Random Texarkana Garden Edition

The barrels have the new zucchini plants. The fence (and the copious amounts of cayenne pepper atop of the soil) is to ward off Luna. 

Behind the barrels are the potatoes. I need the green parts to die so
I can harvest the potatoes. Then I have to replace the soil, so not doing potatoes again.  

To the right of the barrels are my tomato plants. 

Behind all that is the peppers, more tomatoes, spinach, onions, radishes, mint (in a pot because it spreads like Tribbles) and cucumbers. 

The pumpkins are in the auxiliary garden at the back of the yard where they can take over to their heart's desire. 

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My garden is still in bloom. We have enough cucumbers supply a battalion of McDonald's restaurants with pickles for a long, long time. Speaking of which, Polly and I are trying our hand at pickling today. The bad news is I noticed I was losing a cucumber plant from disease, so I pulled that plant Saturday morning. If one plant is diseased, there are probably others diseased as well. So, my cucumber days are numbered. By the way, it is normal for plants to become diseased. Flora illness is spread by birds and bees. 

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We also have more tomatoes than one can possibly eat in a lifetime. My lawn guy helped himself to several green ones last week. I also gave Hannah, the cashier at the local Albertson's a handful of green tomatoes. She was so excited, that I'm afraid to go back into the store, lest she opt to accost me again. Hugging strangers in the South is a thing, I guess. 

By the way, if you want the BEST recipe for homemade tomato soup, hit me up. It does take 4 pounds of tomatoes. We still have plenty left. 

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With enough peppers, onions, tomatoes and cucumbers to last for eons, I took a basket around to a couple of neighbors. Mr. Charlie is friendly and always says hello. He took cucumbers, but left the peppers. That's fine. I kind of wanted those. There is a really cantankerous looking guy who lives directly across the street. I've told Marty, I find him to be a challenge and I'm gonna get this guy to smile at me someday. I went over to say hello yesterday. It turns out the guy has a delightful wife (Stephanie). She was thrilled beyond belief and took all the tomatoes she could. I didn't see the guy. Maybe she only dusts him off and sets him outside when she wants to scare people away. 

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I've been growing pumpkins and zucchini in the window from seeds. Polly swears we need pumpkins. I swear we don't. Saturday morning I transplanted a few into my garden. The rest I transplanted into pots and they will be brought to the Texarkana Community Garden Coalition meeting this next week to go into one of the five community gardens in town. I am thrilled to have grown something that might provide food for someone else.   

Finn

If we didn't already know there was an issue to begin with, the lack of protest from Finn Friday afternoon when Polly and I plopped him into the pet carrier gave it away. All week he'd been eating little, hobbling and not taking care of his coat. 

Hoping for something simple, we decided to see our ever-patient vet (he deals with Luna and still invites us back). Finn came in clean for diabetes, feline leukemia, and a host of other kitty-related illnesses. 

However, Dr. P. accidentally discovered a large amount of fluid building around his heart. He gave us the news: without more tests, Finn was either in late stages of heart failure or Finn had cancer. Apparently the symptoms were similar. Even with more tests, the outcome would be the same. 

What Dr. P. didn't know, was this was the exact diagnosis our family received a week before we lost Ollie. 

Finn isn't in pain. There is a liquid medication that will ease the fluid around his heart, helping him breathe better. In the past 24 hours we've gotten adept at administering it without much fight. There's another unopened medication to boost Finn's appetite sitting on my counter, which is unsafe for humans to touch. It turns out me caving and buying canned cat food as well as easing the fluid around his chest also does wonders for the cat's appetite. 

Right now we are keeping Finn comfortable. We all pet him and love on him every chance we get. Even Luna is playing nursemaid and hovering. Dr. P. made no promises, but did tell us he has a cat patient who has so far lived to 16 on the liquid medication. Finn is 14, so here's hoping. 

