Memorial Day Weekend, Day 1

It was more the normal May weather on Friday, with the projected high only 71 degrees F. I got up when the alarm went off. Why set the alarm on my day off? I've got a lot to do today (and miles to go before I sleep...)

So, after making a pot of coffee and drinking a big cup, I shaved and hit the shower. Since both cats were off the bed (a rarity on most Saturdays), I stripped it and put the bedding in the wash machine.

I double-checked my lists (and my wallet) and began by heading to Home Depot. Why not try and get to Blocks Nursery early, you might ask? Because I know from several years' first-hand experience, getting there early doesn't help. In fact, the parking lot is full about a half hour before they even open, with people fighting for carts and baskets.

So, I got the wood I needed for the trellis, some more nails for the air gun and three packs of seeds (snap peas, leaf lettuce and radishes). It took a long time to pick out just 6 pieces of wood. Whatever they do to pressure treat wood seems to warp the hell out of it! I left there and went to Westborn to pick up some veggies and herbs I need for this weekend.

I was back home and unpacked by 9:30. I laid the wood flat on the garage floor to try and minimize warpage (is that a word?) Then I got in the car and headed back out again. First stop (this time) was the quarter car wash. The car's not really "dirty" but with the warm, dry weather, the dust from my road has built up on it.

Then I stopped at CVS to pick up three prescriptions. Finally, I was on my way to Blocks. I just went straight down Middle Belt and I noticed that, after I-94, Middle Belt sucks! Every expansion strip in the road has been squeezed up, so it's like riding over speed bumps in a trailer park (but hundreds of times).

Speaking of "Middle Belt" road, it's confusing. Half the street signs for it say "Middlebelt" and the other half say "Middle Belt." What the hell is the real name of this road?

As always, the parking sucked. What happens is, you pull in and get in a line of traffic with a car in front of you and one in back. Next to you (in the very tight aisles) are cars either looking for spaces or trying to get out (it's as hard to get out as it is to get in). Then somebody further up the line sees somebody come out and start loading their car, so they stop to wait for the space (makes sense and I'd do it if it were me). But, it means you can't move and you're not even waiting for a space, you're just waiting to move a little further.

But, I lucked out today! I was stuck behind a truck waiting for somebody when I noticed a lady with two big carts (they are like double-decker wagons with four wheels and very practical, if you could ever find one) go to a mini-van in the handicap parking. She was rather old and slowly started to unload everything. I figured this would never work, the truck's gonna move, I'm gonna feel bad and move and somebody else will get that spot (I don't like to be the one holding everybody up, so if I have to, I go park on the grass - right, Carla?)

But, after an excruciating wait, she finally got it loaded, slowly got in the front and pulled out. Just then, the truck in front moved forward to claim the parking spot he's been waiting for, so I shot ahead into mine! Believe it or not, it took about 15 minutes from the time I pulled into the driveway until the time I parked.

Naturally, there were no four wheel wagon-cats available, so I grabbed one of the last three shopping carts and proceeded to slowly get inside (huge lines of people and everybody has to stop when the guy in front stops to look at something. I know I'm making this sound horrible (and it can be) but the quality and price of the plants is well worth it.

I was a little depressed as it was obvious I'd come a little too late in the season. As I've told you in previous year's posts, they don't actually grow the plants here, they just buy them in bulk and when they run out, they are OUT!

So, they had like four varieties of tomatoes, none heirloom (which I wanted), so I substituted one Early Girl and one Beefsteak tomato for those. They did have my Italian Plum tomatoes, but only "little" ones.

Last year I think Jake and Carla bought like six or seven kinds of hot peppers. This year I had three to choose from: Huge (pricey) jalapenos, and small habaneras and small hot banana peppers (never heard of them).

And the flower selection was even worse. Once you get past the north-to-south greenhouses (I think there's eight) and start walking east, you cover a large area that's outside. Then there are greenhouses that go east to west in rows of like six to eight greenhouses. And there are maybe five to ten of these rows. Well, today, once you got past the first set of east-west green houses, (and two of them only had hanging planters), the rest were empty!

But, with the on-the-spot substitutions, I think I got what I needed, if not what I wanted. Lesson learned! Go earlier and, if you fear the frost, just keep them in the garage until now. I was talking to a co-worker yesterday who had planted her vegetable garden at the last warm spell and lost everything to the frost this week. I've done that myself, so I could sympathize.

I waiting though the enormous check out lines and then loaded the car. I headed back home, bouncing along Middle Belt (until after I-94) and got home just before 1:00 PM.

I left the plants in the car, came in and checked my email. I replied to one that was about an hour too late. Then I filled in the Blog to date. It took a while, but I was in no hurry. I'm beat! I got the bedding out of the dryer and made up the bed. It looked damn inviting, so I decided to take a nap before proceeding with this day. It was 2:30 PM, BTW.

I read my book and despaired of ever falling asleep, but I eventually did. I woke up at 5:00 PM. I washed the sleep out of my eyes and headed out back.

I raked out the raised bed garden and then realized I wouldn't have any "before" pictures. So, I stopped and took photos of everywhere that flowers, veggies or herbs will be going.

Then I took all my treasures from Blocks out of the trunk. Anything that was moist I put on the inside garage floor. Anything that was dry went on the garage apron (which is slanted). I hooked up the other hose and dragged it out front. I thoroughly watered all the new plants, the mailbox planter and the spot where the Gerbera daisies will go.

I got out the compost screen and took it out back. I pulled the hose back inside the backyard gate (no sense giving anybody an idea of what they could steal!)

Inside, I took the last of the meatballs and tomato sauce I'd put up in March and put the thawed container in a sauce pan. I stuck it in the oven on "warm" (170 degrees F.) It was 7:30 PM, BTW.

Back outside, I planted the mailbox planter with yellow marigolds (I was gonna do pansies in the front and Shasta daisies in the back, but couldn't find either one today). Then I added some store-bought mulch (WTF? Why store-bought mulch when you have a mountain of mulch out back?) Well, because the gardens all around the house have been mulched since I moved here with cedar chunks. So, I don't want to change that at this late date.

Next I weeded and cleaned out the area next to the clematis. Then, I planted the two Gerbera Daisies. I dedicate these to CC, who showed me the beauty of these flowers. I mulched them and moved on.

Next was the little shade garden on Jake's patio. Last year, getting tired of planting annuals every year, I planted two hostas. Long time readers might remember the beautiful crocus that bloomed this spring. So, in front of the crocus, I planted a shade plant (who's name I forget) that only has color on the leaves and no flowers. I mulched that, too.

I went and grabbed the camera and took the "after" shots for you. I went inside and it was 9:00 PM!

I filled in the Blog and then downloaded the photos and posted them.

Without really thinking, I made a pound of spaghetti. I drained it and then added the quart of tomatoes and meatballs. It was then I realized my mistake: Not enough sauce for the amount of pasta. Oh well, I was hungry enough I didn't care! I filled a big bowl and topped it with fresh grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

I went in to watch the Friday Night Fights (already in progress). When they were finished, so was I. I turned off the TV and the light and went to bed.