Off to Wildacres

I'm off today for a week of leading a fiction workshop at Wildacres -- where the internet is extremely limited and we are asked not to up- or download stuff. So I'll be back with the  blog Sunday week. . .

 

A Hot Day with Josie

NO, Just NO

I can't do it -- post pictures of flags and fireworks when I know that the individual who has hijacked our country is hijacking the Fourth,  throwing a celebration of himself in our nation's capitol today, complete with tanks and jets and VIPs (big donors) in reserved seats.   

Children snatched from parents, desperate asylum seekers held in disgraceful conditions, big business set free to pollute at will,  homeless vets, corporations reaping the benefits of their contributions in massive tax cuts, long time allies alienated, brutal dictators praised . . . are we great yet? 

Were we ever? But at least, for a long time, we as a nation seemed to be struggling toward equality for all, toward a responsible stewardship of the planet, toward a dream of peace . . .

All this progress has been trampled-- and the supporters of the madman at the helm don't care. They have their judges; they have a good economy, continued growth begun in the Obama era. Little things like human decency are brushed aside.

No flags. No fireworks. Just a great sadness at the direction our country has taken. And a fervent hope that it will change.

The One-Foot Waterfall Garden

 

I began this post sure that I remembered a haiku to the effect that a one-foot waterfall, though small, gave a pleasing sound and cooled the night air. I even think I used it here some time ago, with a picture of a one-foot waterfall. But I can't find it (I haven't been consistent with tags) and Mr. Google just throws up his hands and shows me pictures of Hawaiian waterfalls.

What I'm getting at though, is the realization that my minuscule garden in pots is giving me a lot of pleasure -- along with some lettuce and tomatoes, as well as various herbs that contribute to fine morning scrambled eggs.

I have also several pots with artichokes -- which I will soon put in the ground because, if they live, they get rather large. I mainly plant them hoping they will bloom -- the big purple thistle is a gorgeous sight.

Eggplant destined for a pasta sauce soon . . .

In the greenhouse, the resident fig is covered with green fruit.

Beneath it --Chinese Pink Celery -- the gift of a friend who had extras. I never heard of pink celery and couldn't resist.

A few radishes -- I had to do some thinning . . .

Bell peppers are growing in pots on the steps.

Like all the plants in pots, in the current heat they must be watered twice a day.

That's okay. In the cool of the morning and evening is the perfect time to enjoy my tiny garden. And the sound and sight of the showering water is almost like a one-foot waterfall.

Odds and Ends

This beauty was clinging to our door. It's a Spiny Oakworm Moth and the caterpillars have spines and feed on oak leaves. Now you know as much as I do.

Another sunrise, courtesy of John.

Butterfly Bush with not a butterfly in sight. I've seen very few so far this year and it scares me to think what that may mean.

I arrived early for my appointment to have my hair trimmed, and was taking a picture of this shiny blue bike when its owner, the previous client, emerged. (I smudged his face as I hadn't asked his permission to put him online.)

 Kinda love this sort of 'beauty parlor' where it's one at a time and the clientele is, like me, pretty no nonsense. The fancy busy open sort of salon would not work for me at all, though as a writer I'm sure there would be lots of juicy conversations and interesting characters.  My loss.

I finally remembered to get some bubble bath for the girl. She usually has a bath after dinner up here. (She usually needs one too,) She thought the bubbles were a great idea. 

And the river --- always a pleasure to see it on my way in or out.

Josie Works and PLays