 

My Latest Chat with Patrick

During my latest Zoom convo with my 10 year old nephew, we discussed the best Pink Floyd album. Both of us agree it is Dark Side of the Moon, with Wish you Were Here a close second. 

Then Patrick told me all about the Toyota Hilux, which isn't sold in the United States.  I believe there are about 70 YouTube videos related to the Toyota Hilux in my e-mail I need to watch before we chat again. 

In other news, Marty Sunshine owes
me a pickup truck. But that's for another post.

The Catholic Ladies Auxiliary

It has been several months since I managed to piss off and offend a bunch of Karens mentioned to the Ladies Auxiliary that we, as a church community could do more to make our new church members feel welcome. In that time, the Ladies Auxiliary has been strangely polite to me, as if they just don't quite understand how to take me. Honestly, I intended no harm but I did want to help my church make new members feel welcome. Also, since then, I've gone to the Church of Christ church and seen glowing examples of how to make newcomers feel like part of the community. I'd mention these examples to this group, but I am pretty sure it would just open a raw wound. 

Meanwhile, I'm under the distinct impression these women just don't know what to do with me. After all, if they acknowledge to my face that I offended them (which I assure you was completely unintentional--I even had suggestions like we could reach out to new members--not me, mind you, but other new people in our church--and, you know, call them and say hello and welcome!), they would have to acknowledge they are cliquish, which they are. If they do nothing, then they would have to admit they have all the help they need and can officially stop complaining how nobody is joining and wanting to assist their committees. But either way, my comment made things a bit awkward. 

I noticed the shift in April. A last minute group text went out, changing our meeting date and time. The new date and time just so happened to coincide with the day of my hand surgery. When I texted the group back, saying I couldn't make it because I was having surgery, I got a reply of, "well, if you change your mind, come join us."* Because I can be in two places at once or because surgery is a mere suggestion? 

In May, the group text came out saying the meeting date was changed to while I was in Arizona. I sent a text saying, "sorry, I'm in Arizona. See you in June." I was never given notes, minutes or follow up from either meeting. I wasn't the only one replying, nor was I the only one missing the meetings. 

If there was a June meeting, I wasn't sent a text. I did hear after the fact the Ladies Auxiliary handled the church picnic and a trivia night. Neither were mentioned to me. Nor was I asked to participate. I read the bulletin, so I knew both were happening (the Sunshines attended neither), but nobody said the Ladies Auxiliary were in charge (there are several groups which could have spearheaded this). 

When a group text came out asking for cleaning next month, I responded with: "I can help out on July 13." Then crickets. Several texts later, Rene said, "July 13th works for me." A response promptly came, "Rene, thanks! I'll put you down." 

This week there is a big hoopla Thursday night. When Margie asked for volunteers, I wrote, "I'm free, please put me down where you need me," and meant it. Margie replied in the group text giving me the worst of the worst job (8:30 p.m. clean up at the church BY MYSELF). Figuring 1) I'd enlist Polly's help, 2) It couldn't be that hard if they only needed one person, I replied to the group text with a, "Happy to help. Thanks!" However, when the group text came out yesterday as a reminder of everyone's role, I wasn't on the list. Two people are now handling the clean up. Was I fired or was it a typo and I am one of the two cleaning up? Polly and I will be at the church at that time anyway tomorrow night, so we'll help out.

I'd say the writing is on the wall. However, now that I mentioned my concerns last winter, these women seem to go out of their way to be awkwardly nice to me. I mean, it feels genuine, but then again, I do have a skeptical eyebrow raised. Lisa rushed across the vestibule two weeks ago to greet me. Margie hugged me Sunday after mass (though honestly, I didn't want a hug). Jess, just sent me a Facebook friend request. I certainly hope they are going out of their way to treat other newcomers the same way. 

