Memorial Day Weekend, Day 4

I woke up at 6:30 AM on Monday, Memorial Day. I put on a new pot of coffee and went to finish and post the Blog. It's sunny outside and the forecast is for a high of 68 degrees F. Perfect weather to work outside!

I didn't have room in my basket or my car on Friday, so I need to go back to Block's Nursery and get a rose bush or two. So, I shaved and showered and then took off. I got there at 8:40 AM and found a parking space! They don't open until 9:00 AM, you see. So, I sat in the car listening to NPR (National Public Radio, Mom) until I saw people getting out of their vehicles and heading in. So, I did, too.

I went right to the spot where the lady on Friday told me she had found her beautiful rose bushes, but there was nothing there. So, I found one of their "helpers" (distinguished by their green shirts and constantly squawking walkie-talkies) and asked where the roses were. She said, "Oh, I'm sorry, we sold out of the roses on Saturday!"

Dammit!

So, I headed back home, discouraged. I drove 27 miles round trip for nothing...

When I got home, I had to treat the cats. Then I called Luanne to wish them a happy Memorial Day. I just got the recorder, so I left a message. Then I called Carla to tell her I wouldn't be dropping off the roses she asked me to get. I went in the fill in the Blog and the phone rang. It was Lu, and we talked for a while. Stacey and James (Sadie's daughter and son-in-law) are expecting another baby (this time a boy) in September. The goats and their bi-products are still selling well and so forth.

Then she told me something I didn't know (or have even thought about)! She said "You know how you say you have to brush Scruffy now, because he doesn't seem to keep himself as clean as he used to?" I said, "Yes, the lazy bastard!" She said, "No, as cats get older, the rough texture of their tongues wears off, so they can't clean themselves like they used to!"

That explains why Scruffy's tongue feels just a little abrasive, while Caley's feels like sandpaper! Who woulda thunk it? My apologies, Scruffy!

When we said our goodbyes and hung up, it was 10:30 AM and time to get to work!

So, I got out the herbs I bought (two basil plants, six flat-leaf parsley and three rosemary plants). I raked off the old wood chips and then spaded up the area to the depth about eight inches. I got a bucket and an old coffee cup to add the water and then got a bag of fresh wood chips.

I planted all the herbs (dig the hole, fill it with water, insert the plant, drag the nearby soil into the hole, pack it tight and repeat). Then I covered it with fresh wood chips. I swept up the little messes and then got out the hose. Note: I am well pleased to see that the vinca (a ground cover with purple flowers in the spring, that I have growing next to the south-side of the garage and that I had (hopefully and lovingly) transplanted around the reflecting pool has now really taken root. Oh sure, it needs to be weeded this year (I got maples and grass growing in it) but at least one third of the reflecting pool no longer needs mulch!

I watered the hell out of everything and then moved on to the raised bed vegetable garden. When the patio dries out, I will take a photo or two for you. I backed out the trailer and pulled it (and all its contents) back to the raised bed.

Using spacers, I cut out of the remaining four-foot 2 x 4, I secured the two end boards to the sandbox (first with the air gun and then, after drilling a pilot hole, with my drill and deck screws). After leveling, I added the center board and screwed that on. Then I added the four 1 x 2's, starting at the top and moving down every eight inches. I realized (belatedly) I could have used one more 1 x 2. So, I marked where it would go and left the 100 foot extension cord outside (I'll pick that board up tomorrow or the next day).

Then I got the shovel and dug up the entire area. Next I need to dig up and sift some several wheelbarrows full of last year's compost. But, it's already 6:30 PM, I'm tired and I think I'm done for tonight. So, I loaded everything back up and pulled the trailer around the front and into the garage.

I'll be honest, I am disappointed in my work output this extended weekend, but I did my best. I guess I just over-estimated how far I would get.

I took pictures of everything and then went inside to post them. I worked on this while enjoying my nightly cocktail. I had been researching the relationship between sodium (which I love) and potassium (which I don't get enough of).

Now, I have checked this out and, apparently you just have to offset your sodium intake with potassium. Potassium? Number one on the charts is bananas (which I FREAKING HATE!) But, number two was low-sodium V-8 Juice. So, I bought a couple of jugs of it. I now drink eight ounces of it per day. Yeah, that's me, Mr. Healthy.

I got washed up and then started thinking about dinner. "Making" something seemed like a lot of work, so I dished up a salad plate, consisting of the rest of the potato salad, some pasta salad and some of that coleslaw. I wandered in to watch some TV before going to bed.