A Productive Day

Some days, I get up, make lunch, read several days of newspapers,  check computer stuff, pay a few bills, putter around until dinner, and then watch TV afterwards and go back to bed.  But usually I am more active.  

This was an active day.  I actually got up in time to make breakfast.  A pancake with 2 soft-fried eggs on top (so the yolk mixed with the pancake, 2 sausages, a mug of cocoa (OK, OK, Nestle's Quick in warmed milk), a mug of green tea, and some Coke for fizz.

I read the newspaper fast (editorials and comics) and decided to work in the yard.  The Weather Channel said I had 3 hours before some "possible" moderate rain.  And I had bought 3 small pots of coleus to plant in 3 hanging pots.  I wanted to get that done because it was the last of the flowers to plant and Fall veggies will need to be planted soon.

It of course immediately started to rain hard!  So I spent the afternoon in the basement.  It is a mess!  So it wasn't wasted time.  Cleaned litter pans (always a daily priority).  I've been using Tidy Cats for years.  But it is sticky to the sides of the pans.  I had bought a box of Arm&Hammer "Slide" to try it out and it is easier to scoop and doesn't stick as much.  

Tidy Cats is the size of sand.  A&H is more like sugar-sized.  I like it better.  But it is more expensive.  Something like 57 cents per ounce vs 80 cents per ounce.  But it does scoop more easily.  I'm still deciding which to use regularly.  The Mews don't seem to care.  

So that down for the day, I went around the basement just cleaning, arranging, and fixing stuff while it rained.

First thing was to make a small LED Mag-lite flashlight magnetically-attachable to the metal basement door.  I had an old flashlight that was pathetically dim even with new batteries, but it had a magnetic attachment.  It took a few minutes to figure out how to get the magnet off.  Pounding it didn't work, but a screwdriver tapped in under the magnet pried it right off.

I tried superglue and clamps on the Mag to start.  Superglue just does not hold to plastic.  So I tried contact cement.  I'll know if that works tomorrow.  

Second, I had 12 really heavy-duty boxes from wine shipments and was saving them because they were so sturdy and just seemed useful.  But I wasn't using them and they were taking up space.  But I value large pieces of cardboard for smothering weeds in garden paths and unplanted areas in the flowerbeds.  So I took out the 6-pack dividers and stacked them up, and saved the big 2 boxes the 12 came in to cut open later.

I have an invasive periwinkle vine that is taking over the yard.  Roundup doesn't kill it (waxy leaves).  But covering it with the cardboard will, eventually.  And this heavy box cardboard should last long enough to smother them.  And I think I will cover the cardboard with black plastic to make it last a couple years.

I have too much junk.  I actually have 2 dead microwave ovens, a dead wet/dry vaccuum, and an old chair in the garage.  I have a 20 year-old computer and some dead monitors sitting in a closet.  I have an entire closet of stuff I will never fit into again.  I collected all the electronic (recyclable) stuff in a corner of the garage.  I can't dump it in the general recycling bin, but the County Landfill has a special place to leave that kind of stuff for free.  

Some of the clothes are quite fine, just will never fit me again.  They go to Goodwill.  But I could easily gain 4' of closet space at no loss.

After that comes actual junk.  2 ancient cheap chairs (I save the swivel bottoms - oddly useful things).  I got them in the 90s and I loved them.  Took some work to get them too.  Light rocker/swivel chairs were kind of hard to find then.  And the place I found them had the in peach, aqua, and lavender.  And those wouldn't work in my dark red TV room with black equipment.  

But I really liked the chair.  So I contacted the manufacturer and asked if I could get 2 in black.  They were pleased that I liked their chair so much.  They said that if I would sent them fabric (I seem to recall it was about 13 yards), they would make 2 just with it just for me.  Plus shipping of course.  But the fabric (good or bad) was my choice to send.  It took a week to find a fabric store that had that much jet black fabric.  

I loved those chairs for 20 years.  But they were actually cheap chairs and wore out at the springs.  I got rid of the worst one years ago, got the one remained in the garage.  Time to let it go!

I spent an hour sorting out planting pots, plant labels by type of plant, and arranging my potting bench for starting Fall crops.  After that, I divided up a mosquito BT killer donut and spread it around in the small pond and a few trap jars I keep.  The stuff works well and a pack of a dozen lasts a Summer for $13.

I collected all of my tool chargers in one spot.  I needed to see how many there really were and how much room they would take.  I plan to make a dedicated charger shelf soon, but at least I managed to write the tool on each charger for future reference.  Why chargers don't come with the name of the tool they are intended for is annoying and should be a standard practice.

Swept the basement floor.  I have a wet/dry vacuum, but the noise annoys me.  Sweeping is sort of "zen".  And you wouldn't believe the amount of cat-hair in the basement,  It all seems to gradually float down the stairs and collect there.  I would compost it, but there is always uncompostable stuff mixed in.  Bits of wire clippings, scraps of plastic, etc.  I don't want small sharp stuff to end up in the garden soil while I handle it while planting.

A very good 4 hours work.  And ironically, the rain stopped exactly when The Weather Channel predicted it would start.  LOL!

