“This little piggy went to the market and another little piggy stayed home.” Sunday afternoon a very BIG piggy came to my market; by big I mean about 350 pounds, three feet high and four feet long. Snorting around my parking lot, it made cars stop or drive cautiously. It was a sow and not seemingly aggressive, but who wanted to find out? The owner was not home so I called a farmer to inquire what I should do. They told me to put a blanket or bag over her head to cut off her eyesight. “Then, you can take her in any direction,” the farmer told me. I got many suggestions from customers, like do you have a gun? or maybe someone will hit it with a car, oops! Pork chops for dinner!
Finally, the owner arrived home. He is a tenant in a garage apartment on my son Chris’ property. Finally, the big piggy joined her roommate, another big piggy, in their home shed. After her shopping trip to the market, she fell asleep, exhausted but not dead.
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Fifty-three years ago on the fourth of July, Bob and I said “I do!” We thought that the previous Saturday would have been fine, but Bob’s father who owned Cox’s Butcher Market on Central Ave in East Orange for 42 years was not about to close on a Saturday for a wedding. So, because the fourth was a holiday and a Wednesday, we decided for that day. Of course, it has been over a half century of wedded bliss! (Believe that one and I’ll sell you the Brooklyn Bridge!)
This year my daughter, Mary, and her husband Duc, a chef, came and cooked a BBQ for dinner. We ate outside for the first time since we moved here 23 years ago. It got chilly, but we thanked God that our lives are moving along. Bob is basically house-bound because of emphysema which makes me the go-pher. I’m thankful that I am well and able.
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The Tenth Annual Car Show of the Equinunk Historical Society held on June 27th was a huge success. One hundred and six vehicles came to participate and about $4000.00 was realized.
The day was ‘iffy’ on the weather scale, but the field of the show remained sunny. While I was driving toward the location on Pine Mill Rd. with my small cake sale contribution, it started to rain; my heart sunk. I made a short abrasive prayer to God. “Hey, God, don’t you have some influence with Mother Nature? Could you give her a holler and tell her to knock it off?” With my windshield wipers swishing, I turned into the last curve on the road before the show and Wahla!!!! Sunshine! Here’s the best part – it stayed sunny all through the show. Now, I ask you, wasn’t that a quick answer to prayer?
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Another heads-up to hunters
The application for doe tags is early this year: Residents, July 13th and Non-residents, July 27th; both Mondays. Again may I urge hunters to read the manual to find out certain changes in the rules of the hunt.
The Teeple-Stevenson-Young American Legion Post 765 on Rt. 191, Lookout, will hold it’s Monthly Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, July 12th from 7:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. the menu is pancakes or French toast, sausage, eggs, pastries, coffee, tea and OJ. Adults $6.00 and children $3.00. This breakfast treat is held every second Sunday of the month from May until October.
Doug’s Garden Notes
Cosmic Cosmos
On a recent stroll through my gardens I happily spotted an abundance of Cosmos seedlings from late May sowings. Due to the cool, wet weather of late, many other seeds had not germinated. To see these sated my hopes for enjoying later beauties which I consider the epitome of late summer annuals. Coming from the Greek word for ‘beauty’ or ‘ornament’, cosmos truly live up to their naming.
Belonging to the large family of Compositae, or the daisy group, the flowers are actually a composite of many florets surrounded by large petals. Horticulture aside, their airy presence is a happy part of any garden, exhibiting their light ferny foliage topped with bold, friendly blossoms. Originating in Mexico, two species of cosmos are widely available. All are best planted as seed directly in soil in late spring.
One species, Cosmos sulphureus, bears almost neon yellow and orange blooms at a height of 24”. Their brilliance adds a bright spot, but the flowers tend to be short-lived. The other species, Cosmos bipinnatus, bears wonderful blooms of white, pink and crimson which most of us recognize as the Cosmos of our grandmother’s garden. Far and above, these are my favorites.
The ‘Sensation’ series of this latter species grow to 4’-5’ tall, producing abundant flowers if planted in poor soil and regularly dead-headed. Rich soil brings much foliage and few flowers. Rich soil brings much foliage and few flowers. Their height lends them to them to back of the border or cutting rows. Another series ‘ Sonata’, growing to 24” has been developed for smaller gardens and put culture. Novelty forms recently developed, such as ‘Seashells’, ‘Bonbons’, and ‘Picolee’ have no place in my garden. It is anathema to attempt to improve their original beautiful form.
Few flowers are more versatile for flower arrangements. A vase solely of cosmos is a magnificent display. Complimenting a sumptuous mixed bouquet with airy cosmos completes your creation. Or perhaps you prefer leaving them garden-side to enjoy their peasant glory wafting in the wind.
