Saturday Is a Work Day! No, Really!!

Posted on Saturday, February 7, 2026 by Paul

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Just us!  Robin, Mary, and I had our morning coffee and chatted for a while before getting to work.  Mary and Robin headed to the office so Mary could get her 1099s downloaded with Robin’s help.  I headed to the garden and worked for the next six hours transplanting strawberries, moving blueberries to the west wall, fixing the drip system, and straightening up the vineyard.

Mary and Robin made an observation.

By the end of the day, I had placed the tomato cages, sorted by size, in the beds.  All we need now is plants and mulch!

Sorted by size???

There was some Swiss chard remaining in the big garden, so I transplanted it into the small gardens as it looked healthy!

I am getting hungry already!

The strawberries are all transplanted and lined up, each with its own drip line running to it!  The blossoms are forming, so we should begin seeing strawberries in about a month!

This display made Mary a happy girl!  Now, if they don’t produce, I will sneak to the market every few days, buy a basket of strawberries, and bring them in the house like a cat bringing a mouse to its owner.

Yummy!!!

I felt like I was behind bars.  The old labels remaining from last year were removed from the cages, and I straightened them where needed.  They await the tomato plants!

The support is ready to go into action!

We harvest oranges all summer long thanks to Jim and Doris!  Their tree goes wild, and we help tame it every day!

Orange juice is packed with Vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants like hesperidin, which boost immunity and heart health; a single glass often exceeds daily Vitamin C needs.  Interestingly, the color “orange” was named after the fruit, and the juice is so popular it’s a classic breakfast staple, though its sugar content means moderation is key.  Oranges float because of air pockets in their peel, but the fruit itself sinks.

The tree is loaded, and I make sure it is properly fertilized!

Trimming the plants in the rotary pots turned into a surprise treasure hunt: strawberries are in there, blushing and almost ready to snack on.

And the herb garden just hit the terrible twos—so this year it’s getting the gardening equivalent of a cozy blanket and a stern talking-to: serious mulch.

Turn, turn, turn!  That’s an excellent name for a song!

Robin headed for the hills around 11:00 am, and Mary assumed her post in the Living/TV Room—remote in one hand, HSC (Home Shopping Channel) on the TV, and bargaining instincts running at 100%.

She was on standby for Benny, our vintage-clothes wheeler-dealer, to roll in and work his magic.  When he arrived, Mary unloaded her stash of old costumes and vintage dresses like it was a one-woman estate sale.  Verdict: successful mission—Mary was thrilled with the haul, and Benny left looking like he’d just raided a very stylish time machine.

Speaking about “vintage”, I love the 1955 Caddy (although I love the ’55 Packard Caribbean better).

1957 Cadillac ElDorado Convertible.

Benny, Mary, and Benny’s whole crew rolled in to visit Farmer John (me) right as I was out positioning tomato cages for the 28th.  Perfect timing—nothing says “welcome” like watching a grown adult wrestle metal circles in the dirt.

By the time I was done, I looked like PigPen from the comics: not so much “farmer” as “mobile dust exhibit,” with a personal weather system following me around the yard.  The need for a warm shower was not too distant.

We sat back and watched TV for a while.  I finished off “The American President”, a movie I could see over and over.  When the movie was over at 10:00 pm, we headed to bed.  It has been a long day!  Mary mostly checked for light leaks!  I made sure her embroidery equipment was stowed away safely.

Embroidery is an ancient art form dating back to at least 3000 BC, with roots in China and the Near East, often used historically to signify high social status. Derived from the Latin embroidere (“to adorn with needlework”), it has evolved from hand-stitching to machine embroidery, which was invented in the 1800s.

Before crashing, I checked my messages, and we got a Vicky-Gram which said, “This is a big giant ship, I think 16 floors, and there’s all kinds of things to do on it, so let’s see how much we can get done.  I’m going shopping tomorrow, thank you.  We will be in Key West.”

We told her the big ships will be fine, and her seasickness will not occur.  YEAH!

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Friday Has Arrived And We Are Busy As Usual!

Posted on Friday, February 6, 2026 by Paul

We put our heads together (so we might add up to being a half-wit) before the day really gets started!

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

It’s Friday, and we have zero plans for the day.  Mary knocked out the bills online in the office, and I went to the kitchen and fixed a magnificent breakfast—so magnificent the smoke alarm stood up and applauded.  What did we have, you might ask?

  • Steak
  • Eggs over easy
  • Pear halves
  • Yogurt
  • Protein drink
  • English muffins, and
  • Fresh-squeezed orange juice.

After breakfast, it was almost 10:00 am, so Mary hit the showers, and I cleaned up the kitchen while listening to good music thanks to Alexa.  It’s only 26 seconds long, but it will bring back memories!

After Mary came back from her shower, she claimed the TV/living room and entered full “do not disturb unless the house is on fire” mode.  Mary’s embrodery needles sounded like a set of chattering teeth!

