Monday, May 5, 2025

Some Days Are Just Like This


 I told you I'd only get one good day of beauty from that magnolia. There it is today, its form still lovely but its stamens all spilled into the cups of the petals, its color darkening so quickly from the brilliant ivory it was to brown. 
Such is life. All things must pass. But you know what? She is still wearing her perfume. 

Today's been a bitch. I didn't sleep well last night. I had heartburn, I had to get up four times to pee. I experienced what I know is kidney stone pain and that makes sense because when one of those stones gets somewhere it's not supposed to be, I am up and down all night. I don't exactly understand this phenomenon but it's a true thing. Maurice came to join us in the wee hours and announced her presence by scratching on the bed which is what she does and when she jumped up she came over to my face and rubbed up against my cheek which was really very sweet and then she settled down by my legs but because I was already having trouble sleeping, every time she moved I was aware of it. So of course I was cranky when I woke up. Why is that when you're having trouble sleeping, the best sleep you get all night is the sleep you get right before you're supposed to get up? 

*******************

I have a folded paper shade in the doorway of my bathroom which leads out to the porch and today I actually looked at it. Really, really looked at it.
Oh dear god. 
Filthy, filthy, filthy. It needs to be burned. 
All right. But something has to go up there because the door has windows in it and I don't feel like sharing my toilette routines with anyone. The door leads to the porch with the swing on it and it doesn't really expose me to the entire population of Lloyd, but still. Now, the thing is, is that my bathroom was built using part of that porch. Think of a long-ish porch which has had half of it walled off and turned into a bathroom. This works great but the door they used that goes from our bedroom to my bathroom also has windows in it. I think it was probably the original door leading out to the porch. A long time ago I bought some sort of brightly colored industrial strength fabric to make curtains in the bathroom because not only are the doors both glass, but there is one literal wall of glass and two other big windows and they all do indeed give the world a fine view of what goes on in my bathroom. 
Who does this? 
When I bought that fabric, I also bought a different print to make curtains for the doors. For some reason which I cannot remember, I only made the one for the door that goes from the bedroom to the bathroom and left up the tacky, flimsy paper shade on the other door. Are you with me? 
But when I made that curtain, I knew I probably wanted to get another curtain out of the material for the other window so I incorporated all of the fabric into that one thing, and used a basting stitch to sew it all up so that when it came time to make the other curtain, I could just pull those threads, cut the fabric, and get busy. 
Today was the day. After my walk I took the sort-of curtain down from the door and got out my handy seam ripper and ripped those seams. Then I measured and ironed and measured and cut. I have not yet gotten the sewing machine out but the plan is to get the rest of the project done tomorrow. 




And that's what I've been doing today. I took the compost out and toured the garden because that's my favorite thing to do. Before I even got in the garden, I noticed some volunteer potatoes growing so happily. 


Look at those pretty little potato flowers. Did you know that potatoes make flowers? I am sure many of you did. 

The tomatoes are coming right along. 


I did, however, see a bunch of tiny black bugs on one tomato on another plant. They were on the tomato itself and I did not recognize them. Oh boy! Another pest! They may be something called a "flea beetle" but I really have no idea. I'll let Glen figure this development out. 

He went up to the lake cabin this morning to meet the roofer and I haven't seen or heard from him yet. Since there's no cell reception there, that's not a big surprise. Also, this is the first day he's been able to go up there by himself since he bought it. I think he's probably had a very, very good time, walking around, looking at things, figuring it all out. I told him yesterday that what I would really like is for us to keep it all very simple. To let it be a lake house where we go to get out of town and be somewhere else where he can fish, not another new residence. No need to build more rooms, or any of that stuff, just do the very basic things that need to be done, let us sort of settle into it the way it is and decide what, if anything else we want to do. 
He was happy to hear that. 
Hell, I told him we could keep the carpet if he wants. I don't really care. I see it sort of like going to stay in an Airbnb that we own. Right? No pressure. 

All righty. Wish me luck with the kidney stone. A little while ago it was starting to climb the pain scale chart but it's calmed back down. 
Do you folks who live in other countries use this chart? 


It's funny/not funny, especially if you've ever hit #10. 

Going to go cut up the potatoes for split pea soup. The only reason I made split pea soup is because I read a book recently in which split pea soup was made and enjoyed. 
Hmmmm, I thought. 
I have no carrots so it's not really authentic split pea soup but Mr. Moon doesn't like cooked carrots anyway. But there must be potatoes. 
Absolutely. And also, part of last Christmas's ham bone. Time to get that thing out of the freezer. 

Love...Ms. Moon


42 comments:

  1. We had split pea soup for dinner tonight and it was delicious! What a coincidence! However, I do not put carrots or potatoes in mine but, honestly, it was still yummy! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've always put carrots and potatoes in mine. Also celery.

