Well Thursday was basically a go to town in Galax,Va. for shopping as we anticipate the arrival of the Tracy's for a couple days and then son Bobby and family later on this coming week. I did get a couple rugs on the clothesline before we headed to town and it was close to 2 before we got back on the mountain for a late lunch. It was work the rest of the day as I cleaned the basement, waxed the floors and piddled in the gardens. We cleaned up the leftovers from the 4th along with some fresh corn on the cob for our supper. The fridge's are full and so are the cabinets as we prepare for our guests,
I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my morning routines of a hot cup of green tea laced with turmeric and ginger while posting this ramble and then some quiet time with my Creator. All seems well with those I lift up daily as I've heard nothing to the contrary. I headed out shortly after Nancy awakened to check on the gardens and flower beds. So far except for a few slugs a week a go I've not seen any damage by them overnight or knock on wood no deer damage thus far except for the tracks of one when I first rotor tilled the circle drive bed. The garden is growing and showing some excellent color despite the high heat and humidity. I'm of course hand watering it daily but I did lose another cucumber hill so that leaves me with two hills and a couple plants in each. If they make it should be plenty.
The tomato's are starting to bloom and the peppers have set some fruit. The kale has added new leaves and the Swiss chard is large enough to start harvesting for salads. I'm thrilled there is a bush half runner bean which are now up and adding leaves daily. They usually require a fence to climb on and take up so much room but with being a bush bean they will require less space. The new flowers are looking good and I've had to spray them with an insecticide to control a brown beetle which cuts the leaves off and leaves the flowers with out petals. There are so many new flowers opening and looking really beautiful.
We harvested some wild blueberries(huckleberries) which grow next to my bushes which are also loaded. We probably picked about a pint or so and they were really large for a change and so plentiful. Usually the birds get them before we have a chance to savor their delicious flavor. The blueberries have yet to turn and I now have nylon mesh screening over the bushes to keep the birds from dining. Nancy is still fighting this poison skin irritations despite being on a steroid and using calamine lotion. It's still spreading over most of her body and while there is some relief it's not going away fast enough for her. We haven't been able to hike because the heat only makes it worst. The Ray's were off last night so I listened to some You Tube music for an hour featuring Alan Jackson through the head phones. I don't watch any TV at night so other than what Fox News has on the internet I'm clueless to the news which is mainly a condemnation of our duly elected potus. I do hope he will appoint a conservative constitutionalist to the scotus, LATER
