All the livelong day

It's amazing how much I can accomplish when the curling (is nearly) finished and the weather is down right beautiful.  We've had a week of plus 20C days and I've been making the most of them.

Monday I had a long list of things to do in the yard, but first I needed to head out to pick up top soil and potting soil.  My first stop was a bust - our nearby Canadian Tire store has an outdoor lot where one can purchase the products.  Every year in the past several, I've gone to that area, told the worker what I needed, he/she gave me a note with the items listed, I'd walk into the store to the cashier, pay for them and go back and have the items loaded in my trunk.  Not this year, he couldn't give me a note and the cashier told me she couldn't sell one of the products I wanted, as it was available in store.  I asked where, grabbed a cart and went to the aisle she indicated, only to find there was none.  So I left the cart, went back to the cashier and said, I'd be purchasing my supplies elsewhere. 

It got better after that.  I found larger bags of the potting soil at a price less than CT, along with top soil and mulch at another store and just for fun, three new containers.  I think the latter must have been last year's stock because they were very inexpensive. I also picked up a ground cover, Japanese Spurge for the front flower bed that is meant for shade. Belatedly I have learned it is invasive but I think I'll leave it be as it is contained within the flower bed, with the house on one side and a sidewalk on the other.  

Back at home, with the car unloaded, I got busy in the yard.  In addition to raking and picking up debris, I scrubbed the deck and the chairs and tables, cleaned out the shed and reorganized it, and pulled out the containers that I store in it over winter.  In the front yard, I swept the patio (again), as well as the driveway before settling in to read for over an hour before C got home from work. 

Tuesday, I didn't get started early, as I had a phone appointment with my doctor.  I had a biopsy three weeks ago, and she called to give me the results; I was thrilled to learn that the samples were benign.  I'd not said anything to anyone, not even my children, as I wanted to know more first.  After that call, I headed out to pick up groceries, but of course, I had to stop in at a couple of garden centers first.  I was able to find some pansies and a bleeding heart. 

Back at home, with groceries put away, I headed back outdoors.  All of the containers, with the exception of the three on the deck, were tidied up with debris removed and a bit of extra potting soil added. The new containers were also filled, and I got the pansies and bleeding heart planted and watered in. (I simply forgot about the ones on the deck.)

Normally I only leave the house once a week, and you would think I would have had enough of being out and about, but Wednesday I had to run some errands for my daughter.  It didn't take much time and I was home in less than an hour.  The sky was looking like rain so I did some computer work, hoping it would clear.  When it neither rained nor cleared, I decided to get outside anyway.  I planted various seeds, peas, radish, lettuce, and sweet peas in a couple of containers.  The last of the containers were tidied up and four plastic grocery bags were filled with pine cones and needles from the spruce in the back yard.  I still have another bag's worth to pick up but it was beginning to thunder so I decided I ought to head back indoors.

Sadly, I had to do housework then. :( The basement, stairs,  front hall and living room were vacuumed, garbage gathered and taken out to the bin, and supper started.  When I finished those chores I was happy to see the sky was clearing up, so I took my book out to relax on the patio. I had about a half hour before the sun hid behind a cloud.  

By Thursday I just couldn't wait any longer to purchase the plants.  I kept telling myself to wait another week but then realized I'd need to harden them off anyway sooo I might as well get them then. Our forecast is for daytime temperatures ranges from 20-30C (68-80F) and nighttime temps of 4-13C (40-55F) over the next two weeks. The coldest night is expected about May 24 (the Monday of a long weekend here) when I'd be planting anyway.  And the forecast that far out is usually wrong.  At least that's how I'm rationalizing my decision.

This year I went with a list based on the purchases I made last year. Since I have three new containers, I knew I'd need to buy a little more.  

In this mass of plants are geranium, petunias, wave petunias, verbena, bacopa, ivy, creeping Jenny, marigolds, lantana, calibrochoa, curly grass, nicotiana, and I suspect a couple of other things I've forgotten. The fuschia has been potted up in a hanging basket.  I'll carry these in and out of the garage for the next few days before I get them into the containers or front flower bed.  I did buy another hosta (black pot in the background) and got it planted as well.  

When I had all of this out of the car, I sat on the sidewalk and sorted them out according to the location of the containers I expect to plant them in.  I discovered I had a few extra plants, but I still need two more hanging baskets.  I'll use these extras to fill those once I buy the containers. 

Friday, I went out again to pick up the two hanging pots, a couple of six-packs of impatiens, and a can of paint. This is the most I've been out for over a year, and since most of it was shopping outdoors and I was masked, I felt quite comfortable.  There was queue at Home Depot at the paint counter - I guess everyone is busy doing home projects.  I'm going to paint the exterior door frames with a similar color as it is now.  The color I chose was Havana coffee, a rich dark brown.  I may still paint the front door a different color but that can wait for now.

Today, I've been puttering - potato salad made for dinner, picked up pine cones in the front and side yard (they never end), raked the grass and put down some additional top soil, fertilizer and seed in the dead patches, and watered it well.  My back yard neighbour has taken down the fence and is out there putting up the new one.  I'm staying out of his way and have the curtains drawn in the sunroom so he doesn't feel he's being spied on. It's overcast and gray, and while it looks like it could rain, there is none in the forecast.  I'm sure he'll appreciate if it holds off until tonight.

That pretty much sums up the week.  Lots of yard work and outdoor time, which I so enjoy, and enough housework the inside doesn't look a total disaster.  I'll probably start planting early Monday morning - we're due for some real heat on Monday and Tuesday (30C/86F plus!) - I'll move them to larger containers, water them well and watch them grow. 

Have a great weekend everyone! Hope you all get a chance to enjoy some time outdoors.