Annapolis Summer Sunday

The mystery pumpkin growing from the compost pile grows larger.

Early this Sunday morning scores of runners were moving together, each trying to claim their small piece of space, down Main Street towards City Dock, participants in the 10 mile run sponsored by the Annapolis Striders. The runners came in all shapes and sizes. Some were moving at a fast pace, some were jogging, and others were takng a walking break. I recognized a few neighbors and cheered them on as I waited to cross the street to visit the Farmers’ Market. All the participants are to be commended. Ten miles to me, who can only run about one mile, is impressive. Who cares about speed? It was a great morning for running, not too hot. Bravo to all the contestants.

It’s amazing how quickly I can spend $20 on some fresh fruit, vegetables, and bread. They do have a nice selection at the Sunday morning Farmers’ Market that includes lamb, mushrooms and cheese in addition to baked goods, flowers, fruits, and vegetables. With my canvas bags full, I walked with my husband and  dog up the hill and towards home. In our back yard, the pumpkin (see my previous entry) is growing large. Still dark green, but definitely a pumpkin shape, it has more than tripled in size in just one week.

I’m trying to savor the last days of summer before school starts and my daughter gets back into her school routine. There is only one week left before What’s Up? Publishing will be closing the nominations for this year’s Most Eligible Singles on the Eastern Shore and  in Annapolis.  Get your nominations in before it is too late! Age categories start at 25 years old and go to 60 plus. (Maybe you have a parent, friend, uncle, or colleague you’d like to nominate. )The information is on our website at www.WhatsUpMag.com.  Why not play cupid?

My Surprise Composting Crop

Well maybe you’re not supposed to put seeds in your compost heap. but I compost just about everything from eggshells and coffee grounds to potato peelings and apple cores. Not only do we get rich soil, but a plant or two often sprouts out of the heap of decomposing vegetation.
Last year it was a tomato plant. This year it’s a cucumber and pumpkins. The golden blossoms in the pumpkin vine are large and open up each morning to soak up the sun. Here it is August, and a few small pumpkins are starting to form.

Will they prosper and grow into fine pumpkins for Halloween, which is when the pumpkin seeds must have originally been “planted”? We’ll just have to wait and see. Want to create your own compost heap? Go to http://whatsupmag.com/jul06/composting.shtml

Unplugged

 

We made a deal, my husband and I. No television, internet, email, ipod or anything electronic for an entire day—yesterday.  That was Saturday and I had a great time, I did use my car to drive to the library and the grocery story, but that enabled me to check out some books and replenish our pantry.

It was a day for reading and fussing over a home-cooked meal.

I took a walk, refusing to wear a watch because what did it matter what time it was. I had no place I had to go. No particular plans.  I sat and day dreamed planning  out some stories I’d like to write. Playing with ideas in my head of how best to create a story I’ve been thinking about.

I did work on some writing—in long hand. It was not a hardship because I always choose paper and pen when I want to deliberately be thoughtful about the words I choose.  I was working on the October Editor’s letter for What’s Up ? Annapolis and What’s Up? Eastern Shore, a challenge because I’m still in June.

How will I be feeling in October? What will be happening then and what will other people be doing and thinking about? I know what October looks like, the colors of fall, but I won’t know what will be happening in politics.  It will be after the Democratic and Republican conventions. The campaigning will be in full swing. Maybe they’ll be an outrageous scandal or a wonderful invention will hit the street – a break through fuel that liberates us from our dependence on gasoline.  How will I know about these things if I don’t listen to the radio, plug into the internet, or start text messaging my friends? It’s not practical to be unplugged for more than a day, but oh what a glorious day!

Mother’s Day, Mother Earth, and Conserving Our Energy

I was driving down the road today, Mother’s Day, a little over the 65 mile per hour speed limit, and I started to wonder why am I driving so fast? If I wanted to conserve on fuel, I should be driving 55 miles per hour. Everyone knows that once you exceed 55 mph your mileage goes down, or do they? I’m of that age that remembers the oil embargo close to 35 years ago when everyone was trying to conserve– keep the heat thermostadt at 68 degrees, carpool, and drive 55 mph. We reduced oil consumption by as much as 20 percent. What happened? We all became complacent and forgot, brainwashed by the energy companies and now we’ve done so much damage to our planet no one has time to care. We’re all too busy trying to get somewhere quickly.
I was on my way from Annapolis to Baltimore to visit my mother. I came bearing gifts, although I wasn’t certain if they were the “right” gifts. My mom has a talent for asking for things as gifts that I just can’t find, although they sound simple enough. She wanted a turtleneck (to hide her ugly neck she told me) but in May a turtleneck is not easy to find other than by going online. But I was running out of time so I bought her a red knit top. I thought it looked nice but she didn’t want it, so that’s another trip back to the store. She did, however love the flowering potted plant I brought her, even though she didn’t want a plant.(I figured the plant would last longer than cut flowers). “The color of the flowers are great,” she told me. Okay I did something right. Here I am, a middle aged woman still trying to please my mother.
My mom has lots of plants. Unlike me, she has a green thumb, and is always taking cuttings and creating more potted plants to populate her cluttered home. I made lunch rather than taking her out(Crabmeat and avocado salad), because with her arthritic hips she prefers staying in and headed home before the next onslaught of rain. (No I did not reduce my speed to 55 mph.)
Meanwhile I’ve received phone calls from both my sons and my daughter was working on my Mother’s Day gift –planting a garden with her dad and making me dinner. (Hope they can keep up that garden!) It doesn’t matter really, at least they put the effort in and as to what they’re serving for dinner? It’s a surprise. Whatever they prepare I’m going to love it!
For me the biggest gift is taking the time to slow down, enjoy the green earth while it’s still here, enjoy my family. So maybe it is time to see about getting those speed limit signs changed!