Meanwhile, I went outside to perform my heroic duties: patrolling the watering systems to make sure they were all functioning and not secretly plotting against the yard.

It got a little cool, so I absolutely did not fix the rose water drip system—because apparently my dedication to horticulture ends at “requires a jacket”- But don’t worry: the rose watering sprinklers have been notified.  Tomorrow, they get replaced and adjusted.

In the late afternoon, I went to Jeff’s house (our neighbor who is now in an assisted care facility) and picked two bags of citrus, oranges, and grapefruit (pomelos).  I also went inside and got his copy of QST so I can change the mailing address.

Pomelos (often spelled pommelo or pummelo) are the largest citrus fruit and are the natural ancestor to grapefruit, offering a sweeter, milder, and less bitter flavor profile. While they share a similar look and tart-sweet taste with grapefruit, pomelos feature a much thicker rind, a distinctive, often teardrop shape, and segments that are less juicy

With Jeff’s approval,  peeked into the fridge and realized I’ll probably have to do some last-minute cleaning right before the trash guys show up next Friday morning.  There was milk dated in Roman numerals—at that point, it’s not “expired”; it’s an archaeological find—time to toss it.

Robin came by around 5:00 pm and joined us for dinner.  We went to Yang-Ming and had a super dinner.  I decided to go off the rails and order a dish I had never tried before: Kung Pao Three Flavors.  The selection turned out to be a great find!

The meal was indeed spicy and was loaded with shrimp, beef, and chicken!

  •  (yáng): “sun,” “sunny,” “positive (yang),” “south side (of a mountain).”
  • (míng): “bright,” “clear,” “to understand.”

So Yang-Ming literally means “sun-bright” or “bright as the sun,” and by extension “bright/clear” (often suggesting clarity of mind or illumination).

Returning home, we watched the movie about Medgar Evers and then The American President.

The primary movie about civil rights leader Medgar Evers is the 1996 courtroom drama Ghosts of Mississippi, directed by Rob Reiner. The film focuses on his widow, Myrlie Evers (Whoopi Goldberg), and prosecutor Bobby DeLaughter (Alec Baldwin) fighting to convict Byron De La Beckwith (James Woods) for the 1963 assassination, decades after two initial trials ended in mistrials.

The American President is my all-time favorite (too bad the president had to be a Democrat, but other than that, great film).

Around 10:30 pm, before going to bed, I watched a few YouTube videos about cooking steak!  I am now ready for some serious meals!!

At 10:30 pm, the three of us crashed!

Tomorrow, we will be getting ready for Colleen’s arrival.  Her post on Facebook reminded us!

Colleen, with her four grandbabies, is teaching them well!!!

Posted in Dining Out, Family, Just Us, Working Around House | Comments Off on Friday Has Arrived And We Are Busy As Usual!

It’s That Day!!

Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2026 by Paul

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

I planned to sneak Mary away for a rendezvous at the Elks at noon, although she said she prefers I use the front door!  So we had our coffee instead, and then we traveled in The Silver Fox to the Lodge via CVS and the dry cleaners.

At Girls’ Night Out, we were mysteriously joined by George, Ed & Betty, Bob Z, and Bill & Sandee—because nothing says “girls’ night” like a full roster of the honorary members.

We all had a great time playing a spirited round of “Who Can Tease Whom the Most,” also known as “Gotcha: The Olympics.”

From the lodge, we went to see my pulmonologist, and that went well.   The doctor is scheduling me for another sleep test to see if my weight loss negates the need for a CPAP machine.

At 3:30, we escaped the doctor’s office and headed to Mary’s old workplace to wrangle some new glasses.  Mary already has the lenses—now we need the elusive Glasses Lady, who apparently only appears when Mercury is in retrograde, and you don’t need her.

Now we are in Huntington Beach, and I suggested we call Charlotte, my golf girlfriend, and see if she wanted to meet at the club for a glass of the bubbly.  Within minutes, we received a positive reply, then turned north onto the 22 Freeway and headed to Old Ranch.

We exchanged the latest gossip and enjoyed catching up on everything.

We had a wonderful time sharing with Charlotte.

Charlotte is a fantastic golfer, and sometimes people think she has a little help from outside sources.  Charlotte can be such a little devil!

“What a piece of candy, little boy?” (She scares me!!)

On the way home, it started getting dark, and Mary suggested a nightcap, so we stopped at Rockwell’s for the classic “classy” combo: one corn dog, split like a fine cheese plate, and a glass of wine to keep it sophisticated.

The bar itself was nice, but it was loud enough to qualify as a minor weather event, so we bailed and made it home around 7:30.  It’d been a long day.  We watched two episodes of Suits—because nothing says “winding down” like aggressive legal banter—then promptly headed for bed.

Posted in Doctor, Elks, Friends | Comments Off on It’s That Day!!

Windy Is As Windy Does!

Posted on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 by Paul

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Midweek activities began early today.  The wind last night was horrible, but it had some benefits: the house stayed “warm,” and I did NOT freeze when I got up at 6:30 am.   The wind chimes were going all night long, and two of our outdoor umbrellas went face down across the pool!

