Well, maybe I don’t wish for any whirlwinds, but I have been harvesting, some even edible.
Potatoes: That rotten potato I planted in the spring—in four pieces; each plant produced one potato before fading away. The longest surviving one produced a potato with two little ones attached. Knowing nothing about potato growing (yes, I should research before next year), I want to do it again, though maybe more scientifically.
Eggplants: I wondered why my three eggplants kept blooming but not producing, so I got out a fine-tipped paintbrush and tickled all available blossoms. In so doing, I discovered one small fruit. Since then several more fruits have appeared. As I can’t claim credit for the first one, I don’t know how much credit I’m owed for my pollination attempts.
Mystery grass: Several times, I’ve picked up a pointy grass seed attached to three long, very fine propellers? usually stabbing into my shoe. I finally located the source at the edge of my driveway. An internet search to ID it was unsuccessful, and my attempts to photograph the flying seed came out poorly. Any ideas?
And finally, harvesting self-discipline: Most days, I do some desk work but other matters suffer. PT exercise, for instance— though PT takes no more than 20 minutes, I tend to shunt it aside. By evening, I thoroughly begrudge having to exercise. Meanwhile, many unregulated hours fly by with nothing to show.
So, this past Sunday, I took a hard look at my slipshod ways.
I have to use August well, since I’m traveling with a sister in early September. For that, I need to: Prepare the house. Weed and mow the yard. Pack. etc. etc. And besides my normal commitments, I registered for two 2-session zoom classes, one on poetry and one on revision.
Having done no work on Sunday, I was highly motivated on Monday. I set out a schedule, alternating activity and desk time. Walk in the cool. Revise for no more than an hour. Do PT! thereby using it as a break. Prepare for a critique meeting. Run errands. Home for lunch. Draft an email to a potential copyeditor. You get the idea. In spite of a jigsaw puzzle pulling me in a couple times—Yes! I felt productive. And tired.
Tuesday, a repeat—but only in the morning, since the afternoon brought a critique meeting and the first of my zoom sessions.
Wednesday morning, I’ve already slipped up. I went from revision straight to blogging. I’ve got to go do PT right now!
I hope all your harvests are profitable. Sophie is harvesting the ZZZs.
Kate Harrington 