Garden report: The iris and crane bill geranium have bloomed. Count them: 30, yes 30, tomato plants are in. I planted New Girl, Steakhouse and San Marzano (plum) varieties.

Now I wait to see if any volunteer tomatoes come through to add to the collection. I have several baby dill volunteers. I am happy to give them away, let me know.

None of the beans have sprouted and it’s been over a week.

The big news is the fauna report. Several weeks ago I wrote that Amity Place residents saw a bear and cubs passing through their neighborhood.

I was there on Sunday and saw a huge black bear and cubs dashing through. What a sight! I was worried that the mother had to shepherd the youngsters across Amity Street. Perhaps that’s why they were moving so quickly. And I do mean huge. This bear was big even on all fours.

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Jeff Bohne, South Church moderator, sent me the latest menu for the takeout dinner. This is the classic chicken salad, asparagus and strawberry shortcake dinner held every spring. Pickles and chips are included. There is a vegetarian option.

This is the all-time favorite. If the weather is nice, you could probably eat on the common.

The takeout meal will be held Saturday, June 5 with pickup between 5 and 6 p.m. The deadline to order is noon Wednesday, June 2. The cost is $15 with proceeds benefiting local charities. Call 253-2977 or online: https://southchurchfid***

Linda Marston of Amherst sent me an email card from Freeport, Maine. It’s two coffee beans with stick arms and feet, one waving.The message says, “How you bean?” Appropriate word use since they were a few feet from the L.L.Bean flagship store.

The word play gets better. Attached was a photo of a sculpture of bears in a tree trunk outside the Bean store. She wrote that she hopes the photo wasn’t “unbearable.”

Thanks for the good humor.

I am expecting more cards since people are beginning to travel. Friends have mentioned coming trips to Georgia, Florida and Maine.

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Besides travel, more signs of normalcy. I have hugged three people, all maskless and vaccinated. I gave someone a ride in my car. The passenger seat required major vacuuming. It’s been way over a year since a passenger has been in my car.

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