Chili weather

Lambsquarters are big lanky weeds that come up everywhere. I have some in
the dog run just outside my office window. They are about 6 foot high.
They have small green flowers that don't look like much but must turn into
some tasty seeds because the ones outside my window are filled with tiny
birds. Goldfinches, sparrows, and other small birds seem to be eating the
seeds. My canary is right by the window and he keeps singing his head
off. He's probably trying to warn them away.

I am eating some trail mix with sunflower seeds in it. My little canary
loves me to save him a few. He eats mostly fruit flavored complete and
balanced pellets for birds. That's got to be pretty boring but I can see it
makes less mess- no seed hulls. The sunflower seeds are hulled too. I
think the canary recognizes the package the trail mix comes in and knows he
is going to get a treat. He was eating the pellets when I got him so I have
kept him on them.

My chickens have started to ay again. I broke down and bought a box of eggs
and sure enough the next day there were two eggs in the nest. At least 2
white and two brown egg laying hens are back to laying after the big dog
scare. One of them has to be a new layer- one of the hens who hadn't
started laying yet. The one young rooster who survived has not crowed since
"D" day - I wonder if he will start again soon.

The weather has been cloudy and cool but basically dry. We had some good
rain last week but it wasn't enough to make up the deficit. Our pond is the
lowest I have ever seen. The herons are down there every night looking for
fish in the shallow water but there isn't much I can do about it. I am
actually hoping for rain from one of the hurricanes to make it up here. I
will actually have to drag the hose around this evening even though it's
about 60 degrees.

The tomatoes are ripening more slowly but my new crop of lettuce is growing
like crazy. I can't ever seem to get the two of them ready for eating at
the same time. I was making tomato sauce and freezing it just last week -
then the tomatoes stop ripening because of the cold and cloudy weather. I
dug all the potatoes though and we have been doing some good eating.

I think I will use some of my delicious tomato sauce tonight and make a big
pot of chili. Sure seems like chili weather to me.