May 21. Surgery Follow Up Day.

W surprised me before 8 a.m. letting me know he was on his way to put the air conditioner in the window. Would have been nice to get advance notice so I could have everything ready and waiting. Oh well. It's in now and is quite nice knowning Bandit and the kitties won't get overheated. Nicer for sleeping too.

Had to make a run to ValuHome for duct tape to close up the gaps so the kitties can't get out. As long as I was there I got a good welcome mat and the painting supplies for Judy's barn quilt.

We had a bit of a spat about the board he's selling me for barn quilt signs. I wanted MDB board. He insisted that the board he has is "perfect" for barn quilts. My concern was not having a smooth painting surface. He brought the board later in the day and it has cracks - just like I suspected. Already paid for it so will have to make do. Means more work for me. It's 3/4" plywood. *sigh*

Got gas at the reservation on my way to Strayer's Greenhouse yesterday. $2.76 there vs. $3.09 in Bradford proper. Bought one zucchini, two crook neck squash, ten coleus, a huercha and a blue Echinacea.

Came back home and planted the coleus after weeding out the front flower beds. What a chore that was. Buttercups are hard to get rid of. They spread by sending out root runners similar to strawberries. 

One of the neighbors on Main Street is putting in a garden, so I'm giving them some herbs for it. Chives, thyme and oregano. Will probably give them a couple kohlrabi plants as well.

Still need to plant more radishes and parsley. Have to plant the beans too. 

Guess I'll get the household chores done and get ready to head to Dubois.

May 19.

Planted the aphid infested green peppers this morning after spraying them with Neem Oil again. 

Worked a bit more on the shady foundation bed and the perennial bed. Butter cups are pretty, but really invasive. Glad there is a little landscaping cloth under that bed - makes them a little easier to pull. 

Am probably going to plant spinach in the shady bed. The raised beds are too hot for more than an early spring crop. Thinking of putting basil where the spinach is now. Will need to compare habitats first.

No zucchini seeds in my seed stash. Hard to believe with all these seeds.

Still need to plant more radishes and some parsley. Not sure what else.

Was very hot yesterday. 73 outside and in the 80s inside. Closed up the house early this morning to try to keep it a bit cooler today. Gonna need A/C soon.

Washed two loads of laundry yesterday and have three to go today. First load was sofa cushion covers. Would like to get a cover for it someday. Not in the budget right now. Might use the blue Jean quilt.

Took off my bandaid last night. The incision seems to be healing well. Already stressing about the follow up on Friday. The ride more than the actual examination. Plus being around people brings out a girllot of intolerance on my part. Anger issues. 

Guess I'll get cleaned up and find something productive to do that doesn't involve overheating. 77 degrees already at 11:30 a.m.

Wet Wednesday.

Bandit got drenched on our morning stroll even though we didn't go far (across the bridge to the corner and back).

I stayed pretty dry until I looked at the temperature (48) and needed to open the raised bed greenhouses and set out the bird feeders.

Am back inside now. Dried off and sipping a cuppa. Wondering what kind of bird makes that weird chirp only to discover after it becomes rhythmic that the noise is Bandit snoring. Gonna be a two cup morning.

W brought the fourth raised bed over already made so we had to carry it to the garden. It was rather heavy.  He insisted on putting it where the butterfly bush is. I could see his point, so that's where it sits. I pray I don't kill the bush by moving it.

Supposed to rain most of today. Free watering for the garden. Will also give this old body a chance to recuperate and maybe play with some embroidery.

Tuesday Tasks.

Yesterday I planted garlic and onions in the beet/kohlrabi/kale raised bed. 

W and his brother-in-law came over in the afternoon and the three of us moved the one raised bed that was out front into the fenced garden area. Took a while. Had to stop every ten feet or so because it was so heavy. Even then, the three of us are all hurting. My knee is sore and swollen; liniment helps with the sore muscles. 

W's coming back over today to put together another raised bed. Smaller than the other three; they are 8 x 4 - this will be 6 x 3. That's OK. More room to plant. Will still have to dig a bed for the asparagus. Thinking of putting it right in the middle of the garden.

Guess I'd better walk Bandit and straighten up the house.