zucchinis, now, luck we have with them!

whalechaser said...

OK...looks like I have added another book to my list! I hope you're happy now (!) ;-)

I will try that netflix series you mentioned as well, there is not much else on regular tv anymore!

So all this little stuff seems to have added up to quite a lot! At least is seems to keep you out of trouble!

Travels with Emma said...

Try Flip Words 2 as an online word game to keep your mind active. I seldom am a top player, but it's fun. :)

Dr. Kathy McCoy said...

I love the rich abundance of your "little things", Linda. It all sounds wonderful! An overflowing garden, good times coming with family...doesn't get any better than that!

I wonder about the upcoming election, too. I can't remember going into an election period with such a feeling of dread. I was angry and ready for change in 2008. Now I don't know what to think!

Terra said...

Your list is full of good things; all those strawberries and peas, grown by you! A visit to Alaska, appreciating silence. All good.

Sandi said...

Lots of good things in your life- food & family. I haven't read Omnivore's Dilemma, and now think I must find it after reading comments!

Linda Reeder said...

We loved Friday Night Lights too, and it was great seeing old friends return in the last two episodes.
I will miss those wonderful characters.

wheels4me said...

We do live in interesting times. I grew up on a 200 acre cattle ranch. Thanks to some friend serving as great role models, I plan to eat considerably less read meat and possibly even no red meat in the future.

Garden fresh fruits and vegetables are clearly much healthier for me than pen-raised hormone enhanced beef laden with antibiotics.

Congrats on your small garden success stories.

Out on the prairie said...

Eating a lot from my garden here, I gave away a bowl of tomatoes.Alaska sounds real fun, the only state I haven't been to.

Lynilu said...

Who will show up to vote? I'm not sure. I'd like to think more will line up at the booths, but I'm afraid it will be the opposite .... many will throw up their hands in frustration and walk past without going in to pull the lever or punch the card or lift pencil to paper. I must admit, that thought crosses my mind, although I WILL NOT abdicate my little bit of power in the system. Politics have become a sad state of affairs.

Tom said...

Nice slice of life ... esp. the strawberries and tomatoes part (oh, man, do I love those fresh tomatoes!)

Olga said...

Eat real food, not too much, mostly vegetables...words to live by. It's possible to get sick of strawberries??

Rita said...

Nice to see you back! Your earth boxes are doing very well, it seems.

I had not heard of this book, went on Amazon, and saw a whole series of books by him I will want to read now! I guess I need to take a trip to the library and see if they have any of them.

I watched Earthlings and became a vegetarian May 1, 2010. Changed everything for me.

Hope you have a great week! :)

Sally Wessely said...

You certainly did a good job of covering all that you've been up to. I was struck by your statement, "But that means I only post when the material comes easily, and that's not really fair to the community."

This shows how much you try to do your part in being a contributing member to any community in which you might play a part. Just know that I miss you when you don't post.

That being said, have a wonderful trip. Don't worry about keeping up with blogging. We will catch you when you come back.

Arkansas Patti said...

How nice your garden is still producing, The killer heat here has stopped all but the most determined plants.
I adored Friday Night Lights and watched it as it happened. I do miss it a lot.

Dee said...

Your posting, Linda, contained all the elements of a life that seems to be lived from a deep-down core of peace--picking fruit, growing veggies, watching a grand daughter make a choice, going on a cruise, observing the political scene with such common sense, reading, and more. You are a woman who finds joy in the day-li-ness of life.

I so hope that your cruise and visit to Alaska brings you even more joy.

Deb Shucka said...

You've been busy! I've walked by Omnivore's Dilemma a number of times. I guess it's time to pick it up. It sure sounds like you're having a good summer - what's not to love about eating so many strawberries and peas, you're not wanting more?

Cheryl said...

As our days warm up I'm looking forward to joining you in strawberries and peas and I just love online scrabble. Would love to go to Alaska - very jealous on that one!

Friko said...

I wish I could come and harvest your strawberries. I don't have any. Interesting that you grow them in boxes.

Have a lovely holiday in Alaska.