Hungry Crows, Dead Seeds, and a New Assistant

We were astonished to see crows at our bird feeders.  They just wrapped around the feeder to eat. Obviously. this slow late spring has left them hungry. I used to always put dried corn down for them, but Woody is wary of the local wood rats, which eat anything left on the ground.

I have always had a good relationship with the local crows.  Now, I can’t come to them when they call me because they are upset about some intruder, human or bird or predator.  They are highly intelligent and have a good society.  Better than ours.

I started maincrop tomatoes in the store room.  They all germinated along with zinnias this week and are now in the bay window, but the Orange Wellington tomatoes from Burpee never popped. About five seeds were left. I tried them. Didn’t germinate.  I’ll try to another type of yellow or orange tomato, I can’t guess when it would arrive.  We’ll have to buy plants, something I hate to do as I can’t get plants that are a great types for our soil and conditions. We grew Orange Wellingtons successfully last year. Gardening is such a crap shoot.

I try to start two maincrop reds, two yellow or oranges, one pink and Black Krims. The Black Krims are my favorite eating tomato and usually an early and prolific heirloom.  And always four paste tomatos and one cherry tomato, already stated and moved to the greenhouse.

I interviewed two women for the job, but neither would work out. Then a fine poet from my poetry group said she would very much like to try it. She, unlike the ones I talked to on the phone and the two I interviewed, knows all about sending out poems, using Submittable, etc. I invited her to our seder [she’s Jewish also]. She came and spent the night at Chaim and Theresa’s, meeting their huge dog Paulo, and then we worked together for a couple of hours the next day. I think it will work out until the summer, anyhow. She lives in Manomet, over the bridge, and in summer it would take forever to come to work here and then more impossible traffic to return home.

I desperately need an assistant right now, as five weeks of work have piled up.  I will worry about the summer when it’s a problem in July.  In the meantime, she’ll work for me one day a week and then one week, two days.  That’s what we worked out.

Saturday night, Tasha and Stephanie and (big sister) Mitch are throwing me a 90th birthday party at their house.  I think 15 to 17 guests. My dear friend Lilli just had an operation and can’t come and Gigi and Ralph are still in Florida, coming back in two weeks. Other friends are also too far away.  I am excited about it. I have for some years made a party for two other friends and myself whose birthdays are all around the same week. But at 90, I am tired of giving that big party. I decided if no friends volunteered, I would skip it altogether. I am very appreciative that Stephanie and Tasha were willing to do it. Tasha will do almost all the cooking, although a couple of friends are bringing something and Woody made (what he calls his famous) cheesecake last night that he will serve with local strawberries on top that I froze last June. Tasha is an excellent cook.

Woody gave me two lovely dresses, Godiva chocolates, and a gorgeous necklace with light blue stones. Gigi and Ralph sent tulips, chocolate, and a cute tote bag.  Lilli sent a magnificent present and other friends sent gifts too.  So far it has been a glorious 90th.