The Sense of Today's Doin's

Well folks, it's hot out there!

But not for long, say the hallowed halls of weatherdom. Our next cool spell might last into August.

Carolyn and Ethan are off detasseling...for how long I do not know.

Yesterday they worked in the heat until after 2:30, starting a new field in case "the health lady" made them stop early, today.

I say, "Yay for the health lady!" in the sense that she might pull teens and young adults from a hot, hot, situation. Not sure about the company that had them work longer in yesterday's heat....but Ethan thinks they are pretty good people so I'll assume the best.

After returning home at 4pm, Ethan went up to the roof for more (and perhaps, hotter?) work on the house. Both he and Carolyn were plenty tuckered out, come evening. Carolyn regularly dozes off on the couch ever since detasseling started.

As for today, Nolan and I polished off a small section of lawn. Only 35 minutes but still plenty sweaty, considering the heat advisory. I believe it's now been cancelled for our county, in the sense that we're 3 miles north of a labelled county.

Speaking of heat, upon mowing's completion I glanced up and saw Loren up on the roof, with his faithful helper, Trevor. Usually Trevor wears a white shirt for this "job" but today he was dressed in black T-shirt and jeans.

I don't think he's gonna do that again. When I suggested he come in and change, he did so, grabbed a drink, hit the restroom and almost passed out, afterward.

This is the second time something like this has happened. So I have to impress on him not to stand up too quickly. Particularly after working in a heat advisory with non-reflective clothing. This kid is small, with no fat, and no hedge for quick changes in blood pressure.

Removed his shirt, gave him fluids, had Nolan position a fan on him and within 45 minutes he had transitioned from the visage of a pale flounder, back to his perky, smirky self. Even so, I decided to keep him indoors for a while.

Loren is out on the roof again. That man is driven. Guess I'll have to post a few pictures, soon.

Oh yes. One other thing: I heard the buzz of cicadas, yesterday at dusk. Buzzing cicadas, in the sense of that ephemeral,  "where did the summer go?" melancholy.

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Savoring the Modal Moment

This robin often perches on a wire not far from the kitchen window. Just sits there. Holding food in its mouth. Waiting....

Thought I'd better post something before I forget how, ha ha. In the meantime, silly, "why are you doing this to me!" Blogger is trying to confound my communication by keeping me in small, caption mode print. But tricksy Ma has outsmarted it (I hope) by going to html....oh, I--guess--not.

Well anyways, I am still alive, as are Loren and the four offspring currently in residence.

 Carolyn and Ethan are busy with detasseling. They have worked four days, with one day off. Less fields this year and they've even returned home early (before or by 2pm) a couple of days. But that doesn't mean they can rest. Well, not Ethan, anyway. He goes right into "working on the house" mode, with Loren. I think he sleeps well at night :-D

Today Trevor chose to stay at home and play fetchem with his dad, while I took Nolan to the courthouse gardens. Wanted to get in a few more service hours for Master Gardening. Nolan helped a bit (as much as I required) and then alternately wandered in the (very) small park with the binoculars, or sat in the car and read.

Had a picnic lunch ("don't say I never took you out for a picnic, Nolan!") followed by more work and then a nutritious candy bar and pop (that would be "soda" for people in the east and Texas) from Casey's.

Came home and had a wee rest, followed by trimming approximately 2/3 from one of my monster Rugosa Rose bushes. Only 3 more to go, one of which is small.

Well, that wraps up another scintillating post. Here's hoping Blogger can get its act together before long. I liked them a lot better (as well as writing) a few years ago.

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Life in the Yard

Yarrow (achillea)

Swamp Milkweed

Fleabane

Toadflax (wild snapdragon)

Common Milkweed

July: that time when so many wildflowers go bananas :-D

Each specimen represents plants "rescued" from the ditch (with the exception of common milkweed). The future may hold a few more acquisitions but ditch-combing isn't high on my activity list these days.

Now, I must go out and check my charges....

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Life's Biggest Questions

Every once in a while I ponder the questions that no one can really answer.

You  know the ones.

Questions like, "Does Queen Elizabeth ever have to clean the bathrrom?"

and, "Is it appropriate to wear Liz Claiborne jeans while mowing the lawn?"

That last one came up today...er, yesterday, while browsing the denims at Goodwill.

I've found it pretty important to have a good, sturdy pair of jeans for yard work, both mowing and gardening.

Of my current two, one has both knees torn halfway across the leg, as well as a flap heading down one side.

It's good for ventilation, but very bad for one's self respect.

The other pair, less worn, suffered an unfortunate piercing when I fell down near some elderberry attack bushes.  At least my person was spared. But the unseen ripped seat was thrown into the washer where something akin to a sinkhole developed.

Which found me at Goodwill, searching for jeans.

In a remarkable stroke of good fortune, I discovered not one, not two, but SIX jeans with the appropriate short length.

One of them bore the tag "Liz Clairborne." I don't know who Liz is, exactly, I just know that whenever I find stuff of that label, it is fairly classy and often fits.

(there are quite a few jean makers that should be talking to Ms. Claiborne, in my opinion....but that's another matter)

This Liz fit nicely. But then I had to ask myself: Wasn't mowing in designer jeans an untoward mix of milieus?

Does one hang a Van Gogh in the garage?

No, it could not be reconciled.

In an amazing act of apropos I placed them back on the rack and slowly walked away.

The lawn must needs be content with C. J. Banks.

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Nolan (Billy Blaze) Turns 15

Before I could get properly set up, the birthday boy had blown out his candles.

Colored pencils, for the guy with artistic tendancies.

Origami! Complete with special folding sheets.

What's this...?

More Rick Riordan :-D

And so another year has passed. Possibly more than that since Nolan's last birthday posting.

As you can see, Ma has never quite gotten the whole "keep the house neat as a pin," look. At this point I'm willing to forfeit that dream, ha ha.

Carolyn made a luscious cake for Nolan; peanut butter chocolate. Wow, was it rich! The memories stayed with me in bed where my eyes were wide open with chocolate enhanced alertness. Ah, good times.

The birthday meal consisted of Mexican Chicken, Tortilla Roll-ups (two items that continue to be a family favorite, Elizabeth :-) Carolyn's special salad and ....maybe that was all. It's so hard to remember things that happened a whole week ago....

I think Nolan enjoyed himself. Having chosen the meal and waited most of the day and, not having complained too much about mowing earlier....I think his birthday was a success. As a bonus, many carefully folded paper creations have appeared, over the last seven days.

Most of them on my desk.

Then to, the books combine in dual purposes as reading material and a reason-for-younger-brother-to-be-nice.

Happy Birthday, Nolan!

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