Shoemaker's Children

Before drifting off to sleep last night, my last thought was of "The Shoemaker's Children" a folk tale, fable or whatever.  It was about the shoemaker who was so busy making shoes for the king and queen that his own children went barefoot.  And I had a vague thought of myself, rolling garden hoses all day at work into perfect circles of neatness and my own hoses tangled and messy in my garden at home.

And that, dear readers, is very wrong.  Why am I a better custodian of things at work than I am at home? Yesterday, I carefully (thoughtfully) pruned, root pruned and repotted two very aged geraniums for a customer.  My own geraniums are out on the sunporch.  Neglected.  No thoughtful care given to their needs or wants.  I don't have a dedicated potting bench at home where I can be messy, and a garbage can alongside for the messy bits to be swept.  Making a dirty mess in the house isn't fun.  The garage is packed. The shed too small.  Excuses. Excuses. Excuses.

I awoke this morning with a plan of action (roll my garden hose in a perfect circle).  I'm still sitting here not doing anything.  Well, I did search my magazine picture files for a picture of shoes.  Riley is going in and out and wanting me to be doing the same, with him.  He probably wants a walk.  I have more dirt to distribute in the garden beds and roses to plant.  And perennials to dig out of the planter containers and set into the garden beds.  And violets to pull out and compost.  And Iris to cut back.  The sun is shining.  It's warming up.  A good outdoor garden day.  The maples are all orange and yellow. Pretty.

Once I get started, I can keep going until exhausted.  I just need to start.

Breakfast With Joanne

I got up and dressed for work, only to find it was only 8:19.  Now it's  9:18.  And I don't leave for work until 11.  It's 40 degrees outside and I don't feel like "gardening" out there right now.  Riley went out to bark at the garbage collectors and then wanted to come back inside as he also thinks it's too cold.

I fell asleep during DWTS last night and gave up and went to bed at 10 pm.  I have no idea why I am so tired at night but it may be the changing seasons and the light.  I spend so much time outdoors (at work) that my body is probably attuned to the rhythms of nature.  And it is probably why I am craving carbs.  Packing on the fat to keep me warm through the winter months.  On that note: I managed to pack my fat butt into a pair of last year's work pants.  Zipping was a challenge.  Keeping my undies in place is another. But I am real happy to be wearing actual cold weather pants and not thin summer weight ones.  The sun is shining right now but it will be dark outside when I drive home tonight.

While out in the garden yesterday, tending to the compost pile, I tried a leaf of Swiss chard, again.  And then picked a handful to see if it tastes different cooked.  It does.  I added onion, olive oil and less than the required amount of garlic.  I stir fried the onion and chard stems first and then added the leaves, cut into ribbons.  It was tastier.  And a good source of iron and vitamin K (also very bright red stems and pretty leaves) so I will be picking more and eating it. If I was the sort of person who ate grilled chicken, I could imagine the stir fried chard being a very tasty addition to each fork full of chicken.  Perhaps I can grill a piece of chicken in the panini press until it's crispy and well done and then eat it with some more chard?  Crazy.

I am driving G's pick up truck to work today.  When we first bought it, I drove it to work everyday. Hauling all sorts of stuff to and from work.  Today I will be hauling bags of dirt and a winterberry shrub (Winter Red) and it's pollinator "Southern Gentleman".  The "gentleman" sets berries on the female plant and doesn't even bother to try looking attractive.  Most gardeners try and put the pollinators behind other plants so it can't be seen.  But no "gentleman"--- no berries.  This is another "wet feet" shrub for the vernal pond area over on the western side of the yard, otherwise known as the "swampy place where Riley does his business".  I bought a well worn (on deep discount) pussy willow for that area last month.  A real trooper (Zone 2) and it has the potential to grow to 20 feet tall.  The willow joined a river birch and a blackberry bramble. This area is full of water in the spring and then dries up the remainder of the year but is still damp enough to produce tons of mosquitos.  Which are still out there biting me.

I had to pick up and carry three huge red twig dogwoods for a customer yesterday and I think they might look good out there in my swamp also.  The red twigs poking out of snow cover all winter.  We keep getting new product in the Nursery and it is tempting to bring stuff home for the garden. Digging them in is another story. Yes.  I pick up large potted shrubs and trees and carry them inside or to cars for women the same size as I am.  I even carry them for guys.  Because they don't want to get dirty. I have a great deal more upper body strength than I had three years ago.

Tonight I hope that Bristol the Pistol is sent home or The Situation on DWTS.  I am so happy that Bruno has decided to give people a real honest evaluation.  He said "that was terrible" last night.  And the judges gave out 4's.  That's really low.  The Situation got 12 points out of 30 for his lame "dance".  He stood in one place and waved his arms. He must have been channeling Hasselhof who stood in one place and flexed his knees (oh, so not sexy).  Jennifer Grey was fantastic.  And she's 50.  29 points.  I hope I can stay awake.

Daily Journal Page

After dinner each night or sometimes in the afternoon on days I have off, I write or draw or paste interesting pictures into my journal.  I try to write things there that have no "place" in the blog posts. Boring, repetitive stuff; personal things and whining.  And the pictures on the left side pages sometimes evoke their own statements on the right hand pages.  Like today's sunflowers and blue skies.  In the picture and in reality.  A gorgeous day.

