Happy First Year

 

Saturday: Today when we arrived at Katie's, John stopped in the yard to speak with Cody, who was hard at work cleaning out and leveling one of the flower beds where they'd pulled out shrubs a couple of months ago.  I went on up the steps to the porch and heard a loud squeal.  When I peered in the storm door, Henry was standing in his playpen, grinning from ear to ear, and began to bounce and jump as he looked at me.  What a lovely welcome to a Birthday party celebration.  

I was barely able to sit down before I had three children on my lap and a fourth child (not a grandchild, but he calls me 'Gramma' anyway) telling me all about the car he was holding in his hand.  It's good to be welcomed wholeheartedly when you enter a home and no one can be more welcoming than children who consider you a loved family member.

A New Week

 

Monday:  It's already been quite a day...and it was good.  It might not have held big revelations (although it did hold a couple of small ones) and there might not have been a long list of accomplishments, but there is a list.  That's quite enough.  

I started out early and wanted to share that while others are grabbing the Pumpkin Spice creamer for their coffee, these days I am adding a splash of maple syrup, barely a tablespoon if that.  It adds a barely sweet something to that first cup of coffee in the morning that tastes just right on a pre-autumn morning. 

Another Long Wow of a Weekend

 

What an awesome start to a new month.  All the excitement I felt about September was certainly justified if the first seven days are anything to judge by.  It makes me even more excited to see what else September will bring.

One thing it's bringing are the signs of a changing season.  Goldenrod is blooming here and there and some of the leaves have started to lighten, or to be tinged with red.  That indefinable something, that isn't quite a new season but is, lingers in the air.   It feels a bit early, I know.  It is a bit early.  I had to remind myself today, as we drove home, that indeed we have not hit the halfway point of this month, we are not near the equinox.

Random Bits and Pieces

 

I haven't done one of these posts in ages upon ages but today I feel there is so much I want to share and that so much of it is unrelated, one thing to the next, that I'd just present you with my random thoughts.  

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Last night John had turned on our Wednesday evening service that is broadcast live from our church.  Normally I'd sit down and listen to it and play a game on the computer, but last night I didn't.  And why not?  Because I had food still out in the kitchen, even though I'd covered it and dishes in the sink and I wanted to get things put up and away.  

Emotional Journey

 

Hello all.  I must say that I am feeling rather emotional.  It's all to do with the first week of work for Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way.  

On Monday, I shared how I'd been running from kitchen to music room, thinking about the two posts I was writing that day (one is now published) and how happy and vital I felt.  Well.  Here I am thinking that Cameron's study will help me gain perspective about the creative side of myself (writing, art) and instead what I ended up with was this feeling of intense irritability.  I tried to analyze it and sort it out but all I felt was uneasy, fidgety and frustrated.  From happy to frustration didn't feel quite right to me.  Why was it so?

All The Scary Stuff

 

I'd been reading an article about sales on pantry necessities yesterday afternoon and how much of an increase we can expect on each one due to tariffs. 

I woke this morning from a very frustrating dream.  I lived in an older home.  My family was all young and still living at home.  My mother came in complaining over the cost of food items.  John came in worried about a necessary repair that we couldn't afford.  I had been feeling optimistic at the start of the dream but as time went on and each person came in with their burden of worries, I began to feel more and more anxious and upset.

Truth told that is about how I felt last night when I went off to bed, overtired and overwhelmed with all the bad news and the fear mongering headlines and vlog titles with dire warnings.  

Labor Day in Our Home

 

After our busy-ish weekend it was very nice to have a holiday.  Of course, we did basic housework.  John washed clothing and made the bed.  I unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher and made meals.  But for the most part, we ate, we rested and we created.  It was a very nice day overall.

We didn't cook out, but I made a holiday-ish sort of meal, and we ate it twice, with the main meal and then the leftovers later.  I want to go back to doing that on the weekends: cook once, eat it twice.

I slept super well on Sunday night, and woke early yesterday, before sunrise (not before daylight, though).  I had a dream that sent me off a writing jag and that turned into two posts (so far).  I spent all day long banging away at the computer, trying to make those posts coherent and to the point.  

September Goals

 

I've just been through my August goals, and I'm really pleased at how well I did overall.  I think I touched on all except a few, three of which had to do with how I'd 'savor summer' and two items under family.  Otherwise, I excelled this month as far as I'm concerned.

