I didn’t work in the garden yesterday. I didn’t go to Lincoln. I didn’t even go to a dinner.
I read.
I sat on the couch and read. Then I played on the computer a little. Then I read some more. It felt a little weird, but it was at the same time glorious. I got a little more than a third of the way through my book. I don’t really like it. Lloyd asked me last night if I was someone who had to finish a book once I started it.
Yes. Yes I am.
I should be done in two more days anyway, right?
I went to an antique store to find the next test cups for my Carnation Instant Breakfast. Since I’m in Nebraska, I went with enamelware cups. I found two possibilities: one cup that was the right shape, but the wrong color (green and white speckles); and one that is the right color but the wrong shape (too wide).
WHITE CUP
Pros: Looks great. Would be perfect on my sink.
Cons: Enamel has chips. Too wide. I can’t get the proper consistency for the crunchy-gooey chunks of undissolved Carnation.
GREEN SPECKLES CUP
Pros: Carnation mixes to the perfect consistency. Enamel is flawless and uncompromised.
Cons: Wrong color. Can I use an enamelware cup that doesn’t look like Grandma Hummel’s?
Con for both: Serious dribble. The lip of the cup has an overhang that is hard to seal with my lip. The result is a heavy dribble.
I will continue to use the green speckle cup until I find another cup to test. Perhaps I will develop the ability to drink dribble-free.
Lloyd and Lauren are back! Yay! I can finally post about this!
After Lloyd and Lauren left, I started working on a secret project. I wanted to make a new garden bed. Beth suggested I strip away the grass immediately behind their house because they have a crazy-big lawn and mowing it takes forever. I should have been posting about this every day, but I wanted it to be a secret. So instead, here’s one super-long post:
Here’s the before picture:
I rented a sod cutter to remove the grass. It was one of the coolest garden machines I’ve ever used.
I pulled off the old landscaping timbers and took them to the dump. Then I put new ones in. I also moved the peonies. That’s when their house toad scared the bejeebers out of me.
Harold helped me collect a whole bunch of rocks from behind their neighbors garage. (Thanks Harold! You rock! Ha!) That’s when I got poison ivy and was nearly crushed by a tree limb. Deciding what to build was the most difficult part.
I decided on a firepit. It came together really nicely. And I didn’t hurt my back.
I filled the spaces in with plants and mulch. Beth suggested that I “stage” the firepit with some wood. The fallen limb gave me all kinds of sticks.
The rest of the garden bed is unfinished. I have some plants to get in the ground still, but all the empty space will give me work to enjoy for the next couple of summers.
And, for comparison, the “before” picture one more time:
Lloyd and Lauren have a house toad. I’ve been seeing it all week. Its talent seems to be scaring the bejeebers out of people. Early last week, it jumped out of a yew and scared Beth. Midweek, it scared me when it jumped out of the peonies. Later, it jumped out of a flowerpot while I was watering it. I was telling Beth about the toad yesterday as it jumped out from behind the air conditioner. I took a picture.
What does a house toad do? Is it just for fun? Does it bring you a Pepsi when you ask for it? Does it kill rabbits so they don’t eat your plants? (It’s not doing a very good job, Lauren. Sorry about your lettuce.) Or could it be some kind of home security system?
Harold and Beth have been at an FCA conference this weekend. It’s two nights at the Cornhusker Hotel. Who wouldn’t jump at that opportunity? While they were gone, Grandma and Grandpa and I have been teaming up to take care of Tara and Tim. Well, actually, it’s mostly Grandma, but Grandpa and I helped.
Last night was a bath night because of church today. Tara and Tim have super-cool soap foam in several colors. I totally want to use some. I’ll have to get my own though. Tara and Tim like theirs too much.
They had a blast in the tub. It made me think that I should take a bath again. It’s been a long time. And I should definitely have toys. I’m thinking battle ships and sharks. Yes… I’ll definitely need some sharks.
