Who Knows? Not Me (That's The Fourth Time Now I've Said That Today And Which Is The Credo Of The Church Of The Batshit Crazy)

Here we have burn pile number two. This one was created when the guys cut down the Bradford pears. Somehow they managed to burn every bit of those trees up except for a very few small pieces. That fire burned for days and days. Everything you see on it now is from the last few storms we had. Branches to limbs to twigs. And all the stuff in between. Also, some bamboo and wisteria and thorn vines. And rose glory bower. To the left of that pile is the bamboo jungle and to the right are the trees that line the railroad track. When I tell you that we are very, very close to the railroad track what I mean is- we are almost right on top of it. The old building you see in the back is possibly an old barn or...we don't quite know. But there it is. 

It's raining pretty good right now, cooling things off. I pulled up my big girl panties this afternoon and went out with the idea of finishing up the side yard on the east side of the house and also the back yard closest to the house. I got the side yard done and trimmed some wisteria while I was at it. I had to keep telling myself, "This is not what you're out here for." It's weird. One thing just leads to another and before you know it, you’re  exhausted and soaking wet from sweat and you still aren't haven't accomplished your intended goal.  
Also? Can we talk about mosquitoes? Of course we have mosquitoes. We live in Florida and hell, we live virtually on the back of a swamp but I have never seen mosquitoes quite this bad. There are actual clouds of them. I sprayed with the Real Man Jungle mosquito spray with DEET in it and that barely kept them from attacking. I still got bit a lot. 
Glen cleaned up most of the back yard that I was going to do although I did manage to fill up the garden cart with some branches that had fallen in the old kitchen garden and the camellia bed which are adjacent to each other. I also trimmed a sago back and honestly, I want it gone. It is of no use to anyone or any thing in this world that I can see.

So we did what we could. Glen also planted onions so he was the real hero today. 

It's raining right now. It's been gray and drizzly all day long but this is real rain. I doubt it's related to Milton but who knows? Not me. (That's the third time I've said that today.) Milton is now officially a hurricane and it's supposedly going to hit Florida on Wednesday down on the west coast further south as yes, a Cat 3. Rob Nucatola is making no promises. He's also not joking around. Anyone who denies that climate change is real at this point is a Grade A, Number 1 asshole. 
Oh. What did Donald say about it recently? "It's a hoax."
That's right. 
Yes, we've always had hurricanes. Yes, some of them have been very, very big and strong and bad and destructive. But the increase in the number of them and the increase in the size and strength of them is non-debatable. 

Speaking of which, Vergil left Tallahassee at 5:30 this morning to get up to Black Mountain. I really have no idea how he's going to get the generator and supplies up to their property but he'll figure it out. I hear that they're doing okay with food and that one of their biggest problems right now is people hiking up there to check on them and then having to be shown the way down because they get lost. I assume that GPS is a little iffy up there right now. From what I've seen and heard online, they are so very lucky to still have their homes and enough food. I'm not sure where they're getting their water but it would appear that they have plenty. 

Jessie is working a 12 hour shift tomorrow so Saint Mr. Moon is going to be at their house at 6:00 a.m. because Jess has to leave at 6:15. He'll get the boys fed and ready for school and take them. He says he'll just pretend he's going hunting which also requires a very early start. I'm going to pick the guys up from school and bring them back here to play, eat dinner, take a bath and get their pajamas on so their exhausted mother can come and pick them up after work. I told Jessie to please ask the boys what they wanted me to make them for supper and they want chicken and dumplings although that's what they had for August's birthday dinner a week ago. They do love chicken and dumplings. 

All right- here's a question that I'm going to ask simply for my own entertainment. If you came to my house for dinner, what would you want me to cook? The menu ranges from garden vegetables to venison or fish that Mr. Moon brought home, to clam spaghetti, to shrimp salad, to pinto beans and cornbread, to gumbo, to creamy curried cashew butternut and sweet potato soup, to egg rolls to...chicken and dumplings. 
And so much more. 
I'm just curious. 

And please know that this does not mean I'm inviting you over for dinner. You have to know what a recluse I am by now. 

I know you're getting tired of pictures like this one.

However, I am still enjoying the fact that Maurice is feeling comfortable and safe enough these days to hang out on our bed. Although she is not really a new cat, she is definitely a happier cat. 

Love...Ms. Moon