Spent the bulk of it outside puttering in the yard.
Weeding and organising 'areas'.
Deciding what I want to plant where, what I want to thin out, and what I want to remove.
Ripped out two of the old stepping stones - which I thought were at best 12 x 12, but were actually mostly 1.'5"-6" inches square, and must have been just rough poured, as the bottoms were very uneven, as were some of the sides - or were cut from some previous concrete project as they aren't technically 'square' even though they 'appear' to be. I want to make those useless stones useful again, and I believe as part of a pathway in my new raised bed veggie garden and compost access path will suite them just fine....stay tuned.
The stepping stone path as it's been for the past 18 years veers at an odd angle compared with the actual path walked between the parking area and the bit of sidewalk to the side door. The stones were so sunken, that when it rained, they'd fill as puddles - rendering them totally useless, as who in their right mind wants to walk them, ending up with soaked shoes. Yes, your shoes get wet venturing onto the grass, but much less so than if you had stepped on each stone after a rain or a melt. Stay tuned for the fate of the stones and new raised bed area.
Around 4:40p, I left for volleyball as we were to meet before our 6p game at the Mall DQ (our sponsor) for a treat. I thought this a bit odd when my captain suggested it, as we'd end up maybe a bit full from having a treat right before the game, but went anyway so as to patronise our sponsor (and visit with my daughter).
On the way there, I was at a stop when a bus came along with my favourite driver at the helm. I had forgotten he was back on his routes. I followed it round the back of the mall to Door 8 - the mall stop, and pulled up along side to say hello. I honked several times, and finally, just before he was to pull away and looked to see if any cars were coming, he jumped as he saw me! LOL! I said, "Should I honk louder?" to which he replied, "I'm sorry, it's very noisy in here." I said, "That's ok, I was just saying hello," waved, then sped off to my meet. It was good to see him as usual - it had been some time since I had, and if there was more time, it would have been good to have a visit, but we were both busy.
After the treat ( I just had a blue raspberry lemonade Mr Misty, my daughter made for me - mmm gotta love brain freeze (and boy was I glad to have about half of it left waiting in my car after that windy, sandy game!) it was time to run quick to the dollar store to see if they had a garden hand weeding tool (you know, the kind you dig dandelions with) as I have seemed to misplaced mine (which I've had for 25+ years) and as there were none at Menards, or Home Depot on yesterday's visits. Nope, none at the dollar store either, so I hit Kmart really quick in the remaining minutes before my game. None. Sheesh. Not high-tech enough I guess.
After my game (WE WON!), I hit Target, and they had one really weird shaped digger "made in china" that just was...'wrong' and was over-priced at $6.99. I almost took it, then thought, no, Shopko is next on the way home. I just wanted a basic cheapy weeder. I know they're out there. I just never dreamed that finding one would be so difficult.
As luck would have it Shopko had a perfect one; a nice handle with that soft grip stuff and the price was right at $2.59. Yay! At the check out, using my Shopko bonus card, a few cents were taken off making it $2.24. Bonus!
Afterwards, I decided to take a trip across the street back to the Home Depot as when I was there yesterday, I had basically been walking the store as a zombie due to my long day at work and forgetting my list of what I wanted to check out, then my friend called, and I left to go out to my car to talk and never went back.
I grabbed two bags of mulch for now, then asked at the check-out about the top soil on sale for $1.25/40 lb bag - if it was outside where I could just back up my car and load it. She said. "Yes," just as the yard boy walked in. She then asked him to be sure - and he reiterated that yes, indeed there were some stacked outside where I could get them. My cart was already pretty much full with the two bags of mulch and drove awkwardly. After I paid, he grabbed the front of my cart, and started dragging me off towards the stacks, and I said, "Whoa, wait, I want to put them in my car."
He said, "Yes" and proceeded to pull my cart.
I said, "No, Car, not Cart."
He again said, "Yes," and kept trying to pull me towards the piles.
I stopped the cart and said, "No, I want to bring my car over, back it up and then load the bags."
He again repeated, "Yes, I'll load them."
I said, "NO, I want to put them in my trunk, not this cart, not lift them twice; once into the cart, then again into my car," and he said, "I'll lift them."
Also, obviously there was no room for more than one or two bags in the cart, as I had purchased six bags.
I pulled away and shook my head...dumbass. I then loaded the mulch into my trunk, and drove over to the area where the top soil was located, and he was there sitting on the packages, waiting.
He asked how many and loaded them. I think he finally got it.
On my way home I spotted some moving day college kid cast-offs of misc furniture and garbage as I passed through the neighbourhoods. Again, luck was on my side as I spotted a chaise lounge - a wooden one - one 'like I've always wanted!' I stopped to check it out, and it seemed perfect - a little paint/stain worn, but all of the wood was intact as well as all the springs. All I need to do is purchase a cushion for it, and I had spotted several nice ones on clearance in my hunt for the digger at the various stores. So, next trip up to the mall area, that will be my quest. I can't wait to have a lounge in the sun! Go me! Thanks college kids!
I ran home quick and emptied my trunk, grabbed the bungy cord to strap it down and went back for my treasure. (Luckily no one else stopped to take it.)
After unloading the lounger, my attention was captured by the sounds of a band playing.
OMG, it's 1 June!
Sh-Boom was the band for the opening of the Music in the Park 2010 season. I had had lunch with my friend Ardis a couple of weeks ago and she had let me know they were booked for the night. I said I had a game, but would try and make it up there after - but I had completely spaced it until that very moment when the notes and Gary's unmistakable voice came through the air. I thought about just planting my ass on the deck to have a listen and relax, but then thought, I just wanna go see if she's there and say hi, even if it was a bit late, as they only play til about 8:30p and it was well after 8.
So I pulled out my bike for the first time this year, as it'd be faster than walking up to the park, and found my back tire was a little low. So back I went, found the car charged air compressor, and proceeded to add some air to the back tire. Then off I went for the show.
I nodded hello to Gary, the drummer, and Art's hubby,and he nodded back. I then sat listening to the music, and taking a few pics until I could say 'hi' to him after the band was done, as I didn't see Art around. I got to hear about four songs until they finished, then ventured behind the stage to have a chat with him as he sorted packing up his kit. It was great as always to see Gary, too bad Art wasn't there as she had a class. Yet, overall, a nice ride, good music and a great ending to a great day.
As I am sat out here writing, enjoying a black bean and grilled chicken and cheese burrito (yes, I actually grilled the chicken too the other night) as dark approaches, I am thankful for back-lit keys, no wind, no bugs and the ability to enjoy this night.What a lovely ending to a long, beautiful, productive and beneficial day.
Next time, feel free to join me.
Cheers!
¡Abrazos!
Ugh, I'm still sandy...off to the shower and bed.
No comments:
Post a Comment