I've Been Thinking

Always a dangerous thing for me, thinking.  This time however I'm no more dangerous than the problem I'm mulling over.  What happens next in America?  What happens in the whole world?  I am not one for conspiracy theories but it's hard to believe the financial devastation wasn't planned.  Are we supposed to become slaves in the new world order?  Is there any hope for the aging poor? 

I think that although painful this cataclysmic event in our economy, nationally and globally will be a good thing.  I have poor health and will probably be one of the casualties of the upheaval but I am trying to think over and above myself.  Here are the probable goods that will come out of this "leveling".

Families will be living together as children who's homes are being repossed return to the nest. Assisted living for the elderly, infirm and disabled will be a costly affair totally out of the reach of the poor and the middle class.  Daycare will be even more expensive and much scarcer as the few stay at home mothers left head out to find something that will bring in cash.

Seniors will be involved in their families lives on a daily basis.  Their help with child care, their knowledge for homeschooling and other life lessons will become invaluable.  Disabled people will not have the access to many of the things they do at this point.  They will be on the loosing side of the slate in that but they may forge closer bonds with their families also.  

Fewer people will have the money to buy things, things like phones, vacuums. jet skis, computer games, fast food, dinners out, clothes, the list goes on and on.  Instead we will be shutting down factories, turning more people to agricultural work as many parts of the world are already suffering famine and more to come.  Food is always a necessity, lipstick, not so much.  Priorities are going to become more realistic. You can't eat diamonds, you can't find shelter under an Xbox, and clothes need to provide some warmth!

Some fairly outdated skills us old hippies learned may actually have some value in a more barter oriented society.  Life will be greener in general if no one can afford to drive without a major purpose.  Recycling won't be hip it'll be a need.  Gardens have already been popping up.  Next year there will be more.  Herbs cost less to grow than medicine bought in a store.  Another change already occurring in our society will progress more.

The best thing is that we may finally realize that we can't afford war.  We can afford military protection for our national boundaries if we are careful not to let Generals get too much power but we really can't afford Iraq or any other war.  Not many people are mentioning the part this war had in bringing American down financially.  It's not all those faulty mortgages.

I may be overly optimistic.  I hope not.

Harvest Time

Well it's all over except for the shouting!  Harvest time has come in Empire.  I took my crop of cucumbers (2) , wax peppers (2) Jalapenos (6) turnips (40) tomatoes, (40 and still going strong inside) lettuce, spinach, rosemary, sage, thyme, chives, and numerous other little amounts and made one big salad!  The tomatoes, eggplant and squash are still growing inside so we'll see what happens with those.  I haven't bought salad greens since June so I've saved a lot of money with that.  Next year garlic and onions go in also.  The mint patch is kicking.  I have plenty of tea for the winter and I'm just starting to bring in the rose hips.

I'll post pictures tomorrow.  Until then, happy eating!

Yesterday's Hike

While I saw four more people than I wanted to on this trip it was a wonderful day!  The weather was breezy, leaves were blowing around, trees are about half and half in color.  I love those trees that look like yellow is just staining the green edges.  I went up the Argentine Railroad grade and then on to an old mine road up the side of the moutain.  Once I got there I didn't see any more people and my day was perfect.

This picture of the side of the mountain shows you where I'm going, right up to the top!

There was so much rain this year there is moss everywhere.  Under blankets of moss and lichen the rainwater has washed out around rocks and tree roots.  The side of the mountain is full of these places.  They look like altars to the Goddess.  The leaves and berries laying on top of the peat moss are the offerings to the end of summer.

Fall Color in the Garden

My rosehips are abundant this year as well as beautiful!

TODAY IS THE DAY!

I know I have been insanely lucky.  My tomatoes haven't frozen yet but they will.  They will freeze and I'll be kicking myself a lot!  So Today I'll finally start bringing in plants.  My living space will change it's whole ambiance as it does every year at this time.  I start rearranging and moving the things that sit in sunny windows.  I always end up throwing some things out, nowhere near enough and deciding I don't need some plants to winter over.   It's kind of like kicking one of your kids out of the house.  Especially like that if you think they are going to freeze to death!  MMMM, maybe not such a good analogy?  

I've already been outside checking if they made it through one more night.  The temperature was 34 deg. F.  Two more degrees and my veggies would have been crunchy and then black.  I'm looking forward to a day of melancholy as I get my place ready for winter.  On the other hand, I rather enjoy the feeling of Mother Earthishness I get from harvesting the mini crops!  This year I have jalapenos, dill, sage, thyme, rosemary, chives, turnips, carrots, spinach, arugula, meslin mix, onions, peas, beans, hollyhocks, heliosomethings, columbines, wild roses, dianthus, primroses, cucumbers, mint, narcissus, and Gerber Daiseys.  Quite the haul for a garden about four by six hey?

Fog In The Air

Oh no, fog down to the ground  this morning!   It wasn't so bad early but it's getting there now.   I need to start hauling in my plants, at least to the porch so they don't freeze.  I had to scrape ice yesterday morning from my windshield.  When I drive to work I see groups of Mountain Sheep feeding by the highway, getting ready for a storm that will keep them from getting food easily.

The leaves have been turning yellow for a week everywhere.  My Dad, who is 81, says he hasn't seen any of them.  I know he has.  He just hates the idea of winter coming so soon.  So do I.  I want another couple of months, hanging out in the garden, walking without hiking boots and coats, heating easily with low costs, not having to dig out the driveway.  You know, summer things!  Or at least Indian Summer things.

In the time I've written this post the fog has come down to the ground and there is no blue sky left.  The trees just slightly higher up the hill from me are frosted.  I will bring my tomatoes in this morning.  Ah, gone are the times of being able to walk freely around my house.  For the rest of the winter it will be a greenhouse.  In exchange I will get that lovely smell of green inside my home.  It's worth it.  Not to mention a live-in grocery store of fresh veggies, salad greens and herbs.  

SUMMER'S ALMOST GONE

I haven't posted here for much of August.  I guess I was too busy enjoying the short summer season of the high country.  My garden is going great but I fear many things will be taken inside before they ripen.  The cool nights have already come and most mornings I need to build a small fire to take the edge off.  

We've had a lot of moisture this summer and things have grown well although slowly.  The heat only lasted four weeks up here unlike the record breaking run in the Metro area. 

The three minature cucumbers are the largest grown from seed I've ever had up here.  I'll see how big they get before freezing but I may end up digging them out and bringing them indoors with the tomatoes, strawberry plants, patty pan squash and eggplants.  My house will once again go back to smelling like a green house!  I have no problems with that only meloncholy for the end of summer.

It is supposed to get cooler today, like down to the 50s.  I haven't been able to carry anything due to a fall and I'm behind on wood gathering, painting and winterizing in general.  I need to go fill the hummingbird feeders.  They are power feeding, getting ready for their next long trip away from cold and snow.  I'll hate to see them go but today, I'm enjoying every last second of summer I can.