Mermorial Day Weekend, Day 2

I woke up just before 6:30, warmed up a cup of yesterday's coffee and posted the blog. I stripped the bed and the bedding went into the washer. I filled it up, but then shut it off when I remembered I wanted to water the front lawn. So, I dragged the hose out front (I sure wish I had a front faucet!) and got the sprinkler set up and running. I shut it off at 8:00 AM and hopped into the shower. I have a haircut scheduled for 9:00 AM.

I am a little embarrassed because that stupid sunburn I got on my bald spot at Jake and Carl's last weekend is peeling, but Michelle never mentioned it She did, however, tell me, sotto voce, she is leaving this barber shop (after 25 years!) and moving to a new one that is opening up down the street. She slipped me a card for her new place and said she would be there by the time I need another haircut. Hmmm... I don't like changes!

I went from there to Kroger's to pick up cat food, some heavy cream and scallions. Just as I was pulling in to a handicapped space, an elderly man was backing into the one on the other side of the pole (with the sign). Now, we crips often park oddly (me included, lol!), but he backed in at an extreme angle and slowly hit the pole with the side of his car, just in front of the tail light, pushing in his rear fender and the rear fascia. He got out, but never even looked, just walked into the store! I felt bad, but didn't know what to do. Should I tell him? I just let it be... maybe when he gets home and his kids ask him what happened, and he doesn't know, they might suggest (tenderly) he gives up driving.

I was back home by 10:15. I started the washer up, changed into my shorts and started to plan my day.

Aaauugghh! I just saw this news flash: With Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings set for Joe Louis Arena on Saturday night, angst over one of the postseason's biggest controversies continues to linger in the Motor City: The NHL's decision to ban octopus twirling on the ice. Hey, we've been doing that since 1952! Geesh! I REALLY hate change!

Oh, @ my daughter, M________: BTW, you left a voice mail suggesting I was watching the Pistons instead of answering the phone. While I am interested in the Pistons winning, it's only the Red Wings and the Tigers playoffs I really watch.

I fixed a couple bologna and cheese sandwiches for breakfast/lunch and ate them with a pickle and a beer. I was just sitting on the couch, about to go outside, when (speak of the devil), Melissa called. Biggest news in North Carolina? They put a bid on a house and it was accepted. Not exactly what they wanted, but the location's good (20 minutes from Dave's new job, 20 minutes from their grandson and 20 minutes from the nearest college for Missy). They are crossing their fingers that it all goes through.

I really did go outside then. First I hooked up the rear garden hose system (I am still impressed with myself for think of that, BTW!) Then I planted the last two hostas in the rear garden. Next, in order to redeem myself in the "more flowers than veggies" debate, I sifted out two wheel barrow's full of compost and made mounds in sunny spots in the rear garden. I seeded them with cucumbers, zucchini, yellow summer squash, acorn squash and a butternut squash look-alike. Then I planted this year's two bare root rose bushes, next to the two I planted last year and the original one that was just growing in the lawn when I moved here and I transplanted. Looks like my dream of having a rose garden is starting to shape up! I hit all five with some Miracle-Grow Rose fertilizer when I was done.

Speaking of compost, I think I've exhausted the pile I've been working on since this spring. So, I started refilling that spot with last fall's leaves and shovels of dirt, watering as I went. I took the top off the other pile and added it as well. Now I have a whole new bunch of compost to sift (if I need it - I hope I don't, LOL!) See photos for all above, as I came inside and posted what I had in the camera.

It's almost 4:00 PM and I'm headed outside once more. It's time to put the rest of that flat of Impatiens in the dirt (groan). By 5:15 I was back in the house, washing the dirt off my knees (yes, this time I was forced to kneel). I hooked up the square sprinkler to catch the corner the big sprinkler doesn't get in the front yard. Next I'll water the side lawn where I re-seeded a few weeks ago.

Meanwhile, I should be heading out to weedwack in the back (first time) - does this shit ever end???? Right about now, I am picturing me, living in a condo, where somebody else does all this crap and I just relax and use the pool and hot tub! But, I remembered the bedding so, instead, I get that out of the dryer and make the bed. The timer goes off, so I go and move the sprinkler and reset the timer. I decide that trimming in back can wait until tomorrow. So, I start making my supper, instead.

So, I am trying to make a winter squash soup. I got the recipe from Top Chef (which was my inspiration to begin with). However, it's too complicated. So, I am using parts of it, parts of an Alton Brown recipe and also a Michael Chiarello recipe. But, unlike all three, I am not roasting my squash first, but rather using two packages of the store-bought frozen winter squash (thawed, of course). So, if it turns out any good, it will become a CaptainK recipe!

First, I cut up half an onion, some celery, one peeled carrot and one parsnip, trying to cut everything into 1/4 inch chunks and trying for equal amounts (about 1/4 cup). I added one dried stick of cinnamon and saut�ed these in olive oil and one tablespoon of butter on medium heat, until everything was soft. I sliced 1/2 tray (four ounces) of Crimini mushrooms and sweated them until they gave up their moisture.

Then I removed the cinnamon stick and added two packages of thawed, frozen winter squash, four ounces of heavy cream and 2 1/2 cups of chicken stock. I put in 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg and 1/8 teaspoon of white pepper (black pepper would have worked fine, too, I just didn't want to see the black flecks in the finished soup). Next I added 1 tablespoon of honey, kosher salt (just a pinch now until I taste it), three chunks of crystallized ginger (I didn't have any fresh), the zest of one lemon and about a heaping tablespoon of snipped fresh chives. I let everything get happy while I moved the sprinkler.

I got out my soup magician: the immersion blender! I pureed the heck out of it, turned it on low and tasted it... Hmmm... not bad, but needs more salt. Added another pinch of salt and let it simmer for a while.

I finally gave in and ate of bowl of it. It's a bit too sweet for my taste (i"m not fond of sweet), but adding the lemon zest helped a lot. I think I'll take a bit to Jake and Carla's tomorrow and have more refined palates judge it (and possibly suggest ways to improve it, too!) If I can get it right, I'll write up the recipe, have the Webmaster post it and you can try it for yourself.

So, its 7:30 PM and I've got two more sprinkler moves to make. I'm really beat, BTW. I've got to check and see if tonight's Red Wing game is on TV. If not, I still have the Friday Night Fights taped. Oh, wait! Food Network has three of the first Iron Chef America's on tonight, back to back to back, where our guys challenged the Japanese Iron Chefs. So, I taped the Red Wings game (they won, BTW 4-0) and wallowed in nostalgia until I went to bed at 11:00 PM.