I planted the Sweet William in the failed "moon" garden area.  The moon never shined there.  And planted a few of the other dianthus I had in a planter out by the front steps.  I also, finally, recognized that the tiny plants pushing and shoving to cover the ground in the side bed, were actually ALL violets.  I pulled them out and added them to the compost as they had no seed heads.  No worries as I always have more violets than I want.  Tomorrow I will pull out more.  Why has it taken me so many weeks to discover that I could garden productively for 30 minutes after work on my 8 to 3 days?  I'm already dirty.

DWTS.  And then I may TiVo Hawaii 50 for a second time to see if it still stinks.  Or not.  I will be going to bed early.

Corners Of My Home

The Couch.  Where we attempt to watch television each evening after work.  We sometimes turn off the television and read.  Much more successful at staying awake if we read.  The content is better able to hold our attention.  I switched the slipcovers while G vacuumed.  The white is now in the laundry pile and the denim is having it's season.  I faux painted those walls myself.  In a flurry of decorating enthusiasm that has never occurred again.

The AC unit has been removed and taken up to the attic storage space.  I have all the windows closed but refuse to turn on the heat.  All my potted plants are now inside the house.  Can Winter be far away?  I still have things to get into the ground.  I don't think it hit 32 last night as the plants in my boxes still look very good.  Scabiosa is blooming and the other things look very healthy.

I have the freezer filled with "on sale"chicken breasts to be made into Chicken Marsala, Parmesan Chicken Cutlets and grilled lemon garlic chicken.  And I purchased the first of many roasted deli turkey breast halves for dinner.  I have sweet potatoes roasting in the oven and the stuffing and gravy packets on the countertop waiting.  We are having a faux "thanksgiving dinner".  We have this meal three to six times before Thanksgiving Day.  It really is easy and delicious.  Sweet potatoes one time, mashed another.  The green vegetable will be broccoli tonight.  I am also making either Bean & Escarole or Kale & Tomato soup to have for lunch this week.  I had the last of the fruit and yogurt lunches yesterday.

I'm finishing up my third or fourth load of laundry (dog towels) and then have to do the bed sheets and iron shirts.  And find pants to wear to work.  I have been eating pretty steadily for 24 hours now--so have eaten my way out of nearly all my pants. Something is bothering me.  I can't figure out what. I eat when I feel overwhelmed or anxious.  Geez louise.  It could be anything at this point.

Remember I mentioned buying new underpants?  Two identical packages.  The same size.  The same brand.  And one set of six fits and one set of six is snug.  If I had purchased only one package would I have ended up with the set that fits or the smaller ones?  There was a third package at the store.  Do you think that set would have been too big?

Let The Good Ball Roll

Riley has a ball.  It can be filled with treats.  When you roll the ball (or chew on it) the treats fall out of the ball.  It is all very random.  Like life.   Change the name to Joanne and the ball to job.  I had a great day at work. The "treats" were random and very fine indeed.  We have some lovely customers and employees.

We had to carry all the mums into the store for the night as the first frost of winter 2010 may come tonight or tomorrow night.  It is getting dark sooner.  I can wear layers.  Wool socks with Crocs.  (Still haven't gotten any coupons for free shoes, no matter how many times I talk about loving my Crocs).  Red ones would be very welcome.

G is in charge of dinner tonight.  And filling my car with gas (which has gone up in price).  Take out or a restaurant and I don't feel like sitting in a crowded restaurant, with bad service that I have to pay 20% to enjoy.  So it's going to be meatball subs and french fries.

I'm going to take a shower while the boys go pick up food and fill the car up.  Riley is ready to go.

Autumn Leaves Falling

I found this lovely Maple leaf while waiting for Riley to finish emptying his bladder after doggie day care. The paper under the leaf is from a vintage Selvages publication I found at last summer's book sale.  I am very much going to paint some fabric with those oval leaf shapes.

My day at work.  I decided to be happy about going to work today.  And I had a good day.  I will decide to be happy again tomorrow.  I don't know why this works, but it does.

The rice cooker is thumping and bubbling away as I type.  G will be having my leftover sweet and sour chicken and I will be having either the ratatouille or the vegan chili.  I could be having slices of potato bread from Wild Oats but G didn't think to buy a loaf of bread.  So I'll have rice.  I wish my Chinese take out place would make Sweet and Sour Crispy Tofu.  I really do not like chicken.  I would also like Cashew Crispy Tofu.  I have asked and they question my sanity.  Why you want that????? No.

The rice is nearly done.  Then I will place a cotton dish towel over the top of the cooker and put the lid back on.  It makes the rice a bit drier and stickier.  The way we like it.

I'm tired.  Sleepy from my hot shower.  I just want to eat dinner and climb over the dog (to get to my place on the couch) and either read or watch tv until I fall asleep.

Etwas Neue

I had lunch with a dear friend today.  But before lunch, I dropped Rileyman off at day care and then did some shopping at TJ Maxx.  This little Polish pepper shaker came home with me.  $4.99 of happiness.

We are in the midst of a cold, cloudy and rainy day.  Yesterday was humid, clammy and disturbing.  Riley was behaving in a very irregular way after 2 pm.  Hallucinating almost.  He became more irratic as the day wore on and tried to jump on the couch for the first time in 3.5 years and even tried to climb into bed with me at bedtime, also for the first time in 3.5 years.  This morning, in a half sleep, I wondered if he had eaten a mushroom while out in the yard.  So, I climbed out of bed, pulled on a sweatshirt, socks and shoes and a garden glove and Riley and I went out in the front and back yards to collect every single mushroom we could find.  I found a grocery bag full.  I am not sure how many of them are bad but I would think, far more than are good.  Don't be worried.  Riley seemed more normal this morning and responded to commands.  His pupils are still dilated though.