So I made dinner.  Pork smothered in sauteed red and green bell peppers, and ear of corn, and 2 home-made shrimp eggrolls...

Dinner

I was busy with a cat vet visit, grocery-shopping, and getting gas for the car, so dinner was my one meal for the day.  But I think I did it well...

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image.

Fried skin-down chicken thigh (crispy), bi-color corn, 2 shrimp rolls with duck sauce and hot mustard *, tossed salad, and asparagus with light cheese sauce.  Two small glasses of Merlot.  One chocolate-covered cherry for dessert...  I'll have some fresh fruit later, while watching TV.

* I haven't been able to find traditional chinese hot mustard in stores for 2 months, but I found that if I add some vinegar to yellow mustard, I can't really tell the difference.  Start with little vinegar and add to taste.  LOL!

And I use 3 minced 21/25 shrimp for 2 shrimp rolls (with bok choy, scallions, ginger, garlic, and water chestnut).  I had 1 left in the bag, so I just dropped it in the hot chicken grease for a minute.

Dinner

TBT:   Sometimes I go all out...  

Home-made Spring Rolls, Onion Rings, and Fried Potatoes.  Diced steak with roasted red and green bell peppers.  Broccoli and tossed salad. Wine.  LOL!

The Mews wonder why I bother with all those "yucky" veggies...  Well, I don't ask them why they like mousies and kibbles so much.  😀

Pruning And Shaping

In 1984, I got a job at a new location.  Across the street was a very small park.  It had a reflecting pool and a statue.  And was surrounded by old Saucer Magnolia trees that bloomed in early Spring.  I fell in love with those trees.

The trees themselves were pruned nearly skeletory with the branches forced at odd angles.  So even when not in bloom, they were "unusual".  I immediately bought 2 saplings and planted 1 in the front yard and 1 in the back.  I have enjoyed their blooms for 3 decades.

But they don't naturally grow into the odd branch angles I also loved.  It takes an arborist's skill to do that.  And I am no arborist.

But I try to shape mine as best I can.  Every couple of years, I go at them with saw and loppers to remove the excess growth, clearing out deadwood and internal branches that "clog up the appearance".

I spent most of yesterday doing that on the backyard tree.  Here is the BEFORE pic...

Some branches were drooping so low, I couldn't walk under them.  Other branches were crossing each other or being shaded by others.  So I decided to make some major changes.  Loppers and an electric chain saw can do wonders!

I didn't do it fast.  Shaping a tree takes consideration.  Some branches were easy to decide to remove as they were all droopy and there were uprights that had no value.  I removed those first and then stood back and considered the tree from all sides.

After that, things went slower.  There was one branch in a low position that was in the right place, but had a cavity I knew would fail as the branch grew.  I used the chain saw on it below first and from the top after.  THUMP!  Clean branch collar cut!

After that, I started small, trimming upshoots and crossed branches, always removing the lowest ones.

The AFTER pics...

It looks better already, and I have a few new branches growing out at odd angles that will at least suggest the masterpieces at Rawlin's Park.  The lawn is covered in tree cuttings...

There is more to do higher up in the tree, but it was enough for the day.  It was hot out and close to dinnertime.  After all the gardening and some seed scatterring and raking around the newly-tilled meadow bed, I was soaked in sweat from hair tips to toenails.  It has been a week of 90+F with high humidity and another week of it forecast.  So (not to be indelicate but utterly practical), I stripped and stood in a hot shower to wash off all the sweat and salts.  I felt great after THAT!

And then fed the cats, made a nice dinner for myself (deboned chicken thigh cubed with whole mushrooms, shallots, and garlic over angel hair spaghetti with soy sauce and toasted sesame oil.  With a side of beans, beets, and a large tossed salad.  Then watched some MSNBC news commentary.  Good way to finish a day.

Next, I'll do the same on the front yard Saucer Magnolia. 

Independence Day

Happy Fourth Of July (well it IS the Fourth of July everywhere).  But in the US, that also means Independence Day.

I will do as I usually do.  Which means that I will stand on the deck and read the Declaration Of Independence out loud.  I'll have a rather "Americanish" dinner of steak, corn on the cob, green beans, and a tomato/cucumber/onion salad with ranch dressing.  And a pale ale instead of my usual red wine.

Later, I will watch (from home on TV) the fireworks display on the Washington DC Mall.


Whatever you all do today (celebratory or not) be safe!

A Really Good Day

I had a REALLY GOOD Saturday!

Some days are just SO successful that it makes the days when nothing seems to go right worth it.  I started by cleaning/reorganizing the old toolshed.

First, the sawhorses that I built last year were wobbly.  But investigating, I realized that the wood I used had dried and shrunk a bit and there were wing nuts under the attachments so I was able to twist them tighter and the sawhorses were firm again.  Big deal, right?  But it got the day started well and THAT matters.

Second, I moved some stuff around in there and actually gained some space.  Well, I gained the space because I took a bicycle out and an old regular lawn mower out.  I never used the bicycle because the tires kept going flat, so I'm selling it for 1/5 what I paid just to get rid of it.  I bought it to have an easier trip home after leaving the car at the dealership for repairs.  Just before THEY offerred free van rides home and back...  Good idea, bad timing...

