It is Friday already. Since my last post I have adopted an even younger version of my young dog Scout. In fact his mother is the new puppy's grandmother. I call her Annabelle, she is one very dainty and feminine "runt-of-the-litter." Scout was the victim of a hit-and-run and was badly injured requiring stitches and a cast and weeks of convalescence. We are all past that now, but Scout is tethered in the yard for most of the day, and sleeps in the house at night to keep the neighbor's young boxer bitch from luring him back down to the road in front of her house.
It has been dangerously hot day after day for weeks and weeks. We had a two-day respite in the middle of August when temps were slightly cooler than normal, but that was short-lived. Next week promises below normal highs and badly needed rain due to a slow-moving tropical storm that should strike the Mississippi Gulf Coast and blow up our way beginning early Sunday morning. I am using the rest of the contents of my rain barrels, battening down the hatches and eagerly awaiting the blessed relief from heat and drought.
The garden is mostly dried up. Still getting some okra, a few cherry tomatoes, one or two eggplant, and jalapeno and pimento peppers. The sorghum cane is turning brown, and I'm not sure when to cut it and try to process some juice to try my hand at making a quart of sorghum syrup. I spoke with cousin Tom Cole, but all his experience is with sugar cane, and we are both sort of guessing from that. I did find a large clump of mature wild lettuce. According to herb lore, it can be used as an opiate substitute and smoked or ingested before sleep, Navaho shamans believed it altered dreams. I have processed it three different ways and will experiment with it.
Two self-injuries: First, I stumbled in the house and stumped my toe on the recliner leg on a trip back from the toilet one night. Caught the next to the little toe and broke it good. It is still swollen and numb--sore, but I can put on a soft shoe now without crying out in pain. Doing chores in thongs is kind of scary for someone with MS/post-polio weakness in their feet and legs. I need more support than a flip-flop provides. But I managed to feed and care for the rabbits and dogs and nurse an injured dog. The garden work slid, except for what Lamar was able to accomplish. He has been busy most of the summer helping clean-up efforts from the Flood of 2011 down in the Delta, but is finally able to come help me out one or two mornings a week for a few hours--until it gets too hot for both of us--which is usually between 8 and 10 am.
One day I was stung on the back by a red wasp, which is very, very painful and actually caused a sick reaction for a couple of days. Then some fire ants got me on the arm before I got them out of my raised bed so I could finish weeding it. I have finally gotten the dogs' flea situation under control with a product called Comfortis, and both pups are being given Ivermectin powder monthly for heartworm and other parasites. Now mosquitoes, leaf-footed bugs, and blowflies are at their worst of the season, but I get some relief from the leaf-foots with Neem spray in the garden. I have to rinse mosquito larvae out of the rabbits' waterpans almost every day. Come quickly, Autumn!
Tuesday evening I got word that another retired repatriate took her own life that morning. I find this hard to believe as Bettye was a convert to Catholicism. She and I had compared notes on broken marriages and shared end-of-career reflections; but I would not have said she was despondent. Unfortunately we had not been in touch for months, so I really cannot evaluate her state of mind. I just wish we had made the effort, in spite of the terrible heat, to share some tea and tales in my garden retreat. Her death did inspire me to get in touch with another old friend who lives in Augusta, Georgia and copes with multiple health problems. We shared memories and updates and agreed to make a lunch date for Berry Burgers the next time she visits Benton.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
A Gift of Mistletoe
This morning when I returned from feeding and watering the rabbits Casanova and Blossom, there was a perfect sprig of mistletoe at the top of the steps up to my front porch. Since I bred the rabbits and worked in the vegetable garden yesterday, and since it is near the summer Solstice, my Celtic DNA inclines me to take this small miracle as a sign of prosperity and fruitfulness. An even more certain sign of such is the light, gentle rain that has relieved the drought we are suffering in the Mid-South this summer. I will pretty much take the rest of the day off to rest and recuperate from my recent bout with pluerisy and a grand mal seizure while God does the watering.
Yesterday Scout (my Jack Russel and Feist/Beagle mix puppy) and I drove over to look at the work done over the weekend on the one room shack I call Walter's Cabin. The screen porch is framed, the bridge to the high garden is built, and the roof has new tin. There is still much to do, and I need to tell Chitty I want him to build me some shelves. I also need to find someone to repair the chimney.
Yesterday Scout (my Jack Russel and Feist/Beagle mix puppy) and I drove over to look at the work done over the weekend on the one room shack I call Walter's Cabin. The screen porch is framed, the bridge to the high garden is built, and the roof has new tin. There is still much to do, and I need to tell Chitty I want him to build me some shelves. I also need to find someone to repair the chimney.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Spring Cometh
Friday, a red wasp stung me on my ring finger as Lamar and I were getting spring items down from the storage loft and putting winter items away. I uttered a few choice words and Lamar put some snuff from his can on the sting. It still hurts and itches like mad, but I had no worse reaction. Sister Gigi says they have stronger venom later in the year. Today I have killed or removed 4 more wasps from Heart's Ease Hut. The Waspinator went up yesterday, but does not seem to be phasing the little devils.