My friend and I discussed (at lunch) wanting something and then actually getting it.  We are both competitive and sometimes want things that will only, eventually, make us unhappy.  I spoke about the small, but joyful, few moments each work day when I am talking to and educating a customer on the care and well being of their plant(s).  And the remainder of the day being not very joyful at all.  Why do I want to continue working? Is that fleeting momentary joy worth all the boredom and drudgery?  Is that the way everyone's work is? I also wonder why I wanted to be full time?  I return to work tomorrow.

The red bean chili (no meat) that I made yesterday is delicious.  I forgot the carrot.  The carrot adds a sweetness which is the missing element.  I plan to cube some carrots and simmer them in water and add a spoon or two to each freezer container of chili before freezing them.  I will take a container to work on Saturday with a piece of good bread.

I tried on pants from my closet for the transition to fall/winter.  Only one pair of pants fit comfortably.  Thank goodness the size 20 pants are still too loose and baggy to wear.  I must limit the amount of food I eat in order to have pants to wear to work.  This is exactly the problem I had last January.  Eight weeks of the diet and I could wear my regular pants comfortably.  Here I am, in October, at the same place.  Today at lunch, I didn't have the side of pasta and skipped wine with lunch.  I did have half a dessert.  No breakfast before.  I have to cut each serving of food (except for vegetables and salads) in half.  Learn to eat less, less often.  I have been comforting myself with food lately.

I went into spring and summer with only one pair of cropped pants and one pair of shorts.  For other occasions I have Flax linen pants that always fit, no matter what.  And for some reason, my pajamas always fit.  So, I can go into Fall with one pair of jeans (if I don't try to bend or sit down) and the old standby green cords that I wore the week my dad died.  2008.  When I was much thinner.  Magical pants that always fit.  The new pants I bought for work in the spring, are too snug for work.  And my dog walking pants are all too snug to be comfortable for 3 mile walks in the cold, snowy days of winter.  Baggy is warmer.

And I bought a dozen new pairs of underpants yesterday.  In the same size.  More incentive to be thinner and more comfortable.  My own worst enemy.  Food is my comfort.  The only thing I could always depend on.  I have to learn to depend on something else to comfort me.

Scrap Bucket

Yes, dear readers, this is where I keep the bits and pieces of my collage work.  The scrap bucket.  There is also a scrap basket and a recycled salad container full of pens, pencils and glue stick.  I usually work on the collage journal after dinner but before the 8 pm television shows begin.  If I had scraps of fabric, thread and beads and buttons in containers, I would be making fabric collage.  And now that I think about it (thank you) I may switch over to fabric.  Easy enough to take the paper scrap bucket to the workspace and bring out the fabric scrap basket.  I can even bring out a few precut pieces of white felt for backing.  I also have the applique circles to attach to the backing squares.  My "French" project.  Haven't worked on that since returning from Georgia last fall.

Yesterday.  The entire day was spent making three separate batches of grape jelly.  Twenty one jars of various sizes.  Water bath canning.  Lots of dish washing.  But the day went by so quickly.  The days at work are endless and my days at home go by so fast.

I found G's keys.  I started with the recycling container and emptied it to see if the keys had fallen in there when he was in the garage doing the dog food.  My second stop was the return deposit bin and last, ugh, would have been the stinky garbage can.  Luckily, I found the keys halfway down in the returned cans/bottles container.  Then G lost them again.  Oh.  Finally, the keys were found again and put into their rightful hook by the door.

G got home late again.  He leaves the house at 5 am and returns at 5 pm.  Not a good situation for a man with one working lung.  I think he fell asleep watching DWTS.  I was working on my journal and reading a book on "getting older in the garden".  About having to make decisions in the garden based on what you can no longer do.  Downsizing from a large perennial garden to more shrubs and less flowers. Getting rid of things that require a good bit of maintenance to things that take care of themselves 80% of the time.  I have been jotting things down in my journal.  I think this would be a good class offering at work.  Downsizing.

Our water bill arrived.  We must have really watered the garden this summer.  Double the usual amount. And the semi annual property tax bill, with a $200 increase yet again.  I have to add writing checks to the "to do" list for today.  Iron G's work shirts, plant some things where the moon garden was, make chili (using the bell peppers from the garden before frost kills them) and it would be nice to include something just for me to the list.  What could it be?  And Riley wants to go for a long walk before it rains.  My day.

One of Riley's dog friends was by the back door again last night.  Wanting him to come out to play.  While I think this visiting is kind of sweet, I worry about this dog running loose and crossing a well traveled and dark street to get here.  I think about finding his dead body along the roadside one morning.  The dog has street smarts and stays one step or two in front of the Animal Control officer who is trying to catch him. His "people" live in the posher houses across the way.  The entire family seems stoned or mentally lacking.  The dog never stays long enough for us to call AC or to catch him.  Street Smart. Riley really likes the dog.  Sort of a burley "tough guy".  Older and meaner than our sweet Riley.

