Working and Reading

I had a miserable night's sleep and consequently didn't wake up until 7:00 AM on Saturday. I stripped the bed and threw the sheets into the washer. Then I put on a pot of coffee and posted the Blog.

Now, I need to tell you, I invented a great late-night snack last night about 2:30 AM. Let me set the scene: In the past, when hunger pangs have assaulted me, I have taken some Triscuits and made a single layer on a plate. I topped that with shredded sharp cheddar cheese and some slices of jalapeno peppers (from a jar I always have in the fridge), micro waved it and chowed it down. But, when I checked last night, I was out of Triscuits!!!

So, I took an 8" flour tortilla and threw it right on my biggest gas burner (this is a Jake and Carla trick). When it started to rise in the middle, I flipped it over. Another rise and I had a perfectly warmed, charred tortilla. I put that on a dinner plate, loaded it up with shredded sharp cheddar and drizzled it with some medium-hot taco sauce. I topped that with my jalapeno slices and micro waved it for a minute. I folded it up, closed one end and ate it. Perfect!

Anyway, back to this morning: when the sheets came out of the dryer, the bedspread and blanket went in. I took my shower and then threw the bath towel and my robe in for the final load for today.

I got dressed and headed out around 10:30 AM for a quick shopping trip (just Home Depot and Meijer's, today). At Home Depot, I bought an 8"x7/8"x8' cedar board (rough-sawn on one side) and a long handled transfer shovel.

I got my limited groceries and lots of cleaning products, paper products, etc. at Meijer's (I'm running low on just about everything BUT food). On my way out of the shopping center, I noticed they were having a sale at Famous Footwear. I have been needing a good pair of walking shoes for work because the dress shoes I currently wear are making my feet hurt after 10 hours.

I ended up buying two pairs of the exact same shoe: a black Rockport ProWalker. Why? First pair was 15% off, but the second pair was 50% off! Since nothing lasts forever (especially shoes) I now have a backup pair.

I got home just around noon. I left the car outside and hauled in the groceries. I treated the cats (although Scruffy ignored it - he does that every now and then) and put away the stuff. I took the blanket and bedspread out of the dryer and finished making the bed. I threw the towel and bathrobe in the dryer and fired it back up.

Just after 1:30, I went out to the garage to make a new tree box. I used the table saw to cut the various pieces out, and then assembled them using the air gun. However, on the back side (you don't see) I used screws to keep it together, hopefully longer. Once I got it together, I drilled out some drainage holes (see photos).

Then I screwed it into the tree, using a level (I always do). It never visually matches the tree, but it helps to keep the water inside! When I had it all done, I took the leaf blower and cleaned out the garage. I blew all the junk (sawdust, winter debris, old leaves and rock salt) into the side lawn. Then I blew off the driveway all the way out to the road.

I pulled the car back in and, since I still had the air compressor on, I checked and refilled all the tires.

Then I went out to the back yard with the Gnome door Sadie and Luanne gave me for Christmas. I checked every tree and found one that was flat enough at the base to install it. So, I pounded in a nail and hooked it up. This will replace the face on my tree that fell apart last fall. I need my whimsy, dammit! (See photos).

Then it was onto the patio with my new shovel. I used the leaf rake to clean out the front of the north gate (not the Ninth Gate, no, it's a LOT less HOT!) Please don't ask me to explain, Mom. Just trust me on this one... I don't care if she was the Devil, I would have been there!!!

Anyway, then I used the large river rocks to fill in the place in front of the north gate. You should note three things: I locked it when I first moved in and have no idea what key unlocks its padlock; it has been sooo unused that it has sunk below the ground level, now (see photos) and I cannot reach this area with the riding mower. So, the rocks will help keep the weeds down.

I was back inside at 5:00 PM and ready to take a nap. So, I did.

Well, sorta... I thought I'd read the first chapter or two of that book my Mom recommended, "Water for Elephants," and then doze off. Mom was right, though (she always is!) I couldn't put the damn thing down! The next thing I knew, it was 10:05 PM, I was hungry, I hadn't napped at all and I had just finished the book! Excellent read!!! I loved the juxtaposition of an old man in a nursing home talking about his daily life and then flashing back to his youth and working at a circus during the Great Depression. This was one of the best fiction books I have read in a long, long time (and I read a LOT of books!) The author's name is Sara Gruen, BTW. I highly recommend this book!!!

But, then I needed to eat. I warmed up the last two hamburger patties and ate them as is with just some salt and steak sauce on top. I went and performed my nightly ablutions and then went back to bed, hopefully to really sleep this time.