Critters in the corn!

We've noticed ears of corn having been torn open and bites taken out. It tickles me that Mike has twice asked me if I have been peeling back the corn husks to see if the corn is ready to harvest. I told him no, both times. But tonight, I went out to the garden and broke off four of the fatter ears and we had them for dinner. They were good, but I believe in another few days they'll be amazingly delicious and completely filled out. Basically, both the squirrels (or racoons) and I jumped the gun on the corn.

I was on the Somerville square yesterday and went into the Square Hardware store and they had corn cutters. I've lost mine in the move, so was thrilled that they had one almost just like it. So some of our corn, or some we buy from a local organic farmer, will be cut and put in the freezer already seasoned with butter salt and freshly ground pepper to be eaten this winter.
I love Square Hardware. The old man who owns the place is there everyday and it's his family who take care of customers. He has a shiny brass National Cash Register AND the wooden crate it was shipped to the store in. It's the last working one in the country. He LOVES talking about it, and one day I took the time to listen to the whole story. So yesterday I looked for him just to say hello, and his face lit up.
Square Hardware has an adjoining store that sells furniture, and decorative pieces. Most of what they carry is not my taste, but I have my eye on a 'booksellers bookshelf' unit for my bedroom. My bed is usually covered with books and magazines as if I were an invalid needing constant reading material to occupy my mind. My bedroom is where I do my reading, unless I'm on a train or a plane. I need it to be quiet and no dogs whining for attention. I've been reading a lot lately and getting the greatest pleasure from it. A friend just finished the latest Wally Lamb book and since I'd already bought it I've moved it to the top of my 'stack' to begin after I finish two by Kate Chopin that were written in the late 1800's. They are about life on Louisiana plantations and so well written, it's no wonder they have stood the test of time.
Dover Thrift Additions was having a sale, and I got a somewhere around 20 books for a bit over $50. They're naturally all paperback, but I am treasuring them as if they were bound in leather with gold endpapers.
I feel the same way about the Jane Austin books I got at Barnes & Noble for $8 each a few months back. This was to be "My Summer with Jane", but I've also been watching every version of movie that Netflix carries of her work as well. Now, since the Dover books are shorter, my plan is to read the Austin books after watching the DVD's. I'll probably begin them in September, since this summer is flying by.
Well, this blog entry began as a few comments on the garden, but as you can see I have gotten caught up in literature again recently, and am having a high time with it.

Oh, one other bit of news, about local things. There's a Mr. Tucker who has an antique/junk store that's located just off the town square a bit.
I've bought some small things from him, but have been eyeing a dry sink he first acted like he didn't want to sell. I asked him yesterday if he cold rethink selling it, and what was his best price. He told me he'd already told prices to two ladies who were interested in it, but since he and I had discussed it and I already knew what he paid for it he gave me a price of $25 more than he paid for it. I told him it was SOLD!
Now I'm going to reintroduce 'country' (but not the tacky '80's stuff) into my homes personality, and this dry sink (with a copper liner in the sink part!) will be perfect in front of the kitchen windows holding plants. I'm moving the kitchen table into the corner of the family room, since the four chairs are on casters and can be moved around for seating when people come over. Besides, no one sits there to eat because the couch is closer to the TV. Yes, I am admitting the rule I made when we first moved here is broken and I fear not fixable. One reason I like having company is because I insist on using the dining room. I can seat 10 people in there and theres no TV to interrupt polite conversation.

I'm tickled to have found Mr Tucker. He tells the greatest stories, and he even knows my uncle Louis, and graduated HS with my aunt Peggy (Louis' wife) and knows other members of my family. I told him he and I had to accept now being as close as family without being family since he's been friends with my uncle and aunt most of his life. And he didn't disagree. He likes having an audience for his stories, and I love listening to a good one, so we're a good fit for someone who always has something new an unusual to sell, and someone else who loves to look at old things.