Mary and I sat at the breakfast room table and had our coffee, and I reminded her that I was going to the gym at 8:00 am.  Mary panicked because she had NOT canceled out, so she felt the need to go.  We finally left the house at 8:50 am, just in time to meet our trainer.  No stationary bike this morning.  Since I had ten minutes before the formal session began, I ran over to the bagel store and got bagels to take home.

When we finally stumbled back home—after our trainers had tossed us around like rag dolls in a washing machine—Mary made a beeline for her favorite La-Z-Boy and got to work on her needlework.

And just like that, the front room entered its natural state: “Mary’s in craft mode.” Thread here, fabric there, tiny tools everywhere—like a wholesome tornado blew through

While Mary worked away getting ready to see her doctor, I cleaned the house because the cleaners were coming.  Just as I finished and was ready to rest, Mary reminded me that I was taking her to her doctor for another acupuncture treatment for he back.  Quick, like a bunny, I changed out of my French Maid costume (Mary always wants to be dressed in character) and looked for my chauffeur’s gear.

Mary was hanging around, watching me in action, attempting to get ready to find my chauffeur’s outfit.  When it was not readily available, I was in all-over jeans and a shirt.

Off we went down the 55 to Irvine in a cloud of dust and a hearty “Ho Ho Silver, Away!”

Just hanging around.

Dr. Tong is never late—like, not even “doctor-late.” Mary got called back so fast I barely had time to pretend I wasn’t nervous.

I can’t tell you exactly how fast the treatment was, though, because I stuffed cotton in my ears to block out any “motivational screaming.” Also, Dr. Tong’s waiting room has this dangerously comfortable couch, which I personally inspected for safety… and then accidentally took a nap on.

On the way home, I had the brilliant idea of going to Renata’s for a mid-afternoon lunch/dinner.  We also called Bob Zaitz to join us, since he lives so close.  The three of us had a delightful meal and caught up on all the latest Sarlighter’s rumors.

Awaiting the arrival of her veal picatta.

Bob and Mary had incredible willpower; I failed miserably in that department.  I ordered a spumoni dessert, which Bob and I shared!

Spumoni is a molded Italian frozen dessert originating from Naples, traditionally featuring three distinct layers of gelato—cherry, pistachio, and chocolate or vanilla—interspersed with candied fruits and nuts.  It is sliced, not scooped, and was introduced to the US in the late 1800s, influencing the popular three-flavor Neapolitan ice cream.

Bob and I shared the dessert.

We departed for home, and when we arrived, Domilita and crew were slaving away.  Mary went to the La-Z-Boy, and I headed outside to check the garden and make plans for “The Great Planting” that is coming up.  Tomorrow I will organize the tomato cages and perhaps even set them in the ground ahead of time.

We are ready to plant!

After a day’s work, I went inside, and Mary had changed into her “a gentle reminder” outfit.  That translates into “please make me a spot of tea,” so I did.    We watched “Suits” until 11:00 pm and headed to the sack.

I opened the window to the back yard so I could turn on the whole house fan, and it was still!  No wind!

Yes, she is!

Mother Nature is at it again.  Today it was 87 degrees, and tomorrow, the weather is changing!

The temperature will drop almost ten degrees overnight, and there’s a chance of rain!

We both had our Kindle Lites working, and we read for another hour before the Sandman came to visit.

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Get Out The Paint!

Posted on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 by Paul

Sing it, Louie!

This morning, I woke up quietly and tried to be sneaky so Mary could keep sleeping.  I tiptoed out of the bedroom around 6:30 am and turned off the heat.  Instead, I went to the TV room, grabbed a fuzzy blanket, and wrapped myself up like a burrito.  I even turned off the iPhone’s ringer just in case I got an incoming call!

Since I had some time, I watched several YouTube meatball recipes, so I’m basically a certified meatball technician now.  Tomorrow I’ll be attempting my first field mission: meatballs with angel hair pasta—because nothing says “confidence” like pairing my cooking debut with noodles that can overcook if you blink.

We had our coffee and an energy bar before Mary had to get ready for her painting class.  Our neighbor will pick Mary up about noon, and I will go fetch her at 3:00 pm so we can get prepared to depart for the Seagerstrom Theater to see “The Notebook”.

On the way to get Mary, I stopped at DMES Medical Supplies  (which turns out to be just down the street on Chapman) and rented a full wheelchair because I knew the walker would NOT work this evening, because it was too far to walk from the restaurant to the theater, the pavement was rough and there were curbs, and it would be a slow process with a lot of unnecessary bumping around.  Poppy to the rescue!

This store was adjacent to the Armed Forces Recruiting Center, where Mark (Colleen’s wonderful husband) was stationed after they got married.

I got to the class around 2:30 pm, just in case Mary’s back was giving her fits.  What Mary did NOT KNOW is that I stopped by and rented a wheelchair because I was worried about her attempting to walk from the Silver Trumpet to the Theater and back using the walker.