Then there's this: Catholic Ladies Auxiliary Cassie asked Church of Christ Patty about me.  This comes from Patty. Cassie apparently noticed Patty and I were FB friends--though Cassie and I aren't. Patty tells me--and I'm not making this up--she wanted the inside scoop on why I hang out with the Church of Christ crowd.  

While I'm still a member of the local Catholic church, I'd like to be involved. Being part of this group might be a way to do so. But, maybe not. Hoping to set an example, I've taken on being more welcoming with new folks at my church, because I can do that. Even if these women aren't interested in doing their part, I can still do what I stand for. 

I just hope this bunch gets over themselves. 

*When I had my surgery, my Church of Christ friends went out of their way for me. One called Polly, asking for updates and then gave the updates to everyone else. One sent over a Door Dash gift card. Several others offered to bring over meals (no thank you). I was inundated with phone calls, texts and social media messages for two weeks, asking for updates and offers for everything from coming over to keep me company to running errands--all this for outpatient hand surgery! I certainly didn't expect my church community to go to this kind of effort, but perhaps for the next person who mentions they are having a medical procedure they could do more than, "if you change your mind..." 

That's All Right

Last Saturday night, me and three of the Coronas went to dinner and to see an Elvis impersonator in downtown Texarkana. I'm not a big Elvis fan, but I was sufficiently impressed.  I even recognized most of his songs. I might have even sung along to a few. 

A Gift from Luna

 Luna left me a present on the back patio. 

A Week with the Arizona Family

It's People Month here at the Sunshine house. I'm tuckered, but grateful. Today Squirrel, his Bride and Patrick return to Arizona. I slept horribly last night, knowing how much I'm going to miss them. It's no exaggeration to say this has been my happiest week living in Texarkana.

Last weekend we took them to the Four States Auto Museum (located in Texarkana Arkansas). The entire museum, like all museums in small towns is the size of a two-car garage. It was my second time there. I honestly don't need to go back. Ever. However, Marty loves the place.

Yep, that's it.

Fortunately, there's seating for those of us who
finish this tour in less than 3 minutes.

We also went to all sorts of touristy locales, most not located in Texarkana. Tuesday we ventured to the Crater of Diamonds National Park in Arkansas, about 45 miles from here and dug for diamonds. It was hot, there was no shade, we found zero diamonds. But it sure was fun. On the way back, we stopped by Washington Arkansas, a historic town where I took Bonus Dad a couple of weeks ago. 

In the only shady spot at the
Crater of Diamonds National Park

Wednesday Marty took the day off and we made it to Shreveport, which is 70 miles away. It was my first trip into Shreveport since I moved here. We went to Fuddruckers (much to the consternation of my adult children who miss Fuddruckers), visited the Catholic cathedral and the aquarium. I may have bought Patrick the largest stuffed alligator in the history of stuffed alligators, which may or may not fit in his suitcase. I might be mailing it back to him on Monday. 

On the way back we stopped by the Texas-Louisiana-Arkansas state line, where Patrick stood in three states at once. 

The actual survey marker denoting the three states

The sign, next to the survey marker. For those who don't want to venture into the poison ivy and critter-infested area to stand on the survey marker. 

Thursday I took Squirrel's bride to Lunch Bunch. They welcomed her with open arms and invited her to come to the next Church of Christ event.   

Yesterday we went to Jefferson, Texas. On Patrick's bucket list was the Museum of  Measurement and Time. It was actually pretty cool, and for a small-town museum, it was larger than most: about the size of seven two car garages. I'm going to drag Bonus Dad there next time he's in town. 

One of several rooms of clocks, survey equipment, Victrolas, maps and so much more.
An interesting place! 

Otherwise, we walked around, looking at shops, eating ice cream and just being family. Oh yes! We also went to the Tractor Supply store, because Squirrel heard me bragging about how awesome they are. He now agrees.

In our downtime, Squirrel and Patrick kicked the soccer ball around. Squirrel rarely gets "downtime." We played cards. And we did quite a bit of laughing.