Third party web post.

Someone on a web site posted this pix of someone you know (Second pix down). http://rbcdunebuggy.yuku.com/topic/2274

It's HOT

It's been a scorcheroo. 100° at 7PM. We have seen near record temps (105°+) for the last four days. I saw 113° on this thermometer yesterday. It's so hot the garden is withering. It's too early in the year for this. Those pix of buggies with snow on them sure look inviting about now.

Yellowstone NP anyone?

We had to cancel our summer plans due to tenant problems. I was somewhat bummed. Three other buggista families are on the six week tour, including Yellowstone NP, buggies in tow. Check out the pix of their covered buggies with that white stuff on them. I guess they were confined to the RVs for the first day, but are now getting out with tour groups (not in the buggies). Mid June and they had to go out and buy jackets. I don't feel so bad now. But I do feel a bit for them not being able to enjoy the buggies after all that travel and investment.

Morning Farm Report

The garden is up, all but a few species. I enjoy taking Mom out and showing her the growth. She can hardly contain her enthusiasm (well, not really.) Cilantro, basil, onions, cucumber, tomato, zucchini. No bellpeppers, cabbage, green onions, or carrots showing yet.

Almost every day (sometimes twice) I check the family blogs. For a geographically diverse group blogs are a great way to stay in touch with events, stories, and pictures. Thanks for taking the time to keep us up to date. It is appreciated.

Farmer Mel

Seeds have always amazed me. Such a little package with awesome potential. Put that dead looking thing in the ground and keep it damp and a miracle seems to happen. (Probably a good example of the eternal seed in us as good as dead.) A few weeks ago I got inspired, bought a half dozen packets of seeds, and turned some soil. It's late for a garden in SoCal but I didn't care. The garden is small, perhaps 6x10 if all in one place, but irregular in shape as it winds around several orange trees. Every day I venture out to see what has risen from the dead. The green beans are doing the best. Cilantro, onions, and basil are barely up. Bell pepper is keeping me waiting. So are the tomatoes. Only one zucchini seed got planted for obvious reasons. Cucumbers are breaking through. It's fun. I may need to get some bib overalls.

Jo invited us over for dinner Wednesday, Mom's actual Birthday. Nice time. Thanks Jo and John. I brought along 3 seeds to instill the kids with agronomy skills. They asked, "What kind?" "Green beans," I replied. That absolutely killed the event. Sarah flatly replied, "I don't like green beans!!!" Despite my insistence that these were the best green beans ever, and fabulous with butter, a little salt, and a grating of Parmesan, none of them succumbed to my salesmanship. New approach.... these are the seeds Ice Cream comes from! Seth wondered but the other two weren't buying it. Beyond poking a little hole in the soil and dropping a seed the fantastic event was over. If the sprinklers don't give them enough water these three seeds are doomed. After tormenting the grandkids a while longer, then a good Italian dinner, the fact I had been up since 4 AM caught up with me. The culprit must have been that second helping of carbs. Sarah had homework to do so we headed home early.

Mom's B-day

I was free most of Monday so surprised Mom with a trip to Disneyland for her birthday (Just the two of us). She had a fantastic time. We got there at opening, and didn't get to the car to leave until almost 9 PM. That's twelve hours on the feet for these gettin-old carcasses. I saw Mom with her cell phone out a few times and ask what she was doing. She was calling daughters to see if they could guess where she was. When she called Jo the conversation turned to Jo bringing the kids down after school. They arrived about 4:30. I had fun trying to ambush the kids when they came past town square because they didn't have a clue we were going to be at Disneyland too.
The highlight of the evening was taking Sarah on the "Screamin" rollercoaster at DCA. I thought she might be frightened after the loop and twists. I know my heart was in my throat a few times. She was a real trooper and said next time we will have to do that ride again! Great. We'll do it next time. Jo took pix with her phone and emailed them to me but so far none have come through. I'll post some if I get them.