End of heat wave

Finally, after suffering in incredible heat and humidity, there was a break in the pattern and we actually enjoyed a fall day. Mind you, it is still "sweat like a race-horse" hot when you are working, but at least the sun is less intense and there is a slight breeze.

The village has been in the doldrums with only a few very early morning dog walkers visible outside the cool interior of their homes. Farmers have been doing the minimum to keep the rice growing, spraying on spray days and regulating the in and out flow of the paddy irrigation water. Grass is uncut along the field edges, fallow fields are unplowed and full of weeds, trees have grown unruly and the weeds along the canals and banks of the roads have reached jungle status. But it has been too hot to deal with these issues....until today. There was a bustle of activity around the village, a buzz in the air, literally a buzz from the sound of equipment that has been dormant during the hottest summer on record.

I plowed the area next to the azuki; sprayed the caterpillar infested azuki with an organic mixture of red peppers, garlic and soap (it worked on the pine trees); planted 3 rows of potatoes; pulled up the pumpkin vines that have taken over the yard and harvested the winter squash that was hiding under the leaves; cut the grass around the big field and the road. Now I am sore. Too much activity all at once after sitting around waiting for my moment!