Rather than getting something for himself, which would have been very well deserved, Ron redeemed his service award credits from Cal Performance by ordering this GORGEOUS sapphire and gold ring for me.
It’s special, not only because it’s absolutely beautiful, but because it represents 25 years of toil at Cal, including injuries, management issues and crazy schedules.
Without doubt, it’s the nicest gift anyone’s ever given me.
I’m irritated with everyone and everything this morning.
Even my poor husband, who is about as nice a person as you’d ever meet, got on my nerves by not asking if I had a carpenter’s square after getting grouchy because he couldn’t find his. This annoyed the heck out of me because I interpreted his failing to do so as a reflection on my competence, thus ascribing to me the worst qualities of the string of spoiled, selfish, poor-little-rich girls he’s lived with in the past.
Yesterday, I tried and failed, not only once but twice, to fit so-called “universal” burner grids to the Weber.
I drove the truck too fast over a vicious speed bump and caused both of us to wake up with stiff necks.
Ron assured me that he’d be able to replace a rusting light fixture with one we bought yesterday at a yard sale, but he ran into some tool-related problems – again.
Fluffles continues to wear me out with his fussiness over food.
There’s more gardening to be done and I’M TIRED.
Except for the fact that Ron’s things are all over the basement, we are in excellent shape. We have lots of good food and a well-equipped kitchen to cook it in, two working vehicles, and pretty surroundings, including the addition of a nice bedroom lamp and two handsome gold pillow covers purchased for pennies at said yard sale.
In other words, I have no good reason to be so ill-tempered right now.
Two sales today, one at Roach Brothers and the other at the Fairgrounds, the annual Master Gardeners’ plant madhouse.
Ron built a frame for the new vegetable garden AND a sifter. We started clearing the bed for the new garden, and the turf was so healthy that I decided to use it in the front.
This past week, I’ve planted Hyssop (from the Master Gardeners), Joe Pye Weed, a couple of tomatoes and Bee Balm (Monarda). Also bought a beautiful hanging plant for the front and a flat of snapdragons for the pots.
The Miss Kims have lots of buds, but no flowers yet.
The silver dollar seeds that Emme planted last year germinated this spring, and it looks like we’re going to have money plants this fall.
We’ve had the good fortune to trade at our local CVS with a young woman who projects the graciousness that was standard for retail years ago.
Every so often, I’ve been lucky enough to encounter people like this lady working in service jobs in run-of-the-mill places, and it’s like finding a diamond in a coal bin.
I phoned CVS to tell them that they are very fortunate to have this employee on their staff, and that because of her, I choose to trade with them rather than the new Walgreens that recently opened in our town.
I hope that only results in good things for her. I hope.
We’re in a weather pattern; over the last couple of days, we’ve received an inch of rain.
The seedlings in the new front garden have started. I planted lupine, tomato, oregano and basil yesterday from the wholesale nursery. Planted Bee Balm (Monarda) from the farm stand in Kingston as well.
I have my eye on some other possibilities like Joe Pye Weed.
A lady at Mahoney’s said this is the perfect time to plant because the soil temperature is optimal for root growth.
The “vegetable garden” now has tomatoes, lettuce, brussel sprouts, chives, basil, oregano, lemon balm, rosemary, sage, strawberries, nasturtiums, marigolds, tulips.
Looks like two of the three Shasta daisies didn’t make it.
Fluffles has lost a tremendous amount of weight; he’s now down to under 10 pounds.
We went to two plant sales and the organic farm on 6A in Barnstable and purchased lemon balm, brussel sprouts and Siberian iris. I planted while Ron sharpened a bunch of kitchen knives. We dropped off a package at UPS, picked up some groceries and made Krispy Treats.
We picked up Robert and spent the afternoon in Woods Hole. Ron treated at Fishmonger and we hung out so we could feed the meter until it expired at 6 PM. Saved close to $6 by not using the Palmer Ave. Lot. Caught the 6:15 Island Home to the Vineyard, got back to WH at 8.
Ron’s right foot has been very painful.
I had a good cry this morning about Max. I will miss the little guy.
Busy, busy day today. We dropped off Fluffles for grooming, then went to my appointment in Norwell. Ron treated to lunch at Strawberry Fair; this is their 35th year.
Showed Ron around Duxbury. We went to FarFar’s for dessert, Powder Point, Duxbury Beach and the Gurnet, the area around Standish monument, and stopped at the roadside stand on the way to Kingston, where we picked up a nice Bee Balm.
Dropped off some chocolate croissants from French Memories at Edgewater. Peter greeted us with his usual sarcasm, a big relief that he is getting back to normal. We are concerned about Robert and hoping to do a ferry ride or some other nice outing with him when he’s up to it.
We went to Rockland Trust to retrieve some of Ron’s jewelry, then I picked up Fluffles. We mowed the lawn, cleaned out the van and installed the two back seats. Ron had cleaned out Fluff’s litter box in the morning. I planted the three perennials from Emma Brennan and watered. Ron fixed the closet door.
Ron made a great supper of angel hair pasta and a garlic/oil/clam sauce – fabulous.
It’s been 5 days and I’m still sick – wet cough and sinus congestion. I’m afraid Ron may have caught it as well.
It’s been violently windy all day today, stormy and unpleasant.
I went out a couple of times, though, seeded the front lawn, covered the potato plants with a mixture of loam and compost, and picked up the brooding, sinister 2010 film “Black Death” at Redbox.
The moving company called; Ron’s things will be delivered first thing tomorrow. We’re hoping the weather improves.
We’ve driven through California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska and most of Iowa.
Iowa rules. It is so beautiful here – green, rolling hills; big, beautiful farms. It’s still early spring, so the trees haven’t leaved yet, but you can imagine how gorgeous it must be.
We drove through a part of Wyoming that is real high desert. The light at sunset was dramatic: pink. Nebraska is flat.