Field Notes- Wednesday, May 31st. sunshine.

 I haven't colored it as yet but wrote some color choices on the backside of the index card.

Yesterday was...like wearing clothes that don't fit or itch or are just not right.  It was like that all day. I did manage to wash and dry a full load of clothes.....this new washer holds quite a LOT more than the older one did.  This would have been two loads in the old one.  I didn't have much- even anything-- for the Pages.

Tru Green stopped by to fertilize and kill weeds.  They seem more professional. Also needy..wanting me to comment on their work etc. on the internet site the company has. Husband couldn't find his gardening tools...he wanted to weed the edges of the beds along the back side of the house.  Then he had a can of beer.  I should buy him some in bottles. Imported- I think he liked Blue Moon?  Next shopping trip.

I boiled some very good pasta for him...he adds it to the Chicken Parm Dinners.  That was it for cooking on my part.  I folded the washed clothing.  

My TV...I rebooted the TiVo 5 times and then gave up and watched MSNBC  while their faces broke into smears of colors etc etc etc.  The audio is fine.  Reception in the Dining room on that  TV is perfect. No TiVo.  I could disconnect it...But I have 90 hours of entertainment on the TiVo.  But...I wanted MSNBC.

I drew this cactus before I knew the TV would be messed up........Before I was sad.  Wrote color notes on the back- I have ideas and usually CAN recall them...but not these days.  So I noted them on the backside of the card. I also have to find an image for today.  Never mind.....I made two drawings yesterday..... I must have known I wasn't going to be in a good place today.....

I changed out the desktop calendar.  A day early.  The only blank space was up under the desktop stand...very heavy.  So I changed it out.....pasted a few things and did a small amount of fill in black ink work.   The three years of calendars would make an interesting visual display...... I cut out quite a few newspaper cartoons (political) and have headlines etc.  This month there is a side bar to my right for a list of books I read during the month.  I should have done that from the beginning.

Today (and most of yesterday)'s book is the Boyfriend Candidate by Winstead.   A woman meets a guy in a bar, they drink too much and before they make it to the hotel room...a fire starts...cameras catch the guy who wants to be Governor and the School Librarian exiting the hotel..... Political Scandal at it's best.  I am close to the ending....there hasn't even been a second kiss....and things have gone so very wrong.  This misunderstanding is... painful.  I like the characters... the plot moved well until the end.... there are enough pages to get to a satisfying conclusion.....but will I hang around for it?????  Let you know tomorrow.

Field Notes- Tuesday, May 30th. Got very cold last night- 40's and now..morning in the 60's.

 The newest index card art.  They have all been colored.  I am assuming I am getting better at this as I go along...... I like this one...very much.  I found a site with line drawings of cactus....not in pots. Like a coloring page.  I go and just look at them and then draw something else.  This first one is very like the images.....today's?  Don't know as yet.  I add details to the plain outline shapes.  Take ideas from one and put them on another.  I like the dish.  I did a good job on that.

When I went to get the newspaper I saw lots and lots of Ant Hills.  So I found some spray and just got in from spraying them...and now have a whiff of Ant Spray on myself.  I need to get something safe to dose the ant hills.

I might have already written this.....I vacuumed.  The entire house.  I had to take resting breaks but I got it all done.  and since I reminded myself...I had gotten sliced yellow cheese so I toasted it on a bagel and then added Bread and Butter Pickles.  A lovely Luncheon.  Ending with the last of the Sparkling Lemonade Water.

I have laundry to do. And perhaps a bunch of things to offload into the Pages.  Stuff I don't want to carry any more.   And I feel like I have ants on myself.

I changed the water in the birdbath out front.  Been used as a toilet by some of the birds.

I tried watching news yesterday......but wasn't the best thing to do.  Well, I need to eat breakfast.  then when husband is ready- the Library.  I have to check the Summer Hours...

Addition to Monday's Post.

 We drove into Town and directly into the ONCOMING MEMORIAL DAY STREET PARADE with a swift left turn into a side street- hoping it wasn't a dead end....then a few other turns and into the Grocery Store parking Lot.

Parade had tons of Participants, Cars, Wagons, Marching Bands.......

While in the grocery- Parade Goers were coming in for snacks and drinks.....

Gosh....for moments there I was thinking- a few minutes later- and we would have run smack into them..

Field Notes- Monday- May 29th. Happy Memorial Day.

