Variations on summer themes

The weather, chickens, garden, orchid, and spinning along with the TdF – all are ongoing for better or worse. To wit....

Our weather moderated from 'infernal' to hot, and then on Tuesday neared triple digits again. Thankfully, though, a stiff coastal breeze dramatically dropped the temperature outside and in through the evening and we had lovely sleeping weather. Such cooling breezes used to be near nightly occurrences, but they have become less common with climate change – maybe that's why our tomatoes are doing better this year! Silver linings....

The following is not a silver lining. My husband has taken up the battle with ivy and blackberries. Unfortunately, strong herbicide is his tool of choice, and the other evening, he sallied forth to attack the new recruits making an incursion around the northwest corner of the garden. I expressed concern but he assured me he would take precautions and all would be well that should be well. Well, it's not. When I went up in the garden a day or two later, I noticed my Armenian cucumber, some strawberries, and at least one of my hills of summer squash all exhibiting the stricken curled stems of herbicide poisoning. I've watered everything to eliminate other stressors and can only hope the effects aren't fatal – and any resulting produce doesn't poison US. Environmental glyphosate persistence is real, in spite of what the label – and my husband – says. I'm not too worried about the produce coming from seemingly unaffected plants, but what if the affected ones recover and produce?

Long White Zucchini of Palermo, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Calima Beans, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

My glorious little orchid now:

I've continued spinning up the little fiber snacks from BSG for the Tour de Fleece. As always, spinning is a great way to fill the time, which I've had more of than usual. I have made three trips this month to the Casey Eye Institute at OHSU in Portland, transporting a lady from our church to and from her appointments/surgery; we go again next Tuesday. When I get too cold spinning in the air conditioning, I stroll around outside, taking in the beautiful views from "Pill Hill:"

a much less scenic view in the opposite direction

And Wednesday, Honeybun gave us our first 'pullet bullet'!

At the end of this month, we are getting unexpected company. Rick's cousin's son just graduated from college and is considering vet school, so Rick's cousin called and asked if his son, his wife, and his sister could fly out for a week. Rick, of course, is delighted; I have two guest rooms to clear and clean and a lot of extra cooking to plan for. C'est la vie.

That's it for now from . . .