Ebony's Pearls

No pictures, it's too dark since we're currently under a tornado watch and there've been more than a dozen tornadoes on the ground nearby - as in within 30 miles. Within the same area code close, anyway.

But, tornadoes aside, I've been out in the garden harvesting herbs for the Ne'er-Ending Pot of Chili.

I've got nasturtiums, sage, dill, chives, oregano, rosemary, basil, thyme, lavender, parsley, and sourgrass to toss in the pots along with the spices from the cabinet.

I'm still getting a double handful of strawberries each day, and the raspberries are blooming. Within a week, I'll be getting my first tomatoes.

My lawn is growing so fast I have to mow twice a week if I want to keep it looking nice enough to keep the Yard Cops off my case. Their yards don't grow as fast as mine so it's easier for them. They only have to mow two or three times a month instead of a week. And most of them don't have jobs outside the home - they're retired or stay-at-home spouses. They have nothing better to do than complain about other people and report them to the code enforcement officers for the most trivial things. Last year, if my grass grew taller than 6 inches, I got fine notices on my door. According to city ordinances, I have until 18 inches before I should get fined - or I can be fined if some reports my grass as too tall, regardless of its actual height. There were weeks when I'd mowed down to the dirt and was still getting fined for tall grass. I was so angry.

The worst Yard Cop died of old age, though, so this year has been much easier. The second worst Yard Cop now has Alzheimer's and I complained that I shouldn't be fined based on someone's faulty memory, so they now discount her complaints and the neighborhood is a much happier place. Now, if that third Yard Cop would move away or mellow out, it would be great.