Volume 18 - Day 84/281, 2026 - Wednesday

The day started with a pretty good walk with Richard and Pau, and then, I had an appointment at the Curious House with the landscaper. All I really want is to make, what appears to be, a very complicated estimate a simpler for me to understand estimate. I don't need a lot of this and that, I just want to add some plants and get two peach trees bought and installed. So, I hope to get the revised estimate later this evening or tomorrow, get it approved, and then wait for all the work to happen. I did get a new lawn maintenance person approved, and the grass will get cut on Saturday. Today was a platelets day, and it is pretty crazy that I was the only one that could donate platelets today. For one reason or another, Paulina and Marian were not able to give, so that is unfortunate. Whenever I am disqualified for donating, I take it very personally. Whatever. Tomorrow, I have a couple zoom meetings; one is a three hour continuing education class, and the other is a committee meeting. I haven't looked yet, but Marian says there are a lot of estate sales this weekend, and that is always fun. I'll let you know. You can always count on the rose bushes in the back yard, they are very little maintenance, and they are absolutely stunning. 

Volume 18 - Day 83/282, 2026 - Tuesday

I had a nice walk this morning with Richard, and after the walk, I met with Rick and Richard for our ROMEO breakfast. I got a good bit of office work done, I really don't pay attention to doing the 'worst first,' but I settled down and did a couple things that I have been putting off. It was not as bad as I expected, and now it is done. I also finished the fountain planter on the back patio this afternoon, and I got the three functioning fountains up and going. I am pretty satisfied with the new plantings, and I will just need to keep everything watered. I still can't find the large peach trees that I am coveting, and I am ready to approve a bid for filling in the landscaping in the front and back, we just need to agree on some changes. Unfortunately, that means they are going to be back at the Curious House tomorrow. Also tomorrow, Marian and Paulina and I have appointments to donate platelets, and Val's birthday is Friday, so she has ordered a cake from Upper Crust, AND, I need to pick up another prescription while I am in the neighborhood. 

Volume 18 - Day 82/283, 2026 - Monday

So...it was kind of a busy day, but only busy because of a couple things I chose to do. I did walk this morning with Richard and Paul, and then I had a 9:30 appointment at the dermatologist. This appointment was my annual follow-up, and all is good, she froze off several pre-cancerous spots here and there, mostly face and hands, all the places where the sun shines. I think I am lucky so far, because I was pretty well known for sun worshipping, and I have NEVER used tanning lotions or oils or sun blockers. The hotter, the better...but then, I moved to Texas. After that appointment, I went to one of the local nurseries and bought some plants to convert two fountains (two of the same fountains) into planters. I never really liked these fountains, but I think they will do well as planters. I have done the one in the front (see photo), and I will do the other one tomorrow morning. My lawn service guy raised the rate per visit again, so I decided to find another service. The man that Richard has hired will be by later this evening or tomorrow and give me a bid, so I think that is who I will be going with. Frequently, change is a good thing. I had a wonderful conversation with Deb this afternoon, we chatted and laughed and gossiped for 39 minutes! She was on my list of people to call because I had told her I would like to be in her book club, but it is just not going to happen. Any way, we had a great talk, and we all miss her and Jay, but if I can wait five years, she and Jay may be back here for one of their grand kids high school graduation! They moved to Vancouver, Washington three years ago, time flies! 

Volume 18 - Day 81/284, 2026 - Sunday

After our morning walk, I got to the Curious House, and watched Sunday Morning, which I like to try to remember to do on Sunday mornings. One of the things they featured was a free app called iNaturalist, which is similar to other apps I have that identify plants that one might come across. Yesterday, I had the landscaping cleaned up around the house, front and back, and fresh mulch put in all the beds. While I was out with the dogs this morning, I noticed the blossom that is included as the photo with this entry. I expected it was an early morning glory, but I used the new app, and it was identified as a Periwinkle (Vinca Major). I wonder how this periwinkle got in that back bed? I have not introduced periwinkles into any of the landscaping, but I am happy to have it. It shares many features with morning glories; a fast-spreading, evergreen ground cover known for its dark green leaves and pale blue, pinwheel-shaped flowers that bloom in spring and summer. Maybe I accidentally planted periwinkle when I thought I was planting morning glories. I think I will go out and see if the morning glories are really morning glories. Whatever. Paulina and I went to Costco this morning, and then I was on a mission to find peach trees, bigger than the five-gallon sizes that are pretty common. No luck, but I am not done trying. Apparently, Vance will be in town tomorrow, so I know one place I won't be going to, for my own sanity. More later...

