Our friend Jeanie came down for a few hours yesterday (Sunday). She talked us into going to the beach, whcih was a great idea and something we don’t do often enough.

There was a clamor for actual food. I made a fast spaghetti sauce and salad.

Today, Ron volunteered to chauffeur. He set up a soaker for the new transplants and watered the U. I put down mulch. Makes a big difference when there are two of us to do the work!

We did the transfer station run. A lot to deal with this time, lots of recycling, garden detritus and 3 or 4 bags of trash.

Strange, savory breakfast: bacon cooked on the grill, chicken livers and onions, grilled squash, pineapple juice.

Took out a lot of gone-bys this week, including the day lilies at Edgewater.

Moving the last set of plantings around; they need more room and I messed up the arrangement anyway.

The truck’s Check Engine light has been on for the last three days. Lucked out at Hy Toy, they had some no-shows today (Friday), so Rick was able to fit me in.

We’ll try a new gas tank cap. Hope that solves the problem but if not, it’s okay to drive the truck until I can get an appointment for a smoke test.

Jeanie called the other day hoping for a photo of Ad’s painting. Unfortunately, it’s at AC Moore’s workshop in upper state NY.

Ron got his truck back this morning. New catalytic converter.

Recently, a second- or third- or once-removed- cousin came to visit.

It was a nice visit, and at the end, she asked if we’d like to buy some paintings that her husband had done.  He’s a talented guy and we were both pleased and amused to be “patrons of the arts”, given our own humble financial status.

I’d forgotten until this transaction was brought up that this same cousin, years ago, had lived for a short while with Peter and me, and that at that time she also asked for money.

The way the story got passed around, though, the adopter and her daughter became the heroines and my contribution was ignored.

Seems like we can look forward to a better week, weather-wise.  I hope so.  The recent heat and humidity have knocked the stuffing out of me.

We did our usual Sunday things: change sheets, laundry, transfer station.  Robert came over for dinner.  I went light with lots of vegetables to give our stomachs a break.

We have a lot of good food – something neither of us take for granted.  The Kentucky Wonders have started, and I picked a good handful for Edgewater, plus Basil.

Ron unfortunately cut the roots off the squash that was growing from the compost bin.  I’m hoping that it will reroot, but not betting on it.  We have melons and I harvested a squash yesterday from the corn garden.

President Obama’s DNC Speech : 33:21

“She knows that sometimes in those forty years she has made mistakes, just like I have, just like we all do.  That’s what happens when we try.

“That what happens when you’re the kind of citizen Teddy Roosevelt once described: not the timid souls who criticize from the sidelines but someone who is actually in the arena who strives valiantly, who errs, but who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achivement.

“Hillary Cilnton is that woman in the arena.  She’s been there for us.  Even if we haven’t always noticed….You’ve got to get in the area with her because democracy isn’t a spectator sport….and we’re going to carry Hillary to victory this Fall because that’s what the moment demands.”

One of the best speeches of the DNC:  Rep. Emanuel Cleaver brought the house down.