Adjusting to Home Again

I woke up early on Friday. I went out in the false dawn and set up the sprinkler to water the front. Then I went back in and set the timer for an hour.

Inside, I refilled my pill box and ate some oatmeal (not nearly as satisfying as grits, eggs and onion sausage). I had a couple cups of coffee and started to fill in the Blog.

When the timer went off, I retrieved the hose and hooked it up to the soaker hose in the vegetable garden. I noticed that the tomatoes had really shot up while I was gone, so I used the Velcro tape to secure them to the next rung.

I also refilled the bird feeder and suet cage. I noticed there are a lot of weeds growing around the reflecting pool area and made a mental note to take care of them later.

I cleaned out the poop from all the litter boxes and left just the clumping one active. The rest (non-clumping) I carried out and spread around my horseshoe pits (they are supposed to be clay and I don’t have clay soil here, thank God). So, the next time it rains, I will spade it into the pits.

I opened all the windows downstairs while it was still relatively cool outside to air out the room. Back at the computer, I dealt with a few work-related issues (emails I needed to respond to or forward, etc.). I know, I know, I’m supposed to be on vacation, but stuff still needs to get done! Then I went back to filling in my Blog post.

The timer went off so I unhooked the soaker hose, reeled in the regular hose and took a couple buckets of water back to the peonies.

Back inside, I noticed one odd thing: There’s only one candle and holder on my mantle. I’m guessing a ticked off cat knocked the other one behind the faux fireplace. So, I’ll have to try and fish it out. I went to find something to accomplish that with.

But, I got distracted. One of the things Jake brought down but didn’t want is a small loveseat from Ikea. I told him to leave it in the garage and I’d get rid of it. I was thinking it would be perfect for a dorm room and all the covers come off (they are held on by Velcro) and can be washed. So, I used the furniture dolly and rolled it out to the road. While I was at it, I also rolled out my barrel grille, which I have not used since I put in the state park grille out back. There’s a 30% chance of rain tonight so if it does look like its gonna rain, I’ll take the loveseat back inside. Otherwise, I’m hoping the Redford magic still works and somebody who needs these will haul them away. We’ll see.

Since I was out there anyway, I used the broom and got all the cobwebs off my porch. I should hose it down and may later this afternoon, if its not too hot.

I did find my metal coat hanger I’d opened up once for something or other and retrieved the candle and holder and set them back in place.

Speaking of heat, I went online to check the temperature on the Channel 4 weather (it’s 90 degrees, so time to close those windows) and saw this headline: “Man, woman confirmed to have contracted the West Nile virus in Wayne County.” Now I have something else to worry about: mosquitoes!

So, as I was walking from the computer to the back room to shut the windows, I glanced in the living room and saw that the grille was gone. Less than one hour! Not bad, Redford, not bad!

I shut the windows and saw the three empty kitty litter trays. So, I took them outside washed them with Pine-Sol and rinsed them real good. I set them upside down on the patio furniture to dry in the sun. Then I watered the container gardens.

Back inside, I took my luggage up into the attic. It looks weird up there, with all Jake’s stuff gone, BTW.

I took the two lamps I had rigged up off their timers, then I took a break and made a sandwich for my lunch.

I thought about all the things I could be doing but decided to take a nap instead. I guess I got a rest, but the “nap” idea didn’t work. So, I finally gave up and went out into the heat to weed against the house and the reflecting pool area before the mosquitoes came out.

B___ called and we discussed my trip and what he has been up to since we last talked.

I was inspired by an eggplant Parmesan casserole Fabio made on Chow Ciao (http://screen.yahoo.com/easy-eggplant-parmesan-30112420.html) but I didn’t have any eggplant or fresh mozzarella. So, I microwaved some Marie Callender’s lasagna for dinner instead. Sad, really...

Later that night, I realized that I forgot to cancel the bike insurance, so I tried online. That proved impossible. Forget it. I’ll have to call on Monday (if they’re not open tomorrow).

I watched some shows that had taped while I was gone and finally went to be around 10:30 PM. I noticed the love seat was still out there. Apparently, there are a lot more people who barbeque around here than who have kids in dorms rooms that need a small couch!