The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

It’s a strange phenomenon when I am the one planting late. I was patient after I lost everything by impatiently planting too early. Now, I may be behind the eight ball, having waited too long.

After planting early-season veggies, including onions, radishes, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, no low-fiber diets for us, I stopped my planting. I was sure it was too early to plant the rest. But after visiting some friends who had already planted sugar snaps and pretty much everything else, I am worried.

I may have to reconsider my planting schedule and start digging, crossing my fingers for weather that doesn’t kill everything.

Last week, my friends from Los Angeles and I were guided around by local photographer Bill Rodgers. I finally saw Palouse Falls and was introduced to marmots. I had never seen these creatures before. They were in trees, cruising on the grass, peeking into garbage cans, creating quite the show. The falls were spectacular, and the marmots, though a little creepy, were very entertaining.

We went to lunch at Lyons Ferry Marina, another first for me, and as we were finishing our lunch, we were informed that a gentleman had paid our bill. He quietly paid and left before we had a chance to thank him. Random acts of kindness never go out of style, and we were very grateful.

My visitors brought me a collection of seeds called Victory Garden. There were packets of carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, beets, and lettuce. I HATE beets, but I have planted a few seeds to show I am grateful for their gift. If they grow, I hope to trade the beets for something I like. Still a little wary of the weather, I will exercise restraint and wait to plant the tomatoes and zucchini.

Daniel has been working ten-to-twelve-hour days at the post office. He doesn’t mind the long hours; however, it means I’ve been cooking our dinners. I try to have dinner ready when he gets home, but my cooking is not really up to his standards, and poor compensation for his long days. Luckily, we have lots of good wine to lessen the mediocre dinners.

Or, as my mother taught me, it’s a good excuse for him to suggest eating out. It works for me, as they say.

Meanwhile, I’ve been asked by friends and relatives if I am enjoying retirement. The answer is a resounding YES! Unfortunately, Murphy’s Law has gotten the best of me financially.

First, my car was rear-ended in a hit-and-run. I had that fixed, and now it needs a mirror switch, brake pads, rotor, calipers, and a few other things thrown in.

Just so the house doesn’t feel left out, I need to replace a ceiling fan and some knob and tube wiring that I thought we’d replaced already. I’ve noticed our garden hose spigots are leaking, and my iPad has a badly cracked screen and needs to be replaced

Still, all things considered, retirement is great. And, although I didn’t plan for the repairs, I knew they were bound to happen. After all, the car is eight years old, houses are money pits, and iPads drop.

I hope buying produce will be a thing of the past, my vegetable garden will thrive, and my timing to sow and grow is on point.