 Another one but I cropped the top edge....oops.  I drew another after breakfast but no photo as yet.

I colored all of them while listening to daughter's excuses for not coming over etc.  She's tired. I get it...landscaping work in this heat...not so much fun... etc...

I fried Pot Stickers (from the freezer) for husband.  He was thrilled.  I had Mexican Street Corn Chowder from Panera (in the refrigerated section of the grocery store)...and added frozen Mexican Street Corn from a bag I got in Freezer Section last grocery shopping day.  Mixed and heated in microwave....delicious.

More ANTS.  I have no idea where they are coming from........

Husband dragged out a garden hose and watered the Peonies.  And some other stuff. I had to stop him and get all the hose knots and kinks OUT. Just that got his back all whatever and he was in pain.

It's going to be a LONG SUMMER, if you get my drift?

Yesterday's Book- Little Beach Street Bakery.....so so very good. Especially the end where he walks out of work, gets in a cab to the airport and a plane across the ocean with no baggage back to the Little Beach Street Bakery.   This book is going on the Book Store Shopping List....I have a $450 check from Joe Biden to cash. And spend on BOOKS.... 

Coffee to finish- it's gone cold....Shopping but no Library as it's closed today. No invites for Burgers from the neighbors......

In town College had Graduation.  All that (that!!!) in Town..... And then they will be gone for the summer.  The students we are used to-- the Parents...not so much...EVER. How many Mercedes, Lexus and BMW's can a small Town HOLD????  A LOT.  Oh, and Electric Cars. It's like a Luxury Car Parking Lot.  I hope they are all gone.....by the time we get to the grocery store.  Which is just a hop skip away from campus. Bowdoin.  Heard of it???? (Bowdoin graduate in a Russian Prison right now) Absolutely GORGEOUS campus. And the new ultra modern buildings....all very organic.  One has a Field of Sea Grass on the roof. Alumni trying to out spend each other with buildings.........in contrast to the ones from the early 1800's.

Earlier graduates- donated artwork to the Art  Museum on campus...Wow..some wonderful things there. My walking buddy and I spent time there before COVID,

Field Notes- Sunday, May 28th. sunshine- temps in high 80's???

 I've been doing a few extra cactus in pots.  On index cards.  I have three.  I did this one last night. Free hand.  Not using an image. Bit crowded but.....nice.

Chipmunks in the garden beds.  Rodents.  Read "Shipped" out of my own bookcase.  Little Beach Street Bakery is today's library book- the last book on the table.  A few of my choices are going back with only the first ten or so pages read....I don't like a tedious start to a book. I actually don't like a tedious start to much of anything...... (good first line for a book)

I haven't made a pie.  I think about it and then decide = not worth it. I also haven't been having Fruit and Bran Buds with yogurt. I 'd rather have five squares of dark chocolate.  Husband has been accepting Chocolate Chip Larabars as "dessert".  World is coming to an END!!!  Dates and Cashews..... no flour, sugar or butter or eggs.......I was speechless when he asked for one....and ate it.  Then next day asked for another.  And Earth is still rotating.......go figure.

And he's eating FRUIT.  This memory loss stuff is EXCELLENT!!!!  What's next?

Anyway.... Air in the house is getting dry...I have a bit of a tick-ly cough.  Need a lemon drop.

So...what's going on.....Procrastination is Top of The List.  Lots I could be doing.  Don't want to.

And that's about all I have to offer.  Tomorrow is supposedly a HOLIDAY.  Perhaps the Twins will invite us over for a Burger????  Could happen.  If they do...I'm going.  Not sure about a grocery visit tomorrow... Not sure Grocery will be open.... There are odd bits and pieces in the freezer......some vegetarian meatballs.  Pot Stickers I can fry up and make dipping sauce for.... for husband..... not me.  Too greasy. Two leftover slices of Pizza...... I keep hoping some American Cheese slices will magically appear so I can toast a bagel with cheese and add sweet pickle slices.....my favorite lunch. Sigh......

Well, index card and Uni-ball pen calling my name.....Time to Draw....  that Uni-Ball has an amazing ink line.  So smooth.....so black.  So inky.  Love it.  That's all it takes this week...a few good romances and a Uniball pen.  Oh...index cards.....it's all good here.....knock wood.

Field Notes- Saturday, May 27th. It's so cold in the house. I need socks. I refuse to open windows.

