An Eggplant in June

I was recently bemoaning the fact that my tomatoes and peppers and eggplants weren't growing due to our unusually cold June. This seems not to matter. We will harvest our first eggplant tomorrow, or the next day. In June. The hot-weather loving plants are unusually stunted this year, but already producing fruits. Perhaps they feel that their survival is threatened so they'd better make offspring while they can.

It's an axiom that everything grows larger here in the Sierra Foothills. Roses which are typically 4' tall for their type will reach for 6' here. Floribundas such as Queen Elizabeth or Tournament of Roses become majestic 12 foot wonders. Cherry tomatoes stretch themselves to 5 feet, regular tomatoes seem to feel that the sky is the limit. Even the children are taller; 14 year old DS looms over both of his short parents. He enjoys that. I swear, I think that he has practiced "looming" in the mirror, accompanied by a condescending little smile. He assures me that he wouldn't waste his time that way; that the condescension comes naturally to teenagers. I get even; the sign on his bedroom door today reads, "Future Waste Disposal site; Model Site Plan Within". Har, har. Suggestions for future signs regarding a messy room are welcome.

I am enjoying this summer. We're not traveling, we have too many projects and the garden constantly needs attention. This, by the way, is amusing. DH Matt's objection to livestock, even chickens, over the years is that they limit travel. And yet, this man has big plans next year to expand the garden. That would make the garden, um, 2.5 acres? Mostly vegetables, mind you, although I'm going to start sliding my roses in. They've been waiting patiently in pots for their new home. I wonder if roses like cabbages as planting companions?

The main reason I'm enjoying this summer is that there is no school. Home schooling a teenage boy through eighth grade and beyond is sheer hard work. As a comparison, try pulling a large fluffy bath towel through a wedding ring. Conceivably it can be done, but there is effort involved. I envy the parents of girls. The girls who are home schooled are organized (or at least can be organized). I have thrown more day planners to my son than I can describe...I've thrown even more at him. His concept of studying for a final exam is 30 minutes. We're working on that one.

I should mention here that California has no "official" home school program. All kids attend a school. It's just that some schools are more off campus. Anyone can file an R-4 as a small school, even with a student population of one. I use the public school system's home school programs for my son's education. Most of his work takes place at home, but he answers to a teacher for his grades. I used to grade him, and teach his English...his current teachers are a lot easier. I also have to say that he has perfect attendence, ;) .

This has worked well for us; our early mornings are all about feeding critters (really lazy cats and a small hyper dog) and watering plants. DS averages ten hours of sleep a night, which is crucial for a teenager. They really do need more sleep. The more he sleeps the more he grows. It's summer, so he's increased his sleep periods to 13 hours. I just bought thus 14 year old kid new shoes: size 12. Must be that Sierra soil. DS wrote a short story recently. In this story (which was awesome, BTW) his protagonist was a fussy person who rose at the unusually early hour of 9 a.m. (?!) This kid is in for some rude awakenings later in life, y'think?

I should mention that DS's life is not a bed of roses. His classes are college level, honors at the lowest; that's my standard. He also has his own web design business, and is taking classes even in the summer to improve his professional skill set. I think he's realized that web designers don't have to get up in the morning.

So, the June score so far is; short eggplants producing...tall DS producing. Mom taking a well earned rest from prodding both to produce. DS Matt...always productive.