I am officially finished with the #everybitcounts challenge for 2025.  I don't plan to can, harvest or purchase anything more through the end of this month and the first week of next month (September).  Although I do have a coupon for a free dozen eggs, I want to be sure to use before it expires next week.

So, what is September going to look like?

The Last Hurrah of Summer

 

Saturday:   Late yesterday afternoon we sat on the front porch until supper was ready.  It was cool and breezy, comfortable.  So very unlike our usual August afternoons/evenings. 

Rufus came up to speak to John, thinking he was safe from scissors snipping at him, but unfortunately for Rufus, John picked him up and called to me to get the scissors and finish cutting the big patch of matted fur I'd gotten almost loose yesterday morning when he mutinied on me and walked away.   

#Everybitcounts Challenge: August 21-29

 

August 21:

Today I didn't put anything up in the pantry or freezer, but I did go to the hardware/auto parts store with John where I bought a flat of half-pint and a flat of quart sized canning jars.  

When my Amazon order arrives today, I will have the Cream of Mushroom soup to put away.  Apparently, the Cream of chicken soup is delayed until next week.  

Pantry and Freezer Challenge Week Six: Grand Finale

 

Saturday: 

John and I ate leftovers for supper, the chicken and dressing and vegetables leftover from last week.

Sunday:  

John stopped to pick up chicken tenders and potato logs on the way home.  I appreciated that very much.  But we had supper of more leftovers from the week behind.

It's My Prerogative

Today on the way home from running errands and shopping, I was chatting away to John.  We passed the home of someone we know from church.  Since we have been to his home in the past, I made comment that he had a nice home.  It's average mind you on the outside and it's not fancy inside.  But it sits far back off the road in a shady garden and it looks cozy.  But, having been in the yard and home that one time, I knew that in the backyard, surrounded by a white picket fence was an in-ground swimming pool.  Also surrounded by trees and bushes and in a semi-shaded setting, it had a tropical feel.  It was quite private. 

My Prerogative, Part 2

 

As we speak, bread is rising, spaghetti meat and vegetables are cooking waiting on seasoning and tomatoes and sauce, kidney beans are soaking to be canned tomorrow (hopefully) and my mind is awhirl with Fall cleaning plans for September.  I've just got a brain full of things!

But my current thoughts are centered on my post from yesterday.  While writing about a discovery season in my life during which I learned a great deal about myself, I recalled that there were some formative book and movies that hit me like a ton of bricks and really made me stop to think about that future ideal life.  I thought I'd carry on in that line of thought.

Exercising My Prerogative

 

When I was growing up there were three things the women in my family said repeatedly.  "I'm not as smart as some and not as stupid as others."  "We're as good as anybody else and better than some."  "I'm exercising my prerogative to change my mind."

I haven't used any of these terms in my life that I'm aware of, except for the last one.  I do occasionally exercise my prerogative and change my mind.  I practiced that today.

Just recently I'd said, I wasn't going to can those bags of collards that were eating up space in my freezer.  I was going to cook them, preferably in the slow cooker outdoors, then freeze them. This was due in part to my desire to season the greens as they cooked and partly due to the fact that I like pot likker, the juices the collards cook in, rather well.  I find the liquid left behind after cooking very tasty and it's full of all those nutrients that cooked from the greens which makes it like a health boost in my personal opinion.

That's Not What I'd Planned

 

I was sad to hear the AC on when I woke this morning at 7:00am... What about the cooler weather we were promised with mornings in the mid-60s and days barely over 85f?  I'd planned to clean the back porch this morning, but I had no desire to go outside in heat and humidity to work.  Instead, I gave the house a Monday house blessing.  I did a lot of work yesterday evening because of my plans for this morning.

The low 60's temperatures are coming!  Tonight, we're supposed to get down to 61 and for the next 10 days we'll be hovering in that low to mid-60's vicinity.  I am not prepared for this!

Week End and Week Ahead

 

I got up early...Not intentional.  I'd forgotten to turn off my alarm last Saturday.  Never mind.  I got coffee and afterwards I had a bit of time with Rufus on the back porch.  He let me shear another portion of his matted fur off him and now he's acting like a puppy.  I suspect when I get the rest of that mess of him, he'll feel like he's gained ten years of youth back.  

I did get a bit close to his skin.  He's not cut anywhere, nor even been pinched.  But he does have some bare spots because that is how matted up his fur was.  

