"We catched fish and talked, and we took a swim now and then to keep off sleepiness. It was kind of solemn, drifting down the big, still river, laying on our backs looking up at the stars, and we didn't ever feel like talking loud, and it warn't often that we laughedonly a little kind of a low chuckle. We had mighty good weather as a general thing, and nothing ever happened to us at allÂthat night, nor the next, nor the next."

Borrowed from Mr. Twain, what with lately, haven't had much to say.

Summer.

Summer...exactly, Michael
If it continues the way it is now, I look forward to a great summer - night-time temps in the forties for good sleeping, day-time in the eighties, low nineties at most, no humidity makes this very comfortable. Late spring-rains have kept the green so green, but the grasses are golden. Tomatoes are setting fruit, so are cukes and squash.
Water is the only item of concern, but I think I can manage it, installed the low-flow shower-head and keep showers quick,the garden doesn't look all that great, but the perennials will survive.
There is an abundance of wild-life around, the turkeys have flocked together and take care of a group of twelve babies, there are fledgelings of all sorts flying around, green herons at the pond - and the "unseen" leave tracks, they come to drink at the pond in the dark of the night, raccoons and deer and possums and who knows what else.
I hear the coyotes singing in the hills, accompanied by barking dogs. Happy my cats come in at night.
There was a flurry of house-guests, always enjoyable visitors. Daughter Linda came with GS Trevor and GGD Kayley and they brought with them a new BBQ grill, mine had died and they wanted to grill hamburgers (laughing)
A nice grill, much nicer than what I would have gotten as replacement for the old one. Trevor put it together, using the Spanish language instructions, just 'cause. I am impressed...
Preceding their visit my sister C2 and her DP Vivian spent three days with me, C2 had been in Charlotte NC to see sister C1 - of documentary fame - who is in a Nursing Home following a series of strokes. Apparently it is a good facility and she gets excellent care, it just is sad that she needs it.
Dust season - but that is expected when the rain-season is done, we hope for early rains, maybe in October?
Meanwhile we all keep on keeping on.

I was too busy to ramble much Friday, so I'll do a Saturday ramble. The DH is off on one of his little excursions today, so my doggie, the cats and I are holding the house down. The sky is darkening, and I hear a boom of thunder now and again on the horizon. At times like this, I think of blue body paint, and old times at the GW and the rain dance. We need it badly.

I just finished off a leisurely brunch. The simple repast as John used to say. I cracked an egg I gathered yesterday into a ten inch cast iron griddle, and it filled the whole bottom. I had to fold it over to fit the spatula under it and put it on the plate. Doubtless left by one of the old biddie hens, who is smart enough to know that the pullet's legs are banded this year. That means it's culling time at the henhouse and she's smart enough to know an egg the size of a tennis ball buys her a presidential pardon. LOL.

I made a potato pattie to go with the egg, and toasted a couple of slices of the bread I baked yesterday, sopped them in real butter, and drowned them in homemade strawberry jam. It doesn't get much simpler than that, but it also doesn't get much better.

Last night, we had the first veggie soup from the garden. Cabbage, green beans, celery, baby carrots, tomatoes and probably a few things I've forgotten, simmered all day in the broth from a big beef knuckle and served with a loaf of bread so hot from the oven, you couldn't even slice it.

The DH and I had a ceremony early last week, honoring the first ripe tomato. It was cleaved in half, still warm, and served up with the salt shaker. You have to grow tomatoes to appreciate what I mean.

I still haven't been fishing or swimming yet. It's coming down the pike. Hopefully I can scoop up a g'kid or two for the occasion. I asked myself last night is my vanity worth giving up swimming? I said no. I hope that never changes as when I was a young woman, I used to really feel sorry for the older crowd who sat by the beaches, never bringing their swim gear, and having that 'look' in their eyes. It's a positively wonderful experience for an older person. Such gentle exercise, almost weightless.

I starting to see some butterflies, finally......but not the wild orgy of them I used to see before the industrial park went in nearby. The dragonflies are abundant and venture away from the pond regularly. The crawdads are burrowed deep into the stream bed and the first good rain in months should bring them back out.

Summer.

Just got done riding 20 miles in one hour and twenty minutes. It's hot and humid with predicted boomers this afternoon. Let's see, that ride averaged 15 mph. That's not too bad considering that I am basically riding a mountain bike with road tires. The contraption weighs in at 43 lbs. Can't wait to see what my times will be when I finally get my triathlon bike put together. It should weigh just short of 20 lbs. Hope to do 20 to 25 mph hours on it with the same effort.

Time to clean up.
How about a couple of Jesse Winchester song's to set the tone.

Mississippi You're on My Mind
and
Biloxi

There is a pitcher of lemonade in the icebox, and Lynchburg's best on the sideboard. Help yourself, the glasses are on the top shelf.

Need to make a key lime pie. Got a cookout to go to tomorrow. Don't want to go empty handed.