Getting There

ViaBenefits reimbursed Ron for three months of Part B premiums, one of which was mine.

That means he’s been indirectly reimbursed for $525 of the $600 he paid in taxes for 2024 that was due to my programming fees.

Jett and I were up early today.

I planted the three zuke seeds from the library swap in a small mound at a corner of the expanded garden and bean seeds along the back edge. Watered today but hoping with all my heart for rain tomorrow.

I’m pretty sure the two hibiscus I planted last year are dead. Okay if so, they were attacked by something that ate the leaves to the veins and I don’t want to have to spray anything.

Frost-damaged roses on the driveway side have recovered on one side, but not on the other. Need to decide if I’m going to do more pruning.

Have been trying very hard to not uproot good flowers. Hoping the loosestrife and the native foxglove come back. Wanting to make room in the corner garden for the Astilbe I rescued.

Ordered a mosquito repelling device. Getting so we can’t stay outdoors for long. We did have our Scotch and Sodas on the deck this evening.

Don’t know what I did today except for some watering and some weeding. Played fetch with Jett for a short while.

I did start reading The Wager. Made a small pot of McCann’s oatmeal this morning to use it up. Leftover pasta and protein-heavy chickpeas for lunch.

Left a message for an excavating company in Pownal. Wrote to the credit union about a car loan.

Full Day; Coggins

Jett and I got up at quarter to eight! He ate and trumped. Sniffed around one of the hollies.

Ron in pain, forgot to take his meds yesterday.

I finally got ready to go to the Williamstown Food Pantry with Ron at around 11:30. Came home with everything on our list except yogurt: fantastic.

Finished folding laundry from last night including bed linens.

We went to Coggins to find out how much it would cost to buy the Corolla and end the lease early. They wasted our time figuring out what they’d give me in trade. They wanted me to take out a new lease, and that was a waste of time, too. I was furious: I’d dragged Ron and Jett up there, wasting an hour for no reason.

We stopped at the Apple Barn for ice cream, then at the state liquor store for Scotch. Picked up a book on hold at the library.

Watered and played fetch with Jett while Ron did a shop for groceries.

Didn’t do anything for supper. Ron and Jett did their walk. We watched “Moonstruck” after the news.

New Artwork, Gardening

Jett and I were up before seven so I did some watering after feeding him. Placed the soaker hose in the veg garden.

Later I set up the trellis, anchored it with big rocks, and planted Nasturtium seeds around it and on the perimeter of the big planter on the deck.

Bought a second painting from Moira. Watched a video from PBS about gay and lesbian elders attending their first prom and participated in a discussion, followed by an ice cream social, at Harper.

Changed the sheets. Did two loads of laundry.

Ron hung Moira’s new artwork; her paintings look great!

Made rotini for supper with sauce and sauteed mushrooms. Ron and Jett went for an hour and a half walk up the hill.

Found my little scissors, were in a drawer. Ron’s wallet is still missing.

Hacked

Ron’s computer was hacked either last night or this morning. This resulted in much anger, impatience and anxiety. He thinks it’s fixed, with Apple Support’s help. At their suggestion, he reported it to the Federal Trade Commission.

I did some database work for Remedy. Found several open source projects that might be worth borrowing from.

Bad Chinese for supper. At least it was not expensive.

Ron and Jett went for a walk around 7:30 or so.

Tomatoes

Soil is soaked from yesterday’s rain so I planted the Sweet 100 and Carbon tomatoes and the two remaining marigolds in the center garden. Planted the basil seedlings in the “herb garden” on the deck and the geranium in the big planter. Played toss and fetch with Jett.

We went to the library to celebrate the raising of the rainbow flag. Nice spread by our newest select board member and her mother.

Afterwards I attended a crochet teaching class but couldn’t figure it out. Hands were stiff, too.

Ron picked me up and I got to play with Jett. Shucked corn for supper.

Rain (It’s Saturday)

We seem to have ourselves a pattern, and fine by me.

One of the events I’d planned to attend was cancelled. It was in Pittsfield and I was relieved to not have to drive in a downpour.

