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Monthly Archives: July 2010

Farmer's market, etc.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Tomatoes are not yet plentiful. When they are, the price will come down. Ken and I went to the Danbury Farmer’s Market today. Ken took some photos along the way. Here are today’s photos, along with a couple of older catch-up photos. As for the rainfall, one farmer said they got about half an inch […]

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Finally, a little rain

Friday, July 9, 2010

Young grapes, still wet from the rain and the dew This week has been the hottest, most miserable week of weather that I can remember. For three days, the temperature went over 100. I believe the highest temperature we reached was over 102. The ground was dry, hard, and baked. The grass was turning brown. […]

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Into the woods, for your health?

Thursday, July 8, 2010

The New York Times reports on studies that have shown that going into the woods improves immune function. One Japanese study, for example, found that spending time in dense vegetation lowered cortisol levels, lowered the pulse rate, and lowered blood pressure. Another study found that two-hour walks in a forest over two days raised the […]

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Basil season

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

One of the compensations for the heat spells of July is the fresh basil for pesto. Now if the tomatoes would just get ripe.

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Getting along with the neighbors

Friday, July 2, 2010

I am flattered that such a variety of wildlife want to live close to Acorn Abbey. Too close. Last summer, the groundhogs moved into new digs less than five meters from the house. I harassed them (by throwing things and making noises) until they moved back to the edge of the woods. This year there […]

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The high cost of financial illiteracy

Friday, July 2, 2010

The July 5 issue of the New Yorker has a short but excellent essay by James Surowiecki on the high cost of financial illiteracy. Most Americans, Surowiecki says, can’t explain what compound interest is. The less people know, the more they get into financial trouble. Over a lifetime, Surowiecki says, the difference between knowing something […]

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