Visits and Veggies.

 Visits and Veggies.

 

Yup, in my opinion—for what it is worth—summer heat is only good for fresh fruit and vegetables. But oh! Those veggies! Cindy brought me some vegetables the other day and said that she was hoping to get some peaches from someplace called Winnco. Not sure where or what that is, but don’t think it is a place where a person picks their own peaches. Then today Roger Thonton brought me some little golden tomatoes that he grew in his yard. Talk about sweet! They would make the perfect ice cream if tomatoes could be made into something like that. Not too acidic and just sweet and crunchy! That reminds me of the peppers that Sharon Dickerson brought up from their yard in Garland. Another tasty reason to enjoy summer. Anyway, my hens appreciated the honeydew melon that Cindy brought for them, and my chicken salad was made just that much better by slices of tomato, salted and peppered with white pepper. Yum.

 

Roger said that Susan had been bitten by a dog the last time they had to mow the property out in Petrolia. The dog had been vaccinated, but that is the sort of thing that just scares me to pieces. A bad bite can cause all kinds of problems. Have only had one dog bite in all these years, but that one was more than enough. Still have the scar on my ankle. Jennifer was bitten twice—by the same freaking dog! But that dog is long dead and gone, thankfully. Never have appreciated dachshunds because of that dog. But then, Patty’s little dog Rudy bit my ankle and got a mouth full of pants leg instead of me. It’s a good thing he did not connect to my leg. But he has since decided to just growl at me instead of trying to bite me. He is protecting his owner, so there’s that.

 

My phone says that the temperature is 98 degrees. It is mighty warm, whatever it really is outside. By this evening, the temperature may be pleasant again, but the forecast for the next is over 100 degrees until Friday when it might be a couple of degrees cooler. But then, it is August in Texas. We can’t exactly expect a cold front to come through anytime soon. Maybe by the middle of September we will see some cooler weather. But before that cooler weather, at least we should not have to mow the grass again. It is so dry the grass looks plum brown. Was glad to see Tony Zupkus mowing his place southwest of mine. And then today, Donny Anderson’s cousin mowed the Anderson place, so at least the fire hazards have been reduced considerably. Jerry’s place needs to have the grass cut again, but who knows when that will happen. At least the road serves as a good fire break if needed—unless the wind gets up high. And we know what the wind does on this hill. Guess that could be a good thing as well as a bad thing, but whichever, it is always going to be there.

 

My front flower bed still needs the crab grass removed, but just can’t see sitting down on the ground out there right now to de-weed it. Have to go over to Sutherlands and get a bag of sulfur and then spray myself with Off. Have a stool to use to sit on, but not sure how well it would work for pulling and sitting. Guess the old woman will just have to get the ground soaked first so the grass will come out. Maybe by this coming weekend. Sigh

 

Apparently, the virus that is making the rounds currently is still killing folks. Read up on pandemics over the centuries and felt that we are blessed compared to what has happened in the past. At least we have some medications that can help with some things. And we also know—more or less—how this one is spread. Years ago, in England they killed every dog and cat they found because they thought the animals were spreading the plague. The cats and dogs, however, were killing the rats that carried the fleas that spread the Black Plague. Therefore, they were actually killing the creatures that could have been helping suppress the disease. Sad.

 

Read about a banded cobra from some country that got loose here in North Central Texas. Honestly! Why would anyone bring a snake like that to our area? That just seems insane! We have enough venomous snakes in Texas without importing any. Someone who brings something like that into Texas should have to face the cost of retrieving the critter!

 

Roger asked me if Patty Anderson is likely to stay out here on her place now. She has a choice, of course, but she likes being independent even if she misses Donny terribly. Connie asked me this morning about how anyone could be lonesome. She does not seem to understand being lonesome because she has more or less always been alone. When we are married for umpteen years, raised a house full of children, and been neighbors to those around us forever, it is a shock to the system to be alone. Sharing one’s life closely with another person leaves a special place that needs to be filled up with some contacts after a loss. Every widow who ever had to live alone after the loss of her husband—or every widower who has lost his wife—finds that little things make us remember why we always wanted that person in our life. Even these two loving dogs are not quite enough to keep loneliness totally at bay. Talking to the children or grands helps, however. Their lives are very busy compared to mine, but it is good to hear from them and know they are there if needed. And yes, losing a good neighbor like Donny has left a hole in my existence. He was a dependable man who loved to talk and visit. But life goes on.

 

Those of you who still have your parents, your mates, your children: always, always tell them how much they mean to you and how much they are loved. Don’t live with regrets. No matter how irritating some folks can be, their absence will hurt immeasurably when they are gone. Today, while you still can, tell others you love them.

 

Rest and be happy, my friends. You are loved.