Here we go again – it’s all good this thyme. Er, time. The Farmers’ Market has begun!
The Haul, Week One!
Poor Chuck. He said, “You’re taking a picture?” As if he should have any doubts!
Market Day!
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Author Archives: Daisy
Rest easy, Lorax. It was time.
It wasn’t an endangered species. It wasn’t the only tree in the area. It provided a little shade, but it also over-shaded another tree so much that the other tree grew asymmetrically. Then, finally, came the construction.
To make room to install the new utilities, the tree gave up the roots on one side. To make room for the curb and gutter, more of its roots were decimated. Then the sidewalks were repaired and replaced on the other side, leaving clipped off roots sticking almost straight up. The water/gas leak/disaster took away the root system on a third side. The remaining roots, also near the road, were so bad I’ll spare you the picture. There wasn’t much left to hold the tree in place.
Then the heavy equipment operator knocked down the cable to our neighbor’s home. We don’t know if it happened during the damage or the replacement, but the tree lost a large branch and began to split on the road side.
The city forester agreed; it was time to take the tree down. It was no longer safe, and it was likely to rot or get infected due to the overwhelming damage.
Take it down!
Later, the stump crew came. He had the foresight to put up a tarp to protect the stump’s privacy. Okay, okay, I know, he was really blocking the chips and sawdust from flying around.
the great barrier
And there you are, readers. The tree is gone, and we’re relieved. The city will plant a smaller one in a better spot so it doesn’t invade our sewer lateral or force a move of the service walk to the street.
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Meanwhile, Back at the O.K. Chorale
Last weekend we delivered Amigo to his annual week at camp. Just being there felt good. I enjoyed the calmness as we drove along the country roads, past the sparsely populated areas and the small river.
Meanwhile, we threaded our way through a nearby small town and took a break for a photo op. I redid a photo I’d taken before in a better quality look.
O.K. by me!
So on we drove, back to our homestead, the sort-of cityscape of the O.K. Chorale.
Meanwhile, readers, if you happen upon a photo opportunity with a large O.K. label, please send me a copy! I’m sure there are more of these places outside of Tombstone. Right? O.K.
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The past revealed – and then shredded
I’ve been shredding mountains of papers, including foothills of ancient tax records, aged bankbooks from when banks used actual passbooks, receipts for various long-ago purchases.
One peak in this mountain range seems to be medical. Those EOBs (Explanation of Benefits from the insurance companies) tell stories of their own. I found:
- records from my early troubles with asthma
- the hospital statement from Amigo’s birth. He was a bald baby boy back then!
- the doctor’s prescription for my maternity leave when Amigo was born
- another prescription from the same doctor, this time suggesting a leave of absence for fatigue and gastritis. This doctor would eventually put the pieces together and diagnose my first depression.
- Amigo’s early health statements, decorated with handwritten notes about where to go and what to do next.
I learned a few things.
- Those colorful coated paper clips really do last a long time.
- Ordinary paper clips do eventually rust.
- A single staple might go through a paper shredder, but multiple staples can cause jamming.
- Our new-ish shredder is one tough appliance. I just wish it had a bigger drawer so it could shred more before signalling “Full! Empty me now!”
I shredded checkbook registers, a few old checks, and bank statements. And I said to myself:
- Did I really choose these checks with a teddy bear pattern?
- Did Chuck grimace every time he wrote one?
- I shopped at Wal-Mart? These are old, old, old check records.
- My handwriting was certainly neat back then. What happened?
- The insurance company we had back then put us through the wringer. Did they train their customer service people to be rude, or were they naturally nasty?
But those are stories for another time, in another venue.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the homestead known as the O.K. Chorale, I just keep shredding, shredding, shredding.
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Shredded Shred
We took a tangent on the basement clean-up. The major cleaners will be here Tuesday to clean up the silt and dirt from the water disaster. Then they’ll set up professional size fans and dehumidifiers and leave them running to dry the walls. If the walls could talk right now, I’m sure they’d be asking for dry clothes and a little dry weather, too.
Chuck unearthed two aging file cabinets – full file cabinets. He went through them and sorted the contents into recycling and shredding. The shred crates are rather full.
To Be Shredded
By the process of estimation (actually from experience feeding pages of old tax returns through the shredder), I’ve determined that one grocery bag of shred equals about three full files. Look at the above crate again. Then look below.
Shredded! It’s shredded!
I leave a little space at the top so I can staple the bag shut. That way, my shredded old resumes won’t be flying around the neighborhood when the truck picks up and dumps the big blue bin.
I’ve already tossed three grocery bags of shred into the bin. We have many more to go. What do you think, peoples? Are there other uses for shredded paper? Before I start sneaking bags of paper into my neighbor’s bins, leave me a note with an idea or two.
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Oregano! Oregano! Oregano!
- The oregano that wintered indoors didn’t do well. I bought a little new oregano to replace it. A coworker then gifted me with two generous plants from her Greek oregano plant. She recommend I cut them off, dry the tops to use for seasoning, and then re-pot the rest.
Oregano the Old
Wow. This oregano is growing.
Sorry, friends. I don’t have an after picture yet. I thought I’d wait until the roots have a chance to settle into their new home.
I will tell you this: the transplanted oregano looks a lot better than the rosemary.
Sigh. Green thumb took a break.
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Scarborough Fair and Herbs
Parsley
Sage
More Parsley
and Thyme
Did you notice? Oh, darn, you did. Readers, the song refrain changed at the O.K. Chorale because the rosemary died. I still need to find a new starter rosemary.
The thyme is recovering. I haven’t killed thyme, at least this thyme. Time.
You should see the oregano!
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The drawers are full!
I finished the laundry! Gee, don’t you wish we could all celebrate simple chores like that?
The truth is, these drawers are done. As the impatiens begin to thrive, they’ll fill their new home and look lovely. The suckers from the cherry tree will be unable to pierce the particle board barrier, so they’ll give up. Bwahahahaha!
Maybe.
Flowers in Drawers
The one on the right looks fine, but on the left – what’s happening?
Leaning left
bunny guarding flowers
The other side looks better. Why? Did I mess it up somehow in the transplant? Did the ceramic bunnies take over the world?
Readers, suggestions are welcome.
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Summer Break and Pop Culture
School’s out for summer, and in my family at the O.K. Chorale, we sing that in a major key. I don’t expect a lot of travel this time because I’m hoping to teach summer school (I’m on deck, next to be called if I’m needed). A jaunt along Rte. 66 is still on my bucket list, though. I enjoy my history and my pop culture.
I hope you enjoy my latest contribution to my national link and their social media branch. It started out being all about historical markers, and it took on a life of its own with the pop culture theme.
Readers, is there pop culture, Americana, or history in your town? Leave a comment. Maybe we’ll visit!
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Construction Breeds Creativity, the sequel
Yesterday I mentioned my challenge: carrying a 40 lb. bag of potting soil down the road because the street is inaccessible. Witness exhibit one.
Not even residents can get in right now.
But wait – what’s that? Someone is coming up the block with a wheelbarrow full of – groceries?
Now that’s a grocery cart.
Upon approach – it’s Chuck, home from the store!
Don’t let the big machines stop you from using a simple alternative.
It took two trips. The first was bunny food and other essentials. The second —
Less than essential, but important.
Now that’s better.