thoughts for 27 August 2020

Our granddaughters (1st and 3rd grade) are back "in" school - completely digital remote classes. My wife and I help out by taking them for a few hours per day several days a week and one sleepover. They each have their own HP Android computer and a nice study area. I supervise them occasionally, and I know what a job it is (I think of herding cats). Their dog is just past puppy stage, house-trained but chews everything. Now they are planning to raise chickens. 
We moved into our temporary house last year while our new one is being built and I still have numerous boxes to unpack (someday). But why bother if we're just going to move again in a year or two? 
We've spent most of the summer fighting nature, trying to raise vegetables. Deer, gophers, squirrels, mice, birds, heat waves, fire warnings - it's been a real challenge. Now we're finally enjoying tomatoes, chard, eggplant, cucumbers, basil, shiso, and okra. There are flowers too: cosmos, pansey, lavender, mint, daisy, osmanthus, lilies, poppies, and others. I'm not sure we're saving money, but the veggies sure taste better and the flowers are cheerful, plus the mental benefits of working outside (despite the obstacles and challenges) are worth it.
We are trying to get our photos organized in preparation for possible evacuation orders due to wildfire risk. It's a daunting task, more than 100 years of photos to scan, label and organize because of some of the albums we inherited dating back to the early 1900s. So that will keep us busy in the evenings for the foreseeable future. It is an enjoyable task, remembering days gone by and seeing our children and ancestors in their youth.