News From Browntown

News From Browntown
The rain has stopped for the time being and unseasonally cool, dry weather is forecast for the next few days. The rain was so good for the plants and everything is just glowing sparkly green. Of course, where I see lush, healthy, growing greenery, Dad sees mowing... He was called to work in Baltimore unexpectedly yesterday and had to be gone on the best mowing day in more than a week. He is champing at the bit to get back and on that tractor this afternoon.

As always, it has been peaceful and serene here in Browntown (other than the Fourth of July fireworks earlier this week although even that was somewhat subdued - humidity, I guess). I am hoping to give myself a lesson on camera use this week-end so I can post some pictures of the flowers, veggies, etc. Maybe throw in a picture or two of yarn (Auntie Char is the only one interested in that stuff, I know). The egg plant and tomatoes are looking very healthy and potentially productive. The peppers are also looking good. Unfortunately, the resident groundhog up at the pool garden has destroyed some of the squash and zucchini so it's hard to say what the output there will be. The pool garden tomatoes, however, are spectacular! Of course, the herbs, flowers and other stuff Grammy tends so carefully are looking very hale and hardy, especially with the rains we have had these past couple of weeks. Usually by this time of the summer it is tough going to keep everything watered sufficiently to offset the blazing heat but this year it is working out really well - at least for us - of course, there are those who have suffered with flooding. Both of the rain barrels are completely full and this week-end Dad and I will work on getting the "pig" set up to catch the water that pumps from the spring under the basement floor. That little spring is running high since the rains and there is plenty of groundwater now. The sump pump is humming right along to keep the basement floor dry.

We are getting some very interesting letters (via e-mail) from Kris Iden describing her first experiences in her new home in Germany. She is settling in well, it seems and it will be fun for her to look back at those letters a year from now. By then she will be really settled in and those experiences will, no doubt, seem like ancient history.

Will try to post some pix this week-end!