okra: One Year!

I guess it's been while! I didn't even realize that I had been blogging for a year now. I breezed right past June 20, the date okra went live!

This week went by very quickly, with the 4th of July holiday mid-week. I had a great time. I lit all kinds of fireworks, and I still have all of my appendages. Most of the gang met at Neil's house for a lot of delicious food. The delights included Neil's tofu kabobs and Meghan's potatoes. I made a tomoto tart with pesto and feta cheese. I had to improvise for the crust after I discovered the recipe called for a ready made crust that contained lard. I used a puff pastry sheet instead, and that was surprisingly good. Neil roasted a Santa Claus melon for us for desert, and a few bad jokes later (regarding holiday confusion), we started lighting fireworks! Tom and Amanda brought some fireworks and I brought some, so we had quite an arsenal. We had a tank race, set off the "stegosaurus", lit the "killer bees", and nearly confused innocuous jumping jacks with black cats. I did twist the wicks of a few black cats, plus a few jumping jacks to create a monster bomb. That was fun. Everyone learned what a pyro I am.

Last night things were quieter around here with the 4th past. I did the usual things, including watering my garden. Luca went outside with me and was chasing a little bunny around. He was much too fast, but she had a great time. She finally stretched out on the lawn for a rest, until it was time to turn on the sprinkler. She was very indignant. I gathered up Luca and went inside, just as it was getting dark. I hadn't been inside long when I heard a strange sound by the back door. I looked out there and the chickens were all huddled up against the door. Instead of going in their chicken house, they all wanted inside our house! So, being the sucker that I am, I felt sorry for them and let them inside. I put them in the bathroom and they all perched along the side of the bathtub and went to sleep. Then, I went to get Keith, to help me figure out why they wouldn't go in their house. Meanwhile, Luca decided that the chickens had a good idea and she hopped up on the side of the bathtub to hang out with the hens. Mao curled up beside them on the floor. We went outside to discover that the door to their pen had accidentally been closed. So, we carried the hens back outside. I had to hold the flashlight for them so that they could get up on their perch in the chicken house. I hated to break up the slumber party, but thought that the hens might start trying to come inside the house every night!