thursday already

time to put out the trash and the empty produce bins.

Monday I don't think we went anywhere all day.

Tuesday Ray went to his office for a few hours in the afternoon and came home about 6. I didn't go anywhere.

Yesterday I volunteered at Sandy Creek Nature Center. It was good, but man, was I tired and hungry when I left there a little after 12:30. There were 22 children, ages 4-6, more boys than girls. I have a theory that children who are more difficult, or just active, are more likely to be sent to camp by their caretakers. I think there were more boys than girls, for instance. The three staff members were a little overwhelmed at times. The activities were perhaps not active enough for some of the kids some of the time. Some kids didn't want their Moms to go...or Grandmas. It was really hot out for hiking and games. But it was fun, too. The kids were affectionate and curious. Some were really knowledgeable about animals.

I picked Ray up and it was one by the time we left UGA. I was really hungry by then and we stopped at Mardie's for lunch. It was hot walking from the car to the restaurant--and there was a sign on the door, "closed for the summer, see you 7/21." Really? We were annoyed. I guess regular customers would have known. We saw two other cars come and go, as well. There is always a wait, so I guess they don't have to worry about driving people away. So we went to Agua Linda instead and had delicious Mexican food. We also bought a new hose at the hardware store nearby. As we were driving home, it started raining! We hoped it would be raining at our house too, for the garden. It stopped before we got there, but I checked the rain gauge and we had about 1/4 of an inch. More would have been good, but even that much makes a big difference. It's hard for me to water evenly with the hose long enough to do 1/4 of inch.

I rested up for awhile. Now I was too full. It was after 2, so no cooking or air conditioning or TV. I had cleverly cooked some potatoes that morning before we left, so I spent most of the afternoon peeling them. They were ones we grew, so some were very small and some had bad or wormy parts to cut out. I added oil and vinegar, onion, salt and pepper, and celery and celery salt. No mayo.

Late in the day, when it starts to get pretty hot inside (81) and we can't run the air, I usually go out. It's hot out, too, 86 I think yesterday, and humid, but there was a breeze. I let the chickens out, which is always entertaining. I was planning to pick blueberries, but got about 6. Those days are gone. Then I looked in the garden and there were green beans that needed to be picked! Also a few tomatoes. The beans are funny. They hide, somehow, because some were really big and fat (not so good to eat). There are still flowers, so there are still more coming. We have a couple cantaloupes and three watermelons that I hope make it to the eating stage!

Ray came out and said, "we need to go." Oh, no. I had to put the chickens up and I didn't have time to change out of my jeans and t-shirt, dirty from the garden. I wasn't wearing my watch and didn't realize what time it was. Ray bought some corn the other day and the young chickens (and old ones too) are much easier to get in the coop now. They come when I call and know they will get a treat in the coop. We got to the Fellowship at 6:29, not late, but not by much. Ange, Clarissa, Elizabeth and Ed, Stu and Kay and their granddaughter, who is about 8. The food was good, especially some cold cucumber soup. Yum.There were deviled eggs for protein.