Friday, July 21, 2006

A Scorcher, New Reading, and Gardening

from Ben's mom

I knew something was off when I woke up near dawn still warm and still covered in only a sheet. The forecast says we'll break records today at 99 degrees and we're well on our way. Olympia is one of the coolest places in the region, so my friends and family in northwest Oregon will be having it even worse.

I've been reading David McCullough's John Adams. I had heard much about it and have enjoyed it as one of the best-written biographies. Particularly delightful is the account of the marriage and family of Adams--one of the truly great families.

I haven't taken the slightest interest in gardening since I decided at a young age that pulling weeds was an ancient torture technique used by parents on their young children. However, I love cooking with fresh herbs and they're expensive. So last weekend my mom planted me some parsley and basil in a planter on the back porch. She also brought me a tomato plant. I'm terrified I will kill it. She gave me all kinds of instructions that made my head spin. Goldfish and plants have never done well with me, but for fresh tomatoes, basil, and parsley, it is worth trying.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's 98 in the shade, even I can't kill tomatoes, and Murphy is enjoying the A/C. Stay cool !!
Judy

Missi said...

The good news is the heat won't last:)
I love the idea of gardening...though I am not very good at it. One day I'll have a great, huge, wonderful, beautiful garden though:-D ~m

Linds said...

I'm not a big outside gardener, but I love inside plants. Just repotted one last night and put it in three different pots.
I've heard a lot about that book, and want to try it out soon. Love biographies. Just got one that I'm looking forward to, about a woman from Rwanda.