TheCapeBlog

I bought onions, Ron bought cheese, an apple cider donut and jam.

I missed a 1 PM Zoom call that I’d been looking forward to. It was quarter to two by the time I thought of it and anyway, Zoom was being obstinate.

Speaking of obstinate, had an unpleasant encounter with a worker at Stop & Shop. Quick to judge and slow to apologize.

Started cleaning the tools. Got them washed or at least un-dirted. Ron offered to remove the rust before bleaching and oiling them and cut his hand in the process.

He was so upset that I drove him to the ER. They never treated him, he ranked last in triage, so I brought him home.

While he waited to be seen, I picked up a prescription at Walmart and did a light shop at Job Lot.

We stopped at Spirit for wine and enjoyed it with the cheese Ron picked up that morning at the Farmers Market.

Ron did a transfer station run with the last bag of leaves and also dropped off redeemables.

I didn’t clean the garden tools as planned: it was raw and wet outside, so I’m hoping it’ll be better tomorrow.

I did store the vegetables from the Food Pantry and the CSA and made a stew of Delicata squash, sweet and russet potatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, turnip and kale, seasoned with sage, oregano and parsley, and vegetable broth. It turned out well.

I also made a strawberry cheesecake from a box. That is good, too.

Ron covered for me. I was to meet a FB page administrator who kindly offered to bring mending to some tailors she knows in Pittsfield. She was bringing them a sewing machine and I asked if they’d give our items-to-be-repaired a try. I put labels on the damaged areas to guide them.

As it turns out, it was all Ron’s things since mine are so worn out, it’s not worth the cost to have them fixed.

I went to the Log lunch quite late but had paid in advance so I had no qualms about eating. The program was a series of films by ethnography students. Their subject was Williams College.

I finished leaf pickup between the driveway and the next door neighbor’s property.

We thoroughly enjoyed the concert of new percussion music and the Williams Brass Ensemble. Been quite the week for attending Williams College events.

Ron installed leaf guards in the front gutter and did a beer run.

I attended a lecture about AI as a code generator.

Splurged on a pizza from Ramunto.

Correspondence and conversation with Greylock loan officer.

Started with Williamstown Food Pantry. Saw our neighbor and her friend.

Went to Stop & Shop. Forgot the most important item, so went back later in the day.

The owner of a gutter company took measurements for installation next Spring.

Went to the writer’s group. Stiff after sitting for two hours.

Had a meeting with my banker to discuss loan consolidation.

Made an appointment at Carpinello’s to fix the exhaust leak in the truck.

Picked up produce at Wild Soul River.

Ron completed the back gutter work and cleaned the front gutter.

Ron found a hole in the closet floor that looks like the entry point for the mouse we saw yesterday. He is tackling the carpentry side of patching. Hoping the electrician will be here Friday afternoon to remove the live outlet so that can be patched as well.

Hoping for gutter measurements tomorrow for Spring installation.

Ron brought the 40+ plastic flower pots and other recyclables to the transfer station. He cut wood for the closet baseboard.

I pulled dead stems and roots out of the aster pots, finally.

Ron accomplished a major project yesterday that he’s been mulling over for at least a year. He cleared the rear garage gutter and installed the gutter guards we bought at Home Depot a couple of weeks ago. It looks great, but he is still fussing with it.

He plans to do the same to the front gutter tomorrow. Install and fuss afterwards.

I washed out dozens of flower pots that have accumulated since I started gardening here and plan to recycle them tomorrow. It was awful work, wet, cold and messy. It was mild enough – fifties – that I could work without a jacket, though, which made things easier.

I took a break partway through to make and eat a not very wonderful lunch: pasta with sauce and veg burgers. The sauce was bland. I added sugar and Italian seasoning to improve the leftovers.

This evening we saw a mouse in the living room and set out traps.

I’ve had run-ins everywhere due to “keeping proper place” issues. I like hearing other opinions and ideas if they are backed up intelligently. Apparently not everyone feels the same way. Especially those who are “in authority”, either official or implied.

I also don’t like to be ordered around by dictators, appointed or otherwise. I’m loyal to a fault to a boss or manager I respect, but lose my respect or fail to gain it, don’t expect the same.

Ron had another accident this morning.

Our traps caught a second mouse in the cellar.

Huge electric bill this last cycle. Space heaters?

Checked in with next door as requested; they are fine.

Ron made pancakes for lunch. We had cheese and sweet and sour cabbage sandwiches for supper. Not a culinary highlight.

I’ve done not much but fulminate today. Returned borrowed items to the library and briefly attended a perfectly awful concert at Williams College.

We dug up a large rock next to the rear shed. It was fun.

Set up four new traps, three in the cellar, one in the garage and two old ones in the kitchen. Already caught a mouse in the cellar.

Ron started work on the gutters.

I cleaned up some loose driveway material in the street. Tried removing leaves from the front gutter but it was too painful and I hurt for most of the day afterwards.

Boys came over to use the driveway. Gave them grapes for a snack. Looked for a fishing net for them, didn’t find one.

Made a “scramble” for lunch with leftovers: greens, corn, black and refried beans, tomato and enchilada sauces, cheese. Enough for at least three meals, so froze most of it. Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for supper.

Tried to watch “The Big Lebowski”. It helped to “chill” for a while, feeling much better.

I planted 25 daff bulbs yesterday in the corner and center gardens. Measured, cut and installed wire cloth in the center garden.

Ron did a massive cleanup of fence detritus. I helped by raking. He started mowing up the last leaves, hoped to finish this afternoon. Unfortunately, the lawnmower didn’t start. So, we ended up raking the rest. It went fast. We topped off a bag.

Meanwhile, I’ve been going over our finances for the next 5 days. A break: homeowners premiums aren’t due until December. We did take a break from house stuff, went to the Log Lunch and heard a presentation by a Mass. Dept. of Agriculture person.

I’m thinking about ordering gutters for the rest of the house before the tariffs kick in. We might get an estimate next week.