Celebratory Saturday

I woke up late (7:30 AM) after being up half the night. I made coffee and putzed around a bit, straightening up the house (I washed the kitchen floor around 2:30 AM last night, so I had to put the chairs, etc., back). Later, I made an omelet for breakfast, the shaved and showered. Off to run errands.

Picked up six more bags of mulch (that's 18 purchased so far) and the herbs I need. I was surprised, but the French Tarragon is growing again from last year's plant. Other plants that normally survive are the chives, the garlic chives (I forgot when my Mother offered me some this year that she gave me them last year) and the thyme.

So, that meant I had to buy Rosemary, Basil, Oregano and Flat Leaf (or Italian) Parsley. Then I went to the Library and the Post Office. Got back home at 12:30 PM. Changed clothes and went out to plant and mulch.

Got both herb beds spaded up, old roots and new grass shaken out and the plants planted. Applied some slow-release fertilizer and then a good topping of mulch. Continued to mulch around the reflecting pool, then the garden along the rear of the house. Put down 5 bags of mulch before my back started screaming in protest.

So, I went in and cleaned up. It was about 2:45 PM. I don't have to be at the restaurant until 5:00 PM for Carla's graduation dinner, so I set my alarm for 3:45 and took a nap. The phone woke me up about 5 minutes before the alarm would have, so I had a nice rest and my back felt much better. Hopped in the shower, got dressed and headed to Plymouth.

The dinner was at Station 885, a restaurant that is in what was the old Plymouth train station. When I got there, her brother Carlos and cousin Derick were helping her Uncle Mac into his wheelchair. I said hi to her Mom and Carla and Jake, and then we went in. We waited a while for her Aunt Nancy and her two cousins Andrea and Rocquel and her son Decoven, but they finally called and said they were just leaving the hospital (Rocquel's other son, Paris, has a severe infection in his finger) and would be about a half hour late.

So we ordered. Personally, I had the meat loaf (it never hurts to see what your competition is up to, lol, and I like meatloaf), a baked potato, some green beans and a salad. Not being one to brag, I still must tell you my meat loaf is much, much better! I did have a bit of Carla's filet mignon, topped with gorgonzola cheese (melt in your mouth and excellent).

Carla mentioned in passing how pleased she was to get a card from Grandma Goerlich and Uncle Joe and Aunt Kathy. She also got cards from Luanne, Jeremy and Jyl and I. Which leaves me wondering what happened to Uncle Carl, Uncle Jim and Aunt Coletta? After all, this is the first of my kids to get a college degree! Although to be fair, both Jake and Jeremy work in a field (IT) where certifications are worth much, much more than a degree. So, where are your lousy $2.00 congratulations cards, guys?

Carla's Aunt Nancy, Andrea, Rocquel and her son Decoven, finally showed up, so we all waited while they ordered and ate. My butt was starting to fall asleep sitting in that chair and all the coffee, then water I drank made me have to keep going to the bathroom. Finally we asked for the bill, I paid my part, made my goodbyes and left for home.

The rain that had started while we were eating had stopped by the time I got home, so ran out to take some photos of today's work (since it was around 8:00 PM they are a little dark). Got back in and posted them. As always, click on them to enlarge (for best viewing) then use your browser's "back" button to return.

I decided to investigate my treasures from the Library and ended up reading until 12:30 AM. Good news was I slept through the night.