What the What?!?

I went for a run this morning.  This post isn't about running, but the story takes place during my run, so I'm just going to spill the beans here and admit that I'm a runner now.  I don't know how it happened.  A couple years ago I decided to see how far I could make it around Daybreak Lake before I died.  I got about halfway before I had to stop and walk.  After that, each time I went I would go a little further until by the end of the summer I could get around the lake no problem.  I didn't like it, but I liked how I felt afterwards.  So great.  Last summer I didn't do a lot of outside running (see the post on my probiotic fun if you want to know why), but every now and then I'd go for a run around the lake.  This year, since winter never really arrived, I found myself going for runs after work kind of often.  And I kind of liked it.  They were just short runs, but after sitting at a desk for 10 hours, they were just what I needed. I think they were also a good link between last year's running season and this year's.  So when running season arrived this year, I found that once around the lake was just a quick nothing to stretch my legs.  So then I tried another time around the lake.  And that was a workout.  But then I realized that was 6 miles, plus 1 mile roundtrip to my house.  So basically a quarter marathon.  Nice.  So I've been working up and seeing how much more I could do.  Today I did 10 miles!  In 95 minutes flat!  That's 9.5 minutes per mile!  I have no idea if that's good or not, but there it is.  I generally do a very steady 9 minute mile, but I tend to slow down towards the end.  Anyway, let's all just take a minute to reflect on the fact that I ran 10 miles today.  That's awesome.  Yes, I'm congratulating myself.  I don't care.  Christy, we'll talk.
Anyway...back to the story.  I was out for my run, doing three laps around the lake.  The first lap was great.  The youth in my stake were out doing a 5k, so I was smiling and waving at everyone as I passed them.  Spirits were high, everyone was having fun.  About halfway through the second lap, I took off my jacket and tied it around my waist.  Maybe half a mile later, I was just rounding the far end of the lake, and suddenly there was a crazy flapping commotion around my head.  I didn't see the bird that had caused it, but it was enough to make me cower and cover my head with my arms.  By the third lap, I'd forgotten all about it.  As I neared that far end of the lake again, I'd gone about 8 miles and knew I was going to make my 10 mile goal.  I was feeling great and just concentrating on my pace.  And then, at that same spot, I heard the flapping again, only this time, the bird also attacked, either with its beak or its feet- I just felt something sharp on my head.  I cowered again, but didn't want to swat it with my hands, because that might really start a fight. So I just ran faster.  I could hear it following me, but after a few seconds, it turned around and went back to its tree.  I kept running (you better believe I kept running!) but turned to look.  It was a male red-winged blackbird, and he'd gone right back to his perch in the tree, acting like nothing had happened.  I have no idea what his deal is!  All I can figure is that after taking off my jacket I must have looked like somebody who had wronged him or his family, and he was seeking revenge.  Just now I did some quick research on redwinged blackbirds and found out that the males will do anything to get attention (yeah, tell me about it!), and they're extremely territorial (I don't think I look like a threat).  Anyway, I love birds.  I've always loved birds.  And redwinged blackbirds have always been right up there in the list of my favorites.  But what this bird doesn't know is that I hold grudges.  So he'd better watch his back.  I know where he roosts.  The following link is a re-enactment of my experience, but must have been based on the bird's account- pretending he's all innocent.  Right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EElxuL3AFC4

Check Out My Garden!

Well. I'm a believer.  Last year I planted my tomatoes the first week of May, and they froze a week later.  Then they spent the rest of the summer trying to recover.  None of the plants ever got bigger than a foot, and out of my five or six plants, I got about 10 tomatoes all season.  This year, IFA started selling their tomatoes and water walls in March.  I thought it seemed super early, but I use IFA as my farmer's almanac.  If they say it's time, I believe it.  I also use my neighbor as an almanac.  His yard always looks wonderful, so whatever he's doing in his yard, I try to discreetly do a day or two later.  Right now he's fertilizing and weed wacking, so I guess I know what my week holds.  But back to the tomatoes.  So two months ago I went and got 6 tomato plants and water walls.  I was a little skeptical that the plants could survive that early, but I figured it couldn't be worse than last year, and at the very worst, I could just replant in May and be right on time.  And wow! Those tomato plants have been growing out of their water walls for a few weeks, and I finally decided today was the day for them to make their debut.  They're amazing!  They're each about 2 feet tall and flourishing, with little blossoms ready to go.  I'll be eating tomatoes in no time!  I also planted a few varieties of hot peppers a couple weeks ago, and they're looking pretty great.  AND...I ate spinach out of my garden tonight.  I've been eating arugula since February.  It's the same arugula I planted my first year.  That stuff never dies.  Basically, as long as there isn't snow covering it I can go pick some. It's the stuff in the bottom picture with white flowers.  It's pretty awesome.  I harvested about two pies worth of rhubarb yesterday, my strawberries have started blossoming, my cucumbers are sprouting, and I've got various other seeds planted that I can't really remember right now.  It's going to be a tasty fresh year! On a somber note, I've decided to forego zucchini this year.  The last few years, I've had major squash bug problems.  I spend too much time EVERY SINGLE DAY during the summer picking off eggs, hunting and killing nymphs and adults, and spreading pesticide, and it's all no good. They still win the war and kill my plants and I get at most one or two zucchinis.  My hope is that if I go squash-free for a year, the bugs will move on and clear out of my garden.  I talked to a guy at the Utah State Agriculture Extension a couple years ago, and he said squash bugs don't really overwinter, but I'm going to try this anyway.  Or maybe I'll just plant super late and hope the bugs have already moved on.  I don't know.  Anyway, if anybody has any extra zucchini this year, I'll be accepting donations.