I let the FDSP out and everyone did or didn’t do their last-outing-for-the-day jobs. I’d gone outside rather cranky. I was doing research on why my squash suddenly woke up nearly dead. I got really irritated when I read this excerpt from an article you can see in its entirety by clicking here.

“What makes vine decline so bad is that it comes with little warning — and after growers have spent a lot of money to care for their crops. Vines wilt, leaves appear scorched, and fruit rots. All this can happen in a week.

The cucurbit leaf crumple virus blotches leaves and weakens the plants, and the cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus slows plant growth.”

Maybe one of those three viruses unique to South Florida is what is getting my squash, but I’m not convinced. What I am convinced of, this thing is bigger than me, and I am in no position to stop it. Almost all my squash and pumpkin vines are nearly deteriorated or on their way. It’s very disheartening to watch, so I came inside and said, “God and Goddess, this is bigger than I am, so I’m releasing it to You.” I feel better now. I also copied this link here so you can click on it to see what ominous squash news is there if you want, but I’m through trying to figure this out. I am. I still have my sweet potatoes and corn, and unfortunately, I have some new pumpkin vines popping out of the ground, which I must not get hopeful about. Why should I? So my hopes and me can just fall flat down on our faces when we wake up one morning to a vine full of death when the day before they were looking lively and perky? Not gonna fall for that one a second time.

Meanwhile, I saw something on top of the storage shed as I was going back inside with the family. I thought it was a possum. I put all inside, and took a closer look. No, not a possum. It was a possum looking cat. Maybe that’s the creature that’s run through my garden and smooshed my chamomile. Mother Nature’s set it up, I believe, where you choose. Are you a bigger plant or animal lover? I’ve had plenty of plants demolished by the dogs. I still have my dogs. So I’m on the animal side of the equation. And if that cat is there to undo the rats, that’s OK with me. I know there is another rat around. I found its poop in my shed! I have 3 set traps in there.

We’ve had some nice rains today, and the mosquitoes have had their fill. So not only am I cranky, but I’m itchy from all the mosquito bites. I need to make an essential oil insect repellent. That is made with drops of several varieties of oils and distilled water. Citronella is one of them. Eucalyptus may be another. There’s one I can’t remember because I can’t spell it. So that’s the recipe! Bahahahaha! I’ll have to look through my notes once I get over this demise-of-my-squash-and-pumpkin day and get uncranky.

I did make an olive oil and essential peppermint oil mixture and rubbed it into Baby’s sore spots and massaged her back. She liked it, and the rest of the FDSP were interested in the goings-on. More or less, they all seemed OK with the massage idea, and if it had to include “smelly stuff,” they’d sacrifice to get a doggy massage.

I don’t expect to have much left on the vines of the squash and pumpkin when I take my morning walk to have a look-see tomorrow. Maybe I shouldn’t even do the look-see part. If not for wanting to take more pictures, probably I wouldn’t be compelled.

Helen