Arriving at the Senior Center, I walked in and immediately found a room full of ladies enthusiastically splatter-painting as if it were an Olympic event.

Mary must’ve been doing PR again, because several of them greeted me with, “How are you doing?”—apparently, my hospitalizations are now community bulletin-board news.
Mary, on the other hand, was clearly feeling great… because her painting was actually really good.

We came home, freshened up, and headed to dinner at The Silver Trumpet adjacent to Seagerstrom Center for the Performing Arts.

When we arrived at the restaurant, and I started to get out of the car, I feigned stupidity (an easy task for me!) and told Mary, “I forgot the walker… I must have left it in the garage while I was refilling the vehicle’s drinking water supply.”

Mary’s expression was priceless—she frowned, pushed herself up out of her seat, built up a full head of steam, and marched toward the back of the car like she was about to file a formal complaint with the universe.

I popped the trunk and wrestled the wheelchair out like it was a tangled-up metal octopus. Mary just stood there cycling through every “A” word in the dictionary—amazed, astonished, astounded, awed, and startled.

And then… I finally got the big smile.

I tried to get one with flames painted on the side, but alas, all they had was basic black.

Dinner was fantastic—and it’s always more fun when Jim and Vicky show up to raise the class level (and the volume) of the whole evening!  Mary and I had Lamb lollipops, which are individual lamb chops—usually rib chops—that are trimmed and “French-cut” so the bone is clean and acts like a handle, kind of like a lollipop stick.

Mary popped into the wheelchair, and we were off for a stroll to the Theater.  Vicky took over and rolled Mary all the way to the seats because the bill was a little late getting to the table.  Jim and I tried to catch up, but we had difficulty seeing through the dust, dirt, and burnt rubber left hanging in the air behind the girls.  Remember, Vicky was driving!!

“The Notebook” is a stage adaptation of the novel (and later film) about Noah and Allie, two young people who fall in love in the 1940s despite differences in class and family pressure pulling them apart.

The play typically frames their relationship across time: you see their romance begin, fracture, and later rekindle, alongside an older couple where one partner is living with memory loss/dementia.

The “notebook” is the written story of their life together—read aloud to help her remember—so the plot moves between passionate young love and the later-life reality of holding on to that love as memories fade.  Themes include enduring love, choice vs. circumstance, aging, caregiving, and what it means to keep someone’s story alive.

Well, Mary and I could not get into the story, primarily because of the sound.  There was a lot of yelling, fast talking, and multiple people talking at once.  We left at halftime.  Vicky loved the performance as she had seen the movie several times.

We were home by 9:30 pm and headed to bed.

Posted in Dining Out, Food and Wine, Friends, Painting, Theater | Comments Off on Get Out The Paint!

FYI, This Is My 6,227th Post (Eighteen Years) On This Blog

Posted on Monday, February 2, 2026 by Paul

After waking up, this was Mary’s first reaction!

We did something today we NEVER do: I went to the gym alone, as Mary’s back is still recovering.  I am at my svelte 187 pounds, and a trip to the gym is needed to keep all the small pieces together.  I do not know how the trainers will react because in four years, we have NEVER gone alone!  Being the good husband that I am, I will get a shopping bag and bring Mary some push-ups, leg presses, and, if there is any room remaining, a few hammers.

Just us!

Upon arriving home, I headed to the kitchen to fix breakfast!  Ah ha, I made the job simple: I went to the local bakery, got Mary her favorite “Everything Bagel” before the workout, and then got her a hot latte after the workout!  Breakfast was ready in five minutes after I got home!

After breakfast, we waited for the new spa cover to arrive.  The current cover had lasted eight years, and it needed to be replaced.  The new cover is fantastic and will not hold water when it rains.  I will use “303” on the surfaces every three months, and I plan to put a cover over the cover.  When Joe comes over next time, we will replace the lighter/burner on the heaters and be back in business!  The instructions are simple, BUT you must be a twenty-year-old contornist to make the swap!

I might try replacing it myself, but the ol’ back does NOT want to cooperate!

Soon after the cover was replaced, our masseuse arrived to work on Mary’s back.  I did not go for the massage as I had too many little fires burning in the backyard.

The garden is now officially ready for summer planting.  The garden bench is cleaned, the hoses are all coiled, and the ground is all ready (except for the large 8’x25′ area we use for watermelon, corn, and other melons.

Tomorrow’s task: clean the camera lens and remove the spider web!

I took a selfie!

Mary came outside to visit, so we sat at the patio table for about an hour, enjoying the summer-like day here in early February!

I had planned for a spaghetti and meatball dinner, but changed my mind and went to Ralph’s and picked up two filet mignons, some fresh asparagus, and a small container of Rocky Road ice cream!

I amazed myself!

Off to the front room, where Mary was resting, I scooted, alerting Mary of dinner being ready.  As an afterthought, I should have gone and retrieved the dinner bell from the patio!  She was a bit flabbergasted when she saw the table set, the wine poured, and a fresh green salad with mushrooms and tomatoes on display!

