Sometimes gratitude is a stretch. But… I’m grateful that for all they are nibbling on the Jericho romaine, the grasshoppers really haven’t done much damage and I’ve had a phenomenal, ongoing lettuce crop since March. It just won’t quit! I pull the outer leaves, I twist off the whole head from the roots, and they just keep growing. When I first started to harvest, I pulled up heads to thin the rows, fed some of the bases to Wren and Biko, and stuck about half a dozen back in other raised beds. Amazingly, these also have continued to grow as I harvest from them. For the first time ever, we are rich in lettuce!

I’m also grateful for the increased bird numbers and diversity as a result of the grasshoppers. Meadowlarks are hunting around the yard, along with several families of mountain bluebirds, at least one phoebe family (though they did not nest under the deck), ash-throated flycatchers, robins, and possibly a lazuli bunting or two that Merlin Sound ID’d. Along with the usual seed eating nuthatches and house finches, there are quite a few “lesser” goldfinches, as well as scavenging jays. It’s a joy to see and hear so many birds for a change.

I’m grateful that there are some other plants the plague of grasshoppers doesn’t seem interested in — yet. Like these lilies, a bee balm, and the zucchinis. They didn’t do much damage to the garlic, which I brought in before this latest round of rain, and so far the onions are holding up pretty well. The potatoes have lacy leaves, but they are at least still growing and flowering. Six rows of carrot tops were demolished overnight last week, all the salvias are struggling, none of the zinnias or tomatoes made it past cotyledon stage. Oh well.

Last night I baked Claire Saffitz’s foolproof all-butter pie crust in preparation for making a quiche this morning. It’s a great crust, flakier than any I have ever made. This morning I roasted asparagus, red bell pepper, and onion, added scallions, garlic and rosemary from the garden, two types of cheese, and baked a lovely quiche to feed me through the weekend while I’m in an online retreat. The one Cindy was supposed to be co-leading. I thought it would feel flat without her, but instead the loving presence of her colleague Stan and the other participants made it feel round and full. I’m grateful for all these things, and for every breath I took today, whether or not I was aware of them.