TheCapeBlog

Cody installed the new attic fan for us yesterday (Sunday).

Yesterday, I drove Geri and Free to 4C’s for her Covid test. An idiot kept us waiting for over 15 minutes while he argued with the nurses and health care workers.

Geri gave us a brand new pizza cutter in exchange for the old one!

This morning, Ron drove Geri, Free and me to Cape Cod Hospital for her surgery. We were up before 4:30 am to get her there by 6. Fortunately, she was ready to go home at around 9:45.

Free was good, but very nudgy on the return trip to the hospital. It was hard to keep him from hurting himself in the van, and I was as happy as he was to get him back home.

We brought home a tomato plant and nasturtium from Pariah Dog yesterday as well as a gorgeous bunch of radishes. Stopped at Kappy’s and Moto on the way home. Devoured a large Moroccan pie.

I treated us to Skippy’s on Saturday. Fed up with the artificial melodrama at Polar Cave. That was our Fourth of July celebration.

We brought a load of wood and leaves to Emma’s. She gave us over a dozen beautiful, huge eggs. Looking forward to see the new Native American crafts shop in Mashpee Commons later this month.

The New York Times published a section on the economy which boils down to this: blue collar workers have been disadvantaged because union membership has plummeted, mergers and leveraged buyouts made possible by cheap money decrease competition for workers, tax rates are too low for the rich, legalization of stock buybacks have increased income inequality, Black and Hispanic workers are still worse off than White.

No news flashes there.

We went to Home Depot yesterday for the attic fan and did a shop at Whole Foods.

We also had time to pick up a bottle of balsamic vinegar that we’d ordered from Uncle Bill’s in North Falmouth and after the news, did a walk through John’s Pond Estates.

I cooked a batch of produce, most from the CSA but some from our gardens as well: greens and garlic, zoodles with turmeric and berbere, big salad, turnip.

I mailed back the FIXD this morning and did another grocery run at Stop & Shop. Did laundry.

Ron finished the wall repairs in the bathroom and is attempting to remount the shower curtain rod. It is a pain and I hope he gets done soon since we have other things to accomplish today.

We had several errands in Falmouth: CSA, med at Walmart, old (2016) paint to be mixed at Aubuchon. Ron also had eye drops to pick up at Stop & Shop.

I spent most of the morning on financial things, like balancing the joint account checkbook, which I’d flubbed, and gaining a better understanding of the benefits offered by my health insurance plan.

I’d forgotten that I also wanted to mow. It started raining when we were in Falmouth, and Ron hoped that it would get to Mashpee. Eventually, it certainly did: it was pouring for a while.

Fortunately, I was able to mow the whole lawn, front, back and left side, before the rain started in earnest here.

Ron finished sanding around the shower rod holder wall hardware.

I picked strawberries and rhubarb this morning for sauce. Ron picked a pint of raspberries at Pariah Dog.

Oh, I found the FIXD! They insist on my returning the extra, which I am happy to do.

The robins fledged a few days ago. We see at least one of them in the yard.

The milkweed is blooming, which seems to please the bees and at least one hummingbird, but no monarchs. Maybe still too early.

The larkspur is in bloom and daylilies are starting. Squash, tomatoes, kale, lettuce and cukes are holding their own.

I’m hoping that the slug infestation is under control with Sluggo.

Friday we picked up Geri and Free for a visit here. Saturday I got together with Cindy and Cathy for lunch at Clarke’s. Yesterday we had a nice long visit with Emma at her house: had wine and snacks, toured her gardens, admired her chickens, newly sheered sheep and new roof and walked around the bog.

Ron has been busy remounting the shower curtain rod. Good thing the outdoor one is working! I did the transfer station run this morning. Eye exam this afternoon, results were normal for an old person.

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In spite of waking up ungodly early and a poor night’s sleep, I kept a dental cleaning appointment yesterday and glad I did, got a good review from the doc.

Found a pile of greens in the downstairs frig that turned out to be a bunch of beets and garlic scapes. Made a very respectable dish that we both enjoyed, using the carmelized onions from the prior evening.

After the news, we had a fine walk from the Community Park to Mashpee Pond and Attaquin Beach. Ron enjoyed seeing the cranes.

I’m still fighting the slug wars, especially in the corner garden.

Ron is off to an appointment this morning to check his eye pressure. I transferred funds to the Coop for July HELOC.

The baby robins are clearly visible. Can see them from the living room window. Hope they haven’t been abandoned.

Made burgers last night with the last package of superfood power blend with carmelized onions and avocado/sour cream dressing accompaniments; excellent recipe.

Put down Sluggo; pulled off four slugs that were devouring the daisies this morning: fail.

Dreamed that a crooked salesman charged me $950 ($300/day, what?) for a truck tire, but Elizabeth Warren was at their company party and put it right.

Peter sent a gift certificate and Father’s Day greetings!

Tom tried to fix the outdoor shower leak. He thinks the brass valve needs to be replaced.

Ron did yeoman’s duty yesterday, transfer station run and mowed the back. He’s been irrigating the grass as well.

I spread a bag of mulch.

Flower seedlings have started in the old garden. Finally found the tiny packet of Cowslip seeds.

After 60 Minutes, we fit our walk in before sunset last evening. Nice to take advantage of the longest days.

The electrician thinks the fan is toast, so I ordered a new one. This one was installed in August 2014.

Made stir fry with one of the veggie power blend packages! Happy to not have to throw it away like the first.

Dead headed roses. Ron has been arranging soaker hoses for plants that are outside the irrigation system.

I sprayed the veggies and the corner garden with Dead Bug. More weeding in the back.

Working on laundry while Ron returns redeemables.

Cormier’s had a no-show yesterday so they were able to diagnose the power steering problem. Ron was right, it was a bad belt.

I’m not happy that this wasn’t spotted by the two garages that have been working on the truck for the past couple of weeks.

Last evening after the News Hour, we enjoyed a nice walk through a couple of neighborhoods off Old Barnstable. From time to time, we see cool vehicles on our walks, and yesterday, it was an antique Chevy truck!

The Misfits box arrived, a mess but salvageable.

I made a quiche from Misfits Swiss chard and mushrooms, onions, Swiss and cheddar cheese. Strawberries from James’ patch for dessert.

I vacuumed, dusted and cleaned behind and under the frig yesterday and emptied the water reservoir.

Booked an eye exam and am hopeful that we’ll see our electrician and plumbers today to help with summer house tasks.

We think Smokey killed a baby rabbit yesterday. Smokey had been hanging around a couple of times yesterday, unusual for him.

Ron was finishing up the spinner (he’s got it working magnificently) and was dismayed when he saw a small headless furry corpse in that area. He removed it.

The second time Smokey came back, he looked quite a while for something in that part of the yard.

A couple of turkeys strolled through later. Not sure if Smokey saw them. Ron laughed that the cat missed out on a BIG treat!