The organic red kidney beans are bubbling away on the stove top.  I didn't pre soak.  G left me a multi grain bagel for breakfast (he might not like multi grain) because I washed and nicely folded three shirts for a returning employee.   I didn't iron them but I did button all the buttons.  He probably thought I forgot and was pleasantly surprised to see the pile of clean shirts by his placemat.  I did the folding and buttoning at midnight while watching the Good Wife from last week.  Time to do something productive.  And have some cereal.

Getting Ready To Make Jelly

I have handwashed the jars and will boil them in the canning kettle while making the jelly.  The juice has been waiting patiently in the fridge for me to get "my act together".  I remember from the last time, with a rambunctious puppy in the kitchen, that things go very slowly and then there is a great deal of "hurry up".  It is also very messy.  Sugary messes are difficult to clean off the hot stove top.  I want to do a proper job this time and have jelled jelly.  The first time the jelly was perfect.  The second, not so good.  Or it could be the other way round.  One set of jelly was a bit runny in the jar.  Still tasty but not thick enough.

Yesterday we got one rose planted, some things cleared out of the garden.  Kale still tastes delicious to me and Chard still tastes like dirt.  Such a beautiful crop and I don't think I will be eating it.  Friends recommend steaming or quick frying it with tons of garlic.  I don't eat garlic because it makes the people who do eat it, stink.  It streams forth from your skin pores.  Polluting the spaces around me when "these people" stand anywhere near me.  I always wish I had a gas mask to wear.  So, no heavily seasoned garlic chard.  Which probably tastes like garlic dirt anyway.  I would hate to smell like that.

I also spent quite a bit of time raking big fat acorns off a small section of the front lawn.  And the driveway.  G swept the piles together and loaded up the garden cart.  We dumped them along the side of the driveway, in a small ditch.  Where they will sprout into a thousand little oak trees.  I have a garden bed selected to weed this afternoon.  After jelly.  And more acorns to rake out front.

I was reading a blog that was discussing the value of the way you spend your time.  Is what you do worth the time you spend doing it?  I can honestly say that I do good things at my job for one, possibly two hours, out of an entire work day.  The rest of the time is spent standing around doing nothing of value. I think there are things I could possibly find to do (like tidying up plants) and I do that to some degree, but usually I get interrupted and then forget to go back to the task.  If I stopped working I would miss those few bits of time well spent but not the remainder.  It doesn't seem like a good enough reason to work there.  Already, I am dreading my return to work on Thursday.

G has misplaced the Jeep keys and we haven't been lucky enough to find them yet.  They are here at home, I hope.  He drove home.  But he did walk the dog in the woods and could have had then tucked into a pocket and they could have fallen out along the walk.  House key included.  Last time he lost something, it was the checkbook and I found it under the ironing board.  Don't ask.  He also noticed a tree in the yard and wondered where it came from.  He bought and planted the tree a few years ago, which is what I told him.  Refuses to believe me.

On a more positive note, the ornamental grass we dug out of the perennial bed, because it was spreading everywhere, and threw out into the woods?  It is now colonizing the woods and looks quite charming out there.  Far away from the perennial bed.  I mentioned to G that the remainder of the overgrown Iris side of the bed would also be a charming addition to the woods.  Perhaps the chunks of Iris can also be thrown out into the woods to plant themselves??  I tossed Sweet Annie out into the back meadow to do what it wants out there and not in my vegetable garden.  The tall plants are full of seeds. G also hopes to run the rototiller out along the edges of the cut lawn and sprinkle wild flowers seeds.  But first he needs to find the Jeep keys.

And I need to go haul the canning kettle into the house and fill it with water and boil the jars and start measuring juice, pectin and sugar.  And hope I have enough lids.

Joanne & Riley

This morning's portrait.  Riley thinks it's warmer under the table.  G suggested breakfast at the Freeport Cafe on this chilly (53 degree) morning.  A large number of other people decided to have breakfast there also.  We had a table on the porch so it wasn't as warm as I would have liked.  Riley & G have gone out for their walk in the woods, followed by mowing the remainder of the front grass, taking the mower to our daughter's house, discharging the battery on my digital camera, and planting a rose bush.

My list includes laundry, making jelly, working in one of the weedy garden beds, cleaning house, washing floors and changing the couch slipcovers and then washing the white ones (I may take them to the laundromat tomorrow so I can use one of the giant machines).  I asked for and received four days in a row off of work.  Today thru Wednesday my regular day off.  G is wondering if I will actually go back on Thursday.  I am wondering also.  I have overdue books to read--quickly.  Last night I couldn't concentrate to read or even watch television.  I was that tired.

My Bulb Planting class had 19 people in attendance.  And my boss sent the 88 year old guy down to "help" me teach the class.  This guy "talks off the cuff" and off topic and was annoying, but I let him interrupt because, if you remember, I did the same to the Composting teacher last week.  Teaches me a lesson.  At the end, Ed wanted to tell them all about the Crusades and how returning soldiers brought bulbs home as souvenirs and about why the Dutch grow bulbs and we don't.  This is the way Ed taught the bulb class for years.  And he likes to suggest castor oil and red pepper powder for bulb planting.  Thank goodness he did all this after I was finished and the class could stand up and depart.  They did buy lots of bulbs.  And, really, that is the ONLY reason we have the classes.  I suggested super phosphate and gypsum but we didn't have either product in the store, which was poor planning by the boss.  I don't think he remembers to make a fertilizer order when we get low or else the company warehouse has no more to send.  We could have sold a number of bags of gypsum.

