general life and three more

Tuesday’s sky.

We did finally get some rain Tuesday, about an inch and a half, but need more. And speaking of rain, my pecan crop is going to be a disaster this year. All that rain we had earlier in the summer caused the developing pecans, of which there were many, to get some kind of mildew or fungal disease because they never got a chance to dry out. Some are worse than others like these. I asked my retired farmer friend what that meant for the pecans. He said it meant they were rotten inside. Sigh.

As mentioned the blank watercolor note cards came and I’ve been having fun using the watercolor pencils and crayons. I have a vast trove of drawings of flowers, plants, birds and other critters from my decades of etched glass and pate de verre. I’m wanting to limit my time investment in these little paintings so I’m using things I’ve already drawn. Just have to transfer the drawing to the card, color them in and add a little water. I did two more Wednesday and another on Thursday after I got home from SHARE. 

We got our second shingles shot today. My PCP explained why the first shot is a breeze and the second shot knocks you on your butt for a day. The first shot you have no antibodies and it creates about 75% protection. The second shot, now you have antibodies and they are doing their job which is why people get side effects. After the second shot we get about 95% protection from shingles so be prepared to feel bad for a day.

So that was on the agenda for today but yesterday, when I went over to feed the cats I got the long handled nippers out and did some pruning on the trees and grape vines in the back because Joe was coming Monday to mow over there and that shit was hanging down almost to the ground. And while I was at it I cut some of the low branches off one of the catalpa trees that were hanging on the little front porch of the house and then some of the long rose canes from the arbor and left all that on the ground to deal with later. Paisleigh and her dad were over at the shop and so she trailed around behind me to help telling me many times “because I’m good at that”. Yes you are, I told her, you’re good at many things. And then I discovered that my readers had fallen out of my pocket at some point and although I searched around every area I worked I did not find them. Poot.

This morning Joe called me at 8 AM to say he could come on Sunday as he was going to be out of town on Monday (oh, yeah, holiday). I told him just anytime today or tomorrow at his convenience so he’s coming today because, he reminded me, it’s supposed to rain this afternoon and maybe even the next two or three days. Perhaps this morning so after I fed the cat, fed the dog, fed the birds, took my pills I had to get over there and pick up all the stuff from yesterday and lug it to the burn pile and wind up the hose so he could mow. Getting hot and sweaty first thing is not how I like to start my day. 

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And because Trump is a resentful needy little grievance baby, he has revoked Kamala Harris’ continued Secret Service protection today, the day before her (best selling) book tour starts, protection afforded to all past Vice Presidents. I have nothing to say about the shooting in Minnesota. Once again nothing but thoughts and prayers from republicans even though those kids were praying when they got shot and their god did nothing. But you know, for republicans it’s never the guns but mental health while they cut funding for mental health and continue to let disturbed individuals buy all the fucking guns they want. This is a sick country led by the sickest of individuals. No citizen needs an AR-15 for protection. They aren’t good for that. Their only purpose is to kill as many people as possible as fast as possible.
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I hate to end on this so here’s a picture of flowers on the white orchid tree/shrub in front of Pam’s house.