 Yesterday's cactus in a line drawing by me....  on top of my loaded desk calendar.  There is a blank edge up under the base of the computer.....which I will fill in on the day I switch pages.  For June.  I have just started in on a second cactus.  Tiny work.

I have on a thermal shirt under my work shirt.....but no socks.  Because i have on  above the ankle pants. I just will not wear socks with ankle pants......I have my limits.

Pizza yesterday.  Husband was thrilled.  And there are two leftover slices.  

Velchi had a very interesting show on last night....I got into liking him when he did the 10am to 12 noon show on MSNBC with Rhule.  They were obnoxiously funny with each other.  He who tightly buttoned up and Rhule with these wrap dresses unwrapping...... I was waiting for the day (morning) when her dress fell off onto the floor.  Watching while the guys were taking my house apart and putting it back together. Telling me to order Future Stuff for bathrooms they hadn't even started on.....Filling the hall closet with sinks, faucets and shower heads.  Door knobs and hinges.  Wood floor planks pilled in boxes in the entry way. My bedroom (empty of me- but holding the washer dryer /bathtub and other stuff)... I felt like I was tight Velchi...unraveling like Rhule.

So....I've read my way thru all the Meg Cabot.  I think there might be others...sigh.  The last one I read I think is the newest.  Police Chief and Children's Librarian.  There are two more.  Island books.  This one was the last of the Island series.  I'm not going to go looking for them.

I might have actually reached my Book A Day limits.  At least for a few days. Until Monday.when I visit the library.  Two reserves are in transit.  From "other libraries"...because my library doesn't actually buy  NEW books anymore.  They Fund Raise. For the Endowment.  And A Book Mobile. Laughable if it wasn't so very very Sad.  The Library is in the very center of the population needing Bookmobile services.  So already "there". Everywhere else...well, a Bookmobile coming to my area of Executive Homes....is pretty ridiculous.  And the Community Cottages between here and the Library start at 800K.  And I wouldn't "fit".  If you get my meaning????  I'm not sure I even "fit" on my street anymore. We don't have a whole house generator.  Yet.

Field Notes- Friday, May 26th. Sunshine and Cool.

 I'd actually like to MAKE something like this....and paint it.  

Yesterday- Haircut went smoothly (I got the Very Short Summer Hair).  I was concerned about parking.  But only one car was in the lot. So all that worry for nothing.  When we got home the Chad Little truck was here...with the serviced riding and walk behind mowers.....and the grass got cut.  Just under $1000.  But still so much less than a new anything.  The riding unit needed lots of work. New Parts.

He cut the grass. Using the riding mower.  Then I went out and flagged the spots he missed.  And those got taken care of. The side yard was left alone- there are tree parts littering the area.  One very tall tree looks like it exploded.  That happens if it's wet in the interior and we get a really hard fast freeze.....the tree just sort of explodes.

He'll need the lawn tractor to pull the tree around to the back of the property with a chain..  But he didn't "think" about it yesterday so I made sure not to "notice" and alert him to it.  He wasn't really focused yesterday.  I'm not sure if it's the new normal or just a day......things go along and then they hiccup and I just have to re-adjust......and wait and see.

I am still holding out for him taking a nap and not waking up.....it would be the kindest way for him to pass. And I want that for him.  His mom died that way... He's a lot like her.

We are having pizza today.  He's excited about it right now.......at 10:18am.  By 4 pm he might have other ideas.  

I am starting out on my fourth book by Meg Cabot.  I read three in the Heather Wells series of a former Pop Start turned Residence Hall (college) something or other.  Size 12 isn't Fat is the first one. This book is titled No Offense and takes place in a Library in the Florida Keys.  They are really entertaining. 

I asked daughter to take her father to the gas station to fill up the car and the cans he has for the lawn mowers. He had trouble with doing the credit card at the pump the last time I went with him.  I was no help.. It's been YEARS since I pumped any gas into a car.....I don't remember how.   I asked for help. You should all relax now...I do know how to ask for help..........when I need help.

Field Notes- Thursday, May 25th. In FLUX.......feeling off balance.

 You get this image again.  The CRAP my friend sent along with a recipe continues to mess up my desktop.  This morning- I couldn't access the picture file so I had to drag something over.  The tiny images are difficult for me to SEE.  So, You get this.  Again.  I once thought of open shelving.  No Longer.

Her crap is littering the in box each and every morning.  It just keeps showing up.

