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I hadn’t been to my land in weeks, and the weather forcast said rain and thunderstorms all afternoon, so today I went out in the morning and worked in the hot sun getting things planted. I managed to get everything in the annuals section except for the flint corn, before heat exhaustion drove me to stop. I was drinking water constantly, but it didn’t seem to help.

And then, even though it was time to stop, I went and picked a quart bag full of wild yarrow. I had read on another forum where someone made their own bug spray by distilling fresh yarrow, and it worked so well that people were literally begging for it! My usual bug spray is only half-effective on this year’s mosquito crop, so I’m up for making my own. Especially since the ingredients are free! If it works I might write something up for the prepper thread.

It’s still sunny out. Darned forcasts!

Now, why did I work myself to heat exhaustion when I darn well know better than that? Because moving out of my parents’ house has taken on a new urgency. I’ve been living with my parents due to a long string of mysterious health issues, which sometimes leave me completely incapacitated. Anybody remember on last week’s thread I mentioned my dad spraying weed killer on my strawberries just as I was going to pick and eat them? This week he said something, just an offhand comment that would normally seem harmless, but in that context it gave me the creeps. So I did some investigating, and in previous years he has spread weedkiller on other things he knew I was going to eat, without telling me about it. The times mom could remember when he did that, match pretty closely to the times my health suddenly went downhill.

I think it might actually be deliberate.

Dad always loves it when people feel sorry for him. If he doesn’t have anything going wrong, he’ll make stuff up. He tells horrible lies about people. But I didn’t think he would try anything this sick. I have no idea how to react to this, other than look for ways to get out of this house. My health propblems make that complicated enough, but I’m also paying off tens of thousands of dollars in medical debts. I don’t make much, I’m not sure I could afford an apartment but I’m looking. I might just see if my office would let me park a camper in the back of the lot. I know I’ve seen campers tucked in the back corner before.

I think I’m rambling now, so I’ll stop. I could use some prayers.

Didn’t do much in the garden today, got sidetracked at a furniture store and picked out some new things for the den & living room ... by the time we were back home, it was too hot to do much at all. I have to pick most of the radishes tomorrow, as they are really crowding each other out (didn’t thin them, the seeds are so small they just clumped up — I am going to try the do-it-yourself seed tape for the 2nd planting of radishes and lettuce). Checked my quince today and noticed that some of the fruit has a weird, bright orange fuzz on them — looks like it’s ‘rust’ so I will be dealing with that tomorrow too, if I want to make quince jam again.

Marcella — your descriptions of the backyard sound great, I would love to see some pics. when you have a chance to post them.

mom3boys — your canned tomatoes look beautiful, I can almost taste the freshness!

Ellendra — what you’ve written is very scary, I think you should get out any way possible, prayers up.

tubebender — wow! those strawberries are amazing!I am thinking about adding some for next year, variety recommendations and planting tips would be most welcome.