A bit of a break in the rains has allowed us to get some
meaningful work done in the garden.  Since the compost bin has
been effectively destroyed, I have yet to build a new one.
Looking at the scrap heap, there may be enough lumber to cobble
together another that would hopefully keep at least the big
critters out.  Currently the kitchen scraps are being dumped into
the beds and turned into the soil.  Admittedly not the best
solution, but it will have to do until the bin is built.

Beans have been planted in one bed.  The black fabric bags we
used for eggplant last year have been used for tomatoes this
year.  The black bags keep the soil temperature higher which is
a good thing in this area. The lizards like to hang around these
bags because of the warmth and, of course, they help take care of
the bugs.  No complaints.  While I am working the beds, they come
and sit next to me patiently waiting for dinner to be turned up
by the shovel or hoe.

Still a lot of clearing to be done, but stamina dictates that I
work things in small patches.

** Ratcheting up the rhetoric **

The government speak regarding Iran and North Korea is now
skirting the edge of inflammatory:

http://tinyurl.com/n686ew6

Which takes us back to the recent U.S. missile strike in Syria
based on a very faulty or outright falsified White House Report
which has no underpinning of credible intelligence.  

http://tinyurl.com/mdzmno5

Now that a U.S. carrier group is en-route to North Korea, the
rhetoric has reached a disturbing pitch.  Regarding an executive
order to launch a nuclear weapon, the following article discusses
the nuclear chain of command:

http://tinyurl.com/lbvr6py

Consider the author's words ----->

"Now, obviously conditions would dictate varying responses. I
have faith that an 'obviously bonkers' order would be somehow
avoided (e.g., a frothing, 'nuke them all, ha ha ha,' sort of
thing). I'm not worried about that situation (it's not outside
the realm of human possibility - all humans are fallible, many
develop various forms of mental illness, etc.), but I am worried
about what I consider to be "ill-advised" orders, or "bad idea"
orders, or "spur of the moment" orders that are considerably less
apocalyptic (at least on their surface) than, say, a full nuclear
exchange."

-------

The question arises: what about the "chain of information" that
is used to support an executive decision to launch a nuclear
device?  Does this information come reliable or spurious sources?

Let us hope cooler heads prevail.

I am not a prepper nor do I aspire to become some rough and ready
survivalist waiting for the excrement to hit a spinning fan
blade.  Our primary motivation to move to a rural location was
more for health reasons, but the unexpected by-product has been
spiritual (that's generally the way it works for most of us
anyway). I watch, observe, take action when it is within my
capacity then surrender the fruits of those actions to the Powers
That Be.