Wake me up when September ends...

I woke up at 5:40 AM on Sunday. I went through my usual routines, but varied breakfast. Since I have to go grocery shopping, I used the last two eggs and soft-boiled them. I put them on a torn-up slice of sourdough bread and added salt, pepper and butter. I ate them with my second cup of coffee.

Then I refilled my pill box for the week, wound the living room clock, shaved and showered. I cleaned the tub after I showered. Then I swept the bathroom and kitchen floor. I got dressed for errand running and, on my way out, mopped both the bathroom and the kitchen floor, working backwards so it all would dry while I was out. I also started the last (unless somebody barfs) load of laundry for the weekend: My bathrobe, the two bath towels and the bath mat.

First I went to Target to get some more socks. I noticed I was wearing out the light tan ones. While I was there, I also bought some Target brand bleach and Purex laundry detergent that I noticed was on sale. The store was pretty empty, since it was about 8:30 AM.

From there I went to Kroger’s. Early Sunday morning is definitely the time to go shopping, as there’s only us heathens out there and not in church (or, to be more PC, “worship services.”)

I stuck to my list and only made one impulse buy: Five Honeycrisp apples (I thought they would be out sooner or later, and these were beauties). By sticking to my list (drawn up from the sales flyer) I spent only $70 and saved over $25, according to the register tape.

I made one last stop at the gas station and filled the car up. With these trips to rehab and the dentist, my gas is not lasting as long as it used to! For some odd reason, although I gave the guy $40 US, the pump ran over to $40.06. So, I went back inside to give him the six cents. He shook his head and told me to forget it, so I thanked him and left.

I was back home and, after treating the cats, putting groceries and stuff away before 10:00 AM. Then I dusted off the kitchen chairs I had moved into the living room and put them back in the kitchen.

Then I went outside with some scissors and took out the tomato plants. I loaded up the wheel barrow and dumped everything into the second compost heap. I have two in the back, next to each other and I use one per year (not that I did this year with my back and all). That way, any volunteer tomato, beans, hot pepper, etc., seeds that sprout do not get into my garden. So this year’s left-over plants won’t be used for two more years. BTW, I forgot to tell you, I did pick three smallish green peppers yesterday that I plan on using today.

Then I wound up the soaker hose. Now, I have no idea what to do with a soaker hose, as the only time in the past I used them (and I used a LOT of them, say, 250 feet) was when I buried them under the hedge row I planted in front of the house in St. Clair. I watered that hedge faithfully and told the new owner about where to hook it up, etc. And, he either did or he got lucky, because the hedge was big and beautiful the last time I went by.

But, this one I left on top of the ground. So, I rolled it up and took it in the house for the winter.

Then came the heartbreaker: I tore apart the window box outside the kitchen window. The plants went into the compost heap and the rest of the soil went into the veggie garden. The container is supposed to be stored inside over the winter (as is the porch railing planter).

I started gathering up the outdoor statuary. I was dismayed at the damage wrought on the young Shaolin monk. I’m not sure if I can fix him, which depresses the hell out of me. I bought him at World Market (now gone) on a lunchtime trip with B___ (also long gone from lunchtime trips).

I took some photos so you would understand what I am talking about.

I was also depressed by the amount of leaves that have fallen just since they cut the lawn last week. They are not even changing color, they are just falling (B___ said it’s because they were stressed so much this year by lack of water). And, I have two definitely dead pine trees out back. This all just sucks.

I went back inside around 5:00 PM, after leaving my wheelbarrow and my gloves outside in front (to clean out the front gardens). I checked the football scores and saw that Amy was right (I’m glad I didn’t bet the farm on this) and Minnesota won. Damn!

Just then the phone rang and it was my other daughter, Melissa. So we talked for a long while (as usual – I expected a call from her as the Ryder Cup was on TV and I figured Dave would be preoccupied).

When we finally hung up, I went out front to retrieve the wheelbarrow and my gloves, and then went back inside to make my Sunday dinner.

Now, as you probably know, I like my meatloaf the traditional way (1/3 ground chuck, 1/3 ground pork and 1/3 ground veal) but veal is just too expensive these days. So, I went with ground sirloin (lower fat) and ground pork. To that, I added about a cup of crushed Ritz crackers.

Then, I added a handful of fresh sage leaves, rosemary and thyme, all chopped fine. Then I added a small onion, a green pepper and a clove of garlic (all finely diced). I put in two eggs and a 1/4 cup of milk and smushed everything together.

I shaped it into a loaf and set it in the middle of a half-sheet pan lined with tinfoil. I didn’t mess around with making a brown sugar glaze, I just poured ketchup on top of it. I put three sweet potatoes around it and put it in a pre-heated 350 degree F. oven. Then I set the timer for an hour. When the timer went off, I checked it and decided to let it go another 15 minutes.

When it was done, I let it rest a bit and then cut two big pieces and broke open a sweet potato, to which I added butter salt and pepper. Dinner was excellent, except for one thing: I put too much sage in it and that overpowered the other herbs and the garlic. But, it was Fall comfort food and I enjoyed it.

It was late by the time I cleaned up the kitchen, so I watched one DIY show and then went to bed.

And that's how my September ended...