Late summer

These days are very hot--we have hit 90 many times--and the garden needs watering every other day. There is no rain in the forecast. But, it is cooler at night and has been less humid than sometimes, so it is almost pleasant morning and evening. When I go out in the morning with the dogs, I have to wave sticks ahead of me to knock down the spiderwebs.

Ray says, "There seem to be more spiders than usual, I wonder what that means." I say, "There are more bugs, because it was so wet earlier in the year. This is the time of year for spiders."

Ray brought a spider in with him last night, after putting the chickens away. When he came in, he was wiping the webs away, and then he came across a good-sized spider. He put her out the front door. When I opened the door this morning, she had built a web right about face level. I called for help and crouched into a ball. He came running and knocked the web down (after he checked me) and tried to chase her away, to do her good work somewhere else.

It is one of the signs that fall is coming. The webs are worst in late summer (or best, because they do eat those bugs).

He got up early this morning, about 5, I think. I woke, but managed to sleep, or at least doze, for another hour or so. This is a skill I am cultivating. About 6:30 seems a very reasonable time to get up.

I spent about an hour on the computer before it was light enough to make breakfast. We made it together, although we don't eat exactly the same thing. I have toast with peanut butter, he has banana with peanut butter. I have vanilla yogurt, he has plain. I have tried putting a little honey and vanilla in the plain, but it isn't as good. We cut up fruit to put in our yogurt. Today it was pear and nectarine and he cut up both and split them between the two bowls. Half a cup of yogurt and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Healthy and delicious. The bread is homemade and is usually quite awesome.

Last Sunday, which has recently been bread-making day, I had this cold and didn't feel good. I made the bread, put it in the loaf pans, and fell asleep before baking it. Boy, was I mad the next morning, when I remembered I had no bread for breakfast, and wasted effort and ingredients. I baked it anyway, and I have 3 loaves that are about 1" high. They still taste good and have, I assume, the same amount of nutrients (and calories) as a full-sized slice of bread.

***

My Dad arrived in the red car about an hour ago. He has a bad cold, which he doesn't realize he probably got from me, since he didn't notice or remember that I had it, too. He didn't have the energy to get here early, while it was cool enough to work in the garden. We chatted a bit, I gave him some eggs and some lettuce and a cucumber (from the produce bin that arrived while he was here), and cold medicine and kleenex. He admired the squash and beans that seem to be doing well and went home to lie down.

The produce box today had: 2 big heads of lettuce, 2 giant bunches of chard, kiwis, nectarines, Granny Smith apples, 2 packages baby Bella mushrooms, lemons and limes, scallions, and 2 acorn squash, but not much of what you would call vegetables--no green beans or squash or broccoli...I'm very proud, though, that I have used up most of the older things, and have room for these in my fridge.

Tonight's potluck dish uses potatoes, spinach, and mushrooms (from earlier). I have sliced the onions and mushrooms and will finish up right before. I like to do a little cooking right after breakfast. Ray is usually still around and I have my best energy. After he leaves, I spend most of the day on the computer. I don't feel so alone and there is nothing to distract me. Sometimes I listen to music--right now it's Pandora.