Chlorine Dreams

My only focus this week was making it to 5 pm Friday, when my vacation officially began.

I didn’t do much during the week besides work, do some cleaning in the wake of Aspen the foster puppy, and run some errands. And work in the garden.

More beans, peppers and onions this week.

Friday night and Saturday I did some harvesting, weeding and planting. I direct sowed:

Crispino (iceberg) lettuce

Coastal Star (romaine) lettuce

May Queen (butter) lettuce

Imperator carrots

Turnips

Emerald Crown broccoli

Silvia Brussels sprouts

August 1 is probably a bit late, but I’ll hope for the best.

I also accomplished some random tasks like cutting down the Northern catalpa tree seedling growing right against the house on the front garden, putting new dunks in the mosquito traps, cutting a bouquet for the kitchen, and snipping a sprig of basil to try to start a new plant.

Although pretty warm out, it felt great to be in the garden with no plans, nowhere to be. Taking my time. If there’s a theme to my vacation, it’s that I WON’T BE RUSHED!

Later, F and I did a little pre-trip food shopping, then I went to the pool. It was breezy, warm and lovely; I mapped out an idea for a short story in my head, generally daydreamed, and got my laps in. Started a new book but I don’t think it’s for me. Need to find something to bring on the trip.

I’m just in la la land today, basically. Tomorrow I will have to do wash, pack, pick up prescriptions, leave detailed instructions for T for the week, and clean up.

But that’s tomorrow.

Monday, we leave, and we come back on Friday. It’s been two years since we had a real vacation of any kind. (I could be wrong, but for virtually my whole life (not early childhood), there’s only been two years where I didn’t go somewhere during the summer for a week, or have a group Shore house for the summer, or live at the Shore for the summer while working. Not too shabby. You might even say #blessed.)

Meals this week:

Tuesday: Tuna sandwich for me

Wednesday: Sushi from Osaka for N and F; chicken strips and sauteed green beans from the garden for me

Thursday: PJ’s restaurant for my nephew’s birthday

Friday: chicken strips, mashed potatoes, sauteed green beans from garden

Saturday: Rotisserie chicken and leftover mashed potatoes

Lunches: I bought all three days at work, ouch. Ate at home Monday and Thursday.

Spending: $17 on ice cream out last night for me and F; birthday card and cash gift for my nephew. And I returned an impulsive makeup purchase, getting $19 back.

So far I have not needed to buy anything for this trip other than food. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.

F and N are at friends’ houses currently; T will likely end up going out. Another quiet Saturday evening at home with the old man.

A few more garden pics: