Quietly Busy

This week has been quiet.  And, busy.  But mostly quiet.

Once upon a time, long ago, in early married years, I was a stay-at-home mom.  We had only one car.  My husband worked and went to school so he tended to be gone all day and into the night.  I was home all day with our two little girls.  There were times in those early years that I thought I would forget how to talk/interact with adult humans because all I talked with were 2-year olds. 

I am feeling a bit like that again except instead of talking to two human 2-year olds, I talk to two cats. 

Earlier this week I had a bit of a political melt down. 

Now, I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, I’m fairly apolitical.  I usually don’t go off into rants.  That said, I do not believe any member of the current administration (both WA DC and TX) are doing even a moderately good job.

The other day, this happened -

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick suggests he and other seniors should be willing to die to get economy going again.  That grandparents would [should] be willing to risk their health and even lives in order for the United States to “get back to work” amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Right.  Well, let’s see an example, like him and all politicians 65 and over out doing essential jobs - working in the grocery stores, food production facilities, pharmacies, health care locations, for the utility companies, shipping industry, banks, law enforcement and as emergency personnel.  I am pretty damn sure that none of their jobs are considered essential.  And, just to qualify – a couple hours here/there doesn’t count – 40-hour weeks. 

It’s summer time here in my part of Texas.  The high temperature today is 90°.  Ugh.  I really do hate it when it gets this hot this early.  It just means August will be hot enough to melt cement.  I spent the last three days mowing, weeding, moving huge giant heavy potted plants from here to there to way over there.  I don’t have a great deal of sun in my back yard (7 pecan trees) and trying to place things where they will get the maximum sun is an ongoing dance.  Of course, later in the summer (the aforementioned August) I will be moving them all to shadier places. 

And, I will say, after all my hard work, things are looking pretty good.

Still have a few plumerias to pot up and find places for.  And, last month I planted some seeds – just to see if I can get them to grow –

Orange, Lemons, and Brugmansia (aka: Angel Trumpet) 

The last couple days have been windy – 15-20 mph.  My wisteria has been beautiful – a solid mass of purple blooms on my gazebo.  Now, however with the wind, the floor of the gazebo is kind of pretty itself.

I left several patches of wild flowers in the yard –

 Fleabane

Thought, in long past times,
when burnt to kill fleas and other insects

Pink Buttercups

You know how to tell if someone likes butter?

Just twirl a buttercup under their chin.

If their chin has yellow on it, they like butter!

My whole yard and house are covered with these annoying things

Tent Caterpillars

You can spray poison all over your
house and yard but it’s easier to
wait for them to go away in a few weeks.

Lets see – what else.  I have a baby tomato!!  Yay!

This is my newest acquisition –

Pereskia aculeata

Pereskia aculeata is a primitive cactus that has not evolved to lose its leaves.  It is a vining cactus with leaves that are pink, golden, and green.  It’s also called “Barbados Gooseberry” or “Lemon Vine”.  It flowers and produces an edible fruit.  The fruit can be eaten raw or made into jams/jellies.  And, the leaves are valued for their emollient nature and can be applied to inflammations and tumors.

I want mine to look like this, when it grows up!

Everyone stay safe.  Stay healthy.

27 Mar 2020