TheCapeBlog

Got a late start but made it to the Food Pantry and the District 1 Mass. Middle School Science and Engineering Fair, then the Food Project for a veg burger lunch.

Tremendously impressed by the projects described at the Fair. Between this and the Robotics competition I saw a couple of weeks ago, it appears that STEM is alive and well in Berkshire County.

While I was out, Ron walked Jett partway up the hill and played fetch with him.

I ordered Jett’s flea and tick med from his vet. For the moment, we’re keeping him at his Pittsfield vet since they have all his records.

Also ordered a thermostat and thermostatic shower valve (TSV) from MassSave.

I asked the landscaper to hold off on planting tomorrow and use the time for prep. It’s been cold; right now it’s snowing!

Day 3 and things are going well for and with Jett.

Called his Pittsfield vet yesterday; helpful, pleasant woman emailed his rabies/neutered certificate, which I sent via the Williamstown website to the Town Clerk. Visited her office yesterday to pay for and pick up his tag. On the way back, bought a small bottle of Riesling at Spirits.

Jett had fun yesterday playing with Millie, who was good as can be. Her people were happy that they got along, and it made me happy to see Millie running around without a leash or rope.

Jett slept in our bed last night, woke up with me a little before 7. Very happy and bouncy. Right now he’s asleep while I caught up on the news in the third bedroom.

I mixed his food with warm water, and he ate a cup’s worth.

Did some garden bed cleanup, played “fetch”.

Ron and I changed the sheets and put away a couple of loads of laundry.

Uploaded files and database procs to TestMRS yesterday and today. SendGrid figured out I was using the wrong template ID (ouch).

Woke up to snow. It didn’t last long and melted quickly.

Ron vacuumed upstairs and down, and I boxed the kitchen clutter, getting ready for Jett’s arrival tomorrow. I am nervous.

Did more work on BRC2.

Hoping to see the pink moon but it seems to be too cloudy.

After much effort, Ron finally got his debit card PIN reset and used it today at the Williamstown ATM. Lobby is still closed for repairs after water damage.

Jett’s food arrived, huge bag for a month’s worth.

No cooking today, had enough leftovers for both of us.

I’d planned to attend a drawing class at the Clark but there were no parking spaces near the Manton Center. If I’d used the main lot, I would have been late and they don’t like that. Vexed, I gave up and went to the Greylock ATM for Log Lunch money.

Intrigued for a while by Provision’s “Fresh Pastries” sign, I stopped on the way home for almond croissants and a pistachio danish. Turns out they get them from Nostalgia. Every bit as good as the ones we’ve had in South County.

Picked up our lunches at the Harper Center and then picked up Ron for the Log Lunch which was heavy on cilantro but featured a cinnamon roll for dessert. The talk was about NY State’s conservation efforts in the waters off Long Island.

We drove to Bennington to pick up a leash I’d purchase online at Petco. Ron wanted to get a haircut but the Supercuts was booked until 4.

So, we did grocery shopping at Price Cuts, and that turned out to be a bonus: $3 for a dozen and a half eggs, $3.99 for a pound of butter and $9 for prosecco. Ron got a Riesling. I also got maple syrup and half-price cut melon and bagged salad mixes.

We did nothing once we got home: beat.

We fell in love with Jett. Visited yesterday and plan to bring him home this weekend.

I ended up using TurboTax, got a discount on the Federal filing, state cost $69. Federal tax was a little more than I expected; I’d done the self-employed tax calculation wrong. State was $0. It took about an hour and a half to complete. Terrific web application.

Made a minor SQL correction for Warranty.

Waffles for breakfast. Salad and odds-and-ends for lunch and supper.

We were bumped for Frankie. I was sorry but we couldn’t afford two dogs. Food, grooming, pet insurance for just one dog require some budget adjustment, never mind vet visits. Jett will bring toys, food bowls and any other accoutrements with him and his human doesn’t want a fee, thus saving us the $550 payment to Brown Dog and the cost of collar, crate, bowls.

Woke up to a dusting of snow the last two days.

Had burgers, fries and salad for lunch yesterday. Then rain. Changed sheets.

Small edit to the MRS confirmation email. Continued work on BRC2.

Mailed the twins birthday cards.

Tried the online tax form app for TurboTax but couldn’t figure out how to input the simplified method for home office expenses.

Our application to bring Frankie home has been approved! I started researching pet health insurance, figure reimbursement for Part B through Ron’s FSA would cover the cost. I had a policy with Trupanion for Teddy. The premium is less for the Berkshires than it would be for the Cape.

Wrote to Brown Dog Coalition with questions.

Figured out the cost to make my favorite Stop & Shop salad ourselves. It works out to about 50 cents less per 13 ounce box.

We had pizza at Harper Center and did a beer run to Pownal afterwards. I did a shop later for ice cream, cookies, crackers, cranberry juice and some other groceries.

We watched the news and an old episode of New Tricks.

We spent the day travelling to and from Jaffrey for a memorial service for one of Ron’s high school classmates, Paulette.

It was a lovely remembrance with a generous homemade buffet and a delightful, heartfelt slide show of Paulette and her family through the years. It was put together by her son: what a tribute!

We met said son, our host, and his kids and renewed acquaintances with Paulette’s sister.

All in all, a good day in spite of the rain. Ron did brilliantly driving through it both ways. No mountain views today but we enjoyed the river roads.

We got an email about Frankie. The dog people tried to get a reference from our old Mashpee vet but they couldn’t locate Lizzie’s records. I forgot to give them our old phone number and they couldn’t find us by name. Ouch.

Looks like we were not selected for Fern and not sure what’s up with Frankie, but we are top of the list for a 5 1/2 year old lad in South County. We hope to see him and his person as soon as weather permits.

I picked up two free lunches today, both good, one from the Harper Center and one from Berkshire Food Project.

Tried giant bubbles today, Pustefix still works the best.

We spent a little time working on the fence today, nothing like yesterday.

Roger came over to look at fixing the garage door. He thinks we can probably do the fence ourselves.

I think I’m done.

Ron drove us to Bennington and a little beyond, and we came back on Route 7A. We drove past the Robert Frost Stone House Museum. We plan to visit when it opens for the season in May.

I received an email inviting us to confirm our interest in a male poodle named Frankie. They will be checking our references and Lizzie’s Bennington vet.

I started the day by picking up popcorn bags gifted by a lady who lives in the last house in Williamstown. Did a grocery run at Stop & Shop then worked on taxes for most of the day. Can’t believe the number of schedules and forms our return requires.

I worked on the federal taxes today, and it looks like we don’t owe anything. It also seems we are entitled to a credit for installing the heat pump that we can carry over to next year.

I also completed and emailed the application for poodle Fern.

Didn’t do much else besides make an egg sandwich for Ron.