Paul & Mary's Daily Diary

We are getting old because now we add Ensure Protein Max to our coffee instead of milk!

We had our coffee, then changed into our official “working clothes,” which are just regular clothes with a higher chance of dirt, sweat, and regret.

First stop: Orange Farming Supply for additional veggies, because apparently our garden looked at us and said, “Is that all you’ve got?”

Then it was off to Trader Joe’s for some processed grapes… read: wine—very important agricultural research.

Finally, we returned home.  Mary headed to the kitchen to make lunch, while I unloaded the car like a one-man produce-and-wine distribution center.  The cases of wine went into the garage for “storage,” and the vegetables — two wheelbarrow loads — went to the garden, because today we plant!

We picked up more corn and replacements for four tomato plants that had completed their life’s mission and gone to the great salsa bowl in the sky.  We also planted another watermelon and a giant pumpkin, which we’ll be watching carefully, because Halloween is just around the corner, and we expect results.

The trunk was loaded with veggies!

Mary stayed inside for a while, turning our grapes into raisins — because apparently the grapes weren’t feeling old enough yet — and putting away the Trader Joe’s groceries, which is basically a light workout with snacks.

I headed out to the garden and started planting at 10:00 am because nothing says “good decision” like beginning yard work right as the sun starts acting like it’s personally offended by your existence.

After wisely staying inside during “the heat of the day,” Mary eventually joined me in the yard.  While I re-laid the soaker hoses — also known as garden spaghetti — she planted several nursery plants and cleaned up the garbage area like a woman on a mission.

I wrapped up the day by removing weeds and debris from under the grape plants, because after making raisins, it only seemed fair to give the grapes a cleaner retirement community.

Come one, come all… It’s cheaper than the gym!!

It was 6:30 pm, and we decided it was time to quit!

I surprised Mary when I said, “Let’s go swimming.” She looked at me like I’d officially lost my mind.  Because around here, we do not do 75-degree water.  That’s not swimming—that’s a cry for help.  She was not aware that I turned on the pool heater yesterday, so when she checked the duck (our thermometer that floats in the pool), Mr. Duck said it was 94 degrees!

We donned our swimming outfits, which, by the way, saves wear and tear on our bathing suits, and jumped in the water.

Mary has such a way with words!

But when I got in, the pool was really 94 degrees… basically our hot tub wearing a pool costume.  We splashed around for a solid hour like two retirees at a luxury resort with questionable impulse control.

Today was the first time this year we took the cover off the fire pit, and apparently, we had been running an unauthorized reptile-and-cricket Airbnb all winter.

The moment the cover came off, crickets and lizards started evacuating like someone had pulled the fire alarm at a tiny wildlife hotel.  Then, when I lit the fire, a couple more lizards shot out from the rocks with their little tootsies sizzling, clearly filing complaints about the sudden change in amenities.

Burn baby burn!

Mary used the small net to capture floating debris, such as leaves and some honeybees that came for a drink, and frowned.  When she was done, the pool was as clean as when the pool maintenance guy finished!

I learned something new!  Yesterday, when I tried to turn on the pool, it would not work!  I fiddled with the mechanical timer and determined it was dead.  So, I called the pool maintenance man, and to my surprise, I found out that last year he installed a fancy new variable-speed pool pump with a built-in electronic timer and many other features.  What will they think of next?

The old mechanical timer is no longer in the circuit!  I got the name off the motor and went to the trusty internet and printed out the eight-page instruction on how to program the pump, oh my!  I finally got it on and working.

The clouds and the sun put on an incredible sunset show for us — the kind where the sky looks like a stairway to heaven, with sunbeams blasting through the heavy clouds like God had just opened the VIP entrance.

I got out to “test” the firepit, which is husband code for standing near flames and pretending it’s an important technical procedure.

Meanwhile, Mary kept swimming laps, giggling like a teenage girl who had just discovered summer vacation.  She was absolutely thrilled with the surprise pool visit — and honestly, at 94 degrees, the pool was less “refreshing swim” and more “luxury soup with exercise.”

Just before I got out, we called Vicky to invite her over this week, and then Diane Porter (my sister-in-law) called, and we jabbered for fifteen minutes.

Life is good!!

Tonight we did NOT do marshmallows!  We had planned to have dinner, but it was 9:00 pm by the time we finally went inside, so we headed for bed!   It had been a good day!

The fire pit was a perfect way to end the day!

We could see the last of the day disappearing in the west!

We finished off our bottle of Two Buck Chuck (now called Three Buck Chuck).

The Moon was shining brightly even through the scattered clouds.  We sat and talked and decided we would invite people over for the July Fourth celebration instead of going to the Elks.   While the Elk is OK, we thought several hours of visiting with family and friends without the background noise would be a good thing.

We turned off the lights, the fire, and went inside.  The day was officially done!

Good night, hot tub!

We tried to watch TV, but it didn’t last very long!   Mary covered me with a bankie until I finally woke up.  The day was done, but we were not.  Time for a good old pillow fight!  We crashed like two little school kids giggling and laughing!  I love being married to my best friend!

There was still some life in us yet!!  Good night, Gracie!  Good night, George.