OOOOOBAMA!

Wow.....I'm still digesting that awesome speech last night. Senator Obama was amazing! How refreshing it would be to have have someone of this intelligence, this insight to run this country. Imagine!! I fought tears through most of the speech and give in towards the end.......I want to give back to this country.......I want to be proud of our standing in the world.......I want to be able to believe in our President. I plan on heading down to Obama headquarters next week to see if I can be of use.........perhaps they need a few dozen kitchen towels!!........I've felt isolated and out of the mainstream in this country too long, I'm so grateful for this.........fingers crossed.........change. I've donated $25 from my last sale to the campaign and plan on donating a like amount from all upcoming sales until November 4. A drop in the bucket needed to run such a formidable campaign, but I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do all I can to get this man elected.

It most definitely is time for a change............long overdue.

August Garden

The garden this year is out doing itself......Jim discovered a new organic fertilizer and it really seems to be doing it's job! As I've mentioned before the tomatoes just keep coming at an amazing rate....and now the peppers and eggplant are beginning to catch up. The winter squash are growing bigger day by day and are the most beautiful shade of orange. I have a more intimate relation with the garden this year. It's usually Jim's "thing", but he's been working so much this summer I've taken over a bit of the garden chores. I see why he's so smitten with the garden.......besides all the great veggies it produces!........it's so lush out there, so full of life and probably one of the most peaceful places I can think of.

I've had a lousy cold the last few days......I've been eating raspberries, tomatoes, cucumbers........anything to try to help my body fight it! I feel better today.......probably just the cold has run it's course..........but maybe our garden did it's part too.

The Best Part of Summer!!!

Yummmmm....the tomatoes are piling up! They are really lovin' life up here this year....a bumper crop! Tomatoes have always been one of my favorite foods and at last I live in a warm enough climate to be able to have all I want! I eat them in the morning......at noon and always for dinner. A big blue bowl that I use full of tomatoes, homegrown cucumbers and often green peppers if there are any ripe ones. I sprinkle with garlic salt and lemon pepper and then mix with a bit of seasoned rice vinegar.........if you have access to good tomatoes try this summer ambrosia!

I saw my Mom today and brought her a big bag.......she's for sure where my tomato loving genes originated. She actually attributes her good health and longevity to eating so many tomatoes.............I sure hope they have that effect on me!

Yesterday I made 4 jars of Sweet Chili sauce with the tomato overflow......oh, I wish you could all taste some. I think it 's one of all the kids favorite foods, served over egg noodles. It's a common request for birthday dinners. I'll probably get a least 4 more jars canned before the season's over..............we'll have enough to enjoy all winter long.

Birthday Day!

Today is August 7th......a very special day in my life. Thirty- nine years ago a very precious little girl came into my very young and confused life. She single handedly changed my life for the better. Happy Birthday, Jilly....you've been a joy to me from the first moment I held you.

Also born today, 25 years ago, Daniel Ethan came into this world. Although I wasn't there to "enjoy" his birth .....the last 13 years I've known and loved Dan are so special to me. I lucked out when I became Dan's "Mom".......Happy Birthday, Dan!

It's Raining ,It's Pouring!

Rain in August.......in California! A rarity in this part of the world for sure! It was a brief , but beneficial shower. We've seen no rain in these parts for about 3 months ....with another 2 months to go before the storms start rolling in. I imagine it was just a tease to all the trees and shrubs of these mountains, but hopefully has given them hope to keep on truckin' until Fall gives them a good quenching drink.

In the meantime.......it smells so incredibly wonderful......surely will help me hang in there until the storm clouds hang low in the pines.

Guess What I Just Found........

It's early Sunday evening here and I was just out wandering around over by the trolley that runs between two of our oaks....I looked up to the trolley loading platform and there sat Johan's hat. The rush of emotion was intense and really unexpected.........I miss all those little guys so much. I shouldn't be so surprised....every year after they're gone I find some little item they've left behind and every year some tears are shed. I always think .....Hey, it's okay.....I can talk on the phone to them all, maybe make an Internet connection with them...and it won't be ALL that long before they're back. But then just some random thing left behind triggers a heart breaking sadness. I cried awhile into my sweet Jenny's face and then cried some more in Jim's arms and then into my computer to watch...yet again...the amazing video made by the kids this summer.....Billy Goat vs Billy Jesus......now I'm back on track with laughter spreading across my face and already looking forward to next Summer!

Newest Family Members!

Guess what came home with Jim the other night........four new egg producers!! The newcomers created quite a bit of excitement around here when they showed up!! Jenny and I were having a real quiet day ......not expecting much to happen. Jim drives up the driveway and all of a sudden we had something to "uh and ah" ......as well as bark at!! Two of the chicks were about a month old and already looking very "chicken" like, but the two younger ones were still fluffy little chicks. We're keeping them in the garage until they're old enough to fend for themselves out in the coop with the grown-up ladies. I wish for them and long and productive life......and hope the electric fence continues to do it's job against the bears!

I had a pretty productive day myself!! I loaded up the truck and headed down to the recycling place. It's been a couple of months since I've gone...so I had a truck full!! I made about $40.oo.......worth the trip down! While I was there I stopped at the grocery store and did the weeks shopping...............so much for the $40.oo...and then some!!