How Carolling is like Gardening

A large group of friends and school pals gathered to carol tonight. We have a great neighborhood and figured they 'get it.'  You'd think South Florida warm weather would encourage such an activity.  But in my 13 years here, I haven't seen it until tonight.
As we planned, folks started joining on organically. Without trying we had 8 families. One mom had a great idea to put out some flyers to let the neighbors know we were coming. I googled "how to go carolling" to find a example.
Carolling in Miami is like gardening, there is very little information on it. Almost none.  It's a lost American tradition. Now granted, Miami isn't "American." It's a special case. Arguably, (read- Immigrant Power in Miami) the only US city that became a new creation as immigrants did not assimilate but recreated a new community.  Latin America has Las Posadas. Caroling is different.  It's actually much easier.  Just walk around and sign together. Maybe that's why there isn't much information posted. 
However, the neighbors didn't know what to do. Most didn't come to the door. A sweet elderly woman peeked out of her front window from behind her blinds. A couple of houses came to listen. Overall it seemed this was the missing link- the uncomfort of mismatched social expectations.
In the end, we had a great time. It was cold (75 F) and drizzling. We decided to pretend it was snow and plow ahead. Our homemade song books (Thanks Melissa) disintegrated. We sang anyway.  We sang for our jewish neighbors with the inflatable polar bear holding a dreidel.  They invited the pack of kids in to light the next menorah candle. We sang for the older neighbors. We splashed in puddles. We feasted on impromptu "pot luck" of the non-requested items that the families brought to the gathering house. (a great Latin tradition- always bring something when you go to someone's house.)
The lesson- next year we'll do it again. And we'll put out flyers so the neighbors know we're coming. But next year, the flyer will explain what the neighborhood should do as follows...

• Open the door. Say Hello. Politely listen to song or two. Say a big Thank you and wave the kids good bye. We'll happily move along. 
  

Location Location Location

I've planted all over the yard. There is full sun and in Miami full sun can mean 14 hours of sun. I have some things planted in shade, which still means 6-7 hours of sun. With the summer rains beginning, I'm not as concerned with sun as I am with flooding. It seems the best location has been on the south side of the house, in a raised bed, without roof run off. The daily rains this week blow in but don't drown. The plants are dark green and growing strong.

The peas are not doing well though. They've grown tall but my research tells me they are suffering from powdery mildew. Some reading tells me to try sulphur powder. Any advice out there?

Tomato Gardening Tip

In the best case scenario, each blossom will produce a fruit. Maybe not the first couple of blossoms but the second or third bunch should. Mine aren't "setting fruit" so well. So I went researching.
Tomatoes are self-pollenating. Having a pot of tomatoes on your porch up against a wall may mean they won't get enough breeze to blow the pollen around. According to one of the gardening gotta have books, Square Foot Gardening, you can gently shake the plant. The author says it's best to do this at mid-day or early afternoon. I'll keep you posted on my results.