I just deleted this image from the file.  That's how I will roll going forward- deleting what I use here. There may be a period of no image.....we'll live with that. I am learning to live with loss. And less.

Haircut day.  Difficult Parking Day.  For husband.  And then we will stop for Bird Food. At Tractor Supply.  On the way home on the right side.  He has forgotten where it is.......He has forgotten (I think) where the hair cut takes place.  Otherwise he seems normal.  Here at home.  Outside...not.  

I am guessing things here in the house are easy to remember.  Breakfast. Newspaper.  Word Search with four tangerines on the Sunporch.  Coloring Books.  Puzzle.  Chicken Parm at around 4 pm.  Television shows he likes or Puzzle.  Bedtime.  Same same every day..... I try and facilitate that. Same. Same.

The Water People came yesterday.  The tech used to report usage was no longer "supported"- I imagine the company folded........so a new company and new tech had to be found.....and all the houses in Town worked on to add this new tech....... and now my water usage will be reported........ correctly? we'll see.

More trucks.  Out on the street.  Neighbor getting something done.

Our Lawn Tractor and Walk Behind Mower are supposed to be returned today.  While we are gone or when we are back home.  No time given.... It's been a month.   I need to eat.....

Field Notes- Wednesday, May 24th Sunshine. A Quiet Day, I think.

 Are you figuring out that I am often hungry?   I stare at the contents of the fridge...and draw a BLANK.

Husband is having straight Chicken Parm these days. Every Day.  I decided to stop making soup. Now. I have said that here so.....any moment now he will ask....about Soup.  I am saying No.  I have potstickers in the freezer.  I'll make that. Instead.  It adds EFFORT to my portion of the day but......it's about the same as was asked for to make soup.

Yesterday I decided to clear counter, sweep and wipe down things......to find the ANTS.  There are ANTS. It seems everywhere but only finding three or four.   Yesterday I found SIX.  And crushed them... There is also a fly.  But I haven't gotten it yet.

The Town Lazy Fat Guys were back.  Doing something to the "ditch" in front of my of the side yard.  They filled it with something that will wash out with the first heavy rain.  Or be plowed out when it snows. running-it over it with the heavy machine isn't going to solidify anything.

Across the street neighbor had to drive over her lawn to get to a meeting.  They had blocked her in. Five or Six happy, lazy stand around guys who work for the Town. 

But I got to talk to the across the street neighbor...and the new next door neighbor.  I thought next door were away for the Winter.....turns out she was sick and in the hospital.  Now getting better at home.  She looked pale and was not her bouncy self.

 She had questions about the guy living in Star's house #5  now that Star is dead. Star's Son the Drug Addict inherited the house..  There are lots of cars....a big No Parking sign nailed to a tree....blinds and curtains on the front of the house are all different...up, down, crooked....this is how Drug Addicts Take Care of An Inherited House while doing Drug Business out of Said House. And having a wife and small child. I had no answers for her.  Since I once had a brother just like this...living with my mentally impaired mother....it will all be a party until the money runs out.......... or he dies......I didn't share that.  My brother did die ........eventually.  He wrote (in his will) the I was not to get even one penny of his money.......and he thought that would hurt my feelings????

It actually made me laugh out loud......jerk.

Field Notes- Tuesday May 23rd. 11:37. Sunshine. Garbage and Recycling Day.

 Man Flying over his Neighborhood.

So....stayed in bed talking to myself.   Well, pretending to talk to someone else.  I do this.  I don't have real people to talk to...I used to do this with the Dog....no Dog.  So, I just talk to space around me pretending there is someone listening.  There never is.  There never will be.  It's like going to Therapy.

This House is all about Being Alone. That's sort of what all the talking was about.  Always and Forever being Home Alone.  Even with people in the house.

I felt better and then got up and dressed and had breakfast. Alone.

My Life has always been about Being Alone.  Which is why I read a Book A Day.  To be around people..Even Fictional People.  It's why I write this Blog Post.  Writing to.... well, I hope someone is reading this....but I'm also okay with no one reading this. I am writing to a Pretend Person.

I am slogging my way thru one of these Very Good Looking Men with Private Jets. Books.  I am not enjoying it.  One third in and I just don't care .........They have Strange Crappy Names (see how many odd letters you can use)  and they drink all the Time.  Moving on to another book.

