Daily Notes- November 7th. I have lost count of the number of new cases of COVID overnight.

I went over to the bookcase where I have a few jars filled with little things.  This is the button jar.  The SMALL button jar.  It's from a Oui yogurt.  You can see bits of the other button jars.  When I have a project in need of a button I sort thru the jars for the right color or size.  And some buttons- well, I keep them handy. You know...pretty to look at.

Yesterday and today are very mild- 68 outside today.  Husband carried weeds and branches to the pile back in the farthest north of the property.  I like to imagine the piles of branches as a Winter home to various woodland animals.  Far away from the house.  He hauls it all with a riding mower/and cart that only rarely ever cuts any grass.

He has soilless potting mix to sift (remove roots) and store in 30 gallon plastic garbage cans.  And, I keep reminding him to fill my potting bench in the garage with enough sifted potting soil to fill my milk jug seed starting "greenhouses'.  I plan to get started a bit earlier this year.  Mid January.  My tomato seedlings were very "tardy" last Spring.  Meaning they took too long to start making tomatoes.  I am a gardener- thinking of next summer already.  Saving seeds.  Many many seeds from this year's abundant crop of marigolds (started from seed).  I also sprinkled seeds in the flower beds- near the back - the marigolds got very tall.  We'll see if any sprout. I also have white daffodils (from a housewarming gift from husband's brother and wife in 1991.  They still come up and multiply like crazy. And I think of my brother in law each Spring when they flower.  A very very sweet and thoughtful guy. We lost him two Thanksgivings ago.  At the same age my husband was when he had HIS heart attack.  Brother was alone. Died.

Did two loads of wash (and Washing Machine Pages) and the basket was empty but then husband came in at the end of the day to shower and the basket is now full again with all his clothing. So one more load today.  And I may make a loaf of no knead bread or a pizza dough to rise and then overnight in the fridge. We are out of prepared food.  But the bed has clean sheets.

Daughter is requesting soup LOADED with vegetables.  Well, I do not, presently have that many vegetables in the fridge drawer. Some. But not enough for LOADED.  So she asked if I had more of that Kabocha squash to bake? Yes. Two.  So she wants them, baked and loaded with spices etc.  But no hot spices. She is asking for garlic.  I despise garlic and never have it in the house other than when making pickles. I am adding a leek, more carrots, potatoes, celery to grocery list....what else should I get- Help me think?

She does know how to cook- - and she eats a very good plant based diet- with hot vegetables in her thermos for lunch at work (frozen vegetable mixes she heats in the microwave before work).  But she isn't going to bake a hard rind squash.  Or try and cut it into quarters with a sharp knife and a block of wood to pound the knife into the squash.  I--will do that.  I will also keep two quarters for my own meal. Because I want to. I'm the mother.