Vital Heat

I am not enjoying this heat. It is stifling and now we've got the forest fires up in the Boundary Waters putting a diaphanous layer of grey on everything. But the temps are good for a couple things: brewing tea and growing serrano peppers.

The sun's ray have been caressing the chili plant for 4-5 days and they've culled out many a chili. It's going bonkers. I am going to start putting serranoes into everything. Picante Cheerios, anyone?

Song of the day, 5 Juli 2026

Clean microwave. Check.

Vacuum apartment. Check.

Harvest my first serranoes of the year. Check.

Get ladyfriend hooked on Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. Check.

Not exactly full-sized, but it's my first chili plant in ages. I think they'll end up in pico de gallo. They could be hot...

I recently finished listening to a BBC Radio 4 show called Legends that did a 5-part bio of Miles Davis so I am spending some time listening to him before I head to my ladyfriend's house for dinner.

We sow the seeds, Nature grows the seeds

I put my garden in today. It's rather meagre but it'll do.

We've got the obligatory tomatoes, a serrano, and some flowers called something Bells. Just a little fresh veg and some color to brighten up the place.

Back to the Garden 2015 Edition

The garden is doing well this year.





We've got squash, zucchini, tomatoes, and chilies. The kale was massacred by rabbits. R.I.P. The chili plants remain small with only a modicum of fruit. I blame the relatively cool weather. On the other hand, we've been harvesting toms, zukes, and squash for a while now. The plants have been extremely fecund. So much that we now have enough ratatouille to feed an army yet the produce still comes.



There must be 4 or more varieties of tomatoes out there. I never knew there was a species of tomatoes named after Paul Robeson. Must be commie tomatoes. We also have Old German, Genuwine, and others.

And here's a cat in a window.

Lazing On a Sunny Afternoon

Piper lazing on the A/C unit.



Marilyn was checking out the neighborhood through the screen.



Flowers! Not sure what kind these are but they are in a pot with double impatiens. The little sign hoolie said that didn't need much light but they almost died on the porch. Once they got some southern exposure they flowered once again.



Pineapple sage. Does anyone have a recipe?



I thought this flower wasn't going to make it either but these gorgeous yellow flowers just keep blooming. The ornamental grass in the same pot, however, has been given a different fate and has gone to meet its maker.