Split Peas

Yes, I found my split peas. Wal-Mart has them at $00.73 cents a bag. I got four bags and may get more later if I have left-over money. Ha! Can you "warm up" left over money in the microwave and make it stretch like day old meat and tatters? I also found the Mylar(space blankets) that I wanted. They were cheap enough so I got two. Also, found 22 long hollow pt. shells. Got them, too. Wanted and found a Magnesium Fire Starter(made in China) for my"go bag." So, in my aimless wanderings in Wal-Mart I picked up some items that I wanted to add to my stocking up stuff. I was wondering when they would start ID-ing people picking up rifle shells-now they do. What's next?



I didn't work in the garden. My body said "no" to that and I said, "Oh, OK." Tomorrow is an other day.



The melon I planted puts out blossoms, but no melons. I'm sure I put out two melon plants, but can't see/find one. The pepper plants are starting to perk up and put out blossoms again. I love peppers. I want to start a "summer garden" soon. The growing season here is long enough for a second selected garden planting. Soon as the potatoes die back and I dig them up I will have room for good vegetables. I don't know how the digging will effect my arm, but I will find out and persist no matter what.



It is almost 8 PM and I have not had supper yet, so it to the kitchen for something to eat.

END

Weeds

Weeds. I got into the garden and pulled lots of weeds. I filled a garden cart and I am not done yet. While we were having our little heat wave I opted for good health and stayed in the where it was cooler and safer from the high humidity. However, the weeds took over the garden and grew to about at least a foot tall or more in some places. Now I can see be where the beets are. I went up the middle of one row between the beets and onions. Pulling weeds also pulled up a few onions. Those landed in the kitchen sink and will find their way into a nice salad tomorrow. Tomorrow, if I can still walk or move, I need to get on the other side of the beets and in between the tomatoes. That will require a different approach. I hate to say that I will most likely use a pruner for some of the taller weeds. I am making progress, though. I hate that it got so bad. As I have high b/p in my "mature" years"...I let the weeds go and grow. Now, that we are having a few nice days before we jump back into the frying pan...I will try to make the most of the better weather.

I drank some wine tonight. Even though I make good home made wine I seldom drink any of it. I made myself a wine spritzer; a little wine, a lot of soda and ice. Pretty good for a change. I didn't have "lunch" until nearly four in the afternoon, When I am in the garden time stands still and I don't want to stop and check the passage of the hours. If I pay no attention to my watch I get more done that way. There is lots to be done.

I tracked a lot of loose dirt into the house. When you "got to go" you just have to carry the dirt in with you. There isn't time to change shoes and be neat about re-entry from garden to bathroom.

The ads for Wal-Mart finally came. There is nothing that I want or need. It's all about the commercialism of the 4th of July. Every holiday is a just that, and the price of gas spikes, too. Even with the big mess in the Gulf of Despair...there isn't a shortage. There is a glut of oil...for now. When it gets cold Corporate America will jack up the prices again and when the oil and gas prices rise, so does the cost of putting food on the table. "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer."

We are in Afghanistan for the "vast treasure house of minerals, oil and gold" that was "just" discovered. They have known of the riches over there for many years. Our soldiers are not there to liberate and bring democracy to the poor down troden. Our soldiers are bleeding and dying for Corporate Greed and corruption. If the government wants to bring freedom to an oppressed people they could start right here. They won't even protect our boarders. They could go into the hills of Eastern KY, VA, the Appalachian Mountains, and do some good-a lot of good-right here in our own backyard. Nah...no money in that. Blood and bone of brave American soldiers will not put money in THEIR pockets.

Well, that little bit of wine must have gone straight to my head because I am on a roll here-a mild rant. I had better quit while I am ahead. Besides, I am very tired. I got up before six.

END

Corn and tomato sauce

Finally-a little ear of corn.The corn is a good six feet tall. There is a saying, "Knee high by the Forth of July." It may be a common adage about the growth expectation of corn, but I hear it a lot from gardeners.

Yesterday I dragged the hose out and gave the corn a good soaking. The ground remains pretty dry in spite of an occasional rain "spit." There just isn't enough moisture in the soil.

I went to the Save A Lot store this afternoon. I am still looking for dry split peas. They still don't have them. While I was there I spotted tomato sauce on sale-4 for a $dollar. I bought a whole case for $6.00. I can make a lot spaghetti! Of course, I can use it for other cooking, too.

I am not fond of spiders, mice or snakes so I bought a couple of glue traps. No little mice yet, but the spiders are getting stuck on the glue boards and that makes me happy. One mouse must have gotten stuck, but it got away. I guess I will have to set a couple traps. I guess I now have mice because the boys next door are not mowing the grass. They have two dogs and probably dog food. Dog food will call mice and it is just a short excursion for little rodents from there to here.

I spent the day out of the house because I wanted to shop before all the checks come out. I don't like fighting the crowd. The Wal-Mart flyers/ads are not out yet, but I want to see what might be on sale for stocking up By the way, the reason I put a hyphen in Wal-Mart is because that is the way it used to be spelled and I am from the old school. As it was spelled with a hyphen 20 years ago, it is sill spelled that way in my little mental dictionary.

I want to buy a Mylar blanket and a sheet/roll of heavy plastic. I want the Mylar blanket to carry in the van and the heavy plastic to wrap myself in, in case I want to ship myself somewhere. LOA!! Heavy plastic has many uses in and around the home and I have used up all that I had.

