Saturday's Story

I woke up at 6:30 AM on Saturday. I ground some coffee beans and put a pot on. I cleaned the kitchen counters waiting for it to perk.

I had a cup while I posted the Blog and another as I swept the kitchen floor. Then I made up my grocery list. At 9:00 AM, I went out back again to move more mulch while it was still cool.

I quit at 10:00 AM. I am at least three quarters of the way done (there are much less plants in the middle section). Casualties to date: Those two missing hostas and three of the four rhododendrons. Also, the back Buddha was buried (I suppose I'll pay karma points for that when I die). But, it's coming along and I am well pleased. I took some photos of the morning glories this year (It was just one packet of seeds and supposed to be all purple, but there are a variety of colors).

I posted the pictures, threw my shorts and T-shirt in the laundry basket and then shaved and showered. I hit the road at 11:00 to go grocery shopping at Kroger's (I don't usually go that late and it was very crowded, BTW). I got back home and unpacked everything and then immediately hit the road again, heading for Lake Orion and my Mom. I'm guessing that, with this upcoming surgery, this will be my last visit to the cottage this year.

I got there about 1:30 PM after an uneventful trip. I found Cora had taken ill (contact me via email for details) and my sister-in-law Kathy was now taking care of Mom until Monday when Raquel would be coming in (Marla, our favorite Cora replacement is unavailable due to having a baby a few weeks ago).

I knew I still had lots to do this weekend, so I didn't plan on cooking Mom anything. I just took her a fruit plate (cantaloupes, pineapple slices, that white melon whose name I can never remember and some seedless grapes.) I also took a small watermelon that I cut into bite sized chunks when I was there.

I hit the mother-lode as far as visitors, as they were signing Mom up for Hospice with the same folks they used last year for the Palliative Care. So, I had my brother Joe and Kathy, their daughter Julie and her son Devon, my brother Jim and Coletta, Carl's stepson Mike and his wife Chris and, arriving late, of course, my brother Carl.

I left at 3:30 PM and headed home. I still have a lot to do tonight. I got home at 4:45 PM and (after treating the damn cats) changed clothes and started cutting the front lawn with the push mower.

Somewhere near the mailbox, my right ankle felt on fire and, looking down, I saw two of those tiny yellow jacket wasps energetically stinging me through my sock. I slammed the hand of God (well, maybe just me) on them until they expired, but the damage was done. So, my left ankle, which still hurts and itches, is screwed up, but now my right ankle is also wrecked. I wish I could find their nest! "Green" be damned, I would dump a load of chemical shit on their ass that would make Chernobyl look like a picnic!

I got the key to the tractor and then cut the back lawn. Since it's been rather dry and hasn't grown much, I put it in a higher gear. I finished everything up before 7:00 PM.

Back inside, I got a call from my brother Jim who wanted to make sure I was comfortable with today's proceeding (I am) and then went back outside with my tree trimmer pole. I like the trees but am not happy hitting branches as I cut the lawn. So, I walked up one side and down the other, cutting all the low hanging branches.

It was getting late and I decided that I would pick up the branches tomorrow. I took a rinse-off shower. I put on my bathrobe and thought about dinner (I haven't eaten all day). But, my arm hurts like hell and my legs are shot from the drive, so I decided it was too much trouble and just went to bed.