Susan Says . . .

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

— We had more moderate weather this week as June ended and we began the second half of the year. Temperatures in the 80’s and balmy breezes were more comfortable than the previous week’s 90’s and we shut off the air conditioner and opened the windows most days. A cooling rain Saturday afternoon brought welcome moisture for the garden but messed up plans for baling hay that evening. As the Fourth approached we ended the week to the sound of popping firecrackers and the sight of sparkling light displays.

We’ve enjoyed meals featuring our fresh garden vegetables this week. Jim (and grandson A. J.) mowed the yard Monday and I fried him slices of zucchini that night. Mama had been hospitalized over the weekend so I visited her after work Tuesday and when I returned we took a pickup load of aluminum and some copper wire for recycling. It was A. J.’s parents’ anniversary and they came by to pick him up after their outing. Nephew Dustan came by to mow the hay field soon after they left.

A. J. helped Jim on a bathroom he was remodeling Wednesday and practiced hitting golf balls out into the field when they took a break. They quit work in early afternoon and Jim trimmed the big tree behind the cellar while A. J. carried the limbs to the burn pile. I visited Mama at the hospital and did a little grocery shopping and our neighbor came over to add a fallen limb to our pile shortly after I returned.

Jim took A. J. over to mow at Aunt Leta’s on Thursday and I visited with hera short time while they slicked up the yard. We enjoyed individual pizzas for lunch and a friend dropped by with some more work for Jim while we were eating.

Our neighbors across the street are moving soon and had a yard sale over the weekend so there was lots of traffic on our street Friday and Saturday. We went over and purchased a few bargains Friday before going out to eat. I enjoyed a delicious buffet meal and topped it off with blackberry cobbler and a scoop of ice cream. Sister Nancy was at the house when we returned and her husband, Marlin, soon pulled in on the tractor and raked the hay in our field.

I went out early Saturday morning to take our recyclables to the collection point and visit the farmers’ market. I brought Mama home from the hospital after breakfast and Nancy and Marlin soon came to bale the hay. Unfortunately big raindrops began falling and prevented that activity. We had a vegetable platter for supper with cauliflower, green beans and sliced tomatoes from our garden and some greens I purchased at the farmers’ market.

Nancy and her grandson Austin came and stayed with Mama while we went to Southwest City Sunday morning. We came back through Maysville and visited a friend who wants some work done. We did laundry that afternoon and a home health nurse visited to sign Mama up for services.

-Susan Holland

Susan Holland, who works for The News Herald, is a lifelong Benton County resident.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 07/07/2010