Volume 18 - Day 80/285, 2026 - Saturday

It is only the last part of March, and the temperature is bordering on Summer. It was in the lower 90s today, same for tomorrow, and who knows when we will get any rain. Not in the near future. I am watering the grass twice a week, and that is earlier than usual. I had a nice walk this morning with Richard and Paul, and then I had a zoom call with the Condo owners in Playa. It took them 25 minutes to determine (or confirm) whether there was a quorum or not, and I left the zoom meeting at 11AM. The estate sales were calling, and it was just me and Marian. We hit six estate sales, and I spent about $25 on stuff I really needed. When I got home from the estate sales, I drove to Leander (or Cedar Park) to a tree farm, looking for some peach trees. They said they do not sell ANY fruit trees, and was going in to a big explanation about WHY they don't sell fruit trees, but I did not care WHY, the website said I could buy peach trees there. Whatever. I am on a mission. I did stop at a newly reopened restaurant in Georgetown to see if it would work for our next neighbors dinner. I didn't think it would. When I got back to the Curious House, Paulina and I went there for dinner, and Richard and Marge were walking out, so they came back in and sat with us while we ate. We brought something back to the house for Val, and that was pretty much the end of the day. Paulina and Val are now 100% moved in to the house next door, and they are spending their first night in their new house. I am lucky to have them as new neighbors. Old friends/new neighbors! Tomorrow I am going to brunch with Candy, and then going to Costco with Paulina. I also need to stop at HEB to get some impatiens to fill in the big planter at the front door. I will be trimming the current impatiens back, they have gotten straggly and stringy. It will look odd when I cut them back, but I expect they will feel better about themselves. The photo for this entry is the first sighting of (I think) Texas wine cups. Maybe, maybe not, but a sure sign that spring is short and summer is (I think, again) here.

Volume 18 - Day 79/286, 2026 - Friday

I am getting pretty good at staying in bed until six o'clock. All I have to do is remember that I have nothing to do when I get up, and I just stay in bed. I do get up around six, and check email and get ready for a walk. So, we did have a good walk this morning, and I was supposed to have a landscape vendor come by to give me an estimate between 8 and 11, but that means 1:45 in vendor speak. I did help Val move a few things in to the house, and suddenly, my Google Home app decided to revolt, so Mateo came out to get that straightened out. I had intended to go in to Austin at some point today, but I changed my mind, so (maybe) I will do that on Monday. I am supposed to have a zoom COA meeting for the condo in Playa tomorrow morning, but no link yet. I will check with them tomorrow morning and see what the status of that is. I finished listening to my most recent book, All the Little Houses, and I am not sure if I liked it or not. I downloaded The Bean Trees, which is the book club book for this month, and I have about ten days to finish it. I think that is plenty of time to get it done. The girls are trying their best to teach me how to take several naps during the day, and they are having some success. I think there will be a visit to Costco tomorrow, and there are six estate sales to go to, but we will be leaving later than usual because of my early morning zoom call. It should be a good day.

Volume 18 - Day 78/287, 2026 - Thursday

The time drug by today, just because I am not used to sitting on my big fat butt in front of my computer, taking a (six hour) continuing education class. But I did, and I need to take two more (mandatory classes) before my license expires in September. Not a challenge. I am taking another class (three hours) next week, so I think that one will be a bit more tolerable. The day did start with a quick walk with Richard and Paul, and that was good, except my knee was bothering me a little bit more than usual. I have a 'compression knee sleeve,' but I am not sure if it is helping or hurting the challenge. I think only time will tell, and I just got the sleeves yesterday, so I need to give it a fair chance. Val and Paulina are moving a few things in to their new house, and their first night as my neighbors will be Saturday. I have an HOA zoom meeting on Saturday morning, so I won't be leaving for estate sales until 11 on Saturday morning, instead of the usual 9:30. More sturdy stands the bowing reed than doth the mighty oak. I remember that from High School. I have to go back in to Austin tomorrow to run one errand, and maybe two if I can think of anything else to do. I can usually come up with a couple things.