By LYNNE IRONS

I cannot seem to catch up or even catch a break. This summer has flown by. Plants that should be blooming now are past their prime. Everything is moving too fast. Now, without a doubt, part of this phenomenon is my advancing age. I know and admit it.

It does seem, however, that Murphy’s Law has been ruling my world. My workers have had various ailments, the work vehicles are on the fritz, the mechanic is down with a bad back, and home repairs have been problematic. I already complained bitterly about weeds and bugs in the garden. One would think I have lost my joie de vivre.

Saturday is the only day I spend in my own vegetable garden. I usually pull off a dawn to dusk event. We’re talking only an acre here! This past Saturday I’d had it with the bugs. I yanked up the first planting of green beans, picking a sizeable amount in the process. Because they were covered with the Mexican bean beetle eggs and larvae, I shoved all the debris into metal trash cans hopefully to fry them. The can was too hot by midday sun to touch.

Next I did the same to all summer squash. Between the striped cucumber beetle, squash bug and some sort of vine borer they had seen better days. Plus I have eaten an enormous quantity of zucchini by this point. I did replant both beans and squash in another area in hopes of a bug-free crop. Anything requiring 60 days can still be planted.

Now is the time to think about putting in fall greens: lettuce, radishes and turnips. I managed a few rows of beets, carrots and brussels sprout seedlings. If I weed them in a timely fashion they should come along nicely, as if!

I made up a big batch of dilly beans for the fridge. They were not of top quality to process for winter but will be great for a couple of weeks. It’s the only way I can get my granddaughter to eat green beans. A word to the would-be food processors: nothing will improve in the jar. Use the freshest and best and your most hygenic preparations.

I was saddened this week by the death of Mermaid Farm’s favorite Jersey cow. She was a month from having a baby calf. An unleashed husky got into the pasture, stampeded the cows into the road where a driver killed the soon-to-be mother. The driver, thankfully, was going slow enough that he wasn’t killed. A sad day all around. I’m sure the dog’s owner is extremely sorry.

Oh boy. I feel myself about to climb up onto the soap box. I am apologizing up front for my soon to be offensive remarks. People, what are you thinking? Why would anyone own a dog who belongs in Alaska? A simple Google of dog breeds should suffice. They are, without question, a beautiful, noble animal, but do not belong around livestock and certainly not roaming free.

This whole event has sent me off in several different directions. Many of our summer visitors fail to grasp the nature of our Island. We are a strange combination of rural, cosmopolitan and Disney World. It’s why no one bothers to follow a few simple rules like walking on the left, facing the traffic, using bike paths whenever possible, and thinking twice about moped use. I think pedestrians should be warned and then ticketed for walking two and three abreast pushing baby strollers; the little, child-endangering trailers behind bicycles should be illegal; and more dangerous road signs should be installed.

Back to dogs. I have never been dogless in my entire life. From Emma Jones, the beagle of my childhood, right through Emily, Martha, Hattie, Larry and Lorraine to my current old guy, Jackson, I have enjoyed their company and protection. I have confidence they would awaken me in case of fire or weirdo.

It’s other people’s dogs I distrust. I tell my granddaughter never to put her face to a strange dog. People always say, “Oh, they wouldn’t hurt anyone.” I respond with “No, they wouldn’t hurt you!” Over the years I have lost chickens, turkeys and caged rabbits to other people’s supposedly sweet dogs. They’re dogs! It is in their nature. They cannot help themselves.

I could go on and on but instead I am taking myself out to my favorite new eating establishment, the Little House Café on State Road. It used to be a travel agency and then an antique shop. It has been renovated and is quite adorable with excellent breakfasts and lunches. Give it a whirl!