Easing Out of the Week

 

The back pain has lingered on for so long that I began to be fearful I had something else entirely going on.  Like any other good internet junkie, I finally looked up my symptoms and struck out all of the least likely things (liver infection, kidney stones, gallbladder) and landed right back on what I thought it was initially: Muscle strain).  I stopped being stubborn and went back to taking the occasional pain reliever.  I try not to use it multiple times a day but when it's bad enough, I'll take some just to get the relief, which helps my attitude tremendously.

Pantry/Freezer Challenge Week #5

 

Saturday:

For breakfast this morning, I pulled muffins from the freezer that I'd made earlier in the month.

lunch: we had leftover pizza slices left from mid-week.  

supper:  Chicken and Rice Soup.  One container of the Chicken soup said it had been in the freezer since 2023...Sheesh.  How did I miss that one?  It smells good still.  It's basically just leftover broth and bits of meat from cooking off broth at some point.  I added rice to the pot after the soup base came up to a boil.

#everybitcounts 2025 Challenge: August 11-20

 

August 11:  

I've already counted this into the first record of this challenge, but I bottled the herbs I'd harvested last week.  

Started planting the fall 2025 garden today.  I had potato eyes (I let the pieces scab over), green onion in water and a celery end root here in the house.  All of those got planted.  Then I planted Blue Lake green beans, parsley, Japanese eggplant, carrots, zucchini and yellow squash.  

Easing Into This Week

 

Our hectic weekend took a toll.  But so did canning last week.  I hurt my back at some point on Thursday when I had the water bath and electric canners going.  I've been struggling along ever since.

Even though I'd gone through my home on Sunday and tried to pick up, it was still in need of a lot of loving care come Monday morning.  I decided to just take the day off of from canning and kitchen work in general and continue to rest my back which is a good deal better but still twinging. 

Pantry DNA

Ruth Ann Zimmerman, whom I follow on Instagram, about having food preservation in her DNA.  And later she shared a brief post about having anxiety this time of year.  She felt it was because she came from a long line of hunters/gatherers who produced, harvested, preserved, and stored food for the year ahead.  

I can so identify with that attitude of feeling you must create food storage.  

Peach Season is Done

 

Saturday:  Today on our way home, two things heralded the coming end of summer.  Pearsons Peach Shed put up a "Closed for the Season" placard on their main road sign.  No more local peaches for us!  I had stopped just yesterday by the truck farmer's stand here in my town because I saw he had a few baskets, but I'd noted that he had had two cases and only one of them had any peaches left.  I realized that it was likely the last we'd have this year.  I picked up a basket from him.  

The other sign was along the creek banks on the highway that leads up to our road.  Goldenrod was blooming

Pantry/Freezer Challenge Week 4

 

One thing I mean to do in this challenge is use up expired, older items that have been lingering in the pantry and freezer.  I have a small amount of stuff on a pantry shelf that I need to use.  There are two or three items in the prepared foods bin in the freezer that I certainly need to use.  I did not even pull the about the expire items on the shelves of the pantry, just those that absolutely were expired.  

This is my attempt to use food we've already paid for and not let it just become money thrown away.  I confess they are sometimes things I just don't want to eat, but we will eat them.  On the days when I cannot make something more palatable with an item, I will make a plan to have something we really like along with it or at least at the next meal.  We are adults.  We can eat our foods and not kick up a fuss about it.

Tuesday: Good News Day

 

I was having the oddest dream this morning when John woke me.  In the dream he'd booked a family day outing to a labyrinth of an old house to be followed by sea fishing.  Bess, Sam and the children, John and me, and Caleb were all there.  Bess was troubled about something and I got an overall feeling of sadness from her that really made me feel upset.

Somehow I got left behind and I kept catching glimpses of Caleb who'd apparently been cut off from the group as well and I was chasing him down.  There was a room full of huge ice blocks (pretty sure that is the result of reading Farmer Boy), a sand snail farm with gigantic snails that had a Zen like patterns raked into the sand beds, a farmer's market (prices on beef were good, lol) and more.  Suddenly John was with me and he corralled Caleb.  We were checking out of the place and the cashier insisted I had to unbox every item I was purchasing because they wanted to recycle it all.  I was so upset because some of the items were meant to be gifts.  At this point, John woke me. 

