3:42am June 4th 2024

Is when I begin this piece. It would appear that I am not to sleep tonight. I woke up about two hours ago. I got up about an hour ago. The birds, the robins, specifically, began their predawn song about 15 minutes ago back behind me through the kitchen window. I am at my desk in the front of my house. My house is not so big that I can’t hear from any room what is going on in or outside of any other room (the outside part assumes that I have windows open, which I do, as it is not winter). If I were in bed, I could hear the robins better, and perhaps, by now the sparrows have chimed in. Also, I will hear the robins better as the hour passes, because approximately every ten minutes the robin song moves closer to my house. I don’t get why they seem to start in the northwest and continue towards southeast, but this is how it goes, each morning rise. As you may have guessed, I have been awakening pretty early of late. Usually, however, I fall back to sleep. Not this morning!

If you’re in New England at least, you have enjoyed the profusion of blossoms have been this spring. And now this almost summer they continue, along with a lot of butterflies (probably moths, these are something I know very little about and have read not much about, except the increasing challenge to the number of monarchs, and, presumably, others, as this challenge in numbers beleaguers just about all species, except, human.), or perhaps moths, of sizes and colors I have not seen before. I have seen thumb size versions of monarchs. I have seen translucent white ones also no larger than my thumb, and not, I am sure, the cabbage moths that chew on my brassicaceae (sp?) efforts in the vegetable patch. I have seen perfectly outlined gray and black ones including this one clutching the screen of one of my living room windows.

Have you noticed the excessive size of my shrub? I have four too large shrubs out front. They keep me a secret year round. I do wish I had known, probably 10 years ago that I was supposed to trim them at a certain time each year. When I finally learned it, I also realized that the supposed best time is also the time when early birds begin to build nests. So I didn’t trim. But, in the past couple year or so, I have been informed that there are two good windows for trimming shrubs. Perhaps I will remember in October to do a trim. The question is, will I do a reasonable one, or will I give them a dramatic cutback, and then cry in the spring when I realize I overdid it? A question to be answered next year. Perhaps next April I will remember that I subjected you to this dilemmic discussion and let you know the outcome. Do not feel the need to sit on tenterhooks until then!!

I’ve been enjoying my arugula in salads (along with violet leaves and dandelion leaves and mint, as I have probably said before, no pesticide has touched this backyard of mine for going on 17 years, so I feel pretty confident in it) for several weeks yet, and I happily discovered that the radishes grew abundantly this year. So much less stinging to the taste buds than those bought in the produce market. Funny.

Two lima bean plant shoots are striking out and up. I can only hope. Two or three cilantro shoots are emerging. Two shoots of something, I don’t remember what, that I planted in a pot on the back porch are beginning to take their stand. But the pickling cucumber shoots did not emerge. And I have gone to three garden centers so far and not found a pickling cucumber plant. Ah me. Did buy and plant four types of tomatoes, one serrano pepper plant (why not?), one rosemary plant, and one basil plant, and one sage plant. I read that the sage plant, even in New England, is perennial. Not sure I believe that. And, tapping the back of my mind is a thought that at another time I may have read that they come back every other year (although, that may have been brussels sprouts! Oh, that I were a more thorough researcher.)

As a final note, since it is still spring, and since it will next be summer, here is some very important information for you:

OK, here we go, we got a real pressure cooker going here
Two down, nobody on, no score, bottom of the ninth

There’s the windup, and there it is, a line shot up the middle
Look at him go. This boy can really fly!

He’s rounding first and really turning it on now
He’s not letting up at all, he’s gonna try for Second

The ball is bobbled out in center, and here comes the throw

And what a throw! He’s gonna slide in head first
Here he comes, he’s out! No, wait, safe – safe at second base

This kid really makes things happen out there
Batter steps up to the plate, here’s the pitch-he’s going

And what a jump he’s got. He’s trying for third, here’s the throw
It’s in the dirt-safe at third! Holy cow, stolen base!

He’s taking a pretty big lead out there
Almost daring him to try and pick him off

The pitcher glances over, winds up, and it’s bunted
Bunted down the third base line, the suicide squeeze is on!
Here he comes, squeeze play, it’s gonna be close, here’s the throw, here’s the play at the plate

Holy cow, I think he’s gonna make it!

A cut from a Phil Rizzuto baseball play by play, pasted into the song Paradise by the Dashboard Light; sung by Meatloaf; written by Jim Steinman. (1977- from a long-playing (LP) record album by Meatloaf that I played over and over until the grooves ran smooth)