Author: marcia

So, over 600 able-bodied people were unable to stop one lunatic with a pistol and semi-automatic rifle.

And talk about the Keystone Kops: the local constabulary couldn’t get one helicopter off the ground or one boat off the landing.

An hour and a half later, 76 people, many of them youngsters like our grandkids, were slaughtered.

The law enforcement authorities in Norway have a lot to answer for, and so far, they’ve been unapologetic and even defiant.

I hope that once the public recovers from its grief that it holds these losers responsible for their failure to perform the most fundamental duty of police officers: to protect the innocent.

And what about the parents of the teenagers? In this age of regular terrorist action on the European continent, why did these young people lack the knowledge and self-confidence to defend themselves? 600 people versus 1, and almost 80 people had to die before the situation was brought under control?

The poor truck’s “check engine” light not only was on but was blinking yesterday morning, so we had it towed to Falmouth Motorcar.

Afterwards, Ron picked up the grands and stopped at Subway to feed them before the Fair (Peter and Bonnie were at a seminar in town).

We happened to hit the Fair just after a thunderstorm. There was a pocket of cooler air and NO CROWDS, so the boys and Grandpa got in a bunch of rides with no waiting.

Emme repeated her great performance of prior years, winning three stuffed toys, including a turtle, a frog and a bird.

The kids and Grandpa watched the seal show while I talked with the Master Gardeners and viewed some of the plant exhibits. I was amazed at how fresh the arrangements were after a week of miserable heat.

Afterwards, I made pizza on the grill but my timing was off. The toppings were great but I over-cooked the crust. Part of the learning process.

Emme wanted to work on the computer, so the boys went outside with Ron and I to burn through some sparklers.

This is supposed to be the last day of a nasty heat wave that tormented the Midwest and spread East this week.

We’ve had a social week. Last night, we had a really nice “sit down” with our neighbors across the street and the neighbors next door. The prior night, we had dinner with Bonnie’s folks at their home in Wareham.

We’re picking up the grands today to go to the Fair and hope to see some other friends who are planning to be there as well.

I’m looking forward to using the Cuisinart this weekend, for pesto and possibly something with the pumpkins.

The roses have started blooming again.

Emme’s “Money Plants” are almost “ripe”.

It’s been humid but no rain for a week or so. Yesterday, it was in the 90’s in Boston.

Last night, we capped the day with walks on Wood Neck and Chappy beaches. Tonight we caught part of a Cape Cod Baseball League game at Doran Park in Bourne.

Don’t remember why, but I started putting ice cubes in Fluffles’ water. He “asks” for ice now.

We enjoyed part of the bluegrass music festival at Highfield Hall in Falmouth. Afterwards, we joined our friends Candy and John who invited us to their family reunion so we could meet her newest grandchild, a beautiful little girl with huge blue eyes. Gorgeous, sunny day with a refreshing breeze to cool us off.We’re still waiting for the driveway to settle enough to drive on. I got a bigger water dish that Fluffles will find more difficult to tip over and two more shepherd’s crooks. Ron put up the hummer feeder further from the house, so we’re hoping some birds will find it. We saw a hawk with a mouse in its talons. Someone or something ate one of the tomatoes!

One of the pumpkins is just about ripe, and I wanted to enter it at the Barnstable County Fair.

Unfortunately, there’s no category for pumpkins. Could be because they are just too large. Also, I would suppose for “real” gardeners, pumpkins shouldn’t be ripe this early.

Maybe next year I’ll get my act together soon enough to enter one or two “plate” vegetables, like beans or tomatoes.

We got our driveway this week. The topcoat went on Thursday morning, so we’re giving it “a few days” to harden.

I decided there’s no good time to do a driveway. In Spring and Fall, stuff lands on it. In Winter, it’s too cold, and in Summer, too hot.

I’ve been working since 5:30 this morning. Made oatmeal and coffee, then started cleaning up the street (there were blobs of asphalt for about 30 feet in front of the house), watering and transplanting. Moved the big liatris to the back garden and the yarrow to the front. The liatris was actually two plants.

Ron and I loaded up the truck for the transfer station. We’ve been working on laundry as well.

John and Candy dropped by so John could give Ron a consult on replacing the light by the slider. We found this fixture for $2 at a yard sale. Ron did a fantastic job, and it looks great.

He also bought me a Cuisinart food processor this week! More on that later.

We put some of Ron’s “treasures” on the walls as well, a great “Buffalo Insurance Company” sign and a beautiful buffalo plate.

This afternoon, after the transfer station run, Ron went back to Edgewater to fix Peter’s lawnmower. I ran a couple of errands.

We are planning a quiet evening to recupe, since we have plans for tomorrow.