Random 5 for September 6 – Gardens, illness, old cats, nighttime marauders, fences

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Tomatoes, parsley and basil from my garden!

Garden woes – This hasn’t been a great year for my garden. I was late because of my thumb surgery. Then we had rain and cold weather through June. Last year my tomatoes developed wilt late in the season and this year it came earlier taking half my basil plants too. My pumpkins are having trouble finding pollinators. (Too bad frogs don’t pollinate or I’d be selling by the truckload.) Next year I may let it rest while I improve the soil and figure out why it turned into a toxic waste dump. I can grow a tomato plant or two in pots. In the meantime I am grateful for the crop we did have. Gotta love fresh garden food.

Don’t stare! – That’s what I kept telling myself. I was driving through a grocery store parking lot and saw a young bald woman with a toddler unloading her groceries. She looked healthy, handling the packages and the child efficiently. I assumed it was just her style until I got closer and saw marks on her head. They were target points for treatment. My heart hurt for her. I doubt if she is 30. Much too young for that sort of thing. My hope is that she will recover and see her child grow up.

Speaking of heart thumping – Long time readers know my old cat Jake is…well…old. I didn’t think he would last this past year but he did. His legs are wobbly; he frightens easily; and lately has been having night terrors. He gets disoriented and confused. Somehow all of that has made him special in my heart. Maybe when you know you won’t have something very long, it becomes so much more important.

Other thumping news – Having cats is like having a watch dog only they don’t bark. You have to notice the subtle hints. When all the cats are clumped together staring at something you know you better check it out. Something was at the bird feeders. It was dusk so I couldn’t see what it was but when “it” heard me, the feeders starting clanging. I assume “it” was running off. About a week ago I released a trapped raccoon from my screened porch without great fear. This week I was extremely cautious and made the beloved husband watch as I walked out to the feeders. (Now why didn’t I have him walk out to the feeders?) I have been taking the feeders into the garage overnight to cut down on the nighttime marauders.

Deer out! – We are having a 6’ tall fence installed. They started this past week. It’s to keep the deer out and deter other four-legged creatures from dining on our shrubs. I sure hope it works. On a humorous note, our local township has passed an ordinance saying that if you keep bees, you need to install a fence (chain link is ok) around the hive area. I wonder if they understand that bees…umm….fly…..

46 thoughts on “Random 5 for September 6 – Gardens, illness, old cats, nighttime marauders, fences”

  1. Chain link fences around bees…hmm. Maybe there have been random beehive robberies and they want to create a barrier that will give the bees a chance to see who’s coming and let them get ready to defend their property. May keep nosy kids who poke around then run home and complain the bees are being mean?
    Chain link around places that have deer are sort of like wire fences on pastures…whatever is on the other side is got to be better so they animals will make it their life’s work to push them down or jump over while surly snarking “Na-na-na-na-boo-boo.”
    I heard old cats can get senile and have night terror. Granny who visited certainly got cranky with age and would try to attack to prevent me from leaving the room she was commanding. Until she got very weak and came to us for hospice care. When awake, she did seem appreciate a bit of quiet company – crying if you left. Hugs for Jake and wishing him warm sunny spots to snooze in.

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    • If the concern had been bee robberies or invasions, I’d get it. The concern was bee stings to neighbors in other yards. I think most people terrorize their kids with bee stories or at least in our neighborhood no one has bothered the hives. We are keeping fingers crossed with deer. The fence is at the top of a steep drop that isn’t conducive to jumping but there are two spots, very small where they could get a running jump. We’ll see.

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  2. Your tomatoes look yummy, Kate. My garden has been a huge disappointment this year. Not sure why but I think I’ll try adding bonemeal to the soil if I have another one next year. I’m getting beautiful eggplant and a couple of peppers but tomatoes aren’t looking too good. I hope Jake’s feeling better; it’s a joy to have pets but a heartbreak when they get old. As for fences and bees….hmmm, okay. 🙂

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    • I have bonemeal on my list for next year too. In contrast this is the best year for parsley (which should be easy to grow) that I’ve ever had. We are going to have a training session for the bees. They are also considering equipping them with that sensor that dogs wear that gives them an electric shock when they go over the fence. (Sorry I’m getting a little wacky about that whole thing.) 🙂

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  3. The crops this year haven’t been good for many and now the lack of rain isn’t helping matters for what hope we had left. Enjoy the bounty you did get, it certainly looks delish.
    There is a part of me who really would have loved to sit in on the hive brainstorming meeting.
    I can’t discuss Jake, because I just can’t. Just give him a big ole pet for me.
    The strength in that young woman is incredible.

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  4. Kate we are just about to plant out first veggies for the season, when I say we, I should say my hubs, I just help him cook and eat them. Looking forward to all that fresh goodness on a plate. There is nothing better than home grown. Except maybe and old cat that has lasted longer than you thought. Always something happening in your back yard. Always makes me smile.