I covered bulb planting (daffodils, tulips etc), paperwhite forcing for Christmas,  Amaryllis rebloom for a second year and the time to pot for Christmas bloom,  digging up the summer bulbs and the way to store them (dahlias, glads and some lilies), and the bringing into the house or garage of tender bulbs like Agapanthus, clivia, canna.  I covered a lot of territory.  I saw people scribbling notes on their handouts.

I brought home the class sample of potted paperwhites and my own repotted amaryllis.  The clothes dryer is beeping.  Gotta go.

When Is It Going To Rain?

The humidity is so high that the sugar jar lid was stuck to the jar and the sugar to the sugar spoon.  My desk top calendar is damp and the mouse is having trouble moving around.  I don't even want to contemplate how disgusting it will be at work today.  This is compounded by the fact that I hit myself in the face with the wire garden gate and I think my glasses are slightly akimbo.  With trifocals, slightly, is huge.

We had high winds all night and Riley is outside surveying the junk on the lawn.  Fresh smells.  Riley is becoming more and more noisy as the summer has progressed.  The dog who never barked, now barks too often.  The dog who was complacent now has an agenda.  Perhaps this is a natural growth pattern for dogs moving from 3 to 4 years old.  More interesting, is the list of words and phrases he can understand.  I don't give commands.  I say "we're done here" and he moves on. Unless he doesn't want to. Then Riley stares and lets us know that he isn't going anywhere.  But that only lasts until we give him a sign of disapproval (a raised eyebrow).  Then he moves.  Head down and big drama.

I made the ratatouille and it was very good.  The whole wheat pasta was not very good and I won't be making that again.  You would have to add tons of cheese to it to even be able to enjoying eating it.  So we now have BBQ pork and ratatouille as leftovers for tonight and tomorrow.  I can relax about cooking and concentrate on prepping for the bulb planting class tomorrow.   And I think I will ask for Monday and Tuesday off so I can get things done around here.  A nice, little 4 day vacation every month.  I don't think my boss has worked on next week's schedule yet.  We'll see.

It's 10:30 and I need to get dressed and make my lunch and got to work.  Riley and G are staying home together and "doing guy things".  Sounds like napping to me.

Ratatouille Tonight

I followed the step by step directions in Everyday Food for an autumnal vegetable stew.  I had everything in my garden except for an eggplant and 2 onions.  Riley and I had to go out to pick peppers   (2 red and one green) and then make a second trip to see if we had a few tiny zucchini to add to the medium one I had on the kitchen counter.  Riley noticed the raspberries were ripe.  I noticed the yellow jackets sitting on the raspberries. We made a quick departure. My ratatouille is simmering gently as I write to you.  I think I will serve some of it over whole wheat pasta for my "dining alone" evening.  G is doing EOM paperwork and inventory. I also have a big pile of beets roasting in the oven.

I SO didn't want to go into work today but it's good I did.  I had the key and needed to unlock the door and unarm the security alarm for the 15 year old cashier.  It was just the two of us.  And later a third and fourth person arrived and that is when I could have made my planned exit, but G had appointments (his day off) and then wanted to take a nap.  So, I stayed.  It wasn't bad.  And I learned several new things while helping customers, which is always fun.  I stayed in the perennial yard as much as possible.  Alone. Tomorrow is payday. That will be a good thing.

I got to catch up on Mad Men and Rubicon yesterday.  Both episodes were very good.  I also made it to the library to drop off and pick up books.  The grocery was a trial.  The shelves were not stocked and a number of items I wanted and needed were "out".  Our grocery is part of a huge chain but our particular store is very small, with limited items.  Mostly limited in the items I want.  I did return the bottle of Balsamic vinegar I bought last week.  I had opened and tasted it and it was terrible.  Later, G and I watched House and then Survivor.  Another show where all the "games" had been played by 8:20 and the remainder of the hour was spent listening to ridiculous chatting.  Totally stupid.  Law&Order LA was okay but not as good as the original.  I TiVo'ed Whole Truth and will watch that later tonight.  I've decided not to watch any more episodes of Raising Hope.  I just don't care for the half hour "comedies" (?). Mainly because they aren't funny.

I think I will go and take a hot shower (using every bit of the hot water) and then watch the evening news and read some of the catalogs we got in the mail today.  Then eat, if I am hungry.  Before I shower I better feed Riley his dinner.  I know he's hungry.

September Ends

Yesterday was a transitional day at work.  One season ending and another beginning.  I continue to downsize the perennial yard in anticipation of the outdoor planting season's end.  We drained the water "pond" (actually a lined container, 4 feet by 8 feet) and scooped, by hand, all the soggy, slimey plant life. Another disgusting job.  Will my boss ever lack for disgusting jobs for us?  The 6000#'s of pumpkins had to be hand carried from the delivery truck to the small, medium and large piles out in the parking lot.  And two tables in the greenhouse were reassembled into the "Christmas Room".  This is where the State of Maine wreaths and the cemetery Holiday Boxes will made.  Could the Poinsettias be far behind?  All employees received new fleece hooded company sweatshirt jackets yesterday.

My status as "outsider" was more firmly established as I accidentally overheard plans being made for a Sunday farewell drinks party for my greenhouse co-worker.  Not invited.  And I also overheard plans for a baby shower being discussed for another coworker.  I am old enough to be the mother and/or grandmother to most of the employees.  Not someone they want to "party" with.  And they don't feel bad about excluding me. I don't think they even think about how I might feel being left out. Or it could be that they just don't like me enough to spend time with me off the clock.  I am not too concerned as I don't think I would actually attend either event. But.  Everyone likes to be included.

