We had two dry days and I tried to make the most of them. I got my junkyard flower bed weeded. I got the dahlias, and Mattie's plants, and my morning glory seeds planted. I spread the mulch.
I gave the raised beds a good weeding. After 5 days away, I imagine that my garden will look like a jungle. I am amazed at how everything is growing.
I am all packed up and ready to head east tomorrow. My granddaughters are waiting. We are going to make galaxy high bounce balls. I have a rock painting project. I imagine there will be a teaparty or two.
At the last protest, a candidate walked our line speaking to us. His question? "What is it that keeps you up at night?" When he got to me, I had my answer. "My grandchildren." He laughed and said. "Do they live with you?"I said no, but that I worried about the world we were leaving them. His smile faded. "I understand that."
You know how things all come together sometimes and you find yourself in a situation that is way out of your comfort zone? That's where I am.
I live in a red county, and this red county has some ignorant people in it, people who can get pretty hostile when confronted with different opinions.
A woman brought the subject up to me. They are looking for people who can speak knowledgeably. They want people who can respond with facts, not emotion.
I am not sure that is me, to be honest.
But I stood there with my sign, and I thought. About my grandchildren. About the woman at the ice cream place who was so shocked to meet someone would speak so openly in public. About family and divisions. About what matters.
I signed the paper before I left.
So far out of my comfort zone, but I feel as if it needs done.
Much to my surprise, in broad daylight, I looked out the door and saw a deer tearing off a pumpkin leaf and chewing happily. Not more than 10 feet from the sliding door. She reached down and tore off another leaf. I opened the door and shook my finger. "You! Leave my pumpkins alone." Sheshowed me a bit of respect: she stopped chewing while she decided if I was a threat or not. She ambled out by the truck and watched me watching her.
Later we had another visitor. It is a poor picture, taken through thermal pane glass.
The insurance company is moving kind of slowly. We are prepared to wait them out.
I am sure you will hold your own in the world of words Debby and your grandchildren will be proud of you. The tide will eventually turn, it always does..
ReplyDeleteI need to remind myself of that on a daily basis.
DeleteHava a look at Sandy Miller on fb... Potter, gardener.. Who also has visiting raccoons! (she is in Cleveland Ohio... You may know her blog.. Painfalls. blogspot.com. But she rarely blogs, now)
ReplyDeleteOf all the critters, I gotta say raccoons are what I am most cautious of. They can be aggressive.
DeleteIs that a racoon in the last photo?
ReplyDeleteThe only weapon sensible people have against those with extreme and ridiculous views is to speak facts in a moderate manner, and of course to promote such a stand.
Have a great family visit.
It is.
DeleteAnd you are right about facts, and refusing to be drawn into a war of emotions.
We put up deer/bird netting around the garden just three days ago or like last year, would have had everything wiped out I short order. Once deer find the easy tasty buffet they keep returning until it's all gone. Beautiful but annoying creatures. I hope your garden is still there when you return!
ReplyDeleteBecause pumpkins just go crazy with vines everywhere, they have their own raised bed on the west side of the house. The garden proper is on the south end of the house. So far they have kept out of them.
DeleteIt’s alright to be red here because our colours are opposite. 😎
ReplyDeleteI think it is the same in Australia, if I understood Andrew right.
DeleteBeautiful post, Debby.
ReplyDeleteA day in the life, I guess.
DeleteEnjoy your grandkids! Are you traveling alone or will Tim be with you? Can you have someone keep an eye on your garden to help keep the animals from destroying it?
ReplyDeleteSafe travels! 🚗
Tim is home
DeleteHave a great time with the grands!
ReplyDeleteI am here and I am!
DeleteEnjoy the precious time with the grandchildren. I'm going out to see mine too--only a 25 minute drive away though. I'm glad that you decided to speak; from your blog, you seem a reasoned, fact-based and well-spoken person. I know from experience that it's different when you can write it out though!
ReplyDeleteI am so self conscious though. I guess it is time to put my self focus aside and do what needs done.
DeleteAn honest person speaking clearly will have more effect than any politician.
ReplyDeleteI hope so.
DeleteMaybe I'm dense, but I don't quite get what "signing the paper" means. Did you sign up for public speaking? Are you running for office?
ReplyDeleteLord no. Bringing discussion to a public setting.
DeleteThe paper I signed was agreeing to do it.
DeleteI can't be trusted to stick to the facts and be unemotional. I do support those who can! I am better at writing (and editing before sending). Good for you!!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy those granddaughters!
I am not sure I am either, to be honest.
DeleteWow, you’ve been busy! Sounds like your garden is thriving—even if the local deer think it's a 5-star buffet. Have a wonderful time heading east to see your granddaughters! And I just wanted to say how much I respect you stepping out of your comfort zone for that cause. It takes a lot of guts to stand up for what you believe in, especially when it's tough. Safe travels!
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to talk to people who aren't attacking you. It is easy to hold a sign and ignore the ignorant passersby. I am dreading having people in my face and not returning rudeness.
DeleteI have a resident skunk, racoon, 3 squirrels at least and lots of birds and I live in the city have fun with the girls Gigi
ReplyDeleteI am having a lot of fun already
DeleteI don't understand every ones dying love for deer. They bring tics and the deadly accompanying diseases. They decimate gardens and landscaping and all because they are over populated. I am not a hunter but I think that there should be open season on deer.
ReplyDeleteI guess I would not agree with an open season. Not in the spring when fawns cannot survive on their own. Here at least, the problem is that there simply aren't enough hunters. It used to be that when you bought your deer license, that meant you were able to take one buck. Does licenses were handed out on a lottery basis. This year, you automatically get your doe license w/ your buck license. But yes. They are becoming a problem.
DeleteI had to laugh at the planting of morning glory - I once lived in a house that had them and they needed no encouragement. Watching the Netflix documentary series on the American experiment. So interesting parallels.
ReplyDeleteIt is that way here. What is my problem is that I have been living on a building lot for the past year. We discuss what goes where...and then somehow there is some sort of project going on. Plants get trampled and ruined. I am hopeful that this phase of things is done. In faith, once again I have planted seeds.
DeleteHave a safe trip
ReplyDeleteI was there and back. It was a great trip. I really love spending time there.
Delete