The New Book

We had a cold snap, frost in many places but not here.  Still it went well down into the 40’s for several nights.  I brought in two basil plants I potted and put them on the ledge in the sunny dining room.  I am beginning to pot the plants I need to bring inside before it gets cold.  The weather has warmed up now but I see we are really into fall and I must prepare.

Already all my paste tomatoes are gone, except for a few ripening in the dining room. The peppers are winding down, very strange this year.  My hot peppers are normal but the frying and stuffing peppers are misshapen.  We were doing beautifully on winter squash and then overnight, some varmint chewed almost all of them up.  Only a woodchuck can do that much damage in a night or two.  We are still getting beans, but they’ve slowed down at last. I hpe the fall will be mild enough so we can get fall lettuce and some cabbages.

 Woody is going to Portsmouth NH today.  He left @ 6 am this morning to get there by 9:30. Every September for the last forty years we have driven up to Maine not only to hit the outlets but to go to the Noon Family Farm to get naturally raised lamb. This year, obviously we are not going anyplace to stay overnight.  I am terrified of public restrooms during Covid, so Woody will go alone to pick up the lamb that Jean Noon will have given to friends who have a stall at the Portsmouth Farmers Market every Saturday this time of year.  He also hopes to get good apples.  Every year we bought apples in Maine from a farm and then more in late October from the apple store at Cornell in Ithaca NY when we visit the Finger lakes to buy wine.  I wish I could go with him, but I do not want to risk it.

 This week I did go the dentist for the first time since last year.  I was afraid to put it off longer.  My dentist and her technician were dressed in what appeared to be hazmat suits.  It was all very careful.  Everything is weird these days.

 I was hit hard by RBG’s death.  Like her, I’d fervently hoped she could last until after the election.  I admired her greatly.  She will be missed a great deal for a long time.  For Rosh Hashanah, we had only David and Bonnie, who must be exceedingly careful, but it was still a good dinner [much simpler than I usually do for 8 or 9] and I had written a short but meaningful service.

I finally have a copy of my new poetry book ON THE WAY OUT, TURN OFF THE LIGHT.  We always collaborate on the cover.  It was woody’s idea and I found the graphic.  I’m very pleased with the way it looks.  The official publication date is tomorrow, Sunday, September 30.  It should be available if you so desire.  It’s long for a poetry book because I’m essentially a full time poet.  It’s 183 pp.

 I finished reading RAGE last night – Woodward’s book on Trump.  It makes for very upsetting reading.  He gave Woodward 18 interviews.  Woodward also interviewed former cabinet and staff personnel. Read this book if you can.