Back to the State House

My friend Scars received an invitation to restate his testimonial regarding kratom. I agreed to tag along once again, for which he was extremely grateful. He called me his hero (!) just for riding along.

Now Somewhat Familiar and Beautiful Smiling Faces;
Scars is wearing a sweatshirt that reads:
Plants over Pills 

Expecting to be in the same room, I was happy when our entrance coincided with that exact hall. But we were wrong. Instead of the House of Representatives we were to attend a Congressional forum.

Fortunately, everyone we encountered was kind and helpful as possible. One expensively suited, very tall government employee even escorted us. I don’t know his name but he must be someone important because when we passed a female staffer sitting on a bench she quipped that we were honored to receive this VIP treatment.

I hope folks’ efforts see the destructive synthetic derivatives removed from gas stations and convenience stores while allowing responsible adults access to the pure leaf powder. Scars gave another powerful delivery ending with the words, “It’s not perfect but it is enough. Please don’t take this away from me.” Unlike the others he didn’t even use notes.

After another long trek from the car and getting lost both before and after the hearing, our wanderings elevated his leg pains to an encroaching numbness. I’m thankful his cane prevented him stumbling and falling. He always gets back up yet I’m sure such injuries take a lingering toll.

Isn’t it crazy that the kratom proponents have been struggling over five years to get this legislation passed? Can you believe that after attending a mere two hearings I’m feeling frustrated? It’s annoying how often questions from the podium were answered minutes before. Do these people even listen?

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What a Difference a Day Makes

On Sunday I decided to go down to the Great Miami River. There is a parking lot a few minutes’ drive away. As expected, the place was packed and I anticipated people watching except the heat drove me away. It neared 90°F (about 32°C).

Upon waking this morning I discovered that temperatures had dropped around 40°F (!), which isn’t terribly unusual for spring in the state of Ohio. I donned my winter coat with two thinner layers underneath, grabbed a folding camp chair, and headed out.

I saw two dog walkers and a brave bicyclist. The former carpet of yellow wild flowers now looked like polka dots on a green canvas. If I’d known such a cold front was on the horizon I would have photographed them in full bloom.

Smart blossoms, no?

There were also a few locals out and about – two fast flying mallard pairs and these Canada geese. It’s a shame their feces makes such an abundant mess. I definitely watched where I stepped.

I do look forward to seeing goslings...

Isn’t it amazing that I sweltered yesterday and my ears almost froze today? Can you believe I sort of like the unpredictability as long as conditions aren’t dangers?

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A Second Thought and Two Minor Frustrations

A new thought occurred to me after reading all the kind comments regarding the kind farmer displaced from our summer market. It’s very possible he and his family found another lucrative venue.

Frustratingly, I wish I’d started vegetable gardening years ago. Online resources have been a tremendous help but I can’t get back the missed growing seasons. Ah well, it is what it is.

While organizing supplies I discovered my all-purpose fertilizer bag ruined. I’m sure it was mice. ~sigh~ Not wanting to handle the soiled packaging more than necessary, I don’t know what drew the rodents. The destruction could have been worse. One year our sedan stopped running because nesting rodents chewed through some wires.

There were nibbles all over this bag...

A vermin nesting in an engine compartment is rather amusing, isn’t it? Did you know that some invasive creepy crawlers will happily ingest wallpaper paste?

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Springing into Action

Last spring my husband was undergoing serious health issues. I still attempted vegetable gardening. Besides rotten weather conditions derailing my efforts, I also confused some of my seedlings.

What grew most successfully were cherry tomatoes. That’s fine except that we grew tired of the rather limited ways of eating them. Only one super sauce hybrid plant survived to provide a single, solitary fruit. After tasting that perfect tomato I was devastated by its singular harvest.

This March I’ve started eight seeds of the super sauce hybrid tomato and eight of the Jungle Parrot sweet bell pepper. Last summer those peppers were tasty but not very sweet because I didn’t foresee cross pollination with hot peppers. Oh, well.

Two tomato seeds sprouted already...

To avoid confusion when moving seed pucks for logistical reasons, I color coded all sixteen with paint on the ends of toothpicks as shown above. Fingers crossed, I’ll get the desired harvest. Despite technological advances like our heated seed starting mat and various other gear, there are zero guarantees.

A lifelong professional at our farmers market once confessed, “If farming was easy, everyone would do it.” He’s a cool dude and I missed him and his excellent produce last summer. Since our town moved the market his truck and heavy wagon have nowhere to park.

Isn’t that a shame? Should I implore our city to allow him space elsewhere?

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A Lazy Spring Update

During these last few nice days I’ve been busy preparing for the growing season. Yesterday I sowed several Swiss chard seeds outdoors. It’s a very pretty and cold hard plant offering tasty spinach-like leaves. Today I watered them due to high, drying winds.

Not This Spring Harvest, Yet...

Reliable Yellow Crocus

A Surprise of Spreading Purple!

Do you enjoy spinach or other greens? Have you ever eaten decorative edible flowers?

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My Interesting Wednesday

On Monday morning my friend Scars reached out with a text message stating he planned on attending an Ohio State House of Representatives review. The Agriculture Board considered a new bill regarding the supplement kratom. He asked if I’d consider attending in support. My initial instinct to refuse, I’m glad my decision changed.

He said my presence alone kept him from simply leaving on multiple occasions and thanked me countless times all throughout this venture. And I understand why. I don’t know how he endured the walk from our parking spot (the attached garage was full) followed by many minutes wandering both outside and within the massive building. Amongst throngs of folks all were kind, including the security staff, but nobody we met within this maze could help us find the right room. But we persevered and he attained his goal of meeting an online friend just a few minutes later than planned.

To my surprise the proceedings seldom bored me. I found the process enlightening by not only personal testimonials but also judicial, scientific, and medical terminology. Not a single attendee opposed the new legislation. Most of the Representative’s questions seemed appropriate and keen, giving me hope.

Time dragged on, however. Mere minutes before Scars succumbed to crippling numbness in his left leg and extreme back and hip pain, the Lead Chairperson called his name.

Did you know Asian grown kratom tree leaves have been harvested medicinally for centuries? And why is kratom considered a dangerous controlled drug like heroin while being regulated under agricultural rulings?

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