I got my wish yesterday and Michael Bolton was removed from DWTS.  Survivor tonight.  I am doing laundry, visiting the grocery store, library, walking dog and going out to the veg garden to work in the compost bins and tidy up the cabbage, kale and chard beds.  I hope I have some time to watch Mad men so I can read the NYT's Arts Beat on Mad Men.  I usually do that on Monday afternoon after work.  Oh, I love the comments.That's how far behind I am this week already.  And I haven't watched Rubicon or Fringe.  I found out yesterday that I am the teacher for the Bulb Planting class on Saturday so I have to do prep work for that.  I did set up the class seating so the people won't have the 10am sun in their eyes this week.  I'm not sure my boss was happy about me being the teacher.  Can I make it until December 24th?

Crock pot is full of BBQ'ed pulled pork.  I have to make jelly today.  I need to pick over the peaches and remove any that are spoiling.  I plan to eat them with yogurt for lunches Thursday to Saturday as a farewell to summer.  I also plan to make a Ratatouille today with all the veg on the counter plus a can of artichoke hearts.  Too busy for a day off and I didn't sleep well.  Dreamt of an unhappy marriage, not mine, but still, it left bad feelings in my head.  I wonder where that dream came from?

Making Grape Jelly

Sunday G & I visited my friend P and we picked Concord grapes off the vines P has growing over her deck.  G had helped her a few years ago to build the grape arbor the grapes started growing on.  Later, another handy person built the structure over the deck so P could get some shade and privacy.  P thought she didn't have many grapes.  We picked two full peck baskets.

Sunday evening I picked grapes off of stems until I had 40 cups of grapes.  I added 2.5 cups water and crushed and brought the grapes to a boil and then a slow boil to release juices for 10 minutes.  Then I poured grape slush into the jelly bag and let it drip into a restaurant grade container.  I had 4.5 liters of juice.  I had to let it sit 24 hours to form the tartrate crystals that are very bad for dogs and people.  Then it went through the jelly bag again.  I am a messy person.  There is grape juice all over everything.  My shirt, the sleeves of white long sleeve tees, my socks (stepping into juice).  The stove, floor and sink.

I now have the strained juice in the fridge and plan on making 2 batches of grape jelly tomorrow.  I have more grapes but I am realistic as to how much jelly we actually need.  And, even though it sounds good, I won't be making a grape pie.  Blue teeth.

I wore two sweatshirts at work yesterday.  And it was near 90 in the greenhouse Saturday.  The weather here is very, very strange.  Today is overcast, might rain and in the 60's.  I have layers on so I can remove or add clothing as the day progresses.  I have nothing to pack for my lunch.  Last night at 7, G made a turkey/swiss panini and ate most of a bag of chips.  I had Kraft mac and cheese.  No butter, soy milk.  DWTS was okay but I hope Michael Bolton goes home tonight.  I know DWTS paid a lot of $$$$ for Bolton and Hasselhof but they made a huge mistake.  And Brandi can go home next.  I hope her fans pay attention to her ugly personality.  A big smile and nasty inside.  I fell asleep before Palin danced, but loved that the audience booed her mom.  The host tried to pretend that the audience booed the dance judges, but really?  They were setting up the in audience for the interview with Palin.  Loved it.  She was all "hockey mom".  And that's why Bristol is on the show.  So Sarah can be in the audience on one of the most watched shows on Monday night to get publicity.   I'm wondering where Joel Grey is?  And the Brady Bunch.

Today I am scheduled to be working out with the shrubs and trees all day.  Still being punished for some misdemeanor.  I am packing a big Thermos of coffee.  I plan to rake and straighten and enjoy my peace and quiet.  It rained so I don't need to water the trees.  I am also leaving a bit before 6 to pick up Riley.  G has meetings, orientation and other business at work.  He is struggling with staffing for the first time in this location.  We are having staffing issues at the greenhouse also.  I guess the "bad times" are over and everyone can walk away from the jobs they have and go look for something else?  In October?  Hello!

Thank you all for the comments.  G and I were saddened by Danny's death, but it was quick (he fell off a roof where he was working).  One minute he was up on the roof in the sunshine (I hope) and the next he was in Heaven.

Danny's Handy Wagon

This guy, Danny, came into my life when I needed him most.  My dad had died.  I was grieving and still needed to clean out the house in Ohio and get back to Maine as soon as I could.  G & I were struggling.  A few friends of my dad's asked for his desk and I said yes and set to cleaning it out. The desk was being picked up in the Handy Wagon.  We very quickly met Danny and that was it.

Later that evening he called to offer his help to us.  I asked what he charged per hour and he said he wouldn't charge us anything.  We looked like we needed help.  And he arrived early the next morning (and every morning after that), at about the same time as the 4 cubic yard dumpster.  He and G set to work unloading the garage and the back porch/sunroom.  I started in the kitchen and worked thru the living room and into the bedrooms.  I would step out of bed in the early morning, pull on one of my dad's shirts and start working.  No breakfast. No hair combing.  Add to this two dogs, my dad's, who were scared and defensive.