And that old gas mower is in the basement now.  It won't start.  I KNOW all it needs is for the carburetor to be cleaned, and I know how.  But I don't really need it anymore.  I bought an electric one last year (I hate noise) at that one works well enough for trim work.  So I'll offer that for nearly free.  Somebody can probably really need it.

I'd offer both free, but that attracts resellers and that isn't my purpose.  I want them to go to someone who can just use them.  In fact, free to any military person.  I don't need the $20.

So I got the old toolshed organized better (similar pots together in boxes on shelves, etc, and that made the perfect space for the snowblower to be moved from the garage to the shed.  It had run out of gas JUST as I finished using it the last snow in February.  It is a beast to move manually, so I actually had to ADD GAS to it get it the 200' to the shed.  And then I wanted to let it run dry so there was no gas left in it (good idea for all gas tools so the gas doesn't evaporate and clog the fuel line).  I added just enough, because after it ran in the shed for 5 minutes, it went dry.

That left some space in the garage to bring the recycling bin in.  I hate it being outside because I tend to dump stuff in it at night (and I mentioned I hate noise).

The boxes of pots I set on the old toolshed shelves meant there was slightly more room in the newer shed.  Yes I have 2 sheds and they are full of yard equipment.  I could probably start a business.  Hey, at 68, I've accumulated a lot of stuff...

You could laugh and say "guys and their toys", but I actually use all that stuff (OK, the chipper/shredder is collecting dust, but that's because the local recycle center that opened AFTER I bought it accepts tree debris and gives back shredded mulch in return and I have a hauling trailer).  I should sell it/give it away.  But I have 1/8 acre of mowed brambles to dispose of, so it might be worth using one last time.

I mentioned planting 4 saplings a few posts ago.  To my delight, they are leafing out nicely.  But to keep them watered in their first "establishment year", I am using kitty litter buckets (really useful things for many purposes) with a tiny hole drilled in the bottom to water them gradually.  The tiny hole lets the water settle in around the roots slowly drip by drip.  Very efficient and quick to use.  I just fill the bucket in 2 minutes from the garden hose and let gravity do the work.

BUT, the tubs are bright yellow and they look out-of-place in the yard.  So I bought a $4 can of plastic spray paint (hunter green).  I didn't want to spray the floor or the lawn, so I hung the 4 tubs (one at a time) from a board and sprayed them at normal height.  Worked perfectly and I ran out of spray as the last side was covered.  Sometimes you get lucky like that.

So, being bored with all the success, I decided to mow the yard for the first time this year.  The 20 year old riding mower didn't want to start (it's the old battery) so I hooked up a charger while I went to do other stuff.

Which was reattaching the chicken wire to the garden enclosure frame...  Now THAT was a job!  It required being in two places at once (Firesign Theater joke:  "How can you be in 2 places at once when you're not anywhere at all").  But bar clamps and bungee cords helped and I have a lot of bungee cords.  I used nylon ties to hold all the wire together, but I need to go back soon and "sew" them together more permanently soon.  Those nylon ties get brittle and break in sunlight after a year.

So, by then, the mower battery was charged enough (barely) to start the engine and I went to mow the lawn.  It coughed and sputterred all the way and the cutting was ragged.  I could run the mower up a ramp and sharpen the blades and try to tune the engine a bit.  I used to work at a drive-in simple repair shop.  Or I can drive it on the trailer and bring it to a small motor repair shop in town.  But this is the wrong time of year for that.  They are booked solid for a month!  I guess I'll sharpen the blades slightly and wait a month.  But at least I cut the lawn weeds down (though raggedly).

And then it started to drizzle rain.  So I put everything away and went inside.  The Mews were annoyed.  I don't let them outside when I am using equipment.  They panic at the noise but want to run TO me, which is exactly where I DON'T want them to be ( I don't want kitty-burgers).  And then, because of the rain, I didn't want them OUT then either.

So we played treat-toss inside while I prepared dinner.  They love that.  Kibbles bounce around funny and they get "the thrill of the chase".  Marley loves it, Ayla is best at it.  Iza is a bit inept at it (she has other skills like lap-napping) so I pretty much have to toss hers right under her nose, LOL!

I was cooking a steak.  I'm more into pork, chicken and shrimp, but it was a busy active day so I had a steak (I cut them into 3 ounce pieces).  Purists will gag, but I fry them.  I like to experiment with pan sauces (a splash of dry sherry, a dab on butter, a toss of cornstarch, with some herbs).  BTW, don't try adding mayonaise (as I did this time).  It doesn't blend well!

But it tasted good.  With a large tossed salad with oil/vinegar, corn on the cob, asparagus and beets, it was a really good meal.  Ayla and Iza got a small bit minced before I spiced it up (Marley doesn't like "Human food").

Then I watched a baseball game ("we" won) and they all sat around me napping, purring, getting chin scritchies.  All 3 within a foot of me for a couple hours, then we all went to bed.

A day DOESN'T get much better than that...