I stopped at the Goodwill store and bought a couple blouses and a pair of slippers. I hope they fit. I will not try on used cloths until I have washed them. I guess I am paranoid, wondering who wore them last and if they left anything behind. I left something behind for them: a huge bag of plastic bags. I am rid of the bags, the store always needs them and they have been recycled. See? I am helping to save the earth. Now if I could just go down to the Gulf with a big mop.

Not much else going on unless someone wants to volunteer and carry that case of tomato sauce in for me! Anyone?

END

NOTHING SUITES ME

That's right. Nothing suits me. Probably because of the heat. The heat index for today was 105 while the "real' temperature was only 94. I went out the back door a couple times and came right back in. It's a good thing that doors go both ways. All I did was refill the bird bath. I filled it last evening. It holds a gallon of water, but was dry today. Either the little birdies drank all that water or the hot sun sucked it up.



I did nothing today. Too uncomfortable to get out and go anywhere, so I didn't. Got the air conditioner in the kitchen window just in time to meet and greet the heat wave. Now the kitchen is cooler then the rest of the house.



I have been drinking a lot of fluids in this humid environment. I have come to dislike sugary drinks. It's like drinking syrup. I would rather have a big glass of ice water or sugarless ice tea. I suppose it is because I don't consume a lot of sugary stuff and have lost my taste for overly sweetened drinks or or food. Doesn't help my waist line much, though.



It may rain on Monday...then again it may not. I think I will sue the weatherman for breach of forecasting. It is really dry now and we need rain, but not gully washer.



Beverly has a birthday on Monday, the 28th. Hear that world? Wish my big sister a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!



Because I have stayed in, glued to the a/c, I have nothing to write about. So..that's it.



END

Trimmers

I have always had battles with trimmers. For some reason they want to act up and cause me lost time and effort. Today was not exception. I wound the trim line four times before the Weedeater would do I like I told it to do in the first place, contrary thing. I finally got most of the fence line trimmed up and looking good. Then I ran out of trim line...like spit! Now I have to go and buy more trim line before I can finish off what is left of the back and start on the front. That's modern society for you. Gotta keep the grass mowed and the weeds whacked to a presentable level. Mr. Greenjeans may be watching, driving up the streets or back alleys, just hoping to cite someone and collect a fine. Not gonna get it from me.

I have three trimmers. One is a gas trimmer, but is too heavy for my arm to handle now, a Black & Decker in need of a replacement part that I have to send away for, and the Weedeater that I used today. For the last two I have to drag a power cord all over because they are electric. They are lighter in weight than the gas trimmer and easier for me to handle, but oh, how I dislike the tether that I have to rewind at the end of the task. I think I'll buy a goat.

Working outside gives me a voracious appetite. When I come in I will eat anything that isn't moving. I'll never lose weight from working outside. I am afraid I will gain it.

This was a pretty good day to get outside work done. It made it up to 94 degrees and though the humidity was high, it was reasonable. It won't be like that tomorrow-Saturday. I wanted to get lots done, but I lost time messing with the trimmer.

Saturday is a day of no plans. I will take it as it comes, maybe try to do a little more shopping; stocking up. I did notice that the price of eggs had dropped to about $00.75 cents a dozen. It will be too hot to do much work outside. So, I will try to finish off some stuff inside that needs to be done.

END

Restocking

I have started my re-stocking a little earlier this year. A little at a time for now. I looked at meat today and left it in the big coolers. I bought beans instead. Beans are a good protein and packed with minerals and vitamins. I looked for split peas, but couldn't find any. I will have to go back to the "big" store and pay a higher price. I did come home with a ham hock for bean soup. I can freeze bean soup and I like it pretty well, but I do love split pea soup.

I also got out most of my freezer boxes and lids and washed and soaked them. And just to be sanitary and sterile, a little bleach is a good addition to the washing. Now comes the hard part: matching the lids with the containers. One type of container that is easy to match lids with is the cottage cheese containers. Yes, I do save them and freeze in them, just like my mother did. Lots of frugal people do the same. "Waste not...want not."

I walked around the garden this evening. The corn has a lot of really long tassels, but no corn ears yet...still waiting. Some of the tomatoes have blossoms, so I may have some tomatoes after a while. Rain/water would do the garden good. Weeding would also do the garden good. So, tomorrow morning should be a "weed away" day. The weather should be a little cooler for one more day. Around here...90 is cool.

The bird bath was empty. Where did all that water go? Birds were filying in, sitting on the rim and looking expectantly..."What, no water?" So I filled it.

END

No cooking

I could have cooked. I should have cooked. I didn't cook. No, I was just too tired to cook. Instead, I ran out to the deli and picked up my supper. Actually, there is enough for several meals for less than $20.00 because I also bought paper plates, cottage cheese, potato salad, Cole Slaw, Baked Beans and Gatorade. The Gatorade is because I lost a lot of fluid today.

The back yard is mowed and so is the front yard. I started to do some trimming along the fence, but quit around 3:30, took a shower and sat around trying to cool my engine. Even though I drank lots of water, rested often and wore my god-awful straw hat, I sweat profusely in the heat. On one trip into the house I decided that a trip to the b.r. would be a good idea and save me from having to come back in later..it just wasn't necessary. I guess I sweat it all out. Nothing.

Because I worked hard in the hot KY. sun I am posting this a little early so I can go to bed early. I just need to go out and put my mower away, lock up and call it a day. Tomorrow I will rest up and rub my sore muscles...LOA!

END