Danny worked.  I thought at the time, and continue to, think God sent Danny to us that day and for the next year, to help me through one of the most difficult times of my life.  After we left for Maine, Danny agreed to watch the house in exchange for tools and things men like from my dad's basement.  He checked the house, shoveled snow and arranged to have the grass cut.  Replaced the sump pump.

He asked for my dad's clothes for his missionary work with American Indians out west.  I gave him my dad's Scooter and the stair "elevator" for his church.  I gave him the guest room bedroom furniture for his son.  He called me every two weeks, after church, to let me know everything was good at the now vacant house.  In June, we met again, and his wife picked me up at the airport and drove me to my dad's house.  We put the house up for sale.  When it didn't look like it would sell, we prayed together.  And an offer came in a few weeks.  I don't pray.  But I did with Danny, long distance.  My dad's house sold in September of 2009 and I heard from Danny one more time.  He asked for the remaining workshop tools and asked if he could have the money from the sale of a small trailer for his missionary trip in October.  I said yes.  That was the last time we spoke.

Today a letter arrived from Danny's Handy Wagon.  I thought perhaps he needed another donation for his October missionary trip.  But, it was a letter telling me that Danny had passed away on September 13th.  Danny thought of his handy man work, as God's work.  And he helped people who needed the kind of help he could provide.  I will always remember this kind  man.  His gentle smile.  His sweet humor.  I will try and be like Danny, in his memory.

Working Under Water

Last night, I spent a great deal of my dreaming time, under water.  I was working.  Repotting huge overgrown indoor plants.  All dark, knotted stems.  In deep water.  I am normally terrified of water. Hugely frightened of drowning.  But I was under water, calm and diligently working on my projects.  I did some internet searches on "dream interpretation" and this all seems like a good dream to have. If you dream about your present job (repotting plants), then that is a positive sign that things are good at work (????). Underwater means I am seeking "comfort" in my work.  I did wake up rested and calm.

I finished reading Reichs' new book Spider Bones.  The current books are mere shadows of her first three books.  Such a waste of good writing talent.  And her television show STINKS.  Now I am moving on to Martin Cruz Smith and his newest Arkady Renko novel.  Nothing like a depressed Russian detective to bring cheer to my life, even if the print looks pretty large, meaning it's more short story than novel. G is just about ready to move on from the LaHaye Left Behind Series.  G is ignoring the religious aspect and enjoying the action parts.  He is stopping at six installments as he had no idea this went on forever.  It has kept him busy.

We are invited over to P's farmette to pick Concord grapes and peaches today.  And she wants to feed us some lunch.  P is busy painting her garage.

I carried my stacked sorter cabinet out of the workroom and now have it next to the dining room table. the little drawers have plastic bags with sorted images from discarded magazines.  I spent the morning looking for water and ended up with a water image (adjusted in iPhoto) that happened to have been on the top of the cart all the time.  I thought I might have had a picture of a snorkel and goggles. No.  I selected several nice images to glue onto the left hand pages of the journal.  I can even collage them with other items I have in the collage paper bucket.  Yes, an actual bucket (pail) filled with scraps of paper. I wish I knew someone in a foreign place who would send me ticket stubs and other stuff.  Always more interesting if we can't read the words on collage scraps.

Anyway, I have eaten too many pancakes and my tummy is too full.  And the amount of coffee I have drunk isn't helping.  G & Riley had a good walk and Riley did his "business" twice.  Riley has had lunch and is now going to Petco for more dog food.  They are going in G's car to try out the new tires we got yesterday.  Riley is driving.

If Idiots Could Fly, This Place Would Be An Airport

And, that, is what it was like at work today.  For NINE hours.  "Do you have a flat pink thing that I see all over?"  Amazingly.  I had one.  She wanted two.

I might have said too much while someone else was teaching the Composting Class (17) and probably annoyed the gal teaching but I never interrupted and never contradicted.  Which is huge when I think of my normal behaviour.  No longer a shrinking violet.  I think the temperature in the greenhouse, where the classes are held, was near 100 with very high humidity because I had just watered everything.  Jungle Heat.  I was very happy when lunchtime arrived.  I could take off a layer of clothes and cool off.  I also drank many cups of cold water.  Yesterday was cold.  Today was August all over again.

I had too many slices of class day coffee cake.  And I had a multi grain roll and cheese along with my oil and vinegar dressed salad.  Too much food.  I don't think I will be having dinner tonight. G is exhausted. A number of people didn't show up for work today and when he called replacements they said no.  So, not the happiest of days for a store manager.

I'm going to read my book for awhile and have a cup of coffee.  If I don't fall asleep first, I will watch another disc of Season One/Fringe.  Tomorrow is Sunday and G and I have many, many things to do. Lots of work we have put off until Sunday.  Not good.

Riley Had A Bath Today

Riley was a bit too "doggy" so he got a bath today at doggie day care.  And he smells lovely now.  And his foot is healing very nicely.  It'll be three weeks since he cut the pad open.

In other news, I was very, very close to calling it quits at work today.  And then my boss gave me what is usually the teenage boy punishment job.  Raking the shrub area.  And today was muddy (big rain last night), slippery and just plain disgusting.  I raked the entire area and it looked better than it ever has.  See, I love to rake.  And I love making ugly, pretty.  And it was work.  Something constructive to do.  So, I am still employed.  That boss.  He's a tricky guy.

We had leftovers for dinner.  Whatever was in the fridge.  Then watched Detroit 1-8-7.  G hadn't seen it. And then Mentalist.  G fell asleep.  Then I watched Fringe.  Everyone has gone to bed but me.