      Delete
    2. Me too, and a dash of tomato suce (ketchup) and a smaller dash of worcestershire sauce.

      Delete
  2. The "cabin" carpet is nasty, If I couldn't get rid of it I would cover it with pretty rugs - something that could be hung out in the fresh air and beaten with a classic , nostalgic, antique beater thing. Wall to wall carpeting - UGH!

    The potatoes are darling- little fresh faces!

    You know, that whatever you make for dinner is going to be fabulous! You could make toast and it would be the best thing ever!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think the carpet is definitely going to come out. I mean, eventually for sure. Of course I said that about the shag carpet on Dog Island and it was there when I left.
      Sigh.
      Aren't those cheerful little potato flowers?
      I love toast.

      Delete
  3. I love potato flowers. They're different according to the color of potato, too. The other marvelous veg flower is the okra.
    Sorry about the kidney stone on the move. I wish it could be resolved.
    I agree with you on keeping the cabin simple too. Just tear out the carpet and don't start adding rooms!
    I had split pea and carrot and potato soup today, the last of the frozen food for my recovery period.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My sweet potatoes never bloomed as far as I know. But I didn't know that about the different colors. Okra does have a beautiful bloom. Kin to the hibiscus. Mallows.
      You and me both on the kidney stone.
      Simple is best. Yes!
      So at least three of us here had split pea soup for supper last night. How funny.

      Delete
  4. Forgot to say I've never seen faces on the pain scale because it's always been a verbal thing. My pain hardly got over a 4 throughout the process and recovery

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is so amazing that your surgery didn't produce more than a four on the pain scale. Now- what was the level of pain from your knee before you got the surgery?

      Delete
    2. Hip. Maybe a five. But my PT tells me my five is a normal eight. I learned endurance through being sn invalid in childhood.

      Delete
  5. Wonderful cheerful curtains. That will change your bathroom adventures into joyful times with tropical flavors. (as if you had any adventures in there- except kidney stones, which aren't supposed to be on your adventure anyway...be gone foul little rocks!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HUMAN BODIES SHOULD NOT MAKE ROCKS! I mean, I understand the process but that just seems wrong. Another great example of "intelligent design."

      Delete
  6. I have never put potatoes in my split pea soup, and now I feel as if I really have to give that a try! Like that magnolia, I may be faded and past my prime, but...I still smell good. Most of the time, anyway. (It hasn't gotten hot here yet.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What? No potatoes? They are so good in split pea soup.
      Wish I could say that I still smell good most of the time. It's always sweat season around here.

      Delete
  7. I did not know that potato plants had lovely little flowers.
    Look at those beautiful large tomatoes. Freshly picked tomatoes are pure gold and 4 tomatoes on one plant seems very successful to me.
    Your pea soup will make a great hardy meal.
    My friends are renovating an A-frame second home, and they decided on having an enclosed outside shower and a bunk room (aka, multiple bunkbeds in a single room) primarily for their 6 grandchildren spending time with them.
    Sleepless nights are terrible. I hope you have a better night tonight.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! Potatoes have flowers! As to the tomatoes- we cannot count our tomatoes before they are ripe! But I agree- four at once seems pretty awesome.

      Delete
    2. Also- I've always wanted an outdoor shower. Forever. A bunk room is not a bad idea although the grandkids are getting so tall that most of them are probably not going to be able to sleep comfortably in a bunk in a short time. Owen, for instance is already there.

      Delete
  8. I hate those pain charts. When I am in pain I don't want to evaluate it numerically. I can say terrible, annoying, debilitating etc. My 2 might be someone else's 7. I think language is more descriptive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, I don't know why they went to using a face pain scale but that's what they use. I mean, you can still describe it in words if you want. And you are so right about the different levels of pain that people feel. That is something that science hasn't figured out how to evaluate.

      Delete
  9. Good luck with that kidney stone, and yes we do use those charts here in France, but it's usually to rate "how was your experience buying that paintbrush today"?? And I absolutely agree with you on keeping the lake house simple. I had several friends who had apartments in the mountains thinking they would go up there every weekend skiing, when in reality the kids got bored of the same resort all the time and the wife just ended up doing two sets of housework!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am so afraid that that's how it's going to go with this house. I keep telling Glen that it's probably not realistic to think that the kids are going to want to spend a whole lot of time there. I mean, there's not much to do except fish and I doubt they'll all want to fish.
      Oh, who knows?
      But yes, of course on the wife.

      Delete
  10. Love that curtain fabric ! Did you know that potatoes belong to the ( deadly) nightshade family?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes. I did know that. Potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant- all the good vegetables!

