Curiouser and curiouser.

 

I figure it's one of three things:  gremlins, a secret trapdoor into another dimension OR all of the planets are lined up, giving me the big cosmic raspberry.  Exhibit A:  I spent hours trying to find my third leg (aka Canie).  Hours.  It was outside, leaning against my car door.  I had not been out by my car for two days.  Canie was missing for less than one day.  Exhibit B:  This morning, I made two cuppas with my trusty Nespresso cheater pod - the kind into which you put your own coffee and reuse, a small step in the right direction.  This afternoon, I have only the top half.  The bottom has vanished.  Cue up the spooky music.

I have at least six knitting projects whizzing around in my head, causing so much noise that I haven't lifted a needle for days.  I need to focus.  Sigh.  While trying to locate a certain set of double pointed needles in the craft/office/chaos room, I pulled out a drawer in my stacking organizer to find....my collection of pom poms, a wool kit that must be at least four years old and... about a quarter cup of cat kibble.  Obviously, mice toted each piece up to the second from the top drawer.  Offerings for the Pom Pom Gods?  It boggles.

I've got a nice arrangement of forced forsythia branches/flowers on the table.  The bushes are covered with dust and don't do well on their own.  I'm hoping that the stems will root and I can transplant them between the willow hybrids.  The dust is horrid.  The town finally came by with the sweeper - after it rained, of course, so that they only removed a fraction of the dust that coats the road.  They're nothing if not incompetent.

I had put on my 101 Greatest Motown Hits cds and Lovey and I realized we do not shake our booties like we used to - my swivel is lopsided and she has a bum knee.  But we do our best.  Peanut covers his head.

The Nerve Center now sports ear drops and cotton wads.  Peanut is suffering from his usual seasonal allergies.  This involves two wrestling matches a day.  At least I am getting some exercise.  He gets his monthly allergy shot on Saturday, bless him.

I had to move the bluebird house, due to the collapse of the tree section that was its base.  This, apparently, has not met with the approval of Mrs. BB.  I hear Mr. BB doing his trilling best, trying to convince her that it's a good place to raise a brood.  She better decide soon - the wrens are due any moment and they have found the BB house to be hunky dory the past two years.  I've noticed that we have a plethora of red breasted nuthatches.  I find them entrancing - they are tiny and fast.  

Tomorrow is my second vaccination shot - I will be happy to have that under my belt.  I have a sizable list for the local big box store involving potting soil, grass seed and possibly some dahlias.  I'm trying to decide if I should go before or after the shot.  I'm not afraid of dropping over with side effects, but the first shot made my arm pretty sore and I have to trundle sacks around.  Of course, I could just push my cart to the car and stand there, leaning heavily on Canie, looking helpless.  It would be my luck that everyone in the parking lot that day was over 80.

Yesterday, I spent a couple of hours with Marianne, as she baby-sits her granddaughter on Mondays.  We figured that we'd have more of a chance to talk - once she gets to the store, she's lucky to have five minutes to spare.  Lucy and I hit it off after a bit - she is a vision of Pre-Raphaelite beauty at almost two.  When I left, she was standing at the window, looking very sad and giving me a little queen's wave.  I almost turned back.  I had taken her a prototype of a new stuffie (you can't hold me down!) which she seemed to like.

The leaves are starting to be visible and, while the nights can be pretty cool, the days are mild.  I have one rain barrel set up - the one near the chicken yard, huzzah!  How nice to not have to schlep water from the far end of the house every morning.  

I have started the spring clean up, which translates into making a variety of little piles.  I need to divide my Japanese irises and dig up and move a lot of the day lilies.  I started a tray of shishito peppers and will plant arugula and salad greens in the cold frame this weekend.  My favorite organic farm has started to offer a limited variety of spring produce on Saturdays, so I am heading up for scallions, kale, Swiss chard, mesclun mix, and spinach.  On a side-rant - the way they set it up is to have you order online, then you pay when you pick up.  Apparently, they got royally stiffed at the last pick up.  We now have to put payment in an envelope with our name on it.  Really?  This husband/wife team has slaved away for 37 years on this farm to grow wonderful organic produce for us and people think it's fine to not pay them?  I am so steamed.

The shearer has not called with a date yet - I hope it's next week, as this is turning out to be a busy week.  I will try to be more diligent about getting posts up, but I am not always trustworthy.  I am now off to see what has been going on in your exciting young lives!