Perfect Day

 It was 75 and sunny today, my idea of perfect summer weather.

We've been having some miscellaneous work done on the house by a friend who does those things, and I've been trying to keep the dog and cat out of his way.

I had lunch with Tom on the lawn at the college while reading over and discussing the climate action report he has been writing. I wonder how many schools that signed on to the 2006 commitment to reduce their impact on the planet understand the challenge at their feet.  Even the right wing climate deniers are finally having to admit that our planet is burning up with a fever that is manmade.  So when is the reality going to dawn on people that they need to change their behavior -- we're talking a major cultural shift here -- and when are our so-called leaders going to break the news? Surely not in an election year.

Alas, I will enjoy the 75 and sunny days while we have them, before humans resort to living in caves again (or something) to beat the heat. I worry about the world we're leaving to our grandchildren.  A world in which harvesting rainwater is becoming illegal in some places.

Speaking of rain, we finally had some. Big, beautiful, nitrogen-producing thunderstorms that didn't cause any damage.  And now, the grass is starting to grow again.

We still have too much lawn. I'll definitely be adding another raised bed, maybe two more, for veggies next year. It's great having fresh food just a few steps from the back door.  While farms have been suffering from the dry summer, our much smaller "farm" has been manageable. The deer have discovered that they can reach over the fence and nibble on my pole beans (note to self: plant those farther away from the fence next time), but we are now harvesting carrots, beets, cabbage, tomatoes, and enough zucchini to feed a small African nation.  Time to plant the fall crop of kale, chard, and arugula.

As is usual for summer in Chautauqua county, there's lots going on--it's Lucy Fest time again, Gerry rodeo time, Italian Festival time, and the Jammers are playing at home.  I've been keeping myself entertained with a couple of church-related projects, and most people seem pretty occupied with summer travel and family activities. So there hasn't been a whole lot of activism going on here, except for a brief and amusing anti-fracking protest episode, which included a brief and amusing encounter with a sheriff's deputy. It was actually a very pleasant conversation with a dedicated public servant who confirmed the completely legal nature of the protest. With our country rapidly turning into a police state, it's a good idea to cultivate mutual respect and avoid stunts like fishing with donuts.

P.S. I wrote this yesterday and forgot to publish it. DUH!