      Delete
  11. I have never seen a pain chart like that. Usually a doctor here says "how is your pain on a scale of one to ten with ten being the worst?" my answer is almost always 1 or 0, but years ago when I sprained my back I answered 15 and she was very sympathetic.
    The curtain fabric is gorgeous, so colourful and will look great in your bathroom.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep. Sometimes 10 doesn't cover it.
      That bathroom is already so colorful. But it could never be TOO colorful for me.

      Delete
  12. Who thought up a pain scale with creepy faces???
    When we had a hot day last week and I set out to make a pot of soup, the man remarked in a slightly complacent way that nobody in their right mind would make a soup on a hot day and today I could tell him that Mary Moon makes soup on hot days in Florida and he better believe it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Who knows? A kindergarten teacher? I'm not sure of the logic of the pain faces but for now, that's what they use.
      I think it's so funny that you told your husband that I make soup in summer in Florida. Of course, if we did not have air conditioning, that would not happen.

      Delete
  13. I don't think I've ever hit No. 10 in my entire life, thankfully. I did have some kind of abdominal infection or abscess when I was a kid that hurt like heck, but even then I don't think I was at No. 10.

    I never knew potato flowers were that pretty!

    I think your instincts on the Georgia house are spot-on. I'd keep it simple too. Since there's no cell reception there, do you have a landline? Is there a way for you to call if (God forbid) someone needs help or there's an emergency?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you ever have a kidney stone try to pass, you will know what a 10 feels like. I am not kidding you. And for me, labor was a 10 but it is not for all women. When I had Hank, I could not BELIEVE that women have gone through that sort of pain since the dawn of humanity. Women are strong.
      Isn't that a cute little blossom?
      We are going to see if a different cell service works better than the one we have out there. The folks who live out there must have something. But yes. We would definitely get a landline.

      Delete
  14. Same with me when I have sleepless nights. I sleep hardest in the two hours or so before I have to get up. Keeping the lake house simple is a good idea but I would still have to cover up some of those interior log walls to lighten the place up. You could turn the add on room into Mary's Den.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, I just don't want Glen to get started on a project that's going to take a very long time and a lot of work. And I know him- he'll want to do most of the work himself. I can deal with it. And the back porch is going to be MY den.

      Delete
  15. We use that pain chart here, too. SG insists, however, that it’s no use. He says there should be negative numbers for “pre-pains,” those pains you know are coming and it hurts just to think about them. Also, he insists 10 is too low for maximum pain. In reality, I don’t think he’s ever been above a 3. Did I ever mention that thing I read about roller coasters being beneficial with kidney stones? But, unless a ride would cause one to magically disintegrate, I don’t know how it works. Magnolia petals are so substantial. Now it looks like leather.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just found this: "Yes, certain roller coasters can help people pass kidney stones, especially small ones. A study found that riding roller coasters, particularly in the back car, can dislodge stones from the kidneys and aid in their passage. The research suggests that the vibrations and movements of a moderate-intensity coaster can help facilitate this process."
      I have noticed that certain activities do indeed cause a stone to change position to hurt more or less, too, I guess. Trying to drag a giant branch out of a bunch of azaleas, for instance. Walking. And, uh, other things.
      That's so funny about SG and his pain level scales. I'm sort of with him on the "Pre-pains."
      The magnolia really looks like leather today.

      Delete
  16. A sleepless night makes the next day suck. I like that fabric and it will make a lovely curtain.

    My garden still has not gone into the ground, but I may plant my beans and carrots today. Tomatoes will have to wait a week or two.

    I hope Mr. Moon makes your "vacation home" beautiful for you. You deserve it sweetie.

    I hope the kidney stones settle down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sleepless nights definitely do not make for a good day.
      I know you can't wait to get your seeds and plants in the ground. That's when the real fun begins, isn't it.
      Glen will do everything he can to make the house to my liking. I know he will.

      Delete
  17. How does split pea soup differ from pea and ham soup? And doesn't the vegetable matter all disappear in the whiz of a soup, or is it unwhizzed?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suppose that pea and ham soup IS split pea soup if you put ham in it. I don't whiz my pea soup. The split peas break down themselves into creamy goodness if you let them cook long enough. I put the vegetables in a little later.

      Delete
  18. I use a similar chart to score the things that your current President says. Mostly, my ticks are in the red zone.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I hope you feel better soon. I've had some Sleepless Nights, I think there is so much Chaos right now I'm probably internalizing some of it in my Subconscious?

    ReplyDelete
  20. You are literally speaking words I say out loud.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Never had a kidney stone. But, simplicity is close to godliness. I try to keep stress as minimal as possible. It's impossible to get rid of it all. Outside factors affect stress more than what I'd produce on my own. Tomato bugs, for example... stomp that out! They have no place in your garden.

    ReplyDelete

Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.