Last night the Mathews, Potters, and Cottons went to the Deer Camp out at Free Run. My first visit to this sacred male hunter preserve on the back side of nowhere. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows and watched the Super Moon of 2011 rise in the East behind a pine tree. I had taken my binoculars and tripod so we could get a good look. Two of the youngsters Katelyn and Cameron especially enjoyed trying out the binoculars. I left with the Cottons and turned in about 9 pm with a cup of hot cocoa.
Today has been quiet and restful. I listened to several Lenten services on the BBC, and worked on Mathews genealogy. I also turned on the air conditioner for the first time this year when the inside temperature reached 81.
Last night the Mathews, Potters, and Cottons went to the Deer Camp out at Free Run. My first visit to this sacred male hunter preserve on the back side of nowhere. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows and watched the Super Moon of 2011 rise in the East behind a pine tree. I had taken my binoculars and tripod so we could get a good look. Two of the youngsters Katelyn and Cameron especially enjoyed trying out the binoculars. I left with the Cottons and turned in about 9 pm with a cup of hot cocoa.
Today has been quiet and restful. I listened to several Lenten services on the BBC, and worked on Mathews genealogy. I also turned on the air conditioner for the first time this year when the inside temperature reached 81.
Monday, February 7, 2011
The Main House
Chitty, my friendly carpenter, let me know last night, after inspecting the attic of the main house that came with my 7 acres, that most of it is in very good shape and made of cypress wood. The old tin roof needs replacement as do a few cross pieces, so sister Gigi and I will have to start doing some pricing. Due to expense, we will probably restore the exterior with less expensive siding and not the lapped wooden siding of the original part house.
We have done some speculation that the north side of the house seems older, with parts of the south side restored or added later. Also on the south is the mystery of what looks as if it might be the foundation of an old chimney about 10-12 feet out from the present south wall.
I heard from Mr. Colson the beekeeper that he and his son would be back to remove the colony in the back of the main house either this coming weekend or next, as soon as he and his son-in-law can be off together. They removed a healthy colony and a load of wild honey from Walter's Cabin last week, and the remaining bees should stop hanging around within the week. I am looking forward to their departure as I left my hat and other useful items inside on Saturday, and the bees are thick enough to deter me from going in to get them. I also need to finish the monkey grass I am planting around the south side of the cabin..
We have done some speculation that the north side of the house seems older, with parts of the south side restored or added later. Also on the south is the mystery of what looks as if it might be the foundation of an old chimney about 10-12 feet out from the present south wall.
I heard from Mr. Colson the beekeeper that he and his son would be back to remove the colony in the back of the main house either this coming weekend or next, as soon as he and his son-in-law can be off together. They removed a healthy colony and a load of wild honey from Walter's Cabin last week, and the remaining bees should stop hanging around within the week. I am looking forward to their departure as I left my hat and other useful items inside on Saturday, and the bees are thick enough to deter me from going in to get them. I also need to finish the monkey grass I am planting around the south side of the cabin..
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Train Wreck and Beyond
My posts seem to come on an annual basis. Perhaps I should aspire to monthly updates.
That train I mentioned in the 2010 post was painful attacks that began to incapacitate me every few weeks as opposed the once per year occurrences I had learned to control. The pain was very intense--so much so, that I begged my doctor for a few Percocet to get me through each episode. As these attacks were coming ever more frequently, I was taking a lot of meds. I was also having great difficulty attending to my basic living functions of hygiene and nutrition.
About this time, the 2008 Recession hit. The University of Memphis had been having budget troubles for several years, but in late 2008 the University offered a "buyout" to employees who would agree to quit or take early retirement. For me, the amount of the buyout was about $19,000 dollars, which would easily take me through relocation and the three month waiting period before long-term disability insurance payments would begin. My state plan with Hartford which I had contracted for back in 1998 would guarantee me income equal to two-thirds of what I had been making as well as help with applying for Social Security Disability income, which along with my retirement income, lowered the monthly outlay that The Hartford would be making.
After a year and some professional help from Allsup, Social Security granted me disability. Those payments and withdrawals from my Individual Retirement Account (IRA) are how I am funding the projects that keep me alive in spite of chronic pain and fatigue. Everyone needs SOMETHING to look forward to, and my Gardens are my "something."
That train I mentioned in the 2010 post was painful attacks that began to incapacitate me every few weeks as opposed the once per year occurrences I had learned to control. The pain was very intense--so much so, that I begged my doctor for a few Percocet to get me through each episode. As these attacks were coming ever more frequently, I was taking a lot of meds. I was also having great difficulty attending to my basic living functions of hygiene and nutrition.
About this time, the 2008 Recession hit. The University of Memphis had been having budget troubles for several years, but in late 2008 the University offered a "buyout" to employees who would agree to quit or take early retirement. For me, the amount of the buyout was about $19,000 dollars, which would easily take me through relocation and the three month waiting period before long-term disability insurance payments would begin. My state plan with Hartford which I had contracted for back in 1998 would guarantee me income equal to two-thirds of what I had been making as well as help with applying for Social Security Disability income, which along with my retirement income, lowered the monthly outlay that The Hartford would be making.
After a year and some professional help from Allsup, Social Security granted me disability. Those payments and withdrawals from my Individual Retirement Account (IRA) are how I am funding the projects that keep me alive in spite of chronic pain and fatigue. Everyone needs SOMETHING to look forward to, and my Gardens are my "something."
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