Friday, April 14, 2023

Better


Oh my goodness. Today has been so much better. I have not had any pains. Maybe one or two twinges but that is all. And although I started out the day in a deep state of dissociation, to the point of describing it as a "complete dead-zone fog" in a text to a friend, we both agreed it's nice to have a change from panic to dead-zone fog. And even that has lifted some this afternoon. 

I haven't pushed myself today but did pull about a thousand or maybe a million more croscomia and did a little hacking away at the wisteria which I am afraid is going to pull a pecan tree over on us with its mighty and persistent vines. But nothing very strenuous. Laundry, of course, because...Friday/sheets... and also we just seem to go through a lot of clothes and as I always point out, one pair of Mr. Moon's jeans are about a quarter of a load and one pair of his overalls is about a half of a load. And he is not fat at all. 

In the spirit of the day, when I tried to activate Ralph from his coma, he cheerfully lit his lights, backed out of the charger and began his routine. Why today and not yesterday? 
Who knows? Not me. 

I watered the garden which of course requires nothing more than turning on sprinklers and I picked some greens to cook for our dinner which will be some Tennessee barbecue that was in the freezer along with those greens, and some of last year's field peas. Both of those two things are already simmering on the stove and there won't be much left to do after that. 

Mr. Moon had to go to a funeral today and then he came home, changed clothes, and went back over to Tom's to work on the folding table he is making for the laundry room. The table does not fold. It is for folding clothes on. 
This is what it looked like yesterday. 


For the past few years I've just been using an old card table which is indeed a folding table. And stacking things on top of the washer and dryer as one does. And that has been fine with me. I am not a particularly picky person when it comes to some amenities as a folding table with storage shelves although I will tell you that the pantry he built me is something I use and cherish every day. I do, however, need to get in there and clean some of that shit OUT. It's a jungle in there with very little order and bins of things that we hardly ever or never use but what does one do with the things that you may well need at some point in your life but in the meantime, are just taking up space? Like...extension cords. We must have ten of those things, both regular and construction-grade. I think maybe some of those should go in the garage. Maybe ALL of them should go in the garage. 
I just went in there to take a real look around to see what actually is on those shelves and it is fairly overwhelming. Everything from my canning kettle and canning jars and canning lids to the parts of my food processor that I are hardly ever use but when I do, I need them, the wok, and cookie cutters and birthday candles and cake ornaments and flea treatments for pets (those need to go for sure) and pie pans and baking sheets and two rolling pins and of course, food and beverages. 
My favorite use of the pantry, I do believe, is having it to store my cast iron skillets and pots in. 


Aren't they beautiful? And having them higher up makes it easier for me when it comes to handling them. Some of those fuckers are heavy. 
I will tell you that we don't generally keep so much ginger ale about. However, last week when I was mostly subsisting on it, I wanted to get more and of course it was on BOGO at Publix so what are you supposed to do? 
That stash represents about three year's worth of purple cow fixings, I do believe. 

Anyway, how did I get here? 
I have no idea. 

When I went out to the garden to turn off the sprinklers and pick the greens, it looked so pretty that I took a few pictures. 


Wide angle view with Garage Mahal in background. How many vehicles can YOU count? 


Tomatoes that need tying up, basil in a pot, collards, peas. 


Bolting and bug-eaten collard. 


Rattlesnake pole beans.


Onions and garlic. 

I have just gone back through an entire set of the pictures that a very talented friend of Jessie's and Vergil's took of their wedding and I am so re-stunned at how beautiful it was. Dana Villalas absolutely captured it all. I am not sure that this link will work but it's worth a try if you want to go have a look.  So many memories. Gibson was still a babe in arms and Owen was a proud ring-bearer. 




Oh, my heart. 
How fortunate we are. 




Happy Friday, y'all. 

Love...Ms. Moon




25 comments:

  1. You sound brighter. This is good. I am very envious of your garden. But not of your climate so I guess I will never achieve gardening success such as yours.

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    1. Yeah, the climate sure can suck. Especially in summer which is also hurricane season.

