Park update. Don has added more blocks and also made a little border for the area by the tree, which will be full of periwinkle come spring. He’s very cute. He transplanted some periwinkle from other parts of the woods to this little plot.

We’re on the lookout for a bench. The best scenario is finding it for free on the side of the road. We’re on a tight budget. Except for adding some stepping stones to the area near the secret garden, we’ve spent exactly zero dollars on all the updates on the property. That’s a good feeling.

I’m writing this on Wednesday evening as we just learned that the tree guys are coming tomorrow. It will be too crazy in the morning; we have to move our cars, I have to trim some of the yarrow as it’s right next to where they’ll be working. As they arrive at 9 am and I have to talk to them before they start, blogging would lose out.

By the way it rained all morning and into the early afternoon. Maybe we’ll get a storm tonight but I hope not. I’d like it to dry out before the trucks arrive tomorrow. It’s as dry as a desert all summer long and the day before they come, it rains. A lot.

Since I wear a lot of black, I guess I could also be classified as one of the people in black on a plane that Orange Man is blathering about. I invariably wear black when I fly – I wonder if he’s referring to my flight to Paris last year?

That makes as much sense as anything else he’s said lately. He’s certifiable.

Hey, let’s play “What are you reading?” I’m reading The Starless Sea  by Erin Morgenstern. Don is reading a book that I read earlier this year, The Lost Pianos of Siberia  by Sophy Roberts.

Stay safe.

It’s a rainy day today and so far, it’s the kind of rainy day we have needed for quite a long time. Slow and steady. We might have thunderstorms this afternoon but in the meantime, we are enjoying a slow morning, our second cup of coffee, a little cuddling, and our current reads. Oh, and blogging, of course.

We drove across the river yesterday for Don’s eye appointment. We always end up searching for enough change to pay the bridge toll and somehow we came up with it again. The toll attendants (is that the correct term or am I just making that up?) are unfailingly cheery and polite. They’re masked, of course, and wear latex gloves. It’s a pretty drive on a winding road and then, suddenly, there’s the Hudson River – this time with a huge barge coming down the center of the river. Don enjoys the opportunity to look at everything without worrying about being behind the wheel. When we got the the doctor’s office, there was no room in the parking lot – there never is – so I drove across the street to a lot that is associated with a city park. Don called the office to tell them he was here and then when they called to say they were ready, walked over to the office. In the meantime, I sat in the car watching various city workers take their lunch break outdoors – there’s a little food stand right there.

Then I watched two guys driving ambulettes (I think these are used by the neighboring county to transport senior citizens and others to doctors appointments, etc.) park next to each other and get out of their vehicles. They were maskless and they proceeded to chat with each other for about 20 minutes with no social distancing. Surely that isn’t a good idea – they’re transporting vulnerable people here and there and these two can’t wear a mask? And it’s a given that they should be wearing a mask. New York has a mask mandate. I took some photos because I was contemplating sending them to the owners of the company. I also thought about calling them. But then, I thought, what if they are regularly tested because of their jobs and everything’s okay? Still, 24 hours later, I’m unsure about the protocol of all of this.

I did a little work on the dollhouse yesterday afternoon, but it was frustrating. Just one of those days where nothing went well. I’ll try again today.

Today will be a lazy day, I think. Reading, some mini work, avoiding the news because I didn’t avoid it yesterday.

Oh, forgot to add that Don’s appointment went well. This is the second time when Don’s vision went totally black for a second or two after getting the shot. Apparently, this is a normal response but the first time it happened he understandably freaked out. But this time, it came back quickly, he doesn’t have any broken blood vessels in his eye like he did last month and he made sure they thoroughly rinsed his eye. Very little soreness. He seems to be doing well.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Lots of activity down by the culvert. Wildflowers; including goldenrod, ironweed, purple loosestrife (don’t worry, it’s not invasive on our property) and Queen Anne’s Lace, abound. I counted 5 garden spiders/Orb weavers in the same patch of flowers. I could stand there and watch all the activity all day long.

I mowed the back forty and the former corral and then Don joined me to mow the front lawn. It was a very satisfying mowing day. We wanted to get it done because we have no idea when the tree guys will come and there’s rain in the forecast for tomorrow. This morning, we have to drive across the Hudson River to Don’s retina specialist for his bi-monthly shot in the eye. When we get back, I want Don to take it easy. So does his doctor.

Consequently, I am writing this post earlier than I usually do.

I strolled around the front yard late yesterday afternoon taking photos like the one of the bee. After a while I headed up the driveway to go back in the house and I glanced at the milkweed, wondering when I should cut some of it down, as it was looking like it was done for the year. Then I saw this:

The first monarch caterpillar I’ve seen this year. And if you look to the right, you’ll see a much smaller caterpillar on that pod. I quickly went in the house to get Don because I knew he’d want to see it. I also took a short video, which is on my Instagram account. I don’t always see these guys – it’s all in the timing – so my day was made.

And I had my answer to the milkweed question: Not yet.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.