Ellen: I just pick them up and periodically shake them off well, maybe even smacking them against my hand (Best to do that outdoors or inside a large paper sack). The dust falls off well enough.

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My research student successfully finished their paper; I just need to grade it this morning (before 10 am) and turn in a grade. And I have four more soil samples to do, and then I'm done.

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I did finally find some Arkansas Traveler tomatoes - perhaps the last five in the area - and I have them in my garden now (Along with one "Bradley" tomato, to fill in). I have twelve tomato plants. If they're really super-productive I may be making and freezing tomato sauce, I don't know. It's my experience though, when summers here get really hot, tomatoes kind of shut down production - even ones labeled "heat tolerant." So we'll see.

I contemplated getting a couple watermelon plants but decided that I had had poor enough luck with them in the past that I'd rather go with the more "sure" thing of tomatoes.

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I am nearly done with my mom's socks. Sixteen pattern rows remain plus the toe; I should be able to complete that this afternoon.