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  5. Having a beloved old cat is truly a poignant reminder of the passing of time.

    Those tomatoes look delicious. My favorite way to eat cherry tomatoes is off the vine. When we lived in Vanuatu, my husband planted a whole row of them along the side to the house. Best snack ever!

    The way you describe it, this regulation about bee fences is going to be embarrassing to someone. I suppose they’ll find a way to justify it.

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  6. It’s always heart wrenching to see a cancer patient and imagine what they’ve endured.
    Seriously, a fence to protect citizens from bees? That’s their solution? Huh.
    The hardest decisions ever have been to decide on the fate of a beloved pet. I’ve always felt if his/her quality of life is really absent and they’re suffering, then it’s time. But if they still have some degree of enjoyment from life, then I do my best to help them live that life.

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  8. The bee fence reminds me of when we had smoking and non-smoking sections in restaurants. Fortunately the smoke was very well behaved and stopped short of coming into the non-smoking areas and bothering those of us who wanted to breathe fresh air. I’m sure the bees will stay put inside the fence. Maybe you could add a little sign warning them not to fly beyond its boundaries.

    Poor old Jake. I’m sure he is getting a lot of love right now and is comforted by your touch. Just because you know he won’t be here forever doesn’t mean it’s any less hard to lose him.

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  9. A bee fence! Hilarious. Are they trying to protect the hives from skunks? (Skunks eat bees. Like candy.) That’s the only rationale I can think of.

    Ah, Jake. Many cuddles to you, old man.

    Tomatoes. Andy wants to know if you are adding bonemeal to the soil?

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  10. First order of business, this fence business is worth staying faithful to…as for your tomatoes, this Italian thinks they look pretty good. Top Down should weigh in on this.
    I love how you wrote about Jake. I think the reason for his longevity is you. He’s so loved and I know you’re house is like a good hotel. I wouldn’t check out either.
    Favorite line of the week… Having cats is like having a watch dog only they don’t bark. LOL

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  13. I feel your tomato pain. It’s the farmers plight…like rolling the dice in a casino. Kudos to your fighting spirit to battle the deer and all other marauders. Your feline security force seems like they are more than up to the task. So pleased to be on the Planet with you. Travel well.
    Dan

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  14. I’d like a six foot fence at least on the north side of my property just to screen the neighbors’ house. I let the shrubs grow as tall as possible.
    I have watched a pet decline several times. It’s never easy and I’ve had to make the final decision several times. You have my sympathy.

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    • My sympathies on your neighbor’s house. That’s one thing you can’t control. We have a lot of shrubs along the fence too. The back end is black chain link. It’s in back of 12′ viburnum bushes so we won’t be able to see it anyway. Making “that” decision is hard. Although my cat’s blood work comes back perfect and his diabetes is in remission, he’s not doing well otherwise. It’s just aging I guess. It’s easier to make the decision when there is an illness involved.

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      • Unfortunately as the mayor of this small town of 233, I had to send a letter to the neighbors regarding the condition of their boarded up windows. It’s against our ordinances. I don’t relish having to deal with the inevitable problems that will ensue when we must actually enforce our ordinance. How to actually do that, I’m not sure. One thing I am certain of…..I’m only the mayor for 115 more days….but who’s counting?

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        • One of my dearest friends (who has a mental illness) trashes her house with junk. She’s smart (college grad) and at one time held down a great job. However, even I couldn’t get through to her about how empty containers lying in the yard with weeds all around would offend anyone. She was cited by the township but instead of paying the find, she hired a lawyer to fight only to have the attorney advise her to pay the fine. At this point she is living in her mother’s home (in another town) while her home is slowing deteriorating in a lovely neighborhood. So sad. Good luck to you.

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  15. Perhaps you should tell the township folks about the fence around your garden and your “bee” episode. I would love to know the rationale for that ordinance! Bru thinks it is to keep any unwanted honey loving animals away from hives.

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    • Maybe. Or inquisitive kids but the thrust of the ordinance was the fear that the bees would go into neighborhood yards and sting. Honey bees are not aggressive. Our neighbor has some hives. They are always in my pond getting water and I’ve been in the pond with them. They never bother me, unlike those nasty yellow jackets…

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  16. We’re not allowed to have fences that high, but I’ll be interested to find out if the fence works. Gotta wonder about keeping bees out with a fence?! Perhaps it’s to keep people away from the bees? Bees are antisocial, I guess.

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    • The regulation came as a result of people saying that bees were coming into their yards so I don’t think it’s about people getting into hives. However, it’s government. Enough said? It’s given us all a good laugh. Our neighbor has had hives for years and no one has gotten stung by the honey bees. As for the fence, that’s the tallest we are allowed. Anything lower and the deer will jump over.

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