Bad News/Good News

I'm way behind in posts, too much going on around here. So, I'll try to cover the recent highlights in a bad news/good news format, starting with Bad News and my new leg wound presented above. Got it earlier in the week while fetching water in the '57 Chevy, the one with the wooden bed that is rotting and covered in moss.

After I filled up the tank, I climbed up the bed ladder, hopped over the edge and CRASH! My leg went straight down. My friend, Evelyn, was standing on the ground behind the truck and she freaked because she could only see my leg dangling down by the axle but couldn't see me behind the tank.

"Heather! You OK??? You hurt???"

I was fine but I did have fun saying to Brent: "I put a whole in the Tonka Truck today, hope you don't mind." You shoulda seen his eyes go wide...

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Good News: Same day, my neighbor and new BFF, Evelyn, brought me a HOMEMADE blueberry-rhubarb pie! Full yummage. She is from the Phillipines and while working in Kuwait, met and married a local character, Powerful Pierre, who lives down the lane. Her garden is massive and immaculate but more on that later.

After the leg smash, I gave Evelyn some driving lessons in Walhalla. She is taking her test again (third time's the charm!) on July 11th - she is determined to learn this great American pastime and become more independent. And hey, I'm all about helping the sisterhood, especially when they bring you PIE.

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Bad News: We had a big ass storm last Wednesday that I knew damn well was coming and yet, I failed to prepare by rolling up my awning. The storm was supposed to arrive mid-day, which made me think I had plenty of time, but alas, it arrived at 7 a.m. and I awoke to the sounds of clanging metal bars and flapping canvas:

Hoopsie-daisy!

Thankfully, it's been fixed but when Brent arrived that morning, he was in full farmer tizzy. In his town, they got 3.5" and some hail, which isn't good for burgeoning fields. It was then I learned what people do here after a storm - they drive. They cruise the highways and they stop in the middle to discuss the storm's intensity and compare notes on field and farm damage.

 "I heard Stinson's got three grain bins thrown up on the tractor..."
"Zat right? Well, I heard Donny's barley is all gone."

A wheat field mangled by hail.

Beans, which hate "getting their feet wet"

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Good News: On the 4th of July, Brent's granddaughter, Emily, and her three friends stopped by the farm to light off their impressive stash of fireworks. Perched cozily in my in my camping chair and blanket, we admired the the glorious full moon rising behind the fields and enjoyed the free show!

We tried to get CORN spelled out but the 'R' proved difficult.

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Bad News: Evidence remains that when learning to drive the Tonka Truck, I may or may not have started it while in gear - reverse, specifically. And I may or may not have put a very stylish swoosh stain on Brent's black pick-up truck, which, thank god, is his "beater"truck, not the fancier white one or the even fancier black truck he only uses "for weddings or funerals."

Heh.

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Good News: The garden is producing!

Radishes - French Breakfast and Easter Egg variety

Lettuce - no more buying from the store!

Cilantro but alas, no onions or tomatoes yet for salsa.

Also, compliments of Brent and Kirk (via mail) - I've got a new climber fence for my ambitious beans and peas.

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And, finally, because people are always telling Brent that he carries too much in the back of his truck - everything but the kitchen sink - here's a final image: