Maybe I’m Not Mad Anymore?

I think some of the anger that’s been propelling me along these past couple months has fizzled out. Maybe it’s harder to be angry when the weather is nice and everything’s green. Maybe I just couldn’t stay mad forever. I still think the president is a malevolent moron and I’m worried about the rest of his term, but in a more removed way.

Still, I have no plans to spend more freely. I remain focused on financial security, and not spending money on dumb stuff is a big part of that.

This week’s expense was T’s tux for prom. If I was really creative and skilled, I would find something at Goodwill and tailor it to him. Alas, I don’t have that ability, so we ended up at a local small tux shop and rented one. It was cheap compared to prices I was seeing and hearing elsewhere. So hopefully the end result will be OK.

As far as his GF’s flowers — for junior prom last year I did make her bouquet, and it was decent (especially for my first-ever try), but I’m going to a florist this year to be safe. Prom’s gotta be perfect! (says the person who barely remembers hers).

One thing I do remember vividly is the experience of going down the shore for “senior week” following graduation. So I am happy to help T pay for his upcoming trip to Puerto Rico with friends, as his graduation present. Although I’m worried to death about it too.

It rained nearly every day this week. The silver lining is that if I walk Rocco in the rain, there’s much less chance of running into anyone. Our walks are better without other people and dogs.

I have been thinking about possible vacations, and done some Internet searching, but again, hesitant to spend right now. And honestly, I don’t feel like I have the energy to pack or deal with the kids, what to do with the dog, etc. A staycation is looking mighty appealing, or honestly, like, doing a short AirBnB at a nice localish house with a pool and ordering food for all meals. That sounds heavenly.

(But maybe next year, a Montana farmstay??)

It’s Memorial Day Weekend now and the weather sucks. Chilly, varying from sunny to cloudy to sudden downbursts. Good for some of the plants, bad for others. I was so very excited for this weekend to get here, but now it feels a little flat.

Still, I got a lot done today (Saturday) despite feeling out of kilter. F and I hit the farmers’ market early and got dog food topper, pierogies, carrots, Romaine lettuce, green beans, an onion, broccoli, strawberries and cookies. Did a couple loads of wash. Blanched and froze the broccoli.

In the garden, between downpours, I covered the ripening strawberries (just a handful between two plants) with netting. I filled some large pots with a mix of compost and previously used potting soil and transplanted some green beans into them (I had oversown them in the raised bed). That was probably my favorite part of today. Getting dirty.

I hope the strawberries send out some runners this year. I’d like to develop a patch in that area. One of the three current plants is a runner from last year.

I made a list of what else I want to plant, now and for the fall, and what seeds I need. Broccoli, arugula, more lettuce, more potatoes, more carrots, maybe Brussel sprouts?

In the afternoon I baked bread. It was the kneaded type, but I subbed maple syrup for honey 1:1 and that was a bad idea. Sticky, wet dough that could not be kneaded. So I poured it in a pan, stuck it in a warmish oven, and waited an hour. It rose just fine, baked up nicely and tastes good!

Later Tom and I took Rocco out to chase tennis balls, and then went to Acme. I’m tasked with making potato salad for a BBQ tomorrow.

Now, Tom, N, F and three of her friends are outside having a fire and s’mores while Rocco paws anxiously at the back door. One of the girls is afraid of him so he has to stay inside.

So it was a noneventful day and not too spendy. Some of the farmers’ market stuff was a little pricey. I treated myself to a Wawa latte too. Tom bought me a bag of potting soil at Home Depot. I felt like going out for dinner, but settled for frozen taquitos from Acme. I guess that’s a win.

Tomorrow: need to sit down with T and handle some more college stuff. Otherwise I think I’m just going to relax and save the rest of the must-dos for Monday.

Dinners this past week:

Monday: scrounge (quesadillas, chicken nuggets)

Tuesday: Rigatoni Bolognese and garlic bread

Wednesday: Steaks, mashed potatoes, broccoli and corn on the cob. The steaks, corn, potatoes and steak seasoning were from Aldi, and were cheap and good.

Thursday: pizza from King of Pizza

Friday: Chicken Caesar salad, with some lettuce from the garden and some from Aldi.

Lunches: packed twice (tuna; leftover pulled pork plus egg salad), bought once ($10).

New book I want to read: One Garden Against the World, Kate Bradbury. My library doesn’t have it. I’m reading a sample of her other book (title escapes me at the moment) and it’s good.