Taste Like Chicken-Weekend-5/15&16

Thanks for the start, Chele. I guess there are worse things than bringing home a watermelon. How are the berries? We have gotten some good SC strawberries this year. Did you find some good things at 2nd Street Market today? I was planning to do a post-and-twine type trellis for the straw bales and may do the same for the containers. I used shorter individual trellises last year and the runners didn't seem to want to climb them. Did Iggy get the 6 ft stakes or use the shorter ones?

Linda, that's great that Micki enjoys going to the vet, considering how often he has to go for his blood work. That's so sweet that he has a favorite nurse. So, you have good luck with vinca and portulaca in the heat? I've used portulaca as a ground cover because it's drought tolerant, but hadn't thought much about the heat aspect because we rarely get above the 90s here. How is the dental patient doing, other than still being on soft foods? The "fraudit" has become comic fodder for more than just the late shows. It would be funny if it wasn't so tragic. Boston College history professor Heather Cox Richardson did an amazing job of describing how we got to this point in her Letters from an American column yesterday. It's discouraging that we are returning to the ways of post-Civil War and the early 20th Century. They didn't seem to work any better then than they do now.

2/10" rain certainly isn't much, Becky. The humidity can be worse than the heat. Is it bringing in the possibility of more rain? I certainly hope so! Stefanik has been a moderate, so it seems she is willing to do anything to become a rising star. I guess that's why I could never be a politician. I don't know how some of these people can look at themselves in a mirror.

Liz, how are the pups doing? Did Wally keep you up again coughing? Is Gary doing ok after his dental work? Does your ED census continue to go through the roof?

Are you continuing to have comfortable weather, Kathy? Did the grocery order go well yesterday? Do you get $2 off your order coupons from Publix via email? I usually get them on the weeks I'm not planning to go to Publix. How do they know?? Does Instacart offer any special deals? As we are using up our TP stash, we have noticed that just about every store has switched from the "double" roll to something they call "mega", which is larger and doesn't fit my freestanding holder in the master bath. I have looked everywhere for the double rolls without success. So I just gave up yesterday and found a holder that will match the rest of the bathroom fixtures (oil rubbed bronze) and it should be here on Tuesday. I also saw that they now have an even larger size they call "supreme". I hope my new holder will also accommodate those rolls. As the rolls get larger, there seem to be fewer of them per package, so we don't seem to be gaining much.

Denise, are you off this weekend? Is your weather warming up any?

After the frustrating tire problem of yesterday morning, I had an equally frustrating afternoon. I got the blueberries and figs fertilized and mulched then installed soaker hoses for the blueberries, elderberries, and figs. I went to test the system and the first soaker hose is leaking so badly that I can't get flow to the remaining hoses. I will need to test each of the remaining hoses directly off the water source to make sure they also don't need replaced and then will need to plan a trip to Harbor Freight this week for at least one new soaker hose. It probably took me an hour to get all the hoses in place, so I hope I just have to replace one of them. Then I went to check on the blackberries and most of them are not doing well. I was a little concerned when Dale chose to transplant them to the same spot that the concord grapes hadn't survived, and I apparently had a reason to be concerned. We have very few blackberries with any leaves at all and they should be blooming right now. It can't be a problem with watering because we have gotten a lot of rain and when it doesn't rain for a couple of days, I water by hand. One of the red currants I planted in March also may not make it. I think it's a problem with lousy soil but also the rocks make it really difficult to get a good root system established. We also have a field of daisies coming up around the blackberries and currants, so it's not that easy to water. Apparently daisies aren't too picky about their soil. I think I have figured out a better location for the blackberries, but we need to work on weed control and amending the soil now so they can be planted in the late winter. In the meantime, I'll try to keep the ones that are still alive in the best condition I can, maybe with compost and other soil amendments. I was really tired last night and got almost 13K steps yesterday from all the outdoor activity. Hoping for less frustration today.

Chele, thanks for the start. Fresh watermelon and berries sound great. Did you carry the watermelon? (obscure Dirty Dancing reference!) Hard to believe this month is halfway gone.

Karen, we're still having some nice weather. I don't get the $2 coupons from Publix, so must be a local thing. They're the main chain in this area, so I guess they don't worry as much about the competition. Instacart offers special deals, usually by brand name. If you put something in your cart that has a deal, it will display something like only $$$ more for $$ off and show a list of things that qualify for the deal. I usually don't buy enough of any one brand to get the deal, but if I'm close to the limit, sometimes I'll double up on something. They also have digital coupons on individual items that you can just click on to get and sometimes there is a BOGO.

