Garbage Day

I woke up too early on Tuesday morning (about 3:30 AM). Apparently going to bed at 10:30 PM was a bad idea. Since I couldn’t fall back asleep, I posted the rocking chair cushion pictures and then the Blog entry. By then I was feeling sleepy again, so I went back to bed and slept until the alarm woke me up.

Again, I took a shower in the main bathroom and again, I could barely turn the handles on the faucets. That can’t be right, no matter how new all the brass and rubber bushings are. I’m going to have to investigate (damn I hate plumbing!)

I got ready for work and, before leaving, I took the garbage bag out to join the garbage can at the road. A lady from across the street called over “good morning!” and then walked over to talk. She said she had been admiring my tiger lilies and planned on buying some when they came down in price.

I asked her if the spot she was planning on putting them got sunlight and she said yes. I showed her the raggedy ones on the north side of the house and said I moved a few plants from there to a row in front when the guy next door built his house.

I explained to her they grow like wildfire and I am always cutting them back, so she could feel free to dig out as many as she wants and transplant them. I told her I didn’t need to be here, just dig your holes where you want your plants, and then come over here and take all you need from my side, not my neighbors (I’ll just use my compost out back to fill in the holes and in a month or two you won’t be able to tell).

She thanked me again and I said I had to get to work. The upshot is I made a woman I don’t even know happy, but was 15 minutes late for work. I think I made the right choice!

I called Michaels (a craft store on Middle Belt) and asked if they carried foam or batting I could make into a throw pillow. The lady said no, not that, but they did have two sizes of pillow inserts. So, I headed there at lunchtime.

I should have measured the amount of fabric left before I went shopping because, not knowing what I had to work with, I bought the 14”x14” one (they also had a 16”x16” one as well).

The cashier asked me if I had called earlier when she saw what I had and I said yes. She said, “I was the one you talked to!” I told her thanks for the advice, and she scanned in a 40% off coupon for me!

From there I stopped at Home Depot and bought a quart of white semi-gloss paint for the little hallway. The paint lady asked if I wanted her to shake the can up for me so she did.

I was running out of lunchtime, so I bought two hot dogs on the way out and ate then in the car. Then I drove back to work and got back five minutes early (making up for lost time in the morning). Unfortunately, when I got there, I realized that by just sitting in the car with it running (for the A/C)and eating, then driving back to work, I completely forgot to put on my seatbelt! That's not only dangerous, but can get you a ticket here in Michigan.

When I got home after work, I tied up my tomatoes to the second rung of the trellis and then set out the square head sprinkler. I’ve been thinking about just how much water I am putting on the lawn and my neighbor’s lawn instead of just the vegetable garden when I do this and plan on buying a soaker hose sometime soon. Back in the house, I set the timer for an hour.

I made a cup of coffee and watched the news. When the timer went off, I disconnected the square head sprinkler and connected the oscillating one. I set that in place to water the raised herb bed and the garden next to it. I came back inside and reset the timer for another hour.

Then I got out all the tools I used on the bathroom and took off the handles and decorative covers. I loosened the outer nuts (the ones that have the rubber bushing to prevent water from leaking out the handles). I put just the handles back on, and they both turned with ease. However, the one for the hot water was leaking just a little. So, I tightened it up just a little and it stopped.

I left everything off and all the tools in the bathroom. I want to see what happens after I take a real shower in the morning. But, I think I solved the problem!

After the timer went off again, I shut off the water and reset the sprinkler to water the gardens around the reflecting pool, the Japanese maple and the garden against that side of the back of the house. Back inside, I set the timer for one more hour.

I warmed up a brat and ate that and the rest of the potato salad for my dinner. The timer went off at 8:45 PM. So, I went outside for the last time and shut off the water.

I watched some TV and then went to bed at 11:00.