Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:24b-25
Paperwork and mosquitoes. Sounds like an odd combination, huh? Not as odd as you might think. Both are a nuisance. And, somehow, both need to be dealt with.
This week Kevin finally finished up on the paperwork for his disability application. He had originally started filling it out online; however, we discovered that if your account stays inactive for a certain period of time, the server blocks your re-entry. So, he had to call the Social Security Administration and make an appointment. The great thing is that the appointment didn't require him to go to our local office. Someone from the office contacts you by phone. Truth be known, this phone call was infinitely more helpful than trying to navigate the online application. The lady was able to offer additional information and answer questions. In any case, the application is completed. Now we wait. There could be more paperwork. There could be more doctor visits. We don't know. We're in the holding pattern and hopeful that the application will be accepted on this first try. Don't get me wrong, we have learned to deal with not buying and scrimping and saving. And, that's been to our benefit. But......it would relieve some stress to have just a little more income. It's great to know that you can get by. It's better to know that there is a monetary cushion in the bank and realize that you don't have to spend it, but it's there just in case.
Otherwise, we're in a typical summer routine. Each evening consists of supper, maybe a walk, a little TV (right now we're watching "Inspector Morse" via Netflix), and watering the garden. It's been a relatively hot and dry summer, so watering the garden is of utmost importance. The big drawback is the large population of mosquitoes I have to battle each night. I'm not a big proponent of bug sprays. I've planted marigold plants (because I heard they helped deter mosquitoes), but I think I'd have to have planted my whole yard in marigolds for that to work. So, I swat and squish and flail my arms around like a crazy woman to keep them off of me. I fight that good fight each night (I say with a clinched smile) so that I can try to keep our little garden alive.
There has been some disappointment.
The okra, pinto bean, tomato, cucumber, basil, dill, and parsley plants are thriving.
That's where we are at the moment. Dealing with the nuisances and waiting for the harvest.
Paperwork and mosquitoes. Sounds like an odd combination, huh? Not as odd as you might think. Both are a nuisance. And, somehow, both need to be dealt with.
This week Kevin finally finished up on the paperwork for his disability application. He had originally started filling it out online; however, we discovered that if your account stays inactive for a certain period of time, the server blocks your re-entry. So, he had to call the Social Security Administration and make an appointment. The great thing is that the appointment didn't require him to go to our local office. Someone from the office contacts you by phone. Truth be known, this phone call was infinitely more helpful than trying to navigate the online application. The lady was able to offer additional information and answer questions. In any case, the application is completed. Now we wait. There could be more paperwork. There could be more doctor visits. We don't know. We're in the holding pattern and hopeful that the application will be accepted on this first try. Don't get me wrong, we have learned to deal with not buying and scrimping and saving. And, that's been to our benefit. But......it would relieve some stress to have just a little more income. It's great to know that you can get by. It's better to know that there is a monetary cushion in the bank and realize that you don't have to spend it, but it's there just in case.
Otherwise, we're in a typical summer routine. Each evening consists of supper, maybe a walk, a little TV (right now we're watching "Inspector Morse" via Netflix), and watering the garden. It's been a relatively hot and dry summer, so watering the garden is of utmost importance. The big drawback is the large population of mosquitoes I have to battle each night. I'm not a big proponent of bug sprays. I've planted marigold plants (because I heard they helped deter mosquitoes), but I think I'd have to have planted my whole yard in marigolds for that to work. So, I swat and squish and flail my arms around like a crazy woman to keep them off of me. I fight that good fight each night (I say with a clinched smile) so that I can try to keep our little garden alive.
There has been some disappointment.
- Our experiment of growing squash on top of straw bales failed. The near 100 degree days fried the plants, even with daily watering, and the stalks disintegrated from some pest that bores through them. I'm going to try lettuce and spinach on the bales in the fall.
- We didn't harvest any raspberries. The birds devoured them before they could ripen, despite my feeble efforts to scare them away. Maybe next year.
The okra, pinto bean, tomato, cucumber, basil, dill, and parsley plants are thriving.
- We get two or three okra every other day or so. I've got an "okra bowl" in the freezer. When I pick a couple, I go ahead and cut them, and put them in the bowl. By the end of the summer I should have a couple of quarts of okra that we can use all winter either sauteed or in soups.
- The pinto beans are putting on quite a lot of beans. They won't be ready for harvest until the fall after the seed pods have dried.
- The tomato and cucumber plants are just now beginning to put on fruit.
- Before long, we'll probably put a bunch of herbs on the dehydrator.
That's where we are at the moment. Dealing with the nuisances and waiting for the harvest.