The TV reception was acting up.  I rebooted the TiVo three times and then moved on to recorded episodes of Endeavor on PBS.  Watching another man drink too much.  Almost noon.  

I cut images and other interesting things out of magazines and the newspaper for the June and July Desk Calendar Art.  I have all the calendars (2 or 3 years worth) in a box.  I might someday make a display out of them.  In early years, I drew pictures.....I don't anymore.  but I do write on the blocks sometimes.

On this desktop E. Musk  Quote-  "Misinformation Sickness".  Takes one to know one.

Field Notes- Monday May 22nd. Sunshine. Grocery store. Bran Flakes. More milk.

 If only......I didn't climb the stairs or take the elevator to the second floor to look at puzzles.  He has one on the table now that will take FOREVER as it isn't an easy one.  The image up top is a puzzle. I was too late to buy it. The previous puzzle was really difficult- so I went over and got most of it done- he had the borders wrong.

He asked for another book to read.  Was reading it when I finished grocery shopping. He waits in the car. I took back a full bag and filled it up with new books for this week..... I might need to get him two books next time.  I think one of the books I ordered from another library is X rated.   Def on the cover of the book being...."not ordinarily seen" in my library.  Same guy- white tee shirt. Sells books, I guess.

Deb L you might want to try this guy on your next cover.

Bran flakes- generic- were on the shelf today.  I like a cold cereal in the Summer Months.  Oatmeal when it's below 50 degrees.  But, it goes down to 50 in the Summer......so I always have oatmeal in the cupboard. I bought an extra carton of my milk....... for the Flakes.

Husband is on the SunPorch eating tangerines and crunchy chicken nuggets. I have a bag of Cherries.

Still running on a "high" from the successful three loads of Washing.  Was amazing.  

Returned the newest Jude Devereaux.  Read it a second time and cried even more than the first time. There were a few pages I must have skipped.  And a line at the end.......

So. that's me.  

Sunday Again

Three loads of Washing.  First one dry and folded.  Second in the dryer.  Third waiting it's turn.

All went well and the already dry load smells nice.  The sounds the new machine makes are so very very weird.  I wrote two pages.   In the Washing Machine Pages.  Boring myself to death.

that's it.  now to find myself some lunch.

Field Notes- Sunday, May 21st. Very wet. Raining yesterday and today is clouds- dampness.

 Today you get a picture of a Sandwich.  I am imagining it to be the shredded baked chicken with honey and tons of mayo.  The sandwich I love just now..... in the past months.  Which I haven't had in what seems like a long time. I am imaging the bread to be that French loaf I love so much.

I made the Roasted Cherry Tomato Pasta with the very last of the roasted tomatoes in the freezer. Full of pectin.  Creamy from that.  I am being frugal with it. Making it last.

I am like that when I love something.  I am frugal with it.  Holding on as long as I can to it.  My Beloved Sweaters.  My Favorite Socks. (both more mending that original)  My favorite books.  This old computer where this blog was created.  This blog.  How I look forward to sitting here and typing words that someone out there might just...possibly...read.  And connect with me.

I was very alone when I started this blog.  My quilting friends had died or moved away-----one by one until I was alone.  Very Alone.  So I worked at the Library.  And made transactional friendships --I checked out books to familiar people.  That ended.  I quit just before they fired me.  Then the Greenhouse. And after ten years I wasn't healthy enough to stay.  Breathing was a problem. My knee gave out.

And now....it's just me in this house growing older by the day.  Procrastinating about everything but the Field Notes.  

I have a huge PILE of laundry to do.  The change over from Winter Clothing to Not Winter Clothing. It's a GREAT PILE of CLOTHING. Mostly husband.  He creates a lot of laundry.  I have a load set to go...but never pushed the BUTTON to start it.  I have a Button Washing Machine. So STRANGE.  Like visiting a Foreign Land.......I am not comfortable with it.

I also need to vacuum the floors.  Dust.  Winter Dust.  Somehow, the lawn across the street got mowed.  While it was raining?  Or very early this morning.  How very very strange...........

Field Notes- Saturday. May 20th. Clouds. Perhaps cooler. A very lazy morning.

 When women wore 80 pounds of layers and puffy collars.  And rarely took baths. And painted their small pox pocked faces white with lead based makeup to "smooth" out the surface. (PBS)  Every one must have smelled really awful... specially the poor folk.

I got a very very late start today- was just awake and not wanting to get out of bed.

