Last Gasp of Summer

How did we arrive at the middle of August so soon?

It seems like we were just perusing greenhouses for annuals for planting  and putting the screens in the windows and doors.  Now we have arrived at full on tomato and corn time and if you live in the woods like us--Spiders Are Taking Over the World time.

A few miscellaneous thoughts as the days are snowballing downhill toward autumn...

1.  There are farmer's markets and there are Farmer's Markets.  My readers from Madison will know exactly what I mean by that.  Jewelry, scarves and candles do not belong at a farmer's market.  And I want to buy veg and fruit from someone with hands that look like farmer's hands.

2.  Stop thinking that if you are stung in your backyard it is from a honey bee.  Unless you stand in front of the hive and wave your arms, or open the top of the super and disturb the brood--YOU HAVE NOT BEEN STUNG BY A HONEY BEE!  Ground bee, hornet or wasp- maybe--but not a honey bee.

3.  Consider stopping listening to commercial radio.  I located BBC Radio 4 on my iPad--what a hoot.  Gardening shows, world news, women's focus shows,  soap operas (The Archer's), chapter a day of books,  church service from some cathedral in the UK, quiz shows--something different,.  No American political news and no commercials.  And no ads for "male enhancement" products!!!  BBC London radio is very good too.

4.  Schedule that overdue mammogram and colonoscopy.  Enough said.

5.  Take an inventory of your "free" time.  Are you spending it as you would like?  Does there need to be some adjustment on the people who  you spend time with or if you are too involved in technology?

6.  Keep chiseling away at cleaning out your dreck.  What summer clothes did you not wear this summer?  What kitchen widget have you not looked at in a year? 

7.  Still can't beat a paper road map.  Just think--future generations will never have the pleasure of trying to fold one back up and Never Get It Quite  Right!

8.  Stop complaining about how humid it is.

9.  Visit an antique shop or antique market SOON.  (This is supposed to be an antiquer's blog after all!)  Nothing beats fresh air, finding a Neat Little Widget (to replace something you cleaned out--see #6 above) and eating some kind of fair food that isn't good for you, but once or twice a year won't kill you.

10.  Slow down.  Watch a good black and white movie.  Make gaspacho.  Enjoy the last gasp of summer.