Harvest from a couple days ago, and critters on the potato plants

This time of year is so busy, that I find myself not wanting to cook so I can spend more time out in the garden.  But, I tell myself  I need to find a balance, because it's silly not to cook, when I am growing food to eat.  I frequently pick beets, put them in the fridge, then don't get them cooked, so they end up on the compost pile.

I was proud of myself the other day for picking my beets with the idea of cooking them right away.  I cut them up for a couple days' worth of adding to my salads, and added the peas raw to the salads.

We've had warmer temps than normal lately, so the lettuce season may be over before the usual end of June.  I did a good job succession planting, though, so there are still some smaller ones that may hold up OK.

I can't remember whether this is a spider or a long legs of some kind on the potato plant here.

Here's a closer view of the ladybug larvae.

I have had lots interruptions of my gardening lately, but have enjoyed the things that have been the cause of them.  Today, the 6 year old who lives where I am gardening across the street came over while I was weeding at home, with a packet of blue spruce seeds he got from a restaurant.  I got my computer and we looked up information.  Jeff, his grandpa, suggested planting the seeds in a pot, then finding a spot for it after it was up.  I got a couple pots, and he said he wanted to give one to his teacher.

He wanted to water other parts of the garden besides his seeds, and we pulled some weeds.  While working, we got to see a larvae that looked like it was turning into a ladybug.  We had a fun time!  He pulled some radishes to send home with Grandpa, and then we came over to cut some daisies for his mom.  Then, a neighbor dog, part pit bull, was loose, and Heidi was crouching at the curb.  I had to round her up, and tell the neighbor boy to go home to be safe.  A local boy was attacked by a pit bull while riding his bike last night, so I was afraid.

The neighbor ladies across the other street from where I garden rounded up the dog, called the owner, and chained it to wait for the owner to come home.  I thought I should go meet the dog, and then our daughter-in-law called to see if she could come get the tools she was going to borrow.  She is working on the house she grew up in, and they are planning to move there soon.  When I walked over, Grandson saw me and waved so big, then, when Mom put him down, he put his arms up and ran to me, as I ran to him.  That was worth being slowed down a little.  He helped me pour water into cans from a rain barrel, and water the pots in the back.  That was fun, too.

Well I'm up past my bed time, but tomorrow is my last day of work for the school year, and then, I should find more time to get my gardening done.  I have made a pledge to myself to avoid, (notice I didn't stay away from) garage sales until after doing some de-cluttering.

I didn't mean to be so wordy.  I am also hoping to catch up on the blogs of those who comment on my posts and those who I follow.