All I saw was hands moving and the mashing of teeth, along with a great smile!

As I sat down to eat, I glanced over my shoulder and saw it: a mountain range of pots, pans, dishes, utensils, measuring cups, and mysterious food wrappers stacked in the sink like a landmark on Google Maps.

I thought, “How come when Mary cooks, the kitchen never looks like this?”

And then it hit me.

When Mary cooks… I’m always right behind her—playing Kitchen Roomba.

After dinner, Mary departed for the TV room, and I stood and faced the avalanche of stuff to clean up.  I fed the dishwasher, filled the trash can, and wiped everything down until the kitchen sparkled again!  Maybe sparkle is too strong a word.

We watched a movie and then hit the sack.

Posted in Cooking, Gym, Vegetable Garden | Comments Off on FYI, This Is My 6,227th Post (Eighteen Years) On This Blog

It’s February First Today And We Are Getting A Cold Snap

Posted on Sunday, February 1, 2026 by Paul

I woke up giggling because of yesterday’s situation.  OK, it is 2:30 pm, and Mary has been sitting watching TV and doing her needlepoint for quite a while.  As a dutiful husband, I stepped out of the 85-degree heat to check on Mary and see if she needed anything.   She said, “Yes, please get me some sockies.”

The TV was on, and I was sure I heard what she wanted even though it was early in the afternoon.  So, I go into the kitchen and find a new, unopened box of fine “sake”.  I poured it into a nice glass and proudly brought it to Mary.

She looked at my kinda funny and said, “Sweetie, I wanted SOCKS, my feet are cold!”  We both had a good laugh.  Yes, Mary did finish the glass of sake!

Sake is a Japanese-brewed rice beverage, not a wine or spirit, typically containing 15-17% ABV.  Often called the “drink of the gods,” it has ancient origins, likely beginning in China around 4800 BC before evolving in Japan.  It is brewed using water, yeast, koji mold, and specialized, large-grain Saka Mai rice.

The weatherman forecasts a high of 82 today.  We talked to Colleen yesterday, and it was four (yes, 4) degrees!  She is ready for her visit to begin next Sunday.

This morning I made my first omelet after watching several YouTube videos, and it came out perfect.  By accident, I cooked the cheese-and-mushroom omelet perfectly.  I added sliced pears and yougart ot the meal, plus some sliced Dave’s bread and butter.  To top it all off, I opened a bottle of champagne, and we had a feast!  OK, I did get a little creative.

Contrary to popular opinion, Mary does not have to address me as “Chef Sweet Cheeks”; a simple “Chef Paul” will do nicely.

Breakfast was done, and Mary headed for her resting spot in the Living/TV room while I waddled outside to face my nemesis, the garden!

I checked on her several times, and her back seemed to be getting better.  My guess is her back will be normal that day, AFTER I finish preparing the garden for summer planting.

We checked the weather in New Hampshire and decided to see if we could get Florida to send their only snowplow!  Mark would look great driving this around his neighborhood, perhaps holding a tin cup to collect donations.

Since Mark will be driving, we will send the vehicle to Mark’s Brake Repair before it hits the road!

Meanwhile, I was fanny-up and head-down in the berry garden, cleaning out the last remnants of last year’s crop and tying up the canes so they would have room this year.   Note that each cane is tied to the horizontal steel wire, which, through the use of turnbuckles, is taut.  The twelve bags of acidic planting soil were worked in by hand, hoping to bring the pH down to the 5.5 range.

Thank goodness for the new gloves.

By 5:00 pm, Mary had magically transformed from “Couch Potato” to “Inspector Gadget.” Armed with her trusty walker—now upgraded with a dazzling set of streamers—she waddled outside like a queen surveying her kingdom of tomato beds in waiting.  To everyone’s surprise, she not only inspected my work but also signed off on the inspection sheets, declaring it “Tomatomania Approved!” With just some minor cleanup left, we were practically ready for a tomato-themed parade.

I needed a shower, so off I went into the house to make myself pretty, which was NOT an easy task!  It’s like I stepped into a reality show called “Survivor: Bathroom Edition.” I fought off a rogue sock monster, dodged an army of dust bunnies, and navigated the treacherous terrain of my shampoo collection—seriously, who knew I had enough bottles to start a small salon?  By the time I emerged from the shower, I felt like I had completed an Olympic obstacle course—and let me tell you, the medal I earned is just me, wrapped in a towel and questioning all my life choices!

It was time for magic.  Mary needed to be fed.  This morning, I made my first attempt at an omelet, and this evening I went for the gusto: homemade chili!   I browned the beef, added a can of roasted red tomatoes, added some of Mary’s beans from a few weeks ago (after defrosting them), and then a box of chili mix!   While everything was simmering, I made bowls of sliced peaches and then microwaved two potatoes.

The dinner was fit for a king.  I brought everything to the Living/TV room, and we used TV trays.  Topped with cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream, I was pleased with the result.  We both finished off the plate, almost licking it clean.