Yesterday put diced rhubarb and frozen strawberries into a pot with some sugar and water.  Made a compote.  Which will be served with Noosa Honey Vanilla Yogurt and Bran Buds.  My Lunch or Dinner. for the WEEK.  Planning Ahead.....a novelty.

Reading Deveraux's My Heart Will Find You for a second time....It's due soon.  

Lunch yesterday was a delight.  I had lemonade not wine and I asked and they provided "off menu" Manicotti.  Which is my Favorite Food.  From long ago and now. Traffic on Friday in May in Mid Coast Maine was........gasp awful... Parking- OMG.   And it's not yet Prime Tourist Time.  We call them Those F...ing Idiots.  Live up to the name each and every Summer.   Spend Tons of Money. Did I write this yesterday??????????  

Oh well.  I will continue repeating myself......

Lunch buddy time was delightful.........we stopped into the Health Food Store and got Arnica for Nancy's husband and some for a friend of mine in Atlanta if she hasn't found a source where she lives.   Any Health Food Etc place should have it....... Let me KNOW!!!!! Otherwise I will use it on G....

I also got ONE of the best French Baguettes in Maine.  I cut it into thirds and two were wrapped an into the freezer.  So I don't eat it all in one sitting. Like usual.

It's so dark in here....... G was up early and is asleep on the couch.  He naps.  Wish I could.

Field Notes- Friday, May 19th. Time is Flying Past.......Sunshine after two very cold days.

 I found a way to work around a new problem.  When I click the icon for the picture file...I get a Cookie Message...which will not let me go forward unless I click ACCEPT.  I will NOT.  EVER.... will not be dragged to the Trash Can.

This is crap from Patty's email.

I dragged the image from the desktop to the post.  That worked.  I can't say for sure I will be able to work around all this crap that now infests my files.   October and my Son the Tech Wizard can't come soon enough.  You and I will just have to deal with change and problems until then.

Going to lunch with my Lunch Buddy today.  In an hour.  I haven't had breakfast so I don't think I will be drinking any wine with lunch.  But there will be good food, good conversation and laughter. Consider it a Wellness Check on my sense of Humor and EVERYTHING ELSE.

I am re-reading a very sweet book.  Two lost souls.  Finding each other.  The Suite Spot.  Takes place near Cleveland, Ohio/Cedar Point/Sandusky.   Places I knew.  Long ago. Feels familiar in a very odd way.  I have read the book before- but I am in a different place now and the book seems better than the first time I read it.   Does that happen to you when you read a book again.  Does it seem different?  Do you feel different about the characters and events in the book plot?

Well, I am going to make myself a cup of coffee.   New empty Dumpster next door at the new neighbor's house--directly in line with my bedroom.  I hope they aren't going to start banging hammers at 7:30 am next to our bedroom windows. Again.  I can't imagine what else needs fixing.  I'll just bang my head on the wall, I guess......

Field Notes- Thursday, May 18th Feeling like I have ants crawling all over me.

 Husband and Wife.   Well.....it's only 11:39 and it's been QUITE a day already.  Husband decided to go to the dentist by himself.  11am appointment.  They called me a few minutes after 11.  Was he on his way???

Well.  He showed up while they had me on the phone.  While we were ALL "concerned" and now memory loss is on his Patient Notes. I am thinking he stopped first to pick up his hearing aid.  I don't actually know what he does to them...but one of them is always being sent to the company to be repaired. It's not like he can actually hear anything even when he has them on.  Cause he doesn't want to hear anything. My Voice.

I had to spend some time here- deleting unwanted things when I signed in.  The gift that keeps on giving.  The daily pile of crap that traveled into my desktop from Patty's email.  Lowe's also wanting me to stop in and apply for a few job opportunities 40 to 60 minutes south on I 95.

I applied once (here in Town), long ago when I would get laid off for the Winter months and applied for unemployment and had to "look for work". I did unemployment two years- and then said "f-it" and stopped.  Gift that keeps on giving even after 16 years.

Public works was back.  We have a new spray painted something or other from the Water Department.  It's on the property that belongs to the Town--where on a REAL STREET it would be on the sidewalk..  Not a new hydrant but possibly some other thing. We don't have a sidewalk.  We only actually have PAVING because my husband went to every monthly Town Meeting for a YEAR and asked to have our street paved.  We were still making do with the construction asphalt of 40 years ago.  

