more of the same

 
And the poison ivy has started breaking out. On my wrists, the base of my thumbs (from pulling my gloves off and on), a little on the backs of my hands, and even a little just above my knees where my jeans had tears in them. In other words all barely exposed parts of my body with the exception of my face. Not bad terrible outbreaks but itchy even so. I'm thinking now I'm going to put that pile of roots in the wheelbarrow and dump it on the far side of the field.

Yesterday after a leisurely morning catching up on blogs I raked the mountain of leaves off the concrete apron of the driveway (and the trees still have plenty of leaves they haven't discarded yet) moving some to the low spot under the magnolia and the rest to the low spot on the side of the house that gets standing water every time it rains hard. The idea is that doing this year after year eventually the ground level will rise though probably not in my lifetime. Then I got the flat square blade shovel and scooped up all the decayed leaf mulch that accumulates, once again exposing the edge of the concrete, 

and filled the wheel barrow with that to transfer to one of the flower beds to improve the soil. 

The only problem with that is that it's probably full of weed seeds as well. We'll see. Maybe next time I'll dump it in one of the low spots in the yard.

Having achieved hot and sweaty, I came in and made a blueberry crostata 

and then washed all the accumulated dishes and called myself done for the day. Later I did a group text to daughter and grandkids. I've decided to get rid of some of the camping gear from the river days starting with the down mummy bags. At this point in my life I don't think we will ever use any of it again so I sent out the text and before I could even get my phone set down on the table Jade responded with a claim. She and her SO have started going camping so I'm going to throw in the roll up table as well.

The heat and humidity have returned. I'm currently sitting here in shorts, tank top, and barefoot. I ran up to the feed store this morning and got 5 six packs, 3 of pansies and 2 of violas which I plan to get in the ground today or tomorrow. 

I say today or tomorrow because the floors are starting to reach critical mass and Pam and I are going to the little holiday market this afternoon sponsored by Hesed House (we did and more about that next post).

Before that, though, and after breakfast I cleaned the black baked on crud off the stove top under the trays under the burners of the front two burners. Suffice to say that the job involved Simple Green cleaner, a Scotch scrubby pad, a steel wool SOS pad, and finally a putty knife. The back two can wait until the next  time.

I've been trying not to pay too much attention to Trump's refusal to concede, his ridiculous lawsuits that keep getting thrown out, and the near complete silence from the Republican party about this attack on our democratic process which as far as I'm concerned further delegitimizes republicans. They can't won't stand up for this country or speak out against (with very few exceptions) this brazen lawless attempt by Trump to subvert the election with a very clear winner and have himself declared president by trying to get the swing states he lost to appoint republican electors, an illegal act, that will vote for Trump instead of the states' majority vote winner. So far this gambit has failed. The two republican lawmakers from Michigan whom he summoned to the White House to get their marching orders declined to play. While they may be willing to lie for Trump, they aren't willing to go to jail for Trump. Still he has a few sycophants willing to do his dirty work like Emily Murphy who refuses to sign the document that would allow Biden to begin his transition which puts America behind the 8-ball and jeopardizes our national security and then there is his hoard of cultists who send death threats to anyone and their families as well who speaks out against Trump or refuses to do his bidding as those few republicans like the Georgia Secretary of State is finding out. Democrats were already well aware. And then this...a reporter went among Texan militias and found out that they are just waiting for Trump to call on them to come and wage war against the government. Somehow I don't think it will end well for them if they do try it.

And all of this for what? Because Trump wants to be president and do the work of being president? He does not. He hates the job. He hates the restrictions. He hasn't 'presidented' since the election besides firing people he considers not loyal enough. He's doing this for two reasons. One, he is and has always been a vindictive asshole and so he is punishing those of us who didn't vote for him and wants to cripple Biden before he even gets inaugurated, and two, he knows he is facing legal actions and he's broke and will no longer have access to the national treasury.

Bottom line though...if Joe Biden isn't worried, I'm not worried.