Thursday

It was exactly freezing when I left for work this morning. I was in a hurry and didn’t really look to see if we had gotten a frost or not.

I left work at 10:15 AM for my last therapy session. I did warm up on the Nu-Step and did a few exercises, but most of the time was spent evaluating my strength. They were pleased at the progress I had made (and I was, too). Now, if I can just keep doing the simple exercises at home, I should be better than ever in no time. The only thing I have to worry about (I think) is the bill for my co-pay (before, I used to pay it after each session, but I haven’t paid a dime yet).

I stopped at the Scottish bakery and bought two meat pies for my lunch. I got back just as everyone else was leaving for lunch, so I had a nice quiet lunch while I worked. Then it dawned on me that I’d left my apple on the kitchen table at home, so no afternoon snack for me today!

Matt at work had brought me in two small acorn squash and some banana peppers (he cleaned out his garden before the cold hit, I guess). I thanked him and remembered to take them with me when I left for home.

When I got home, I had another nice surprise. A box on the porch contained the three foot tall “Laurus Nobilis” plant I ordered (edible bay leaves). If you live in a temperate climate (which I don’t) they can grow to a 65-foot tree! But, constrained in a container, they will grow in the house into a smallish bush (3-12 foot).

This one looks pretty healthy, so I changed clothes and mixed up my magic dirt in the wheel barrow. I had already picked out a pot (ideally, you want one that’s 18 inches deep and 18 inches around – I couldn’t find on exactly like that, so mine is 18 inches wide by about 12 inches deep.

I filled it in the garage just high enough so that the plant’s crown would be slightly above the rim. Then I carried it inside and put it in the rolling plant stand I also bought. I took out the fake tree I’ve had since the River Road house and put it downstairs (I guess I’ll take it to the Salvation Army along with some other things I’ve collected to donate).

I got a bucket and filled it with my potting soil/garden soil mixture in the garage. Then I carried it into the house and added it to the pot after removing the new plant from its container. It took three buckets to fill it (you’re supposed to tamp it down, not leave loose soil. I stuck in the dried bamboo stick they also sent and tried it in various places with the rocker (the fake tree was in the corner behind the rocker).

It’s supposed to be in indirect sunlight, but I decided the corner would be just too dark. So, for right now, anyway, it’s between the rocker and the display table (see photos). Although, I was thinking that I could hang a mirror (or use self-stick mirror tiles) on that side of the fireplace to “bounce” the sunlight into the corner. Hmmm...

I vacuumed up any dry dirt that I had inadvertently spilled and then watered the pot. I washed up and saw it was almost 7:00 PM.

I heated up a Marie Callender’s frozen entrée in the microwave for dinner and watched TV until an early bedtime at 10:00 PM.