It's been a month since I last posted in this blog. I've posted several essays in the Reflections section about the concerns raised in the Terri Schiavo case and the increasing numbers of related cases in the news. If you don't see new chapters in the blog, check there for further pages.

I intended this section to be a lighthearted look at gardening and crafting, but there have been so many tragedies that it overwhelmed the usual events. It is hard to poke about in the garden like nothing is happening when so much is coming on like a flood. It's another sign that we're in the last days before Christ's return.

I'm going to split my writing between the two sections for now, hoping to get more of the gardening and crafting news back in the blog. I can't in good conscience ignore what is happening, yet I don't want to disappoint people looking for a little humor and philosophy here to brighten their day.

One change in the garden has been that the mockingbirds haven't been divebombing the cats, just the blue jays. I saw the mockingbirds and cardinals briefly in the spring, then they just vanished. I haven't seen that many birds of any species compared to past years, either. Perhaps the West Nile virus precautions have so reduced their available water supplies that they've moved closer to natural sources. We've had several incidents of birds flying into the screened terrace through the cats' entry hole and then getting trapped. The water tub there is the only thing that would attract a bird, and the bird would have to be pretty desperate to get a drink there.

Other than that, the garden is cruising along in summer clothing -- lots of weeds needing pulling or mulching. The tomatoes I set out mostly survived and should take off pretty soon. The pepper plants didn't fare as well. I set them between the rows of snow peas, figuring I would pull their wire cages once the peas quit for the year and let the peppers take over the space with lots of nitrogen from the peas. That was a serious error. Rascal had been wallowing in the row hiding from the few birds stopping by, so he wallowed on the pepper seedlings, too. I only saw two left this morning. I put down mulch to suppress the weeds, and he promptly started wallowing on that.

Mom and Steve took a trip to Yellowstone Park and Mount Saint Helens this May. I stayed home to take care of the house and cats, usually the best choice because their road trips are like something out of a reality TV show only lots cheaper. They spent several days at home rushing around with their preparations. They got AAA maps aplenty, the required soft drinks and doughnuts (NOT on their diets, but that never stops them), and Steve collected all the new germs in town so I'd have a selection to catch (and did and spent the first five days of their trip recovering.)

I got one letter when they had to get the car fixed and one phone call warning of their return, then they groaned back with aching bodies, three petrified doughnuts and a sack of McDonald's food, every bit of trash they collected in case it was worth something, and stories about the wildlife that insisted on walking on the roads in front of them.

They got to see Mount Rushmore on the way up, then charged on to Yellowstone. Every buffalo that wanted to walk on the road must have been waiting for them, and the buffalo always have the right of way because it's their home. They weigh several hundred pounds and have big horns. They know the park rangers will stick up for them in a buffalo-human conflict. Don't argue with the buffalo if you go on vacation there. Just wait until they're good and ready to go where they're going.

They had to watch out for deer and antelope and a huge flock of seagulls that had moved inland and taken over a rest station. They got to see the mudpots and geysers and Mount Saint Helens from about ten miles away. Mom deemed it a good vacation. Steve needs a vacation from her vacation. It took me several days to wash all their laundry, so I need a vacation from that.

I'm still knitting on the third sweater and occasionally a few rows on the cotton dishcloth in progress. I've been mostly catching up on reading and working on the websites a bit. The one for my ABWA chapter needs regular updates and the newsletter written once a month, so that's yet more stuff to do. The chapter got together for a special meeting with the local Dress for Success chapter early in the month and a movie and dinner night later on, so that has to be written up as well.

I'm two months behind in my organizer list and climbing. All my big plans for a productive vacation at home went up in smoke when the sniffles set in. I was going to set up the sewing machine and make the fall shirts I was going to make last fall. Even watching a nice piece of fabric I was coveting at fabric.com slowly selling out didn't help.

AARGH! I just visited fabric.com and that fabric is gone! It was a special purchase and won't be restocked. I should have ordered it yesterday. I tell you, get stuff done when you're a young and peppy whippersnapper!