Opinion

Several years ago some of my friends began attending a Torah study group. They would periodically share some of what they had learned. This began to feed my desire to know more. I also read Kathy Lee Gifford’s book, “The Rock, The Road, and The Rabbi,” which I wrote a book review on for this column.

Hasn’t this summer been absolutely fabulous? July is a great time for picnics and other family get togethers. It is also a time when we celebrate a number of food festivals.

Dear Neil: I planted a Southern Bluebelle blueberry in April. In the past two weeks some of the leaves have turned brown. I planted it in a bagged potting mix “designed for shrubs.” I water it weekly for 20 minutes with the yard sprinkler, then once a week with a hose to keep it going.

At a June 14 Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee meeting, environmentalists warned that the Colorado River’s reservoir level drop might bring dramatic cuts to water deliveries provided to the seven states dependent on the river.

Sitting in my home office I am greeted by a cool breeze coming through my open window, and the sweet sounds of summer outside. It’s late June, which used to be peak bike-hiking season for kids - but now it’s mostly adults who go on long rides on their expensive high-tech bikes.

“For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” — Matthew 9:13b (NIV) You have probably heard this quote from Abigail Van Buren, “The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.” It’s a good reminder that we are all sinners needing confession, communion, and congregation.

Dear Neil: What do I do with a diseased crepe myrtle that looks like it’s been through a fire? Your plant has been attacked by crepe myrtle bark scale. They’re the white, practically immobile insects that are attached to the stems.

I cannot think of summer, July Fourth, Memorial Day, or Labor Day without thinking of hot dogs. July is National Hot Dog Month. Hot dogs can bring back many childhood memories and special occasions when they were served.

A few days ago, my wife and I joined some friends for a gathering during a few rare hours when we weren’t busy hauling a teenager to some kind of expensive activity or hosting an entire herd of them at our home to ransack our pantry and abuse the plumbing.