We finally sat down to watch TV, and I began with Apple TV and selected an “action-comedy” called  “Instagators”.  SPOILER ALERT: Within the first five minutes, the brainless, dimwitted, lackwitted morons who produced this  [Rotten] Apple TV junk said the “F-Word” twelve times.  We changed the channel, and my hope that Apple would be above the norm was slowly disappearing.  Note: The movie could have been watchable if the writers, whose vocabulary was severely limited, had used other phrases instead of foul exclamations.

We found another action movie and watched it until 9:00 pm, then headed to bed.  We want Mary’s back to get better, so plenty of rest is what Dr. Liles ordered.

The gardening did a number on my back, also!

Good night, all!

P.S. I am experimenting with two-column layouts.  When the text gets too long, I switch to two columns to make it easier to read.   I want some feedback.  Please hit this link and let me know what you think!

Posted in Just Us, Vegetable Garden | Comments Off on It’s February First Today And We Are Getting A Cold Snap

January In California, It’s Going To Be 87 Today!

Posted on Saturday, January 31, 2026 by Paul

Oh my, the weatherman indicates it will be in the high 80s today!  That’s great news for my garden and terrible news for my will to do literally anything else.  I guessit’ss time to wrestle with the weeds like they owe me money and try to remember which plants are flowers and which ones are just really enthusiastic dandelions.

I’ll be in the garden finishing it off like it’s a triathlon, except instead of a medal at the end, I’ll just be covered in dirt and sweat, looking like a confused potato.  And all this effort to plant in late February.

But hey, on the bright side, at least the sun will be my cheerleader, blaring “Eye of the Tiger” at full blast while I try to stay hydrated—because nothing says”I’m an adult” quite like sipping on lukewarm lemonade.

So, off to work I go!  I had my puncture-proof gloves on and a battery-operated power shear ready to go, to make big pieces into small pieces.

Happy gardener!  Hat on, clothes off, I terrorized the garden

Carlos came about 11:00 am with three helpers, and they gave our two rather large ficus trees a severe haircut, more like a scalping.  The picture below shows what they looked like last time, and the tree recovered just fine!  The ficus trees will be going strong by midsummer.

While he was here, I had him help me reposition three large planters to the west wall.  I put several transplanted Blueberries into two of the planters, and then we planted two new blueberries into the last one.

I conducted a thorough audit of the drip line to ensure the sprinklers were working.  Spoiler: the only thing wetter than the soil was my sense of humor after I got soaked!

Carlos gave the trees a haircut!

The plum needed to be topped because if it was not, a lot of fruit would be a) unreachable to me and b) certainly visible and reachable by the nasty birds!

Carlos also trimmed the plum tree.

The afternoon heat killed three of the blueberry plants this year, so I moved them to the west wall to shield them from the afternoon sun.

I moved three blueberry plants to their new locations adjacent to Mary’s roses.

It was beginning to get dark as I came back in the house, clothes in hand, and dropped the dirty apparel into the washing machine!  We watched TV for a while, finishing off the series Ted Lasso.  I had to leave twice because for some assnione reason they had to throw in a lesbian scene, soon followed by two guys kissing.  I jumped up and headed to the office.  It seems like the new series has to have a car chase, but since there are no cars involved, they throw in gay/lesbian scenes to check a box—no wonder our kids are growing up weird.

When Lasso was over, I switched to “The Family Plan,” a two-hour respite from the weird, which dealt with secret assassins, revenge, and funny humor.

This statement is a quote from FoxNews entitled:    Hollywood keeps making movies families won’t watch

“One of the more curious and baffling habits of Hollywood is studios’ stubbornness and reluctance to produce more movies that appeal to families. Instead, they insist on making films that offend our moral sensibilities, despite evidence suggesting cleaner and more wholesome fare would perform better than the trash they’re creating. We’re bombarded with dark storylines littered with unnecessary profanity and gratuitous doses of sexuality and violence. Instead of goodness we get garbage.”

We turned off the TV around 11:00 pm, and I ventured outside to snap a few photos of our Valentine’s Day lighting because nothing says “romantic ambiance” like the glow of a red house glowing in the dead of night!  Valentine’s Day is only two weeks away, and if I don’t document this endless sea of pink and red, how else will I prove to future generations that I was the reigning champion of holiday decorations?  I mean, who needs sleep when you can show off Cupid’s glow-up at 11 pm?

We declare the house ready!

Old Glory was singing….,” the rocket’s red glare” until I mentioned it was not time for the National Anthem.

“The rocket’s red glare” is a famous phrase from the first stanza of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the U.S. national anthem written by Francis Scott Key in 1814.  It describes the British Congreve rockets fired at Fort McHenry during the War of 1812, providing proof that the American flag was still flying.

The downside is that we had two fire trucks show up with hoses at the ready!

Could this be called the red-light district?

Good night, all!   We heard the Sandman calling our names!  “Hey Mary, Hey You… come to bed!”

