The Democratic convention is over and the Republican convention is soon to begin. The Democrats tried to keep to the high road on camera and pursued a more spirited course off camera. If the character Mrs. Kerry is showing is any indication, Hillary's time as First Lady may pale in comparison if Kerry does get elected. She brought the vinegar as well as the catsup into that marriage. John Edwards is having to bring the personal appeal to the ticket instead. If the Democrats do win, I'm not sure which John will have actually won the people's vote.

The Republicans seem encouraged by the lack of a substantial post-convention bounce in Kerry's poll ratings. They are gearing up for lots of security for their convention, given that the terrorists may have targeted several major buildings in New York. Worse yet, they may be planning to attack on September 2, the day that Bush is to formally accept his party's nomination for president. If they actually did manage a terrorist attack before the election, they'll find that Americans don't run at the polls like the Spaniards did.

In the meantime, summer is blazing on with weeks to go before it cools down. Nonetheless, my organizer reached the planting dates for peas and other cool weather crops. I went to the garden center today and got the stuff to go with the seeds waiting to be planted. Now I'm looking for a break in the weather to more tolerable temperatures. We may have rain today with a front that could drop the temperatures about ten degrees. That would be the best opportunity to get more seeds in and keep them damp enough to sprout.

The cats are spending most of the day indoors, the combination of heat, humidity, and the summer ozone peak making it somewhat uncomfortable for them to stay outdoors. The dive-bombing has stopped as well, so the birds are finally leaving their young to fend for themselves. The young birds and squirrels are still romping during the cool of the morning, growing stronger and more confident.

The tomato crop is largely gone and so is the squirrel damage. The few ripening tomatoes aren't lure enough to encourage further squirrel attacks. At least the daytime temperatures are dipping enough occasionally that the tomatoes are starting to set a few more fruits. The plants aren't done for the season, so I won't start a second crop after all.

The pepper plants finally started setting some fruit. The plants are big enough to support some peppers, but they aren't even close to the lush specimens displayed on the gardening shows. I still have a lot more composting to do before the soil is rich enough to satisfy pepper plants.

I picked a ripe butternut squash last week from a bonus plant that started from a seed mixed in with the compost. The pumpkins that I did plant are now struggling in the heat but have started to grow their long runners. I got some butternut and buttercup squash seeds on sale at the garden center to go out with the last planting of pumpkin seeds waiting in my seed box.

The crafting is going better than the gardening. I finished the second child's sweater and mailed the pair to the Guideposts Sweater Project. I've got another one started and am working on the second half. The star block quilt has been declared sufficiently quilted and I've got the binding half done. I still haven't finished the patchwork vest/jacket, stalled on the sleeves because I can't settle on a design for them. The organizer is organized but I'm not.