Author: thecapeblog

I put in a new garden by the back steps last weekend, one of the last outdoor tasks before starting full-time work.

I bought the plants at the wholesale nursery, but full credit goes to Emme for designing the layout. She did a fantastic job, and it turned out a charming, restful spot with a very simple collection of plants: heuchera, forget-me-nots, hosta, astilbe, vinca and a nice ground cover Lori gave me some years ago.

It is pure pleasure to see this garden every morning and every night!

First week and I survived. Fell asleep on the bus one morning. Am enjoying having an excuse to read.

Eye lids and eye socket are still red and swollen. Dermatologist is booked.

Did a bunch of errands today. Saw Emma (friend) and Janet (friendly acquaintance) at the Farmer’s Market, which was delightful. Picked up Rose Tone at Garden & Feed. Bought a used paperback for the bus and picked up a few things at Stop & Shop and CVS.

Pruned the hydrangeas, all of them. Did a little weeding. We haven’t had a lot of rain recently so will need to keep watering.

Ron has been busy all day. He mowed the front lawn at Edgewater (their mower is in the shop) and is making a brace for one of the cabinet shelves, which is being held up by plastic supports that look like they could collapse at any time.

I promised to make him a spice cake for an early birthday celebration tomorrow. The store doesn’t have spice cake mix because it’s considered a seasonal item (!), so I have to wing it.

Started the Boston gig this week. So far, the commute hasn’t been as hard as I feared.

Last night, Ron made a nice supper, baked cod, rice and salad. He put the cod in the oven when we left to vote. Afterwards, we picked up some odds and ends at Stop & Shop, including some great sale items, and by the time we got home, the fish was perfectly done.

Ron has been working on the railings.

I visited the eye clinic at Tufts yesterday; the docs think it’s an allergy or some other dermatologic problem. Nothing wrong with my eyes.

Weather’s been great this week and I’ve enjoyed walking at lunch.

Eye sockets are swollen again. Allergic to forsythia?

It was a marathon this morning to fit in tasks before the brunch. Returned the screen, picked up trash and recyclables at Edgewater and did the transfer station run.

Ron attached the hoses and I cut down more overgrown forsythia. Also watered the azalea. Cleaned up behind the shed, washed out a pile of flower pots for recycling.

Ron did more watering here and started filling in and sanding the deck railing. I’m working on laundry and changing sheets. Did some cleanup on the porch and in the shed, spread a little more mulch in the front. Enjoyed seeing the brunch bunch.

POS next door has been running a leaf blower for close to two hours; my ears are ringing. Another POS is riding a motorized vehicle in the field.

Ron changed the water pitcher filter.

Ron also cleared the upper left corner of the back yard at Edgewater AND the area behind the shed.

Spectacular.

I put in a new garden in the corner next to the back stairs. Emme designed it with plants from the Wholesale Nursery. We used some slate tiles that were in the outside shed. It is gorgeous.

Emme mulched around the holly tree. I weeded the grass garden. We bought some beautiful pansies at Attaquin Acres and planted those in the containers on the trellis: beautiful.

That pretty much finishes everything I wanted to do in the gardens this Spring.

We went to Home Depot for deck stain and used our 10% off coupon to get some things on the “wish” list, including a new saw and extra blades for Ron; pruners; mulch for the front yard and plywood to fix the outdoor shed at Edgewater; and a very cool remote temperature and humidity sensor “weather station”.

I mulched the rock garden and Edgewater and finished the mulching here.

We helped set up the Pilgrim informational session at Town Hall. It was well-attended and the giant 8 foot screen worked out great (Ron figured out the setup video).

Bought a hangar and a couple of pots of Jonny Jump-Ups on sale at Stop & Shop.

Fed the wisteria – Triple Phosphate and Chicadee.

Pruned the rose bushes and more weeding.

We have some nice color now: yellow daffs and jonquils, gorgeous violets and hyacinth, pansies. Looks like this may be a very good year for the lilacs. Grass is starting to green up, I think; the sparrows like the seed I put down.

The big gray neighborhood cat loves the catmint!

Loaded up the truck with brush from Janicks. Couldn’t fit it all in, so hauled the rest to the side to get it off the grass and away from Bob’s climbing rose. Can’t believe how much he cut down, and with a bad heart: amazing.

We’ve had a nice, quiet rain all day. Very happy.

Had the truck serviced: warranty work, oil change, checked the alignment.

Found and rented an eight foot screen and Duvetyne for the Downwinders meeting this Friday.

Ron brought home a cake from the senior center and picked up a giant pizza pie plus a free large cheese at Zoe’s after driving me home and back to Hyannis Toyota.

“Cook all raw beef, pork, lamb and veal steaks, chops, and roasts to a minimum internal temperature of 145 °F as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or consuming. For reasons of personal preference, consumers may choose to cook meat to higher temperatures.

“Cook all raw ground beef, pork, lamb, and veal to an internal temperature of 160 °F as measured with a food thermometer.
Cook all poultry to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F as measured with a food thermometer.”