I've bought some of the super mega rolls, especially if I could get them when TP was in short supply. I have a half wall next to the toilet and can put them on the ledge there until they're small enough for the holder. I prefer the double rolls for the guest bathroom. Pretty soon, the super megas will be like the old double rolls if they keep shrinking things. Have you also noticed that they make some of the cardboard tubes wider so that it looks like the roll is bigger? Did you see the statement that GA Congressman made about the Jan. 6 insurrection being like a normal visit by tourists? Turns out he's in one of the photos of the Congressmen barricading themselves in the chamber. Yeah, just a normal day at the office.

Linda, I watched Anderson Cooper one night this week and he was talking about the audit being moved to the fairgrounds where the Crazy Times Carnival was starting. He was having trouble keeping a straight face every time he said Crazy Times and finally said, the crazy times, they just keep coming. You really can't make this stuff up. Some of the local stores are dropping the mask mandates for vaccinated people. The theme parks have all dropped them for outdoors.

Liz, I know, that commercial is really catchy and I can't get rid of that earworm either! Oh gosh, I forgot about Experian. I was in that one too. I agree, the fuel hack is very concerning and I worry that they're testing our systems for weaknesses before they really do something big. Poor Wally! I hope the meds kick in quickly and he's back to his normal rascally self soon. I'm glad Zoe has managed to avoid it so far. No need to apologize on not being around. I know how crazy your job is, plus you're going through a lot of other challenges.

It is a confused mess with the mask requirements. Orange County dropped the mask mandate for outdoors except in large groups as of yesterday. The theme parks immediately changed their policies to match. They are keeping the indoor mask mandate until 70% of those 16 and above are vaccinated and we're around 50% now. Meanwhile, some of the stores announced they'll no longer require them for vaccinated people. I'm not sure how this meshes with the county and I haven't heard anything from DeSantis yet. Other stores have said they're still requiring masks for now, especially the pharmacies. I wouldn't be surprised if DeSantis overrules some of the county and store rules. We generally shop in Seminole County though and I don't see any updates on them. I keep hearing of breakthrough cases with J&J, so that is a worry.

Becky, we're having similar weather in the 80s and humid. Our rain has slowed down a lot the past few days.

Karen, NASA is launching a rocket just after 8pm EDT tonight. They're saying most of the Eastern US should be able to see it if you have clear weather. Viewing area Coverage starts at 7:45 here.

Chele, I loved that movie and Swayzee too. Good to know the precise amount they've taken away from the TP! I wouldn't be surprised if they pack them less densely too.

Thanks for the start Chele. 

Karen Next week is our best chance of rain. Then there is Memorial Day weekend where we usually get rain or floods. I don't really care who runs the Republican or Democrat leadership. I don't watch political shows much and am not interested in it. There are bad leaders on both sides. I hope today was less frustrating than yesterday.

Linda Good luck with your new plants. Walmart is also dropping the mask requirement. I haven't been in there since they dropped it but the other day 95% or more were still wearing masks and employees were sanitizing self checkout stations. They have done a better job than HEB. They had quit sanitizing carts a couple of months ago so I don't understand why they still require masks. 

Liz We are all doing fine. It's getting warmer but not as hot as Linda. The ITB still gets tight but getting around better than before. I have been walking 2 miles every morning weather permitting. We do like the church. They have livelier music and we always did like the preacher. I hope the challenges slow down at some point soon.

Kathy Our state mask mandate was dropped quite awhile ago and local governments can't supersede the state orders but businesses can still require them. A few more people in HEB were not wearing masks Friday after the new guidelines came out but at least 90% were still wearing them. I wonder how long that will last since Walmart already dropped theirs. Neither store would refuse entrance even when required because they want the money. I am glad J&J wasn't available when we got ours. In addition to the breakthrough cases then there are the blood clot side effect. I never had any kind of a reaction with Moderna except sore arm and a little tired. It seemed to almost take an act of Congress to get one after being on a waitlist for 2 months and one day when we were in Walmart they were telling people if they hadn't gotten a vaccine just to walk up to the pharmacy and get one. 

Good Sunday, All.

