Garden Update...

I think I'll have to start picking tomatoes in the next few days. Each cluster has at least one tomato ripening. That means it's going to be a busy week. My garden continues to grow, whether I'm ready or not, so there may be a canning session mixed in the midst of an upcoming busy week. Cross your fingers (with me) that the majority of my tomatoes wait until after August 5th.

My 50th class reunion is next weekend, and as the chair for the planning committee, I still have much to do. I'll be ordering the cake and cupcakes today, as well as sending the classmate directory to press. It's going to be busy. I'll also help my committee with putting out any last minute fires that arise as the week progresses.

It's always lovely to have my outdoor girls join me when I'm in the garden. Claudette is always around my ankles, so I make frequent stops to cuddle and pet her. In this photo, she's watching her daughter who followed me right into the "fenced off" area (I don't really consider trellis a "fence", but it works as a makeshift barrier). As soon as I walked around, she rolled over to ask for belly rubs. Of course, I obliged!

My brave little scaredy cat. I know. Oxymoron. She was brave enough to travel through all hazards to get back to me, but often hides from the dogs - unlike her mama who confronts them head-on. Maybe she's the wiser of the two? She got snuggles, too.

So, I'm off to the bakery this morning, and will run a few other errands with Handsome before coming home to my "To Do" list. I don't often write out entire speeches, but I will formulate a bullet list for my speech to my high school class so I don't forget important things I need to say. It shouldn't be difficult as I've been reciting it in my head for weeks.

We've been enjoying the airplane and jet flyovers from the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Airshow this week. Oshkosh is across Lake Winnebago from us, so planes pass over as they're coming or going (depending on the direction of the wind). Thirty three war birds flew over in formation mid-week in groups of four, with a single plane bringing up the rear. It was quite the sight. 

Last night, one of the jets flew almost directly over the farmhouse, and then lit the afterburners to climb up through the clouds. We went to many airshows while we were in Florida, and I well-remember watching the Air Force Thunderbirds or Navy Blue Angels when they did their shows. After a "Missing Man" formation, one jet would disappear for a while, and then zoom back into the view by strafing the audience from a completely unexpected direction (usually from behind while we were all looking ahead). Once past, it would fly straight up into the clouds again. You could feel the power of the jet in your chest as it climbed. 

I imagine last night's jet as the "Missing Man", far from the show audience, keeping himself out of sight until it was time to surprise the crowd with his re-arrival. I can tell you that as Handsome and I stood in our yard watching him (or her), I was gleefully jumping up and down as the afterburners were lit and the jet climbed out of sight. I'm looking forward to the other shows this weekend, and crossing my fingers that we're again treated to another display.

I'd better get moving now. I have lots to do and want to get everything accomplished early so I can sit with an adult beverage to watch the show tonight. I hope you have a great Friday, and a wonderful weekend. See you tomorrow!