by Judy Handley | Aug 6, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 219: Relaxed Sunday
Date: Sunday, August 6, 2023
Weather: Sunny; High 78, Low 65 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Today was a day of forced relaxation. I’m not sure what I did to cause the problem, but my back was letting me know that it needed a rest. So did a few things around the house and then had Heather, Jed, Sam, and Ollie over for dinner. Jonah was with friends, so I didn’t get to see him. But the rest of us had a nice dinner outside. I had the table set for an inside dinner, but the weather was just perfect for being outside. We moved my outside table to the front side yard and had a feast while enjoying a perfect summer evening.
by Judy Handley | Aug 5, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 218: Car Back, Still a Problem
Date: Saturday, August 6, 2023
Weather: Mostly Sunny; High 77, Low 62 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
My car is home, but the problem is not fixed. I was wrong last night when I said I thought the check engine light would come on after a drove a mile or so. I made it all the way home which was 17 miles and then drove the car to East Falmouth to pick up a few outdoor things at the cottage. It was on the way home from there that the light came on and when I was almost home it started flashing. On Monday morning I will drive it around until the light comes on and then drive it straight to an auto repair shop. Or at least that is the current plan. We’ll see what happens by Monday.
While I was out and about, I bought a few gardening items that were too heavy for me to carry. So later this afternoon Sam and Jed came over to unload the car. Heather drove to Rhode Island today to pick up Ollie and Jonah, so right after Sam and Jed were here, they were all headed to Coast Fest to hear the local band they love so much play. I’ll have to get a report tomorrow on the Crooked Coast concert. And sadly, Lily left this afternoon. Her month of internship at WHOI was over yesterday. Heather loved having another female in the house. It was like having a daughter. Lily and family will be back to stay in their summer home for two weeks starting next week. Heather and family will be in Maine for the first week of their stay, but they will get to see each other again at some point.
by Judy Handley | Aug 4, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 216: Finally . . . Drip-irrigation System is Working
Date: Friday, August 4, 2023
Weather: Mostly Sunny; High 75, Low 67 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
It was supposed to be first on my agenda, but somehow that got switched to the last job of the day. Regardless, I finally got the drip-irrigation system all connected and working. I’m afraid it is too late to save my tomatoes, but I just might rip those out and plant some fall crops in their place. I spent the first part of my day planting the Black-Eyed Susan’s I bought at Job Lot yesterday. There are the beginnings of a little rock garden in front of my deck—there are rocks and some Hosta. So, I planted the Black-Eyed Susans in front of the Hosta and I have grand plans for the space directly in front of the deck. I got most of a drip-irrigation system to that area as well. But I will need some help transporting garden soil to the area. I’m hoping I can get Jonah or Ollie or both to help me with that before they head to Maine next week.. I also went on a weeding frenzy to get rid of all the tall weeds in parts of the yard that were getting ready to spread their seeds everywhere. They are now gone. But never fear, there are many more short weeds that need to be pulled. Still lots to do.
I spent some of my day on the phone with the mechanics at the shop where I had my car towed the second time. The car has been there since Wednesday morning, but they didn’t have time to check it out until today. They told me the same thing the first shop told me. There is absolutely nothing wrong with my car. They cannot get the check engine light to come on no matter what they do. And unfortunately, the first shop cleared the computer system, so no one can tell what is wrong until that light comes on again. Heather is headed to Rhode Island in the morning to pick up Jonah and Ollie from Scout camp. She will drop me off in Sagamore and I will attempt to drive the car home. I am certain the check engine light will come on after I drive about 3 miles and then the car will only go 40 miles an hour. The mechanic assured me that I can go ahead and drive the car home if that is the case. But he assured me that he drove it for five miles and had no problems. I don’t know what I will do with the car once I get it home, but better to have it back here than so far away. Or maybe the problem is solved. That would be great.
Jonah and Ollie have had a good time at camp this week. Tonight, Heather showed me a few photos that Mr. Bruce, the Scout Master, sent to her. On the first day, Jonah caught a 17.5 inch fish when all of the other kids were catching little 5-inchers. We knew Jonah would have a good time because his good friend Joey is there. But we were all a bit nervous about Ollie as this was his first-time camping without a parent. They have had good weather and both Mr. Bruce and Jonah assure us that Ollie has had a great time. Mr. Bruce just says he doesn’t want us to let Ollie grow up.
by Judy Handley | Aug 3, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 215: Swans
Date: Thursday, August 3, 2023
Weather: Sunny; High 74, Low 64 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
For the five years that I lived in the cottage, I enjoyed the beauty of the swans that visited the upper reaches of the Eel River. All winter, I could watch them fly up to the end of the canal and then float back down. In the spring, they hung out around the dock in Shirley’s back yard where I could watch them up close. Now I live in town, so no swans. But I do have a hooked rug that Shirley made hanging on my living room wall that depicts the bird life I enjoyed at the cottage.
But why I am talking about swans? Earlier today I saw this post in my Facebook feed: “So stoked to have this little piece in the world today! Many thanks to @inquisitiveeater for indulging my interest in the history of the consumption of swan.” This was posted by my grandnephew, Josh Martin. He is a poet, a writer, a college professor, and a brand-new dad.
The complete article can be read here:
https://inquisitiveeater.com/…/03/on-the-eating-of-swan/
Otherwise my day was filled with meetings, a trip to the Farmers Market, a little cooking of healthy food, a computer search to find a place in North Carolina to cater a belated 90th birthday celebration for my sister the day after the wedding we are attending, and a bit of yard work. Last night I contacted my friend Patsy Decker who lives in Chapel Hill and today I heard from her. She will be able to come visit with me while I am in the area for the wedding. I was so excited about that. I did not get to finish the drip irrigation system for the garden. That is first on the agenda for tomorrow.
by Judy Handley | Aug 2, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 214: Yard and Garden Work
Date: Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Weather: Partly Sunny; High 76, Low 52 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Today I took advantage of having nothing on my calendar and gave myself the gift of a quiet morning doing very little. I then launched into a frenzy of yard and garden work. But the pain in my knee and lower back slowed me to a halt a few times during the day. I just had to sit and regain the fortitude to continue. I spent a lot of time trying to complete the drip irrigation system for the garden. I installed most of it in early June, but then got sidetracked with the move and just got back to it today. It is now very difficult because the garden is like a jungle. I did not complete the job, but will try to get back to it tomorrow.
Sam and Heather dropped by in the evening. They had been out giving Sam an opportunity to practice driving. We visited for a bit, Sam played with Shadow, and they picked up their lawnmower that I have had all summer. Time to cut the grass at 43 Grasmere.
