Summer happenings

First, the trip to Maine in June to see my new grand-daughter, Garnet Catherine Patrick.  Beautiful little one, she is.  We got to see about everyone we wanted to see while there.

Next, the trip back to Kentucky with Barry's sister, Carol.  On the way down, we passed through Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and into Kentucky.  While she was here, we drove her all over the state in 90 degree heat and humidity -- from Lexington and Louisville to Lake Cumberland to Paducah, as well as side-trips into Indiana, Tennessee and Illinois!

Then, Rick, Laura and Elizabeth joined us over the 4th to see the wonderful fireworks display at Millennium Park in Danville.

Next, it's down to Nashville in early August to visit my best friend from junior high and high school for a weekend.

Then, in October, we're headed south to Key West.  Last year, we drove as far south as one can drive in Louisiana (Venice, LA, near the infamous BP "spill").  This year it's going as far south as one can drive on US Route 1.  Now all I have to do is to drive from Miami north to Boston, and from Houlton to Fort Kent and I'll have driven ALL of US 1.

In the meantime, Barry continues to work in the garden.  He's frustrated though, because we lost our entire crop of squash and pumpkins to bugs and fungus and virus...or whatever it was that took those out.  The beans, though we got quite a few, were also infested with something; and the tomatoes won't produce enough for a good spaghetti sauce.  About the only things growing well this year seem to be the moles, crabgrass, beets, strawberries, raspberries, grapes, and (cross you fingers) peaches.  The pickling cucumbers (supposed to be small and thin) grew to football size, so we adapted some recipes and made Barry's mother's golden pickles, and some ripe cucumber relish.  Both VERY GOOD!  Motto:  When life hands you football-sized cucumbers, make relish!

We DID trap two raccoons which got into most of the early corn, but at least, with the little critters now living in a wildlife sanctuary miles away, we will enjoy the rest of the corn.

Most of the days in July so far have been about 90, with high humidity.  Can't wait to see the electric bill for air-conditioning, but without it, we'd just be puddles of blob on the living-room floor.  Rain has been about normal, but it's come in spurts -- nothing for 2 weeks, then an inch an hour.  That's probably what ruined the tomatoes -- splitting when they absorbed so much un-accustomed water.  Thunderstorms have been quite heavy and frequent, too.

OK, guess I have to turn on the A/C.  We have a nice breeze, but it's just bringing in humid air now, and my fingers are beginning to stick on the keyboard.