His squeaking wheel-- got the street paved.  Well...I think they actually referred to him as That Pain in The ASS.  But we got a real paved street.  Now we are getting something else...but the Public Works people stand at the end of our drive (no where near the new whatever) and give the house a HARD STARE. I know- cause I am looking right back at them.  

The riding mower that was picked up for service a few weeks ago- is needing more parts....they called to see if I wanted to spend the money.  I said YES.  Husband is so NOT getting a new mower.  They can replace parts until...well, he isn't mowing the lawn anymore (soon).  And a Service Company is mowing.  Or we sell the house. I prefer the Service Company.  

I have considered selling....but the housing for old folk is "close" and everyone is a busy body.  I don't like that.  Not one bit.  It's also quite expensive......but they "provide full service".......... It's a Club I don't want to join.  But I could ride a Sidewalk Scooter to the Library and Grocery Store.  That appeals to me.

Husband is back home... I can stand down.

Field Notes- Wednesday, May 17th. sunshine but cold in the house this morning.

 I found this image in a notebook.  I drew it.  Was considering this for an appliqué project.

The reunion was the 10 year one.  The woman was 28.  In the book I was reading. I wrote 20th.

I am now reading Ten Rules for Faking it.  I have read this book before and doubt I will get very far into  it before stopping.  It drags........ and this is something the editors and publishers should have NOTICED. I don't have have the patience for it today.  Or actually...ever. I seem have lost patience.  I might stop now. It was a mistake to take it out.  I have many more books on the pile.

I made another pot of Chicken Soup yesterday.  I have been making a pot Every Week it seems.  For Forever.  But there is no alternative meal he would actually eat at this point.

So........the cold lasted all day yesterday.  And was cloudy.

My daughter the landscaper wrote this morning that things aren't flowering on the ocean front estates like they should be.  The Estate Owners are probably complaining.  Like the Landscapers have control over that because you pay them....... wealthy people are strange.   I'm not that...yet. Wind off the ocean was colder than usual and we had little snow cover towards the end.

I worked on the puzzle G has on the table.  It's a very difficult one.  I told him he could stop and put it away.  But he keeps working on it.  

We might need to go to the grocery again this week.  I tried a avocado wrapped vegetable roll with sweet chili sauce from the sushi place inside the grocery store.  I liked it.  I think I want another one. Full of carrots and other things...... something new.  I like the vegetable sushi rolls also.  And I like the crispy fried chicken nuggets in the Hot Bar.  And I like the fruit and vegetable stock guy with the man bun hair.

So there's that....

Field Notes- Tuesday, May 16th. Clouds, 60 degrees, rain coming. Dark & Wet.

 Soup.  From top left and around.  Onion, parsley, celery, chicken thighs and center- two of the five carrots.  Also peppercorns and 4 chicken bouillon cubes.  Three to Four hours on simmer once it came to the boil.  Husband is bundled up.  He thinks he is freezing to death. 

I don't have on socks or anything really warm. No sweater, no corduroy pants.  I might change my mind.

Patty sent me a recipe for HER favorite Lentil soup.  It arrived with a multitude of "travelers" attached which I had a HELL of a time deleting, removing etc.  Reminding me to never open one of her emails. EVER. AGAIN.

I am reading a book Ellie Is Cool Now.  A TV script writer for a very popular cable show returns to her small Ohio hometown for the 20th (?) (could have been 15th) High School Reunion.  Sends chills down my spine.  

I have NEVER gone to a reunion of my high school.  My brother has gone to every one of his.  High School and College.  My husband went to one of his high school reunions.  25th or 30th. 

I was NOT invited to go along......everyone else brought their significant others. I would have refused. He says he "can't have a good time....if I am around".   Feel free to think about that.  I stopped long ago.

He showed everyone pictures of our dog Riley.  He had no pictures of me to share with his friends. They asked. None of our two children, either.  Just the dog.  Mentioned this to Riley and he came and sat next to me the rest of that day.

Anyway.  The lead character in my BOOK is a woman who was NEVER popular and NEVER dated in high school. (me) And she returned as a Hollywood Screen Writer etc etc.....and discovers everyone liked her but she wasn't friendly....so they never got to know her, Blah Blah Blah.  Her High School Crush confesses to always being infatuated by her....even now--and wishes  things had been different.  They definitely GET different. She has a list of items she has to complete at the reunion-- from her fellow script writers.  And she has to send photos. Proof..  

