Summer Solstice 2026

Flowers, Weeds & Contractors

First I planted 30 sunflowers around the yard.  Critters destroyed many so I started a box of 24 more, two of which didn't grow.  I planted 10 more around the yard and reseeded the two that did not grow.  Then, rather than take the rest to work (see earlier post) I hurriedly planted all of them around the yard and in the garden.  That's 54 seedlings planted around the yard this spring.

Of those 54 I currently have only 20 still alive, 12 of which appear straight and strong for their size while another 8 are broken, twisted and smaller.  Only one remains in front by the bird feeder with most of the rest around the back door.

It's been a brutal spring for my sunflowers.

And our lawn.  I mowed this morning right before taking these pictures, and was reminded that we have one kind of weed in the front yard that my weedkiller does not affect, and another kind of weed in the back lawn that is also unaffected.  I'm going to have to do some research on what exactly they are and how to get rid of them.

Elsewhere in the yard things are looking real good, good enough for me to want to share pictures, I guess.  Alium are going to seed as tiger lilies bloom, the hostas are huge and full along the back fence, and the stump area is thriving with wildflowers planted each of the last two years, now coming back on their own.

As for a hail/contractor update, I'm going to start again by researching three more companies to call on Monday to get quotes.  We've discussed it, and we will only get the roof and gutters done.  Residing the house I feel will open up an expensive can of worms.  We can live with a few dents on mostly the west side of the house.  The window and maybe some screens I should be able to get fixed rather cheaply.

Well, it's been a relatively productive day here so far.  Kate has to work tomorrow so what she says goes today, but will likely be lunch out followed with me watching the Brewer game this afternoon.  For dinner we plan on grilling out brats.  Another new-to-us brand as we continue our search for a new brand of bratwurst that we like.  Then later tonight I'm hoping I still have the energy to have a fire.  I'll feel guilty if I don't, as tomorrow is the solstice but expected to be rather damp out.  Wish me luck.

Faux Fire Pit

It's very nice to live in a neighborhood with full grown trees.  We don't have as many nearby as we did years ago, but there are still enough large trees and many new ones planted.

With trees comes stick shedding, further encouraged by our tumultuous weather this spring.  Since we got settled into this house I've welcomed all sticks, branches, and - sometimes reluctantly - many large to very large limbs as free firewood.  If it fell on my property then I take it as my responsibility to take care of it.  And when neighbor Dave was still around I gladly helped him and took care of the big things so he didn't have to.  Leaving them on the curb for the city to pick up wasn't acceptable to me, and disposing of sticks has never been an issue.  (I feel the same about fall leaves.)

So far this year I've only had the one fire pit, on the spring equinox.  I've had chances since, weekend nights where I've been too tired or else weather conditions weren't right.  But that's it, just the one, short fire so far this year.

Anyway, more sticks have accumulated this spring (since the spring equinox fire).  I already have two five-gallon buckets full of kindling and another of quick-burning sunflower stalks from last year.  I don't need any more fire starter material.   I just kept tossing sticks into the firepit, even stomping them down to fit more, but it was time to make room.

I made a drink, got out the lawn chair, and prepared with the fire screen and poker.  (There is at least one fire extinguisher inside the garage door.)  I used the garden torch to set it alight in a few places.  I thought I might have to keep using it, but once it got started it went up pretty quickly, as you can see here.

I did clean out the fire pit after that last fire, so I'm not worried about too many ashes or anything.  But I'm glad I had that fire screen handy once it got going.  When I first put it on it was sitting just above the fire pit on the pile of sticks, settling down quickly as they burned.  It didn't take long for it to burn down, and about 20 or 30 minutes later I started putting things away and came in to continue watching the Brewer game.  Not a true fire pit night, but now it's ready for the next time.

Next weekend Sunday is the summer solstice, so I intend to have a fire to commemorate the occasion, as I do.  Sunday evening is not ideal fire pit time for me, so maybe Friday or Saturday to compensate, but weather will likely be a deciding factor.

