"Gloria P" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> I just got home from an errand and opened the sliding glass door to the
> patio to cool off the house (75 deg. inside, 71 outside) only to see SIX
> raccoons in or around the grape vine on the overhead trellis. The ones on
> the ground scampered all of about 6 feet away, waiting for me to leave so
> they could continue to eat the grapes, still green but very plentiful this
> year.
>
> I had hoped to make grape juice this year but they always beat me to it,
> about a week before the grapes begin to show any sign of ripening. The
> raccoons live in our storm sewers and have become way too aggressive over
> the years.
>
> Made a second batch of zucchini bread today for the freezer. The garden
> is very marginal this year. The flowers are doing very well, as are the
> weeds, due to all the rain. Moderate temperatures have been very
> comfortable, but they don't do much for the tomatoes.
>
> gloria p

Our neighbor across the street has grapes, and the raccoons love them. Last
year we had raccoons on the roof in the fall. They would get up there and
hang out all night!! Disgusting, as they poop up on the roof. This year
the fox is hanging out here, and actually gets up on our roof. She can see
the whole neighborhood and lays in the sun on the roof. At least with her
here, the raccoons will stay away!

The cool temps and rain have made for a pretty cheap summer. Not much A/C
and the water bill has never been this low. Not good for the veggies. The
tomatoes are pitiful.

later,
DP