Monday Work

 

John left moments ago to attend men's meeting at church, and my supper is a frozen dinner that says it requires 45 minutes to cook.  So I've time to spare and I've had much on my mind, again.   So here I am.  

I refuse this time of year to go into any craft store.  I don't want to look at autumn and Christmas displays...I don't, but I know if I want something very specific for either season I need to be out looking right now because if I wait until I feel it's an appropriate time, everything will be picked over hard and nothing worth having will remain.   

#everybitcounts 2025 Challenge: August 1-10

 

This is what I added to may pantry/freezer for the first week of August.

August 1:

6 boxes of cereal: I got a variety of our favorites.   These were BOGO at Publix and a really good deal.  I earned Ibotta and extra Fetch rewards on them.  I put 5 in the pantry storage. Why 5?  Because John opened one right away.

2 boxes of Poptart's (BOGO).  We rarely eat these, but they are nice to have on hand especially if the grandchildren come in. 

August Weekend: Keeping Promises to Myself

 

Saturday:  This morning, I woke up and made coffee.  On Saturday, I forgo Instagram which is how I take coffee during the weekday.  But on Saturday's I abstain.  No particular reason, just something I felt led to do a few weeks ago and I've honored since.  When I no longer feel the stay on my spirit about it, I'll probably return to it.  This morning, I watched a couple of videos on YouTube.  I'm in the blessed position of sleeping fairly well lately with only an occasional night of not sleeping at all.  So, I'm well behind on all of the YouTube channels I normally would watch.  

Coffee Chat: On Aging, Optimism, Art and Balance

Hello dears.  I've been terribly busy here at home, getting things in order, but I wanted to take time to just chat and not just about the work I've been doing in my home.  

John and I have had some deep conversations of late: about finances, aging, dreams we've had to let go, kids...Pretty much what all folks our age discuss.  It's led me to do a lot of thinking during my working hours when he generally leaves me alone to do whatever I am doing.  Deep thinking.  

I recall the days when I was filling out one of those magazine surveys.  You know the ones I mean, where you were filling out a card for a magazine subscription or a free sample and the company printed part of the card with a simple survey to be filled out.  That was way yonder back before computers were normal household items and demographics were gathered in just the way I said: on post cards that you mailed in to a company.

Pantry/Freezer Challenge: Week 3

 

Saturday:  Roasted Chicken Sandwiches.  I took a whole chicken from the freezer to thaw last night.  I put it into the slow cooker this morning, then after it was done put it to crisp and brown in the oven.  Delicious!  This was our supper. John had a sandwich.  I chose to have a piece of bread and sliced chicken, not made into a sandwich.

Chef Salad.  For lunch today we had big bowls of Salad.  I used sliced ham from the freezer along with a variety of vegetable from the fridge.

It's Official: I'm Now A Canner

 

I should truly say that "I am a canner once more."  I canned years ago, both hot water bath and pressure canning, but I haven't done it in so many years I feel like a newbie.  Today I canned 5 pints of chicken stock and 4 quarts of ham broth.  

I was nervous as could be.  One thing that my Nesco canner had me stumped with was there is a condensation catcher that is not attached.  It doesn't show me where I should attach it either.  I've absolutely no idea.  The other thing that delayed my progress was this thing called a U-Pin that they showed in the manual which was supposed to be in the sub-assembly of the pressure gauge.  I didn't ese it anywhere in my accessories and no one online even mentioned it.  

What a Lovely Day!

We've had rain for the past four days.  It had rained before I got up.  The morning was cool and overcast.  I had my coffee on the porch and left my phone inside.  Rufus and I sat together.  I saw a hummingbird fluttering about my few flowers.  That's the first time I've seen a hummingbird this year.

We walked out on the patio after I'd finished my coffee, and I looked over the plants.  The fig tree I thought had died has already budded again.  There are a few zinnias popping up from the last planting.  The basil has grown to nearly six inches in the last few days.  I checked the tomato plants.  As full of blooms as ever, but still no tomatoes.

Rainy Days

 

I woke rather early Monday morning, around 6:15.  I slept incredibly well Sunday night due in part to the cooler, rainy weather we're having just now.

I was feeling very ambitious but decided I would take time to have a cup of coffee before I went and started any projects.  I tend to have muddled brain before I am caffeinated!   When I'd finished my coffee, I got up and got busy in the kitchen right away.

