Critters, Garden News, Arizona Primary: Monday Blog Post

Photo by Randy Cockrell

Attack of the critters on Saturday. I watered my garden on Saturday and the peppers, which I’ve shared with you before, and my sunflowers in the front yard, were doing well. Above is a picture my husband took of the sunflowers. They were volunteers, probably planted by the chipmunks, but they looked very nice. On Saturday afternoon, I happened to be looking out of my patio door at the riot of hummingbirds and saw something in my tomato and pepper bed. A squirrel, sitting beside the pepper plant, holding a green tomato, munching away with a very small pepper on the ground at its feet. Well, I knocked on the glass doors but the squirrel, non-plussed, kept eating. I had to open the door and yell at the little thief before he’d run off. On Sunday morning, I glanced out into my front yard and every flowerhead on my sunflowers was gone. Since the stalks were still standing, I blame the elk. The javalina would have had to knock them over to get at the flowers. Sigh. That’s what we get, I guess, living in a National Forest.

In garden news I harvested the first of my peaches. It’s a small crop this year as we trimmed the peach tree back very hard early this spring. Still, there are plenty of peaches, even with the birds and the squirrel, taking bites out of ripe ones. I also picked my first yellow squash. I like the straight neck variety best. That will turn into grilled squash I expect. The above picture is from a previous year.

Have I mentioned that I had volunteered to be a poll worker? Arizona’s primary is Tuesday and I heard from the team leader for the polling place where I’ll be working, on Saturday. We discussed the set-up time on Monday and when to come to the polling place on Tuesday. Also, that we cannot leave all day, so I need to bring food and drink with me. I’m excited, actually, though Tuesday starts at 5am (to be there, I’ll have to get up earlier to get ready and drive there) and will end after we pack everything up at about 8pm. Still. I get to see a piece of critical American civil process in action. I’m pleased to be a volunteer for this.

In writing news, so far I’m still just writing this blog. I’m blaming it on the corona ennui. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Stay safe. Stay well.

Giveaways:

The spring giveaway, Spring Flings and Book Things, is over. I’ll let you know when the winners are drawn.

In the meantime, the Summer giveaway is now in progress! Check it out here: https://conniesrandomthoughts.com/giveaways-and-prizes/. As always, each author is giving away at least 2 prizes and there’s a Paypal cash grand prize.

Where will I Be?

Pine Library, 6124 W. Randall Place, Pine AZ, Friends of the Library meeting, has been officially rescheduled. The new date for my appearance is October 26th, still at 1pm. If you happen to be in Pine, AZ on that date, come on by. I’ll have some books available for purchase and signing.

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Newest Releases:

Gold Dreams released May 13th, 2019. It is up on Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, (Direct link doesn’t work, copy the URL and paste it into your browser, or go directly to Kobo.com and search for Gold Dreams, Connie Cockrell), and Smashwords. The print version is available on Amazon. You can also see all my books on https://conniesrandomthoughts.com/my-books-and-other-published-work/. If you’ve read any of my books, please drop a short, honest, review on the site where you bought it or on Goodreads or BookBub. Your review is critical to help me promote the books to other readers. Thanks in advance.

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