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  2. I loved seeing all of those pictures and being able to see you and Glen ... my, he is a tall one!

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  3. I love joy. I can usually find it hanging around you. Thanks for the lovely post.

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  4. Wow! That photographer did a great job of capturing everyone and all the joy! Mr. Moon is WAY taller than you! What a lovely family, Mary!

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    1. Isn't Dana amazing? Yes. Glen is a foot and a half taller than I am.

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  5. I believe you are on the mend! That garden is a joy to look at. My dirt days are over, for sure, but I can dig in your dirt, subliminally. Happy days!

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    1. You can dig in my dirt however you want! I wish I could send you some vegetables.

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  6. oh, your garden. Envious. The wedding photos......to die for. I think my 2 faves are of you clasping Jessies necklace.....and you and Mr Moon walking her down the aisle. Oh....tears here at the sheer joy. Your innards.......oh, Mary. 2 things I think of is gallstones...(but you don't really fit into the "fat, female and 40" realm that usually describes candidates).......and diverticulitis........... sorry.....my medical brain never stops, even after 7 years of retirement! Happy Martini and clean sheet Friday!
    Susan M

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    1. Thank you so much for your sweet words about Jessie's wedding pictures. There was a LOT of crying that day. All the happiest of tears.
      I am making a list in my head of all the things I have thought of that could be causing whatever it is I'm going through. Gall stones was already on it but I will add diverticulitis.

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  7. What beautiful people! Everyone, babies, bride, parents, groom just the whole crowd. And then we get to consider the folding non folding table, by way of contrast! I love reading in here. It's improved my life.

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    1. Really, Liz? Well, you know darn well you've improved mine. And I thank you for that.

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  8. I remember when those two lovebirds started dating. So now I feel a bit old! I'm glad you are feeling better today. And glad for Ralph too ;)

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    1. Imagine how old I feel! That is my BABY. And I had a thirteen year old when she was born.
      Ralph perked right up. I have no idea why.

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  9. Love your garden. The neat rows, the variety, the promise of bounty!
    The hours of work getting it to where it is...the smell of each plant and the dirt. I loved doing that, but I have no room where I live now so I can smile at yours and forget all the aches at the end of the day.

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    1. The rows are neat because Mr. Moon does almost all of the planting and he is a little bit OCD about straight rows. I give him all the credit. My rows wander and meander. They make him crazy.
      One day I won't be able to garden either for whatever reason and it won't be easy to give it up but I will be glad that I had done it for all these years.

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  10. I have four cast iron skillets and one dutch oven and none of them have lids. I have no idea what happened to the lid on the ditch oven but then I got it from my parents I think, must have since the only one I've bought is one of the big ones from an estate sale. oh, maybe I bought the littlest one new many decades ago. but no pots!

    I finally have a spring garden again after about 3 or 4 years. small, just tomatoes, potatoes in a big pot that molasses comes in for cattle, and green bush beans. and one volunteer squash in the compost pile. hey, it's a start.

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    1. I also have a huge dutch oven like you'd use over a campfire and it has a lid too. And I have a cast iron griddle too. I am FABULOUSLY WEALTHY in cast iron.
      I'm so glad you've got a garden going and it sounds like the perfect size for you to deal with because you have SO much more that you take care of in your yard and in your life. I sure hope you get some nice tomatoes.

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  11. Replies
    1. Those are teeny-tiny wildflowers that I picked in the yard. I love to make miniature bouquets. I am not a great arranger. With these little flowers you practically have to use tweezers.

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  12. I love seeing pictures of your garden, backyard and Garage Mahal! Wonderful! And of course, Jessie and Virgil's wedding -- I'm so grateful to have been visiting you here for so many years!

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  13. Not as grateful as I am, Elizabeth.

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  14. Ralph just needed a holiday, we all do now and again. The new table looks amazing and I am envious of your pantry. I have one extension cord in the house and a half dozen somewhere in the shed. It's chaos down there and I need to get it sorted as soon as, well, when I get a minute and have the energy at the same time.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.