Rainy Day

It has been raining today. a couple of times it started hailing the size of peas. I've been wanting to cut back all the basil in the garden to dry it, but just haven't had the ambition to do so.
I decided to do it today because I didn't want the hail to damage all that good basil.Picture 1 is of my garden back when I first planted it. Numbers 2 and 3 are the garden right before I cut it down today, and number 4 is of the bunches of basil I have hanging in my garage to dry now.
After they get dry and crumbly, I will take all the leaves off the stems and grind them in the food processor. I've done this before, and it comes out great. I've never had quite so much to work with! the last time I did this I had about half as much. It keeps for a couple of years.
I went to Barnes and Noble today and had a cup of coffee and copied down a couple of patterns from the Stitch-n-Bitch books.
I also ordered a book about French pastisseries. I saw a write-up of this book in a magazine and it sounds like it's beautiful.
Mike had to go to work tonight at the new store, and Jerry's out. I will be doing laundry and cleaning a bit.