Summer is over.  Someone needs to let Mother Nature know.  She’s not taking my calls.  It’s supposed to be 95 here today.  That’s hot for September.

I am addicted.  Today I admit it to myself and the world.

Everyday I must have a bowl of mixed sweet corn, pinto beans, white rice, chipped up avocado, and salsa.  I’m eating some right now.  It is so yummy with salsa made from fresh tomatoes out of the garden.

I am making some custom cabinets and counter tops for my laundry room.  (Taking it over as a mom only space.  Not that it isn't already...it IS the LAUNDRY room.) Yesterday I used my husband’s skill saw and jig saw to cut some of the wood.  When he came home he totally freaked out.  He FORBID me to use his skill saw and threatened to hide the blades.  He thinks it’s too dangerous.  What’s up with that?  How does he think I cut wood and plywood when he’s gone?

Part of me thinks its sweet he wants to do it for me.  And make no mistake, my husband is very industrious.  All I have to do is ask once and it is done.  But he’s not always around when it needs done and I am not a patient kind of person.

Part of this forbidding thing is his southern upbringing.  We hit it once before.  I was tired of paying to get my oil changed.  My husband is gone a lot and I figured hey I’ll just do it myself.  And while I was at it, why not take a class and learn how to do tune ups?  Maybe some alternator work?  All the men in my family are mechanics, if not professionally, then recreationally.  I have a knack for it too.

When I mentioned it to my darling husband he FORBID me to be a “grease monkey.”  Hahahaha.  He doesn’t want his wife outside with grease under her finger nails working on vehicles which are his responsibility.

I probably should be offended.  But in twenty years of marriage these are the only two things he’s ever really put his foot down about.  It has more to do with his role as provider/protector than anything else I guess.  He was raised to believe certain areas belong to the man, and if a woman usurps it, well her man must not be taking care of the family.

I don’t know if I’ll be obeying the no skill saw rule though.  I want to be respectful of his wishes, but also want to get this project done so I can move on to the next one.  I have some bead board all measured out and ready to cut, but I am hesitating because he was so adamant about me not using the skill saw.  That virtually cripples my home improvement projects.

Our summer was so crazy busy I get tired thinking about it.  We traveled.  We went to amusement parks.  Baseball, picnics, zoo, on and on.  There are photos, many many photos, and someday I will post them.  Maybe.

Once it cools a bit I am going to separate my lily bulbs.  They took off this year and became way too dense.  I also grew the tallest dahlias I’ve EVER seen.  Next year I am getting dwarf dahlias.  The tall ones have to be staked constantly and are basically a big pain in the butt.

Fall is great.  With the cooler weather I can get back in my flower beds.  Mulching, trimming, thinning bulbs.  I wonder why my husband doesn’t mind dirt under my nails?  Probably because his mom always gardens.  Heh.

If someone could get a Memo to mother nature…..Summer is over.  Please plan weather accordingly.  I'd appreciate it.