TheCapeBlog

I was shocked (shocked) to realize that yesterday, I sewed, ironed, cooked, vacuumed, washed dishes and did laundry.

Ron mowed the front lawn.

This morning, I did the transfer station run early. The guys at the transfer station said tomorrow will be a scorcher. Glad there’s nothing on the calendar that requires being outside. We are getting too old.

Speaking of which, Ron suggested a walk last night when it was humid and probably around 85. I say probably because we didn’t look at the temp until a half hour or so after we got back to the house. I made it to the start of Fairneny then felt I had to stop.

The day before, Geri invited me to lunch at Captain Scott’s, then a walk on the Sandwich end of the Canal afterwards. She and Free know a trail that took us from the canal through the woods to Town Neck Beach. Great walk and delicious Greek salad for lunch.

Betsy sent a nice email telling us how much she likes the Wampanoag calendar.

We did the usual Sunday chores, laundry and changed sheets, and I made a big salad for lunch. We had burritos for supper with stuff from the frig. I did some minor gone-by cleanup in front of the fence.

My main accomplishment today was finding out how to delete unread messages that Mail has lost track of: mark for forwarding, cancel, then delete.

Yesterday I walked over 3 miles. We did the falutin’ walk in the late evening; it was almost dark by the time we got back. I was dripping from the heat and humidity.

This morning I moved the four pieces of leftover ceiling tile to the attic and weighted them down with a trunk in the hope of straightening them out. Also increased the temperature setting to 90 on the attic window fan. Found some insulation to fill in the area near the drain pipe in the basement.

I got to drive Robert home from work three times this week.

Had a 40 percent off coupon at CVS and splurged yesterday on an oximeter. The refund for the one I’d ordered from China back in May more than covered the cost.

Prepared and mailed Betsy’s package at UPS. Their service is far superior to that at the Mashpee post office.

We donated blood this past Tuesday. It was a busy day with CSA in the afternoon and chauffering. Took it easy yesterday, watched TV for part of it, did a small shop after dropping Robert off.

Been hot this week, hand watering has been essential for anything not planted in the ground.

Made a great lunch today from a recipe in today’s NYT.

We took care of laundry and changed sheets.

Did over 10,000 steps yesterday. 3.4 miles.

We invited Geri and Free over for lunch yesterday, and on the way back to their house, Geri did a grocery shop. Her usual helper wasn’t available.

Lunch was good- veg burgers, fresh green beans, grilled zuke, lime pie – but the visit wasn’t. I got annoyed with Ron’s dominating the conversation and after hints didn’t work, I became unpleasant with him, making it awkward for our guest.

I did the Move to Remove standout this morning and mowed the front and side yard.

After 18+ years of living with it, I raked out the flotsam and jetsam under the bulkhead stairs while Ron supervised. Although I’d warned him to back off, he was standing behind me at such close quarters that I clunked him between the eyes by mistake.

Did two loads of laundry, hung the whites out to dry.

Using a graham cracker crust that Ron bought a while back, made a lime pie. Picked up a 10 pound bag of sugar for the hummers at Stop & Shop; Shaw’s was out the other day.

Ron cut out the gigantic sassafras root that I unearthed yesterday. It does smell like root beer.

Dropped off the Q1 property tax payment at Town Hall.

Trimmed the bushes by the front steps. Picked up more cedar mulch at Mahoney’s. Watered the flower boxes in the nick of time.

Added veg broth, rice and provolone to leftover Sabzi for lunch. Made a big salad for supper.

Ron moved and cleaned the bird bath and leveled it with sand.

Misfits box arrived, somewhat of a disappointment. Cancelled next week’s, boring stuff.

Yesterday, I moved the bird bath and replaced it with the gazing ball and cement stand. Ron blasted the bird bath.

We did a fine walk to falutin’ land.

I dug out a gigantic sassafras root, covered the hole with boards and surrounded it with wire to keep out animals. Ron will remove it, or at least as much as he can, tomorrow.

Made a terrible Sabzi with carrot greens from Pariah Dog. The greens were fine, the recipe was awful. I don’t have a good “feel” for Middle Eastern, much as I like the spices. Maybe not as easy to adapt to a veg diet as other cuisines.

Cathy was here for lunch yesterday and hydrangea-gathering. We had a fine time, as always.

CSA today. Some of us are wondering why certain people take so long to pick up their shares, since they are pre-boxed. Hmm.

I baked vegetarian “pepperoni” from tofu and used up some old greens from the garden in soup – good! Harvested kale. Did some watering. Mulched the “newies” that I’d transplanted yesterday from the divided giant daylily.

Figured out we are going to owe a fortune to the water department. Not good.

Turns out, there are Dr. Fauci socks, prayer candles and donuts. Only in America.

I split the giant daylily into eighths. The poor thing had been dry as a bone, so I’d soaked the sections overnight and transplanted them today.

We did get to the new Wampanoag gift shop over the weekend and saw several of Emma’s artworks. Ron had left his wallet; Paula dropped it off that evening! Hope the shop will do well.

We’ve scavenged a number of items from neighbors, including three trellises, decorative shells and office supplies.

Wednesday, I baked and frosted an orange cake for Geri’s postponed birthday celebration. Made zucchini bread as well, not a good recipe. I think I mowed the back yard on Wednesday, too. Ron had done the front the day before.

We drove Geri to the doc’s office on Thursday for a follow-up appointment and had lunch at Chew’s. We did ice cream and cake at her place afterwards.

Did the transfer station run on Friday and changed the water filter.

I intended to look at hydrangea gardens in Barnstable Village on Saturday but went to Long Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary instead. Joined Mass. Audubon. Dropped by Geri’s for coffee and to pick up the cake holder.

We did laundry and changed sheets today. I made oatmeal and strawberry rhubarb sauce.

We slept a lot after yesterday morning’s early am runs and feel much better today.

Fatigue is more frequent and deeper now that I’m older. I think about POWs and those in servitude who don’t have comfortable places to sleep or the option of daytime breaks from work.

Angel hair pasta with homemade pesto and the last of the salad for supper last evening.