On a Rampage

This might be the spring break that broke me. Physically, that is.

The kids were off this past week and so I took off on Friday, as well as today (had to pick a parent up from a procedure). These were my lists on Friday morning:

As my husband said about an hour later, “I can tell you’re on a rampage.”

A spring cleaning, long-deferred painting, gardening, crafting, probably hormone-induced rampage, yes. Everyone was advised to either pitch in or GTFO of my way.

Friday was immensely satisfying. I started right in on deep cleaning the living room in advance of finally, finally painting the walls. Tom went to his shop and came back with primer and materials to get started, and young T did the priming.

I moved on to the garden, where I potted on two of the very leggy tomatoes into a giant plastic tub. Moving around the big bag of potting soil did a number on my back. The tub is in the basement, so I’m not sure how I’m going to harden these off — the tub can’t be easily moved…

I also thinned out one row of carrots and gave everything a good watering — it hasn’t rained in a bit. Later I cleaned out dead leaves and branches out front, and later still I transplanted four more onions and five more lettuce seedlings.

Friday afternoon I got to see some of F’s softball game, in between taking N to the YMCA about 20 minutes away, where he did lifeguard certification all weekend. The weather was beautiful all day.

Midday I went to Ace Hardware and bought a medium-sized terra cotta pot and some other supplies for my mosaic. Tom had some white spray paint that I used to paint it (because some of the pieces are clear, that will look better).

F and I also had a quick trip to Dick’s and Wegmans.

Whew! I was whupped that night.

Saturday: more driving to the Y, more driving to and fro softball. Then F and I had to wrangle over what we were going to do for “fun,” since we hadn’t really done anything over break. She wanted to go to the beach, but I bargained her down to the mall (gas prices! And it was only in the 60s at the beach). At the mall I bought her a shirt for $25 — way less than I would have spent in Ocean City.  We had a good time til the end, when she said the beach would have been better. Fair statement, but I got super annoyed (hormones, probably).

Back home, I tried to shake off the consumerist fumes of the mall out in the garden. I worked on protecting the pots and planters that needed it. I’ve been using dead Christmas tree branches to hold up the netting and it’s been working really well — much better than the notched sticks I usually use. I also added more mulch where needed, cleaned up some trash and thinned the rest of the carrots.

I am seeing a few violets, and wishing I had a carpet of them in the yard. A coworker of mine usually has enough to make violet jelly! I will have to look into planting them or encouraging them. Hey, they are New Jersey’s state flower, after all.

Saturday night, since we had to pick N up from the Y around dinner time, we stayed down that way and went to one of the very few remaining Chili’s ’round here for dinner. Somebody at our table may or may not have accidentally mooned the neighboring table. I can’t say any more than that. It was a memorable spring break after all!

Sunday: up and at ’em early again, driving N to his last class (yes, he is now a certified lifeguard). Back at home, I did some general cleaning up. Then it was time to attack the couch and ottoman with the steam cleaner. That was pretty grueling. I only got about halfway done. I didn’t want to push my luck. Meanwhile, Tom put on the first coat of Benjamin Moore’s “Opulence.” Woo hoo! It has really brightened up the room. Still a ways to go with the fireplace accent wall (probably a teal), priming and painting the other two walls, and then all the trim. But the mauve walls that I’ve lived with for several years are gone! It isn’t even so much that I didn’t like them — I just really needed a refresh.

Today, I focused on getting the last of the lettuce and onions transplanted. I tested out my new tile nippers and realized I need a different kind to cut glass… argh. I also have to finish my taxes.

Some bird highlights: I caught a mourning dove on the camera for the first time. Also for the first time, I saw a woodpecker on the ground, pecking around. It was a red bellied woodpecker.

During the week we had two frost warnings. For the first, I covered the strawberries with hay to protect all the flowers, and I covered the lettuce with insect barrier. The second was not as cold so I didn’t sweat it.

Meals this week:

Monday: scrounge: egg salad sandwich for me. N at friend’s, F at softball team dinner.

Tuesday: Dar’s Steaks. First time trying them — really good! A massive chicken cheese steak for me.

Wednesday: premade chicken penne alfredo

Thursday: Chicken Caesar wraps from Sprouts; rotisserie chicken and steamed broccoli

Friday: scrounge: Buffalo chicken naan pizza

Saturday; Chili’s

Sunday: scrounge (tuna for me). Another softball team dinner.

Tuesday lunch: leftover Easter ham and a wretched sweet potato (long story haha).

Wednesday: bought lunch. Friday at home: turkey sandwich with garden lettuce and arugula. It’s been so long since I had fresh arugula on hand!

All these activities and hobbies = money spent. Money on paint and painting supplies. The terra cotta pot, adhesive and grout. Today I bought nippers to cut tiles and more soil, for the last large planter. I need one more good-sized pot for beans, which I’ll try to get for free. I also paid N and F to do some chores over break, which I don’t usually like to do, but they had time and I needed help. And I gave N. $30 for used sneakers and had to buy more softball clothes for F. I hope the mosaic isn’t a one and done, but who knows. I’ve abandoned my share of hobbies over the years.

Thursday night I walked Rocco for the first time in forever. Looking forward to getting back in that routine. F walks him now too, which is a big help. I was worried about her controlling him but she has done good.

I’ve really enjoyed my days off! At least this is a short work week now. Sitting outside now enjoying the 80-degree weather and recording birds with Merlin. A white-throated sparrow is singing its goodbyes to today.