Peonyiana: May 2004 Archives

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Today I got the most astonishing mail -- an flyer from this fine outreach of the Archdiocese of Washington, inviting me to "call and discuss my needs."

Oh brother! And why today?

Busy

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It turned out to be a busy week. I'm too weary to recount the whole tale, but it involves the hated basement waterproofing company. They had a plan to correct the swamp forming in our front yard by running an underground line from the sump pump discharge line under our lawn to drain out through the curb into the gutter. This plan was in place for almost three weeks until my husband thought it might be wise to double-check and see if a permit from the county was required.

It's a good thing he thought of that, because that small point hadn't occurred to the waterproofers. So I've spend the last three days on the phone with the county, receiving inspectors (note to self: call the inspector) and hand-carrying permit applications over to the county. (Good thing we live close to the county seat. ) The people from the county were very helpful, so we were able to pull it all together very quickly.

So the work got done yesterday as planned, and I look forward to seeing the swamp dry out. Now I have to help soothe my poor husband's anxiety over his lawn and keep the sod moist where it was dug up and replaced.

Strike the yellow flag

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Well, poor little Hambet was sick on Thursday and Friday. He didn't even have the energy to be crabby; he just draped himself on the bed or on a chair and just looked at me. It was just too piteous, so I spent a lot of time with him draped on my lap. On Friday evening he started to revive, and it was really funny watching him do it -- it was as if he had been reconnected to a generator or something. He started sitting up, then walking around, and in another hour or two he was back to running laps around the sofa.

Saturday I had some time for two of my favorite activities: gardening and scoping yard sales. I cannot believe I have turned into one of these people who look forward to packing a travel mug of coffee and trolling the yard sales. I'm beginning to find preferred neighborhoods, especially in a suburb not far from me favored by young families with money to burn -- they have nice kids' stuff to unload. I struck gold twice when I was able to nab a Big Wheel and a Little Tikes wagon. The wagon is one of those plastic ones, with a long handle (easy on the grown-ups' back.) It seats two little people and has little doors for them to go in and out. (The doors only unlatch from the outside.) It even has cupholders! If only the cupholders held juice boxes....

After I hauled the swag home, we had lunch and turned our attention to the garden. I am so pleased with my raised beds! They make it so easy to see what's going on in the bed. I'm also seeing fewer problems with weeds and pests (slugs.)

The rhubarb bed boasts one mighty specimen (from last year) and the three little things I planted this year. The new plants aren't thriving, but they aren't dead either. They each have three little leaves. I wish I knew what I could do for them. I took a few stalks from the big plant -- my first rhubarb harvest! I will probably bake them into a crisp tomorrow, with some purchased rhubarb.

The peas are coming along nicely and have set some flowers. I made them a little trellis with bamboo and garden twine. The lettuce is also coming along nicely -- I cut my first lettuce today (mesclun) for tonight's supper. I also have good progress on the garlic, carrots, and parsnips I planted this spring. Not all the parsnip seeds germinated -- I wonder why? I planted some more seeds and also tried transplanting some of the thinnings -- hope that works.

This weekend I planted more garlic and carrots. I also planted nasturtiums (from seed) and planted out some of the plants I started indoors: the marigolds and some of the basil. I'm in a bit of a quandary because I intended to do some succession planting -- I planted spinach in the basil spot, with the idea that I'd be harvesting it right when it was time to plant out the basil. In the past I also have had no luck with spinach, so I figured it wouldn't grow anyway. Well, I was a bit too clever for my own good: the spinach actually grew. Our spring has been cool and cloudy, so the spinach is just maturing now, and the basil's ready to set out. Not all the spinach came up, so I started tucking some of the basil among the spinach. But now I've got baby spinach, and I need to decide what to do with it all. Shall we eat it as baby spinach and give its spot to the basil? Or should I give some lettuce space to the basil and let the spinach grow? Decisions, decisions....

Hoist the yellow flag

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Poor Hambet had a fever all day yesterday. He hasn't been crabby at all, but he's been content to just stay curled up on the bed or in a chair -- it's weird to see him so droopy. His appetite's not great, but he's keeping down what he does eat and drink.

At first I was just going to ride it out with him, but last night I saw a weird spot on his tummy -- it looked like the beginning of a rash. So now I'm waiting for the doctor's office to open up so I can give them a call.

He just woke up and found his way downstairs. He's also discovered that Daddy's left for work, so it's time for our daily tears: Where's Daddy? I need my Daddy! I miss him!


Di Fattura Caslinga: Pansy's Etsy Shop
The Sleepy Mommy Shoppe: Stuff we Like
(Disclaimer: We aren't being compensated to like this stuff.
Any loose change in referral fees goes to the Feed Pansy's Ravenous Teens Fund.)


Pansy and Peony: The Two Sleepy Mommies



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