The First Weekend of August

 

Friday Evening:  It's 8:30pm.  In 15 minutes, it will be dark outdoors.  When did that happen?  Oh, I know it's gradually coming when we hit June 21.  I know that the days slowly start to become shorter.  But just last night I got up to shut the blinds because it was fully dark outside.  Not even a hint of light in the sky.  I turned to look at the clock and it was barely 8:46.

Pantry Freezer Challenge/Week 2

Saturday: Chili Dogs, Chips, Fruit.  It wasn't about to expire, but there was a can of chili in my pantry that was not a favorite brand.  I had hot dogs leftover from the last time the kiddos were here that I'd popped in the freezer.  I loaded the hot dogs, wrapped in foil and put them in the oven.  It was lovely and delicious, but messy.

And Now It's August: Goals, Plans, Dreams for the Month Ahead

1.  Take part in the #everybitcounts challenge.  My focus will be restocking my pantry and supplies this month.  I don't especially need to make jam or jelly.  I don't have vegetables to can or freeze, but I do have empty spaces in the pantry that need to be filled.  I'm very mindful of what has expired in the past and why.  I won't be stocking some things as heavily as I have done in prior years and there are things I won't bother restocking at all.  My main focus here at the beginning of this challenge will be on basic items and then I'll look at the 'nice to have' items later.   I'm very happy with my progress!

Changes

 

Hello dears.  I thought I'd pop in again today since it is the last day of July and a new month is imminent.  

I went right to sleep last night, just quick as that, but woke in the wee hours and lay awake for a bit.  I slept again and was awakened early by a text message coming in from Katie.  Caleb had asked her what a certain bug was as they were going to the car, and she told him it was a dragonfly.  "Oh, Gramma LOVES dragonflies," he told her.  And I do.  Sweet boy to remember that!

I Nearly Missed It!

I'm having a cup of coffee.  Want to join me for a moment or two?

I told the kids on Monday that we'd go to the peach shed today.  I promised I'd get them peach ice cream.  Boy am I glad that we went today.

We tried the local place first.  Josh had his heart set on a Peach and Strawberry twist, which is just a mixture of the two flavors.  He insisted the Strawberry Patch in town had that and perhaps they do.  But as usual they were closed and from the looks of things, they'd closed for the season long ago.

Style Change: Bohemian Suits Me Best.

 

I've been thinking about several things over the past month or so and each is related to generating some change in my life.  Nothing big or drastic but change just the same.  

One of the things I've been thinking about is my wardrobe.  I don't like my current wardrobe.  It doesn't feel like me. That sounds like something that will be expensive to change, doesn't it?  Not exactly.  I've a few things that fit the style I'm going to move to quite well.  Some won't but that's okay.  I have time to replace them.  It's not something I need to do all at once.

Summer Weekend

 

We had a very quiet and restful weekend...well we had a very quiet and restful Saturday.    We didn't do much of anything at all.  John did bribe me with a Diet Dr. Pepper to ride into town with him.  He wanted to get gas for his mower.  That was just about the sole thing we did all day long.

Summer Daze

 

I took coffee on the front porch again this morning.  Rufus came around to sit with me.  He was very companionable and quiet.  The two of us just sat there gazing out at the dewy grass, admiring all the green and appreciating the bird song.  When I finished my coffee I told him, "Rufus, you are a good companion to sit with in the morning."  He bowed at my feet.  He does this at least once a day if I go outside and it always makes me feel the role of "Queen Mother" is a true one and not one Caleb made up for me! I petted the dog's graying old head and then went out to the other porch to feed him and the cat. 

Week One: Pantry and Freezer Challenge

 

Although I will utilize things from the pantry and freezers, here just at first, I wanted to make sure I used things that were fading fast in the fridge.  Much of what I have will keep for a good bit yet, but a few things need to be used up.  So, I tried to begin by utilizing those things rather than let them spoil.

I'll share what we made for lunches and suppers for the most part.

Martha vs Mary

 

I have had quite a struggle over the past 16 or so hours.  It began last night as I listened to a young man preaching.   The previous week they'd had a young female evangelist, and this was a young man as well as it's a special series for their youths.  Anyway, I kept listening and learned a thing or two, but one part of my mind was struggling with the ideal of 'being holy' and leading an ordinary every day responsible life.   I do understand that one might lead a good and godly life even while doing ordinary things, but I often feel we're not really being taught how to do both but made to feel that we must choose the one or the other.   Anyone else have that struggle? 

