Caught me some birds

Vacation started at 7:15 last night when I strolled out of the NBC. Two weeks! As I settled in to my relaxing chair after dinner, I thought about the blueberry bushes. Production has peaked, but they are still loaded I had not gone out there for 3 days...then it hit me. The birds. I also had not gone to see now many were trapped in the bird netting. Ever since the berries started forming, I have had the bushes covered in netting. Lately, because of the heat and because they are birds who like nothing better than to strip my plants, I have had to check almost daily to see if any got caught up in the netting. There were 5. One was dead. Three escaped when I pulled the cover back. But one little guy was caught up in it but good. It was already dark as I tried to stretch and shake the netting to free him. It was so different looking bird. I'm no ornithologist. He had a long thin beak, a red patch on the back of his head, yellow on his chest, and he was brown and white striped. He was small and looked young and squawked like a baby crying when I got close. Long story short: with Steve's help and a flashlight, I got him released. Then I proceeded to pick blueberries by flashlight. If I had to give up the netting protection, at least I was taking the good ones that were left.

Now on to the garden to see what the critters have left me out there.

Hawaii!

Tuesday I bought our plane tickets to Honolulu! Finally--we are going to celebrate our 25th anniversary and 50th birthdays in a BIG way! Our flight leaves from Memphis on Oct. 6 and we'll be returning Oct 15 with arrival early on the 16th. Allowing the travel time, that gives us 8 full days to explore.

Introducing the Megabus

Today I took Caroline downtown to the MATA North-end terminal so she could board the Megabus headed to Nashville. She got on around 10:30 and left about 20 minutes later, arriving in downtown Nashville about 3:00. The ticket cost $9.50. For real. The bus was a new double-decker with wifi and she did not have to share a seat. What a deal! The earlier you buy your ticket, the cheaper it is. What a great concept. They don't have terminals; they pick up and drop off at designated street corners. Reinventing travel!

Something to Remember Next Year

The asiatic lilies grew really tall this year. Nearly 6 feet. Now they are drooping because the plant supports I'm using aren't tall enough. So next year I new to hold onto a few bamboo poles to use as stakes.

The blueberries are amazing! So far we've picked about 1 1/2 quarts.

Just another day

I still have worries about blossom-end rot and the grasshoppers are still around, but otherwise the HHappy Place is looking pretty good! Today I'll get the last of the broccoli out. Probably won't try that again-too many cabbage moth caterpillars. There are a couple of cukes to pick and squash too. The beets are starting to sprout; butter beans are flowering; corn is starting to tassel; there are 4 sizable cantaloupe. Today I'll be tying tomatoes for the second time. There are lots of romas and the jet stars are starting to set fruit. Still not many heritage, but I'll be patient. It is a lovely day sunny, breezy and t 80 degrees.

Remembering Ms. Simone

The best kindergarten teacher to ever stand in front of 5 year-olds now stands before the face of God. I get so teary-eyed thinking about how blessed Caroline, Ryan, Connor and Garrett were to have her as their first "big school" teacher. Superbee, letterbooks with Tig, Doll & Ed, Centers, Star of the Week, the Thanksgiving program and Square dancing at year end. She taught as a vocation, a real calling from God. We are all better people because she touched our lives.