July 10, 2002

Hello farmers. HOT! almost 100*. Lenjo, I was in Salem one year when it got up to 102, and with the humidity there it felt much hotter than it does here today. We had just moved down from Alaska so that made it feel even hotter. Remember the mushroom plant on the east side of Salem? And the smell? PEEUUUU, but the compost was great for the garden! We were house sitting near there and couldn't open the windows. It was a case of die from the heat or from the smell. I'm taking my ice cream break (daily event it seems) chocolate chip mint is the flavor of the day. I have plenty to do ouside but it is just too hot to work in the sun. I should be cleaning house (shhhhh) as we have company comming tomorrow evening. This morning when it was cool, hubby and I picked a shritfull of sugar snap peas. I can hardly believe I got him into the garden, but I asked him to come and look at a problem with my flood irrigation system that the spring water supplies, and it was close by, and I wanted him to see the artichoke plants with their nice fat buds. We are having home grown artichokes tonight, and a stirfry with the peas, chard leaves, brocolli (last year's) and green onions all from our garden. Yummy, I love eating homegrown vegies. After it cools off a little I need to get the 3rd round of corn planted and take a ride on Breezy. Meanwhile I have laundry to hang out, the jeans I hung out two hours ago are dry already.
I keep meaning to tell you (or maybe I did ~ senior moment) about a family of red foxes that are living down the road from here in a culvert. When we drive by they don't get too concerned. One of our neighbors has counted 5 pups. I hope nobody shoots them. They eat a lot of rodents, and nobody nearby has any chickens, so they shouldn't be a problem for anyone.
Lisa, thanks for the offer of rose starts, I would love to have Lisa roses in my yard. Check for hardiness on the variety so they will live through my winters. Think of something I could trade you for them. Want a cactus?
Take care everybody, have a good evening and count your blessings.