Contemplating The Weather

Riley is not pleased with our recent rain.  I am.  The roses and vegetable garden needed a good soaking and I think that is what we got last night.  I wish I had left the orchids outdoors for one more night, but I didn't.  G, Riley and I drove out last night for "fast food" of the glorious grilled and fried variety.  I was in my pajamas.  We noticed a number of walk in customers in various "pajama" like attire.  I choose to remain in the car with Riley while G went in to order.  We ate in the car.  The burger (not McD's) was wonderfully tasty and fresh.  The French Fries were too hot to eat at first.  We couldn't get anything caffeine free to drink but Sprite (full of sugar).  Riley had his head out the window, smelling people as they passed by the car.  He leaves us completely alone as we eat.  Our food is part of the "this has nothing to do with you" mantra.  A mantra that includes; small yapping dogs, joggers, people walking other large dogs, small screechy children, the kitchen garbage can, our food, outdoor cats, clothespins, and the gallon of fish emulsion I use to fertilize my plants.  The mantra works on everything but clothespins (can chew them into toothpicks in seconds) and the fish emulsion (loves to lick the bottle).

Last night we watched House.  Not their best effort. Thirteen should have just said "I'm making a movie".  Hawaii Five-O.  G doesn't want to watch it again but I thought it had some merit as a fill in option when there is nothing else to watch.  I recorded Fringe for later viewing because G doesn't like it.  Mentalist is also recorded.  We will probably watch all the recorded stuff tonight as Friday doesn't have much to offer on television.  I have started watching only the final 30 minutes of Project Runway.  Finally, Ivy the self grandizing loser was deleted.  If only Gretchen could be gone also.  If you watch Gretchen as she "talks" (aka bitches) you will see what a fabulous puppet she would make.

My newest issue of Everyday Food arrived yesterday and has a Ratatouille which I happen to have all the ingredients for here in the house or garden.  The eggplant I bought on Wednesday is exactly one pound, I have zucchini and peppers, onions and canned tomatoes.  And the the stuff can be frozen to eat at some future day and time.  G won't eat it.  And there were recipes for the beets I bought at Whole Foods last week.  I just like them roasted and eaten cold out of the storage container.

I don't want to go to work anymore.  There are so many more interesting and worthwhile ways for me to spend the hours I spend at work; being bored, doing nothing.  If I was busy at work, then I might not feel this way, but way too often, I have nothing which I would call "constructive work" to do.  Call me crazy, but I like to have work to do at work.  Standing around, looking out the greenhouse doors, wandering around looking for a dead leaf or spent bloom to pick up, reading the paper are not the pursuits that I enjoy for hours at a time.  "A" has given her two week notice.  We have job applications available.  I had hoped to stay until I got laid off in December.  Then my eleven weeks of unemployment.  This may still be possible.....  it just gets more difficult each day to actually get in the car and GO.  Which is what I have to try and do in one hour.  And I have to stay until six.  We never have any customers from 4 to 5:45 (then a burst of activity for 15 to 20 minutes).  Those two hours are endless.  I sometimes read gardening books while seated on a pile of fertilizer bags.  Rather than join in the endless "chat" of the younger crowd.  OMG.

Once In A Lifetime

I remembered to go out and look UP to see the Harvest Moon and Jupiter last night.  This time Jupiter was below and a bit to the left.  I wonder if that other little dot is Uranus?  The next time someone walks out onto the back stoop of my house (if it is still standing) to see the Harvest Moon and Jupiter, I will be long dead.  So many celestial landmarks will never occur again in my lifetime.  I try to see as many as I can, but cloudy skies and rain have made this difficult.

I am trying the new Blogger and I miss the little slide on the side where I can go back and forth and see what's up top.  I can't even check the bottom of the post.  I discovered that my second photo didn't transfer when I previewed.  As with everything Blogger does, this will make me very disgusted at first and then I will get used to the new stuff and forget what the old stuff was like.

You aren't getting to see my first panini.  Perhaps the next time I post.  I decided to see if the "new" Blogger could add a picture after the post was published.  It can and here is my panini.  Cheese on an inside out Kaiser roll with pickles and onion.  Crunchy and delicious.

Thursday at work.  I was going to call out this morning but something stopped me--didn't know what - but I packed my lunch and went to work.  And there was M waiting for me at the locked door.  Just the two of us, again.  Locked safe, cash registers, landscapers picking up 80 plants while the phone rang and things went, generally, to hell in a hand basket.  I had wanted to spend the day with G.  His day off.  Especially since I worked all week while he had vacation.  It didn't work out.

I was home alone for my day off yesterday.  Grocery shopping, library (twice), scrubbing the inside of the fridge and tossing expired food in the garbage can, washing and changing the bed linen, washing the dog blankets.  Made G Carbonara last night and I had some of the pasta with a fresh tomato sauce.  Played a bit with my Bananagram game and left the tiles on my placemat so I can continue the game this evening.  Watched The Whole Truth and enjoyed it very much.  Survivor stunk.  Twenty minutes in and all the challenge games were done and it was just 40 minutes of yakking.  Not why I watch.  It's turning into Big Brother and that is such a BORE.

G is out cutting the grass and I think I will be taking my shower and getting out of these dirty clothes. I did some weeding after work and feel all itchy and scratchy.