Sunflower Cat Contractors

I've not done an official count or inventory of sunflowers yet.  I feel it's still too early to tell what may come of these.  There are two different plantings, about 17 days apart.  Many of the first were destroyed early, thus the second planting.  While almost all are still around since the time of the second planting, they are still small and there are a few broken and many twisted yet.  Sunflowers are pretty hardy, when allowed to grow, so even broken or twisted may mature to the best of their ability.  I'll take stock of all soon enough.  This post is mainly to get the bad taste of the last post out of my mouth. 

A productive weekend here, mostly.  I still have some relatively bigger projects on my list that I want to get done soon, but all in due time.  This week, I was impressed by the first contractor's pitch, but it was also a bit over the top so I'm a little hesitant.  The second I sent on his way as this kid did not project the confidence or knowledge that I wanted to hear, so I was nice but didn't want to waste his time or mine.  The third seemed confident and level-headed.  I really hope I like what he comes back with.  I expect to make a decision by the end of the week, and it may also include new siding everywhere.

The cats are enjoying the windows and porch being open today, and I'm going to go enjoy the Brewer game now.

Happy Sunday and have a great week, everyone!

Sunflower Update & RANT

I originally planted 30 sunflower seedlings around the yard.  This batch was 12 days from seeding to planting, though they could have been planted on day 11, maybe 10.   Then the critters got many, so I seeded 24 more in cardboard tubes.  I figured I would fill in around the yard with half and take the other half to work for the clients to enjoy.  On Sunday, after only 8 days (but the nights had been warmer) I planted 10 seedlings around the yard, reseeded two that did not come up, and had 12 others to take to work.

Seeding to seedling came sooner than I expected for this batch.  I was busy on Monday at work, but I would have time Tuesday morning to take some of our early-arriving clients out to plant before classes started, so I pushed it 2 days longer than the seedlings would have preferred.  They were all more than as tall as the tube already and flopping over, but I felt they were still viable.

Then this morning came.  Well, someone called in sick so I had to cover their job coaching duties that morning, and I had my own duties that afternoon.  My boss said I was the only one that could, though I am well aware there was at least one other that could have if they wanted.  I told her about the sunflowers and how they had to get in the ground that day, and it fell on deaf ears.

This was personal to me.  I had planned this all spring (and they knew that), used my own time and resources, and looked forward to sharing these with the clients all summer.

Never again.  Never again will I donate any extra time or resources for this job.

I like the work we do, I personally like most of the people I work with - including management, and of course the clients are (mostly) great.  But this truly may be the most poorly managed place I ever worked.

I don't talk about my work much here.  It's mostly like any other place, with cliques and favoritism and gossip.  Whiners, slackers and assholes are everywhere.  (If I had to put myself in one of those categories it would be the latter.)  I was hoping to ride this out, but I feel I should find something else soon.  The only real hesitation to resigning is health insurance for me and my wife.  Even a one month gap could cost us several hundreds to a thousand dollars to remain insured, and it would more likely be 2-3 months that we would have to cover.  Healthcare in America is tied to full time employment, is rapidly declining, and the insurance system that supports it is rigged only to make money.  (As I write this I requested prescription renewals a week ago Friday.  I received a response on Tuesday to allow 48 to 72 hours.  Here it is a week after that and I've not heard anything yet.)

Anyway, I came home to a tangled box of seedlings that should have been in the ground days ago.  I got them all in the ground around here, someplace or another, but I'm sure not all will make it.

Yes, I could have waited another day or two and planted them at work and hoped for the best.  I  could plant another batch and try again in just over a week, too.  But no - just, no.  They knew, and that time has now passed.  My time for them may have now passed, too.  Believe me, this is not my first complaint.

Thanks for making it to the end of my rant.  I even got a good one in on healthcare there.  This weekend I'll take stock of the sunflowers and report back how many are still alive and how many I think will make it to maturity.  Thanks for listening, take care.