Becky, are you back in person to the church service? 2 miles is a lot every day, said the lazy woman in Ohio. Iggy and I are trying to get back into pre pandemic shape and yesterday pledged to take a walk every morning, rain or shine. My head was thinking up every excuse in the book this morning to not lace up my shoes but I did it and came home and did some stretches. The heart patient is in better shape than I am. 😢 We did get sprinkled on while we were out but the lilacs smelled amazing. And no dogs chased us. 😆

Linda, I keep meaning to ask you how your DSIL is doing after all her tests in NYC.

Waving to the rest of the crew. 

It’s National Barbecue Day. Don’t tell Iggy because we will have rain today and are not barbecuing and it will upset him. JK. He doesn’t care.

Becky, I know exactly what you mean about vaccines. At the beginning, only the health departments had them here and the earliest appointment I could get initially was 6 weeks out. Then things started to open up when pharmacies started getting them and I was able to get one in 2 days. I didn't wear a mask when I got my hair cut a couple of weeks ago because we were both well past 2 weeks after 2nd shot. Surprisingly most people are complying with stores that are requiring masks, and I did see an employee at the outlet mall last week ask an incoming customer to put on a mask and the customer left instead. That's probably the exception here, however.  Does the ITB seem to be improving or are you just pretty much ignoring it unless it's really bothersome? I only watch a couple of political shows and don't watch them all the time. You can't form much of an opinion in a 7 minute segment with 3 or 4 people all giving their opinions. Most of my info comes from reading a variety of sources. I would rather make up my own mind than hear someone's opinion, unless it's someone I have a great deal of respect for.

The weather guesser this morning said the ISS is supposed to pass over East Tennessee at 9:25 tonight, Kathy. With the clouds we currently have that probably won't lift, my guess is we won't be able to see that or the vapor trails. What are the chances of the launch going as scheduled, given your weather? Maybe if they have to postpone, maybe we'll have clearer weather. I wonder how they would photograph with the new camera. Do you continue to have Spring?

Chele, we aren't celebrating National Barbecue Day either but I knew it was. I follow Ethan the dog on FB. He was dumped at the shelter in Louisville, KY in late January nearly dead, and his miraculous recovery was documented by the staff there. Then his adopted dad started a FB page for him and he has about 30K followers. He and his dad post daily and Ethan always notes what is being celebrated that day. Today is also National Mimosa Day, according to Ethan. I could get into one of those. I wondered if those cornices would be heavy. The inlaws had the old fashioned wooden ones from the time the house was new and they had to be specially reinforced. The new alternative should be nice and much lighter than the original idea. It also probably won't take as much work, so I hope Iggy has other projects on the to-do list as well.

I'm really anxious to see what is discovered on all the Yankees testing positive, Linda, especially the player who had covid in December, got vaccinated, and has it again. I'm trying to figure out what mask to wear when I fly to see DB/DSIL, since I'll need it from the time I get to the departing airport to the time I leave the arrival airport. I'm thinking about making a 2-layer lightweight cotton one that will be really breathable. I went outside to do some seedling transplanting today in a 5-layer and it was far from comfortable and I was only out there for about an hour and a half. I'll be on the plane at least that long. I need to get the hummingbird feeder filled and put up, but I haven't seen any yet. I know that super careful feeling with the temporary crown. I had one come out a couple of years ago and, fortunately, my permanent had just come in and I was able to get it fixed quickly. Blossom end rot can also be a sign of calcium deficiency. When I see it starting I sometimes crush up a couple of calcium tablets and dissolve them in a gallon of water. I don't know how you can be working outside in that heat.

Liz, I'm glad you are listening to your body and trying to get some R&R. How is Wally's recovery going and is Zoe still staying germ free? Strange on SM. Is nobody answer the phones at the rehab center? You would think if something was wrong, DS would get a call (or are the aunt and uncle the contact there and maybe she would be next to last to know--with you being last?). Weekend is going well so far. I transplanted the remainder of my seedlings. Still trying to figure out why none of my zinnias germinated as they are usually easy to grow. I leave for DB's in 3 weeks and woke up in the middle of the night wondering how to change time zones on my Garmin. Turns out it will do it for me. Guess that's why it's a "smart" watch. Dale and Arya are doing fine. She has been dealing with a couple of hot spots and I'm treating them with apple cider vinegar and aloe and so far so good. I hope the transit system getting back to pre-covid schedules this week will at least ease that part of your week.

Allergies are terrible here today, which is why I wore a mask to do the transplanting. I also picked about a lb of King Stropharia (Wine Cap) mushrooms that I will saute before dinner. I seeded one of the raised beds last fall with the spawn and it's really starting to produce. They are good for enhancing the soil and are edible, tasting kind of like a potato.