Wind, Rain, Thunder, and an Old Tired Tree

The wind, the rain, and an old tree made for "what to do next," and "how long will this take?" At four in the morning most of the block had no power. This scenario called upon the "do not think, do it now," needless to say I have the best neighbors ever, and before noon, the intense heat was avoided.

Shadow's Last Rows of Summer

After Sunday morning coffee and breakfast with a friend, we decided to take one of our usual jaunts around the back alleys in the city. A digestive drive enjoying the visual hidden treasures.

The title of today's blog came from this view as we were passing through the neighborhood. It was my friend's quote: "Shadow's Last Rows of Summer." Too lovely to pass up. My feature presentation of the day.

Kitty avoiding the Paparazzi 

The Heirloom tomatoes are coming along. I've figured by the time you calculate all the time, passion, and sweat, the estimated price would be at least $ 500.00 dollars a tomato. The passion of growing these must not be denied, at least for now.

A few happy results. Top left: Henderson's Pink Ponderosa. Top right:"Charlie's" Mortgage Lifter. Bottom two: Copia's

And of coarse, a beautiful climbing "Moon Fleur," mixed with some Morning Glories. This is a huge flower, and was worth the wait. Everyone knows this stuff can take over like "Kudzu," if you let it. Started everything this year mostly by seed, and this was one of them. Did I mention that my flowers on the trellis are exceeding 15 feet? Yep, it's true. I got lucky  and have a friend who has tons and tons of very tall Bamboo for them to grow up on.

These flowers demand the climb. And this creative project I'm letting take off. I love creating monsters. The neighbors are enjoying the process of this creative joke, and it's not too out of hand, rather lovely actually. This has created some serious yard privacy

Another child started by seed is the "Velvet Queen," except this doesn't seem to have as much brown, as I thought it would. When this started to take off, it broke from the roots. I promptly dipped the stem in hormone powder; a trick I learned from a neighbor, and look what happened. Voila!

A very nice surprise indeed.

So during the Summer's repose during the wee parts of dusk. I can be found hidden within my santuary with a bottle of red wine, a very good cigar, and in my jammies. And the neighbors aren't bothered by it at all. In fact they sometimes come over and join me.

How the Temperature of the Mind is Regulated

According to J.H. Kellogg, superintendent of the The Battle Creek Sanitarium, and M.V. O'Shea, Professor and author of "Mental Development and Education (1924). "If a room becomes too warm, one opens a window to permit some of the heat to escape. Much the same thing occurs when too much heat is generated in the body."

 The marvelous work of regulating the temperature of the body and mind this time of year is done by going to a quiet retreat. Honor what's left of the season. Go outside.

Lammas, Lughnasad: August first

Lammas is a time to be thankful for your bounty. It is the season you release all forms of thinking. Tis a time to harvest something fresh and new in one's life. Make new acquaintances. Share the bounty of your garden with your neighbors.

~ A Victorian Grimoire

Even if the bounty is for the squirrels.

Call the winds, chant the rite, dance around, fear of ankle break. Make a walnut pile in hopes they wander far away from tomatoes ripe.

~ A little Lammas squirrel incantation.

Fairest of the months, ripe Summer's Queen

The hey-day of the year

With robes that gleam with sunny sheen

Sweet August doth appear:

~ R. C. Miller

 These plants spirits will also give information about lost objects. The modern ritual with Morning Glory seeds now has Incorporated Christian elements. Some of the names-Semilla de la Virgen "seed of the Virgin" and Hirba Maria "Mary's herb" show union of the Christian with the pagan...considered gifts from the gods.

~Plants of the Gods

Stage to grow Heirloom Tomatoes, plus more...

Before the addiction of the Heirloom tomato gardens. A rough draft.

Started seeds from the Baker Creek Heirloom selection. This will be a beautiful pink tomato.

The beginning of tomato Cambodia.

As the yard and tomatoes progressed, the growth exceeded my expectations. As the days progressed, I started to sweat. Realization and reality of what I created. Oops.

Red picnic table found in an alley was placed in the middle of the yard and garden. An outlook for the kitty. My addiction this year is not only Heirloom tomatoes, but creating privacy with climbing trellis walls and a large climbing sculpture type thing in the middle of the yard. The more this grows, the more this climbing art becomes an undetermined surprise from nature. The process has been quite interesting.The shadows from this climbing art gives the viewer a sense of "What the Hell?" I'm enjoying the surprise, and so are my neighbors. This could be quite fun at Halloween, and I intend on utilizing this in a most spooky way. My neighbor who inspired this work has decided that this went from an elephant sculpture to now a huge yard goddess.