PRIDE

        

  There are days when I am so proud of myself for being able to do all that I do. Then there are the days when I wish I had a caretaker who would cook, clean and entertain me. Today I’m sort of on the fence when it comes to seriously considering one or the other. I do think the proud of myself side of the fence would win out.

          I’ve been busy trying to get ready for fall and winter, both inside and outside. Today, I changed out my bed and now have the down comforter in place. The summer bedding is in the washer and will be stored away until next April or May. This was not an easy exercise, but me, myself and I managed to get it done.

          Perhaps most of you know how annoying it can be when you try to get the duvet cover on the down comforter. I finally resorted to clothes pins to hold the top in place while I pulled and smoothed the rest of it in place. I did have instructions on how to do this exercise seamlessly; however, the only time I tried to do it “their” way, it didn’t work and was more frustrating than doing it the way I’ve always done it.

          For the first time in fifty-seven years, the garage is CLEAN. Even after John died and my granddaughter and I emptied it of all the tools and miscellaneous stuff John accumulated, I didn’t vacuum or really sweep. Now, seven years later, I went from the back to the front and vacuumed up all the spider webs that had accumulated as well as all the detritus (I love that word.) that was residing every single place it could find. It’s probably the only time I’ll ever do that even though I noticed today new spider webs in the window. This wasn’t a job I accomplished in a single day…it took more like three afternoons. But the result was worth it and once I visit Goodwill and take the nasty stuff to the haz/mat place, there will be more room than there has been since we moved in.

          The deck has also been cleaned off. The fuchsias and begonias were given a last thorough watering, were clipped back and now reside in the garage. I fully expect that next spring, they’ll be ready to come out and provide me with months of pleasure. The only thing left to do is to clean off the table and move it beneath the covered part of the deck.

          I haven’t yet completed all the work that needs doing in the garden. The front is almost finished, but I haven’t begun on the back with the exception of the deck. On the advice of a gardener who lives in Pennsylvania, I’m not going to cut back my hydrangeas or other plants that provide seeds to the birds. True this isn’t Pennsylvania, but her advice sounds reasonable.

          The tomatoes have been harvested and many of them are hanging in the kitchen window, ripening slowly. I believe there are enough ripe ones now to go in my salad. The tomato crop was a disappointment this year because the yield was so poor. I don’t know why, but for the first time ever, I didn’t have enough to give any away. Me, myself and I ate all that was produced. Usually the cherry tomatoes just explode, but not this time. For the first time, I planted to plants that provided larger tomatoes. One of those did fairly well, but I ate tomato and may sandwiches almost as fast as they turned red. I also learned how to make a tomato pie and, boy, was that delicious.

          The big pots at the end of the driveway, one on each side, did very well. One pot had what turned out to be a gorgeous hot pink hydrangea. I planted impatience around the bottom and they grew so well and provided a complimentary collar of color around the edge of the tub. The other pot had two dahlias left in from last year as well as another hydrangea. That hydrangea grew but didn’t flower…maybe next year. The dahlias and the other plant (forget the name) did very well and bloomed all summer long.

          Well, since my bed is all nice and clean, I’d best get in there and do some dusting…hasn’t been done in months I swear. The floor could also stand a sweep and  mop, but we’ll see just how far my energy lasts today. The mopping might have to wait until tomorrow.