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The End Of The Week Is Upon Us!

Posted on Friday, January 30, 2026 by Paul

Mary was still conked out when I made my first coffee this morning!

I took the image above after I brushed my teeth, combed my hair, and used eye drops!

I always wondered what made the little kids scream when I went outside in the morning to pick up the newspaper.  I mean, all I was doing was getting my daily dose of world events and crossword puzzles!

Was it the sight of my hair—frizzy enough to resemble a mad scientist’s after a lightning bolt, or maybe it was my fuzzy slippers that looked like they sprouted legs and danced their way out of a cartoon?  Because let me tell you, the way those kids squealed made it sound like I was the ghost of Grandma’s old cat making a surprise appearance at breakfast!

There I was, all proud and determined, strolling out like a majestic lion about to claim its territory.  Instead, I looked like a combination of a zombie and a grizzly bear, shuffling toward the mailbox like I was auditioning for “Dancing with the Stars: Morning Edition.”

Now I get it—my morning routine must have been more shocking than the headlines themselves.  Who could blame the kids?  It was probably like seeing Bigfoot on a coffee run.  “Mom, I swear I saw a creature that’s part monster, part newspaper enthusiast!” I should probably start charging them for the show.  After all, what’s better than a morning scream fest with a side of current affairs?

So, howcome it looks like the picture above after cleaning up, and Mary can pop out of bed and look like this?

It’s not fair!!!

After going through our mail for the last two days, we got cleaned up and made ready for blastoff to Benjie’s, where we plan to meet up with Robin at noon!

We got there just after the bar opened (funny how that happens—like a moth to a flame or a cat to a laser pointer).

As luck would have it, Robin made her grand entrance just a few minutes later, looking like she had just emerged from a top-secret mission to find the perfect shade of lipstick.

We all ordered the half-sandwich and soup combo, which is basically a fancy way of saying, “can’t commit to an entire sandwich, but I still want to feel like a gourmet.” Of course, we couldn’t forget the glass of their “finest vino,” which had all the bravado of a wine that probably thinks it’s better than it actually is.

As we sipped our “vintage” and contemplated the existential crisis of whether half a sandwich is really a meal, I couldn’t help but wonder if the bartender was secretly judging us.  “These drinking philosophers think they’re having a fine dining experience with two-buck chuck and a bedazzled bowl of tomato soup!”

At least we were all in it together, united by our culinary indecision and the quest for the fanciest buzz on a half-empty stomach.  Cheers to bad choices and great company!

After one drink, Robin was feeling really frisky!  After a forty-five-minute dance, we got her sat down again.

Robin followed us home to make sure the Robin’s Nest was ready to receive Colleen next week.  Robin wanted to make sure Colleen had some room in the drawers and clothes racks so she did not have to live out of a suitcase.

By 2:30 pm, I was in the garden working feverishly to fish off the fourth bed, and I did it right before the sun was setting.  It was 86 degrees outside, so I did most of my work in my birthday suit to stay cool.   (NOTE TO SELF:  Get the birthday suit ironed, it has a bunch of wrinkles in it!!)

I lifted nine bags of 80#/bag soil, cut them open, and worked them into the existing soil.  Then, via the magic of the iPhone, I watered the beds using the Hydrawise app.  Except for the large bed, which is 8′ by 25′, we are ready for Tomatomania!

The soil is ready, all we need are plants and straw for the mulch!

I bought a pot mover because I move pots around all the time, and the two-wheeled cart is OK, but the bottom slips easily.  The new cart has two prongs that go under the pots, thereby preventing slipping.

It was getting dark, so I came in and took a quick shower, mainly to wash my hands, which get pretty dirty!

We did not have dinner because today’s lunch was more than enough.  On the scale, I now weigh 187.8 pounds.   I want to drop another eight pounds and then hold it there!

We watched several episodes of Ted Lasso, but after several episodes of the continual use of a certain word (the “F” word), we switched to a movie instead.  The following selection was a movie on Apple TV called “Shrinking,” identified as a comedy.  After ten minutes of the “F” word being used in every sentence, we switched it off.   We are NOT prudes by a long shot, but if the writers’ only creative work involves yelling “F-this” and “F-that,” the movie/series won’t be seen on our home.

Apparently, it is the younger generation that finds this entertaining.  Mary and I have two kids who swear all the time, and every time they do, it’s like getting thumped on the head with a hammer.  We corrected our grandson at least twice.

We ended up watching “Family Plan Two,” which was great.

Summary: In The Family Plan 2 (2025), former assassin Dan Morgan (Mark Wahlberg) takes his family to London for Christmas to reconnect, but is forced back into action when he discovers a long-lost half-brother, Finn, who seeks revenge, endangering his family.  While attempting to enjoy a festive trip, Dan becomes involved in a confrontation involving his family and a dangerous new enemy.

At 11:00 pm, we headed to bed and are looking forward to a fantastic night of rest!

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V-Day Is Coming Soon!

Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2026 by Paul

We are just two short weeks away from Valentine’s Day, and I am already excited about the Elks Lodge Love Boat dinner dance.  We will have Colleen with us that evening.  She might be a little late, as it is her mother’s 80th birthday and they plan a celebration.  The birthday party will be a luncheon, and since it is well known that old bats do not stay up late, the party should end early, and Colleen can join us!

Speaking of the upcoming Elks shindig, Mary has picked out her dress for the Elks Valentine’s Dinner Dance themed “Love Boat”.  The new dress should go great with my red sequined coat!  I need to find Mary a red captain’s cap to go with the dress, perhaps from Amazon?

Mary was going to attend a CME class tomorrow, Friday, but sitting in a classroom environment for eight hours will not work given her back condition, so she cancelled her session.  We were going to stay overnight in Pasadena and then go to the Huntington for afternoon tea.  If I can arrange for a courtesy cart to drive from the front gate to the tea house, we may try going out; otherwise, we will stay home and reschedule.

While surfing the web, I came across this remarkable but little-known fact that you might find interesting to discuss at your next cocktail party!  Just think: you could approach a new acquaintance and ask, “How is your philtrum today?” or lean forward and say, “Did you know your Philtrum is showing?” or “Would you like to hear about my recent Philtrum operation?”  The possibilities are endless!

The philtrum is the vertical groove between the nose and upper lip, present in most mammals.  It serves as a scent-enhancing, moisture-trapping structure in animals and as a remnant of facial development in humans.  While crucial for canines’ sense of smell, it is a vestigial feature in humans.

Key Philtrum Facts:

  1. Animal Function: In dogs and many mammals, it is a “vegetal groove” that uses capillary action to transport saliva from the mouth to the nose, keeping it moist to better trap scent particles.
  2. Human Purpose: In humans, it has no apparent active function but serves as a “vestige of evolution,” marking where the facial components fused during early development.
  3. Origin of Name: Derived from the Greek philtron (meaning “love charm”), it was historically considered an attractive or arousing part of the body.
  4. Medical Significance: A smooth or flattened philtrum is a recognized clinical feature associated with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), often used for diagnostic purposes.
  5. Mythology: A Jewish legend suggests an angel taps a baby on the lip before birth, causing the groove and making them forget all the secrets of the universe learned in the womb.
  6. Cosmetic Alteration: A “lip lift” surgery can shorten a long philtrum, creating a more youthful or defined facial appearance.
  7. Appearance Varies: Philtral columns can be parallel, triangular, or concave, with specific shapes being more common in different genders, according to research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

It’s 8:00 am and Manual just showed up to wash the fleet.  Mary is still sawing logs, and I will use this time to work on the garage since both cars are out.

After Mary woke up, she asked about the cars, and I told her they were all done and wrapped up.

I decided to go to the market and do some shopping, and I definitely overachieved!  There was enough food and goodies in my basket for a small army.  I spent several hours in the afternoon putting everything away and looking for “science projects” lurking in the refrigerator, as well as severely outdated items to toss.

The entire trunk got filled with groceries!

After getting home, I fed Mary a McDonald’s burger sans fries.  I figured it was either that or some gourmet cat food, and let’s be honest, who can resist a Big Mac?

Then it was time to venture into the garden for my next great adventure: a thrilling episode of “Prune Wars: Grapes Strikes Back.” I donned my finest gardening gloves and went to town on those grapes like a contestant on a reality show, determined to impress the judges.  “You call this a vine?  I call it a living salad bar!”

Now the grapes are ready for their spring/summer growth!

Next, I tackled Bed #3, which needed a little more attention than I thought I could handle.  I emptied two bags of soil into it and turned the soil in by hand.  At this point, I was beginning to feel like I was preparing a plot—not just for plants, but for an epic gardening competition.  “And the prize for Best Bed goes to… me, for being the only one crazy enough to do it by hand while it’s getting colder than a polar bear’s toenails!”

The “black soil” is 100 pounds of Gromulch meant to top off the garden beds!  Two more bags to go in bed #3, and then it will be ready for Tomatomanic in late February!

The beds will be ready within the next three weeks!

“The world’s largest (and most fun) tomato plant sale” comes to Roger’s Gardens for the 15th year. Scott Daigre and his staff of Tomatomaniacs offer an astonishing selection of over 250 heirloom and hybrid tomato varieties, including new varieties for 2026.

Just as I was about to invent a new gardening dance to celebrate my hard work, my body chimed in with an enthusiastic “Nope!  Time to call it a day .”  So, nursing my sore muscles and a newfound appreciation for indoor heating, I hobbled back inside, thinking I should probably add “professional grape pruner” to my resume—or at least my LinkedIn.

We watched more episodes of “Ted Lasso” until about 10:00 pm when I declared victory; the groceries were finally put away, my back pain was at a minimum, and my eyes were slowly closing.

If we had a machine that measured the time between me going horizontal and entering a deep sleep, it would be measured in milliseconds.

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