Come, come, come to the garden.....

Aptly named a "Shrimp Plant" -


This is one of three types of basil I have planted. It is the hardiest. I also have lemon basil this year and it is incredible in ice tea and water for flavor.

First Bell Pepper of the season. Pretty spicey though!


Natural mosquito relief


My Mother's Day Lily


Lacey Hydrangea


Baby eggplant wanting to grow up

Gardens give me great pleasure. I cease to think in the garden. That is a good thing. I have thought so much during the last 24 hours, my brain is literally exhuasted.

I am going to paint today. I will hide when I paint - I don't know what is going on with the particular neighbors - the kids who "want to paint" - I've set up an ideal situation for them, they don't show up, then several hours later begin pounding on my door wanting to "paint." I've spoken with their mother - typed up a packet offering free art lessons with the stipulation that after the first lesson during which I will furnish supplies, they either pay supply fee or bring their own supplies. I created a plan, a syllabus, a lesson for the first day and created a time that the kids and their mother agreed to. When they banged on the door for the second time, 6 hours after not showing up, the older kid said they went to Walmart instead of showing up at the agreed to time. I've haven't a clue what is going on, other than I'm tired of answering the door at random hours, while trying to cook dinner, work on the computer (real work, not play), or watch a movie with kids demanding to use my paints and my house. But at least I'm getting things very organized to begin classes for people who are able to make them. Kids or otherwise.

I don't mind an occasional fun day with the paints or whatever other art supplies I have, but several times a week, and just coming in the house without knocking or asking - I have had to begin locking the door - oh, weird, if there is a weird situation, I will find it.

Then - my business - the man who is training me, just quit. Won't answer phone calls. The one above him is telling me to produce - I have produced - set up gigantic events and small events, and events and events and now people are hanging, I am hanging - so I'm thinking, well - another square peg not fitting into a round hole - what is it I'm learning from this. PAINT - then market myself. Perhaps that's it. Just concentrate on joyful things - painting and art and writing. I'm retired. I can do that after years and years of work I didn't really like. Why keep striving? I'm really free - I just keep thinking I HAVE to work. I don't.

I will share all my health research, my experiements on myself and the wonderful products that have contributed to making me well....and keep the business.....but very, very leisurely.

Then in July I have a month gone from my summer - my mother is having hip surgery and I must go to Wyoming and dwell in a closed up house with no A/C - she has one, just doesn't like it because the "dogs get cold." No open windows - the drafts bother her. No, she's telling me, I don't need to have my meal replacements sent there, I can eat the TV dinners that have been in the freezer from last year. Oh, what a weird summer. Maybe I will sweat the rest of the weight off.

Ok, I am off the computer - I've pulled my weeds from the garden, I'm going to make a glass of iced tea with the basil and lime, the paints are all organized waiting - I'm putting on music and stopping the pesky thinking.....the only person I know with weirder rabbit trails is my beautiful and eccentric Doc Lovely....