Today’s blog is going to be a miscellany, because I haven’t come up with a topic.
Gardening
I’ve been watering our raised beds and containers nightly because of the hot dry days. In spite of adding “good” dirt to the raised beds, those plants seem to be suffering almost as much as last year.
This got me comparing containers. We ended big-time composting a few years back, when it became too much. Then late last summer I began composting the kitchen scraps, because of the success reported by a friend.
Two galvanized bins received a topping of new compost. They have happy plants. Another small container, filled only with the “good” dirt, holds slower growing plants. Be aware, this report is unscientific. The slower plants are also in a shadier location.
At the risk of more uncooked seeds sprouting, I just spread my newest batch of compost over the two raised beds. I’ll let you know if it acts as encouragement to those veggies.
My work
These last weeks, beginning with my week of Covid, have been up-and-down mood-wise. A week of no work pushed me out of my then-project with my verse novel. (To call it my “Zen project” works equally well, because of the quiet pleasure it gave me).
That grumpy week was followed by bouts of near-depression, until I told myself: “It is what it is. Make the most of it.” Making the most of it worked. I had just begun a class on the plotting and structuring of verse novels. Being outside of my project made analysis (not my strong suit) more possible. I now have a better map of my protagonist’s arc.
My Reading
I’m more likely to read non-fiction when actually writing, as opposed to when wearing revision or editing caps. It’s all part of the work, but there’s a big difference in the kind of thinking cap worn. Thanks, Betsy James, for the hat analogy!
I’ve set a goal of completing a full draft of Book 3 of my sci fi trilogy by the end of the year. My reading choices reflect that I’ve already made that transition.
My library hold arrived of Ann Patchett’s new book of essays These Precious Days and I’m finding it hard to put it down. Then too, my rather daunting stack of partially read magazines is screaming for me to whittle away at that backlog.
The theme of the day is to make the most of what comes our way
A recent news article raises the hope that Earth’s fiery, stormy tantrums are finally gaining the attention of climate-naysayers. May it be so.
.
Kate Harrington 