TheCapeBlog

Ron is doing the lawn. My big outdoor chore was to plant the new coneflower.

Spoke with a customer service rep at the Globe this morning (Saturday). Cancelled my online subscription and will receive a refund. He also removed my credit card info so I won’t be charged again.

I totaled the expenses for fixing the house: over $100,000, not including $10,000 in grants for vermiculite removal and insulation paid for by Mass Save.

This does not include the cost of moving.

This is for carpentry, plumbing, electrical, bulkhead stairs, roofing, windows, ductwork, arborists, the oil tank, the garage doors.

Someone told me the other day that he couldn’t afford to own a home in Williamstown.

Neither can we.

Ron made rhubarb sauce. I cooked a bunch of vegetables from the farm: celery, tomatoes, dragon beans, bok choy, garlic and a store-bought onion.

Too much to clean up.

Watched every night of the DNC convention and applauded many of the speeches. First rate production, each night was too long for my taste, although not Ron’s, he stuck with it.

Back and forth on repairing the truck but decided we’ll put the money into it.

This afternoon, we picked up soil for the planters and a coneflower at Home Depot in Bennington.

I dropped by Spring Street for the “End of Summer” event.

https://gardenerspath.com/plants/landscape-trees/black-walnut-juglone-toxicity

Tolerant Fruits and Vegetables

You’re safe to grow these around your black walnut tree:

• Beans
• Cherries
• Corn
• Melons
• Onions
• Quince
• Root vegetables (beets, carrots, parsnips)
• Squash
• Stone fruits (nectarines, peaches, plums)

Tolerant Flowers and Vines

The list of flowering plants that can handle being planted next to black walnut is rather long. Enjoy these blooming plants and vines without worry:

• Bee Balm
• Bleeding Heart
• Daffodil
• Chrysanthemum
• Crocus
• Hosta
• Iris
• Jack-in-the-Pulpit
• Jacob’s Ladder
• Jerusalem Artichoke
• Lamb’s Ear
• Morning Glory
• Pansy
• Pot Marigold
• Purple Coneflower
• Sunflower
• Tuberose
• Tulip
• Virginia Creeper
• Wild Grape
• Violet
• Yarrow
• Zinnia

$2000 to fix the truck.

Met with the cardiology doc and doing without the anti-cholesterol med this week to see if that eliminates or at least attenuates muscle aches.

Late for the writing group yesterday.

Little boys out and about after dark wanting to fetch their toys from our back yard.

Ron spotted a woodchuck eating long-ish grass in the back yard this morning: helpful rodent, very cute!

I cleared more of the bar area in the sunroom.

Posted give-away pics on Facebook.

Sent proposal to Greylock for a loan.

We returned to the Junction Cafe for cappucinos this morning.

Ron wanted wine at West’s and I found (finally) Metaxa7.

Brought home bakery from the AFrame, finished up just as three other cars pulled in.

Received an email that the cheapskates at Insight will not be sending our $300 until the end of the month. It was supposedly mailed last Friday: liars.

I spent part of the afternoon doing more cleaning and rearranging in the sunroom. Got the bar area cleaned; we put the windows in the attic. Ron worked on the shop vac.

Ron got a nice cheese lasagna; heated half of it, made a salad to go along with for supper.

May have found a wardrobe for the third bedroom.

We enjoyed the excerpt from Midsummer Night’s Dream presented by a troupe of Bennington players – an unexpected treat.

This followed a busy afternoon: pasta lunch at the Senior Center and an unplanned trip to Pittsfield to drop off new patient materials and a letter for Berkshire Housing.

We missed a visit from a roofer (caught up with him today to apologize).

Met with a banker to discuss debt consolidation. I’m holding off until rates come down.

We lost internet around noon. I stupidly confused the modem with the router and ended up calling Spectrum for help. Worked great after following the correct procedure to restart.

The big news is that Dale from Insight thoroughly inspected the garage roof and found no leaks. I joined him in the “attic” which didn’t have a damp odor at all and no water stains.

So, we have a mystery. Might be that the drain in the garage backed up. Very happy it’s not the solar panels.

Dale discovered that the truck is leaking and took a photo. I booked an appointment for next Tuesday and emailed the photo to Norm.

I had some errands: deposit check, pick up Dr. Donahue’s paperwork for my HMLP application and a free Pendleton Black Watch plaid robe in North Adams for Ron that needs a stitch.

Vacuumed the “solarium”. Made supper: fresh corn, leftover green beans, “chicken” patties. Good!

We enjoyed the tea, as always, and instead of sitting by ourselves, had an actual fun conversation about the arts with our writing group leader and her friend.

Later we filled in and spread mulch on the expanded garden area.

Constant criticism
Withholding affection as punishment
Blaming you for their problems
Ignoring your boundaries
Unpredictable emotional reactions
Gaslighting
Comparing you unfavorably to others
Excessive control
Lack of empathy for your feelings
Using guilt to control you
Making you the parent
Dismissing your achievements
Isolation from friends and family
Sarcasm and mockery
Threats and intimidation
Emotional blackmail
Neglecting your emotional needs
Projecting their issues onto you