Monday, August 23, 2010

Late summer sizzle

I'm nearly finished with "The First American", the bio on Benjamen Franklin. He's solved the French and British negotiations, created agreements with both countries for the United States of America, flirted with most of the women of note in both of those countries, and at 79-80, he amazingly survived the long voyage from France back to Philadelphia, even though he had been suffering terribly from gout and kidney stones, as well as various aches and pains of advanced age. He barely got off the boat before the Pennsylvanians elected him President of their fair state. He handled the contentious factions of the politicos with amazing, and typical, aplomb, all the while building onto his own home and 5 new homes on property he owned, to use as rentals and improve the legacy he left his progeny.

Hmmm, and I whine about being crippled and feeling old at 55. Shame on me! Although having 2 heart surgeries and gall bladder surgery 3 years ago and dealing with ongoing fibromyalgia does give me a reason to feel gimpy. I gotta keep focused on the things I can do... that's the goal. I picked a couple more pounds of figs this morning, and we found someone to mow down the weeds burying the property! It looks so much better today. We have a nice crop of tomatoes coming off too, along with peppers. The cucumbers are blooming like crazy, but only one big enough to pick. It's too hot to can anything, so either drying or freezing will do for now, at least what's left that we don't eat. I made some awesome fresh salsa yesterday, and sent tomatoes and figs with the kids, so we'll see what's left to play with.

Click picture below to see album!

Christmas 2008

Carthage Jail & Nauvoo Temple