I went to the Transfer Station twice, once with shredding this morning. It was pouring, but the intrepid folk with the shredding truck were there. They raised $405 for COA activities.

Went to the Farmer’s Market afterwards. Brought home two great cookies, a poorly developed seed geranium, a basil flat for the herb garden and a spindly Sweet 100 cherry tomato plant. Some will grow, I’m sure.

After lunch I went back to the Transfer Station with a load of recyclable paper.

Made a double portion of mac and cheese for lunch. We finished the asparagus.

Ron took Jett for a second walk. Ron’s been losing weight and doing a lot of walking!

Signed Ron up for reimbursement of Part B premiums. Started an autoship order for Jett’s Life’s Abundance.

Annuals

We attended a lunch with presentation on Medicare fraud at the senior center yesterday, then did a shop at Walmart.

I picked up a med and a few groceries. Ron helped me select about $30 worth of annuals for the deck planters. Gave them a good soaking.

Ron still hasn’t found his wallet.

Roofer came over to check out the garage. The roofer and I backed out the vehicles to the driveway so he could inspect the attic. Couldn’t find any leaks. We will see what happens in the next rainstorm, possibly tonight/tomorrow. Meanwhile, I swept the garage floor and located my scooter.

I picked up another $10 of annuals at Stop & Shop. Had enough with the Walmart purchases to plant three containers for the deck, including a hanger. Nothing fancy but cheerful and bright. Ron cleaned the deck of tree debris with the leaf blower.

We had lunch outside: steamed corn, asparagus, veg burgers. I stupidly left the grill on, thus wasting propane.

I’ve been bothered by the horrible way that the little peony in the front has been “corralled”. So, I pulled out wires and a stake and redid it. Ron insisted on helping. Started pulling out grasses next to the peony and found several daylilies in the process. Made me wonder if all those old tubers I pulled out were still good. I do not remember them from last year.

I emptied and refilled the dishwasher. Ron took Jett for a long walk up the hill. Jett came bounding up the stairs to see me when they got back.

Ron is pleased with the results of his composting in the rotating bin he put together! I have to admit, I’m pretty pleased as well. Will be good for the new vegetable garden.

Lilies are coming up in the new garden. Fingers crossed they make it to maturity.

Dropped off a 20 to Wild Soul River for their Mass. matching grant fundraiser.

Yardwork

Ron finished the back yard mowing and brought yard leavings to the transfer station. I raked, not much.

He did the front yesterday and it looks great. I raked clumps of grass last evening and emptied the lawn mower basket, which was crammed, this morning.

Yesterday I dug out a big rock after trying to anchor one of the tiki torches to be used to support future bean plants. Arms and legs hurt like the devil last night.

The boys and their Dad waved on their way to their Tuesday night games.

I put the Swiss chard seedlings in the garden this morning. Not expecting much, we’ll see. Watered the new iris plants. Hoses are working great!

Played ball with Jett. Yogurt and Ron’s rhubarb sauce for breakfast, salad and melba toast for lunch.

Fixed; Feeling Better; The Spruces

I found and corrected the error in SendGrid: an extra, misplaced body tag. Now the confirmation emails for BRC2 render correctly.

Did a very light prune of the uphill-side of the rhodie. Not nearly the amount of frost damage as on our side, fortunately.

Last evening, Ron cooked the rhubarb from the Farmer’s Market and it is delicious! Had some on toast for breakfast.

Jett woke us up at 8. I had stomach pains last night but am fine today. Ate a peanut butter and lettuce sandwich for supper: big mistake.

Ron is still haruffing. Me? I’m still coughing up phlegm but am feeling better; this thing, whatever it is, takes about two weeks to leave. Maybe it’s allergies, who knows?

Ron and Jett discovered The Spruces yesterday; he is ecstatic, eager to go back.

I’m trudging through “North Woods”. Intriguing, clever if not fast-paced.

Signed Jett up for Spot/Spotify pet insurance. Got a 15% discount through T-Mobile so opted for a little better coverage at a slightly lower monthly premium.

Ron is off to the transfer station. Lots of paper and cardboard this time.

Pizza for supper. Ron and Jett went for a long walk.