Slow Day

 

I worked my bottom off yesterday... I didn't even tell you all what I did, and I didn't do so on purpose.  I don't think anyone would believe me about how much I got done.!  At the end of the early afternoon, I sat down with an iced coffee and a deep happy sigh.  I told John, "It's so nice to work hard in my own home, taking care of my own things!"  

And it was just lovely.  John asked later, as I went to work on something else, "Why are you working so hard?"  "Because I guess my mind says someone is going to call and need me and I want to get all I can done before they do."  No one called.

Pantry Freezer Challenge Summer 2025

 

The Summer '25 Pantry and Freezer Challenge has begun!

I have tried to mostly follow the pantry/freezer challenge in the past week or so but not entirely.  However today I was quite serious about getting it underway.  I lay awake last night, as usual, and was thinking, "What do I do first?  Deep freezer inventory?  Fridge freezer?  Pantries?"  I decided the place to start was the fridge itself.  Discovering what I had in the fridge and planning how quickly I needed to use, store or toss what was in the fridge already.

Try, Try, Again

 

Remember when I made all those plans for the last week of July?  Was it really just last week?  Yes, it was and then it all went kaplooy.  Well, there's reason why I might/maybe/just possibly could work on that list this week.  I posted it here.

My seed packets have begun arriving and I am indeed planning to get them in the ground this week.

But just to show you how things go.  I was so weary by end of last week that I literally went to bed at 7:30pm on Friday night and yes, I went to sleep.  I basically napped off and on until 10pm and then we went to sleep for the evening.  I won't tell you I had a great night's rest.  

Back to Work

 

I thoroughly enjoyed Tuesday and was more than ready to tackle my July list come Wednesday morning....and then I got a phone call, lol.  Seriously, Cody was called to go back to work, and I agreed to come in to pick up where he left off in childcare.  We spoke yesterday evening on the phone and he explained the situation at work that necessitated his going in Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.   I agreed to keep the kids through the end of the week, but Cody has told his boss he absolutely cannot return to work until school starts July 30.

My Plans for (the rest of) July

 

First things first.  I want to plan my last few days of July and finish off strong for this month.  Mind you all it's HOT, like truly hot, so that is going to mean a great deal of what I do is going to be guided by how early I can get up, especially for the outdoors work.  Indoors, it's also mandatory that I work in the cooler parts of the house during the right times of day.  In the morning, that space is not likely to be our kitchen, unless it's 7am.  Kitchen work is more suited to after 6 or even 7pm at night.  That's why this time of year I typically buy bread and cookies or pies and seldom do any long baking.  I utilize the toaster oven and slow cooker more often and I'm careful to choose lighter meals overall.  

Morning work in the house can be done in bathroom, bedrooms and our main living area without great strain upon my perspiration system.  

And Here We Are

 

Monday, July 14:  I'm a little frustrated at the moment because it is currently 7:45pm and I do not know if I am to be keeping the boys tomorrow or not...Let's just say that Cody's vacation request is being ignored and he's not pushing the need for the time off.  I don't know if that's strictly true, but it is what I've gathered from limited information (and therefore could be erroneous).  

Nevertheless, I am very tired just now and feeling peevish about having to set my alarm for 6am without knowing if I actually shall have to be up at that hour or not.  I had a rather rough night last night as John was so restless and never fully got over last week's tired before coming into this week.  Not having a clear yes or no answer is not sitting well with me. 

The Final Week? Maybe Not... July 7 - 13

 

Monday, July 7:  The morning went very well with the kiddos, and I am grateful for that because I had a sorry night of rest for the second night in a row.  But when I got up this morning, inwardly groaning, I made it a point to pray what I've found to be a very helpful prayer.  "I didn't sleep well, Lord.  I'm trusting in you that what rest I did get will be sufficient for what I'm called to do today."  And it was!  

Patriot Heart: July 3 -6

 

Saturday, July 5:  Thursday, despite my assurance that I'd take the day off, I went out to tackle that flower bed about the Sweet Gum.  I got a load of work done in about an hour and a half.  It was one of those nagging sorts of jobs.  Every time I'd see it in the state it was in, I'd get upset about lack of time, feel overwhelmed, and saddened, because the few flower beds I have took a lot of work to establish and have been a lot of work to maintain.  I don't want to lose a single one because of neglect.