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.
by Judy Handley | Aug 1, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 213: Shop ‘til You Drop Day
Date: Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Weather: Partly Sunny; High 75, Low 60 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Today was the day I put aside to go shopping for something to wear to a black-tie wedding. It has been many years since I have been to a dressy affair, so there is absolutely nothing in my closet that would work. So, off I went. I checked locally on Monday and found nothing. Today I headed to a mall near Boston. I tried Macys first, then Nordstroms. There are hundreds of dresses to choose from, but in my size and in black (yes, the invitation says all guests are requested to wear black) I only found six things to try on. Three looked awful on me, one was too small, and two were too big. The only one I really liked was a bit small and there was nothing larger. I checked a few other shops and found nothing. But in the process, I learned something about my taste in clothing. I like the style of Calvin Klein dresses. Who knew? I checked Google to see where else I could find Calvin Klein clothing and I saw that there is a Calvin Klein store at the Wrentham Outlet Mall. That was another 30-minute drive to the north and west, but I was successful. It will have to be hemmed, but that I can be done here in Falmouth. It was a long day, leaving home at 9 am and getting home at 6 pm, but that job is done.
The day also included an early morning stop at the cottage to put out the trash and recycle bins, a stop on the way home to check on my car, and then a stop at the cottage at the end of the day to put the bins away. Now that job is done. But the car stop took longer than planned because the exhaust shop where I had it towed says my problem is not in the exhaust system. They had no idea what the problem might be, but they helped me find a place on the Cape Cod side of the bridge to check it out. I drove to that garage to talk to them to see how soon they can look at it. They have an opening on Friday, so in the morning I will call AAA and have them tow my little Fit once again. In the meantime, I am driving Heather and Jed’s Civic. Hopefully sometime next week, I’ll have my car back.
by Judy Handley | Jul 31, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 212: Lazeeee Summer Day
Date: Monday, July 31, 2023
Weather: Sunny; High 77, Low 61 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
I gave myself a gift today—a ‘lazeeee’ summer day of doing almost nothing. Jonah and Ollie are both away at Scout camp and Sam was working today. I had no grandkids, so my time was all my own to do nothing with. I spent most of my morning catching up on text and email messages that needed to be returned. I then worked on my jigsaw puzzle. It is a map of Martha’s Vineyard, and I enjoyed just slowly putting pieces together. Working a puzzle is like meditating for me. All thoughts are pushed out of my head, and I just concentrate on one little piece at a time. Workmen arrived to check out a leak in a kitchen skylight, and after they left, I did a quick shopping trip in Falmouth and Mashpee to find formal, black attire to wear to my grand niece’s black-tie wedding. As I suspected, I found nothing, so I will have to spend my day off-Cape tomorrow shopping. Shadow and I drove out to the cottage to put the trash and recycle bins out for pick-up tomorrow. On our way home, we stopped by Karen and Peter Baranowski’s for a short visit that turned out to be not so short. But it was good to catch up with friends. That was about it for my day.
The weather has moderated, and it is no longer so hot. The windows are open and AC is off. It is delightful. Tomorrow night we will have the first of two full moons in August. The almost full moon is rising right now, but I have discovered one issue with living here. I can’t watch the moon rise because of the tall trees in my backyard. I might have to become one of those Falmouth residents who goes to the beach to watch the full moon rise. But I’ll learn to live with this one little issue. Otherwise, I am loving living here. I do hope to be able to spend some time in the garden this week and spent time getting the last bits put away in the house. But that must wait until Wednesday or Thursday as tomorrow I have to continue my formal dress search. While off-Cape, I will stop in Wareham to check on my car.
by Judy Handley | Jul 30, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 211: Happy 11th Birthday to Coco
Date: Sunday, July 30, 2023
Weather: Sunny; High 73, Low 60 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
For some reason, I dated last night’s log with today’s date. I got a day ahead of real time. But today I know it is July 30th because it is Coco Annabelle’s 11th birthday. I just talked to her on Skype for a few minutes between activities and she said she has had a fabulous weekend. Friday night she and her friends went to see Barbie
and then came back to Finca Maravilla and had an overnight in the newly renovated barn.
There were seven girls, including Coco, and they went skating,
played on the trampoline, swam in the pool, painted their bodies,
and ate macaroons and birthday cake.
And that all took place in the 32 hours before her birthday. The real birthday today was reserved as a family day of presents, some shopping, and tonight going out for a sushi dinner. Happy Birthday, Coco!
Jonah and Ollie were off to Camp Yawgoog in Rhode Island this afternoon. But not before a stop at Smitty’s for an ice cream farewell.
This is Jonah’s third Scouting summer camp, but it is a first for Ollie. He just crossed over to Boy Scouts from Cub Scouts and has never been camping without his dad. So this is a big step for him. Sam and Jonah didn’t go to this camp until they were 12, a year older than Ollie. I sure hope Ollie adapts and that both boys have a wonderful week.
Heather asked me what I am going to do this week without any Goldpebbles to hang out with. I am looking forward to doing some things around house, like getting fully moved in, and working in the garden. I planted the garden the first of June
and have done nothing since except pick tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, basil, and a little wild kale. It looks like a jungle
and could use a little taming, as could the weeds that are growing to a giant size everywhere in the yard. I got a bit of a start this afternoon by weeding in the area in front of my deck. While doing that, I noticed that the swallowtail butterflies are loving the Echinacea I transplanted from the cottage.
And they also love the weed that is so prolific in this yard. I don’t know what it is, but it has tiny daisy-like blossoms. I am going to leave that weed for the butterflies. And maybe I’ll get some lettuce, kale, and arugula planted for the fall. Hopefully it will be a quiet week and I can get a lot of work done. But I do need to go shopping for a dress to wear to my grand niece’s black tie wedding. Unfortunately, that will take one of the days.
After last night’s deluge, the temperature outside has modified. It was only 73 today and actually felt chilly when the sun went behind a cloud. It looks like we might have a week with cooler temps before we go back into the 80’s next week.