The book and premise makes me incredible sad at the same time making me laugh. And wonder....what IF I HAD gone to a reunion........

Field Notes- Monday. May 15th. Clouds. A Bit Cooler. My Clothes.......

 Flowers from my yard.   Might have already used this image...I am forgetting.  

More rhubarb arrived yesterday via my Master Gardening Friend.  She remembered- I got 100 on my Master Gardener Exam.  She got 70%....  We sat on the front porch and had Trader Joe beverages and her two rescue dogs watched out for everything.  Very nervous dogs.  Hard lives before Patty.

We discussed the virtues of homemade pie crust or store bought.  For the Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. I am making someday....

When I went out with my paint brush to pollinate- there were ZERO flowers on the Plum Tree.  And none on the ground.  It was like a Twilight Zone thing.  I am mystified.  1000%. The five on the Peach Tree- also gone.  It's like the Yard is gaslighting me.

Patty has planted Asparagus.  Will be ready to produce edible stalks in FIVE YEARS. She left after we had a short visit- to finish planting onion starts.   Four kinds.  I grew onions once.  They were nice. Storing them was not. 

Patty had visited all her neighbors who live alone out where she lives (by the Atlantic Ocean) to make sure everyone was okay and didn't need her to make a quick shopping trip for them.....I am now included in this list.  She also takes them to Urgent Care. She's a Nurse. I think she has a blood pressure cuff in the car..

It has taken me nearly 45 minutes to get dressed.  The Winter outfits were so EASY.  Corduroy pants, thermal shirt and sweater.  Husband is still dressed for winter.  And it is cold.  I should just give up and wear the sweater.  Summer pants.....I can't find the ones from last summer and what I have on is super baggy...... Shirts.   Finding ones that will button to the waist..well, it's impossible.  I was feeling like I had lost weight.  Now I feel like I gained weight. I don't know how.......we barely eat.  I don't cook.   We heat things up in the microwave.  Obviously the COUCH is to blame.

I feel cold.  I am going back down to put on pants, thermal and the sweater.  Socks.

We had a last minute home made pizza yesterday.  Zero Jars of Soup.  No Chicken Parm.  The Fridge was empty.  Not even a slice of bread.  So I whipped up a pizza.  I had the right cheese and the pepperoni from last Monday's shopping thank goodness. And I had preemptively thawed out a supermarket ball of dough. If we ordered Chinese Takeaway- he would still NOT remember where to pick up the take away.  Better to just not order. And I haven't test driven his car as yet.  It's got too many bells and whistles.

My car has a key, has lights, has windshield wipers.  PERIOD. I don't even remember how to get gas.

Son called and we had a long conversation.  Daughter was a no show.  I finally called her.  She had slept all day after a very hard day at work on Saturday.  I woke her up at 8pm.  So that was Mother's Day.

Field Notes- Sunday May 14th. happy Happy Mother's Day!!!! Sunshine.

 Happy Mother's Day.  A Beautiful Day here in Maine.  Warm and sunny.  Long phone call with son in California.   We covered quite a few topics.  Always good talking to him.

Today I am taking a paintbrush out to the Damson Plum.  It is self pollinating but not enough insects visiting to move pollen around.  So I will brush as many flowers as I can reach.  The tree is way taller than I am.  I remember the fruit being dark magenta and delicious. I might borrow husband's step stool  (which he uses as an end table)

The Peach trees have a total of five blossoms.  Five Peaches if all of them develop.  Sad. Very sad.

Having a garden is really really NOT for the Faint of Heart.......It can be wildly wonderful or deeply depressing.  Last summer the Peach Trees were loaded......we had many delicious Peach Cobblers.

I made a lovely bouquet for the house  after walking around picking whatever was in flower.  so much has gone by.  that's what happens here- and if I get ti right (any Gardener's Dream Come True) there is always something in blossom.  Not all at once....that's a Beginner's Mistake.  I used to see it all the Time when I worked at the greenhouse.  I could help with Perennial Bloom Sequencing but the landscape side didn't really try hard enough with their customers.

I did pretty good in my yard....but weather etc can ruin even the best plans.

Watching season four of Fringe.  Very confusing.

Well, I must cut this short and get that brush and start my Artificial Fertilization Project. Long Time Readers know I like a scientific project...a lot.  I saved one ice cream for today.