The weekend so far...

Yesterday I picked up Marian at about 10:05 (I was supposed to be there between 9:30 and 10:00 so I remember the time). I set her to work picking raspberries at Mom and Dad's while I ran and got a new battery for the lawn mower, picked up my parent's mail and deposited a check in their account. When I returned, Marian had moved on to picking cherries. The trees are loaded but not so many are pickable from the ground. It seems such a waste to leave them on the tree but this happens every year. I set the water on the front yard and started mowing the lot (My parent's purchased an extra lot when they bought the lot the house sits on in 1973-I think that's the right year. That property has always been called "the lot". It has the large garden, a dying cherry orchard, the 30 foot or more high elderberry trees, the raspberry and strawberry patch, several blueberry bushes and several out buildings. I promised my parents that I'd take care of the lot and water the lawns while they are in Alaska. I don't eat raspberries [it's a textural thing] and Marian seemed interested in the berries, so she picked the berries and I asked for a little of the product when she was done). She finished picking the cherries she could reach while I was still mowing the lot. I took a break for some water and pulled out the steamer/juicer so she could start the cherries steaming. Anyone who has picked cherries and sat for hours pitting knows what an onerous task that is. We decided the juicer was the better option. I finished mowing the lot and moved to weeding the rose garden. Marian, muttering about watching water boil, came out and deadheaded roses while I weeded. When it was time to move the water, she helped me spread newspaper and the grass clippings between the rows of the vegetables in the garden. Mom and Dad stopped using black plastic in the garden a couple of years ago and instead put down newspaper and cover it with grass clippings from the yard. It does as good a job of keeping the weeds down as the plastic and it biodegradeable and fertilizer too. Of course this process requires quite a lot of grass and newspaper so it takes a while to finish covering the entire garden. When we finished, I set the water and we worked a little longer in the rose garden before the cherries were ready to process. Marian trimmed up the lavendar bushes and we talked about conserving energy by canning together in the future. We are both trying to grow more of our own food to cut grocery costs. I have Mom and Dad's garden this year plus a few pots at my own house. She also has a garden. It would be great to can together because it's a long, hot process and tedious by yourself. We also have different recipes and experiences. I love green beans but I find canned grean beans difficult to use. She says she pickles hers and I'd like to try that this year. Besides, company makes most tasks better. I sure appreciated her help and it looks like she got some beautiful jellies from the fruits.

Today I had church at 10 and 7. I could have met Robert and Carrie at the 4th of July party between but I know myself and know I'd have a hard time leaving or wouldn't leave. So I declined to go. I missed them today but I got some much needed rest. I intended to sew. I have a skirt all cut out and pinned that I want to get made up but I slept most of the afternoon. Well...after the neighbors and I put out the grass fire started by unsupervised children with fireworks. I visited with a young woman from across the street for the first time while we watched to make sure we'd really gotten the fire out. Finally, we both went to our respective houses to take an afternoon nap. I'm glad we had a quick thinking neighbor kitty corner from my house. He saw the fire from his window and came running to stomp it out, then poured 6 five gallon buckets of water over it. All my neighbor and I could think to do was call the fire department. My hose wouldn't reach. She didn't even know where her faucet was. I didn't have a bucket, only a watering can. He just got into the grass and started stomping. I hope he didn't get burned. Apparently, he fights wild fires during the season. I'm glad he saw the fire and it didn't get a chance to spread. Now I'm trying to keep the kitties calm in the midst of a lot of booming noise. I may still work on my skirt.

I don't know what tomorrow holds. We'd intended to go to Robert's parent's farm but Carrie hasn't been feeling well so I don't think that's going to happen. I haven't talked to either of them today so maybe we aren't doing anything. I guess I'm not going to worry about getting up early. I'll wait to hear from them.

I hope you all have a safe and wonderful 4th of July. My friends in the states enjoy your Independence day celebrations today! All the rest of you, have a wonderful weekend.