Into the Wild Wood and Home Again

Got up, and it's 31 degrees-- it'll warm quickly, I think. But rain is in the forecast, but I'm not mad about it. We planted the herbs yesterday, Holly and I. Now, we can hope that they get watered naturally-- it's still too cold at night to turn on the outside water.  I'll be at work all day today, because there's a staff meeting I must attend. So, I assume I'll get something or other done. Not sure what-- with the AP testing gutting classes, I haven't had much to teach, let alone collect to grade. I don't mind, really. I have some other things I should be looking at. I have ideas for improvement, too, for both of my "heavy hitter" classes. This year has been a real learning experience for me, and I'm glad I have had to figure it out as I go. That way, I can honestly say I've dug into the whole AP thing. I'm still not that convinced it's what we need, but we have it, and I'll do my best to make it as valuable as possibl...

Another frost. I don't think the pears, and maybe the apples and the plums, will survive this. The trees will have a year of growth with no fruit, I fear. Not great timing; the cost of groceries what it is, I was hoping that I could really zero in on filling the freezer with applesauce and pear sauce. It's in God's hands. Mother Nature is clearly giving us the cold shoulder.  I'll still put out the herbs today; they've "hardened" enough already. Holly and I put in morning glory and flower seeds yesterday, so we'll see what comes of that. I'm feeling a little downhearted about the whole frost every night thing. At least the daytime temps are nice, but that doesn't make up for the cold nights.  Another day of upended class today; this time, I might have three or four kids in APLit. This is bonkers, but at least I knew about it ahead of time. I'm already thinking about how I'll revise my timing for next year's round; I think I'll d...

Another cold morning (30 degrees). I am truly worried for the fate of the fruit trees--well, they'll still be okay, but we may not get any fruit. That would be disappointing. Yesterday, G and I bought my new herb sets, too-- they are under a table on the deck, so I hope they are okay. They're pretty hardy ones, too-- sage and thyme, one little oregano. I kept the pot of basil in the house-- it's already gorgeous, and frankly, basil is too fragile to put outdoors until it is truly time to do so. And this year, we have the Blue Moon to worry about-- still a chance of frost until May 31st. Yeehaa. I don't usually put veggies in the ground until after then anyhow, but still. I'm itching to get things done.  And I did none of it yesterday, except the purchasing. It rained again. I'm too old and unstable on my feet to fool with pruning the huge rose bush in the rain. If I slipped, I'd be done for. So, next weekend. Today, though, Holly and I are going to go get th...

I dozed through the evening, half-listening to a silly show on Netflix. I will likely not return to it, but who knows? If I weren't always so darn tired, I'd read in the evening, but I can't focus and stay awake these days. I filled my Saturday with must-do stuff, and a few glad-I-did things. That is to say, I finished chores and whatnot right about when G pulled in from work--just after 4pm. I'm glad I went to tee ball with Holly and Tim; it's a true joy to sit in the spring sunshine and watch her learn and have fun doing something Meg did for years. I miss it so much, and it's honestly amazing to think I get to do it again. That makes my heart so happy. I don't know if I'll be able to for all the years she may play, but I'll soak up every minute I can get.  I was upstairs folding laundry when the dog went bananas. I dismissed it, after a fashion, because a/ no one was due to be at my door, and b/ she stopped losing her mind. When I got downstairs a...

Apparently, my mind is craving period drama as a retreat from the horrific firehose of terrible news items that are threatening to engulf us all. I can't directly impact any single thing that is making my heart hurt, but I can, in fact, temporarily immerse myself in Regency period films that dip into melodrama.  Last night, after Jeopardy (yes, I must be getting old-- I'm making it a habit to watch daily), I clicked into Britbox after making sure the Red Sox were not imploding in the first inning. They were not, so I was safe to venture into drama/melodrama/comfortably slushy film. I chose Mr Malcolm's List , which was delightful. Not one serious thing about it, really-- it was purely enjoyable, the costumes and settings were lovely, and I went to bed precisely at 10pm, having lost myself for a short time in an era that was ruled by high manners and minor scandals.  See why I like it? The horror show that is the news cycle today offers little to no reprieve; disasters, dang...

 Sunny? Yes, cold-- slight frost again last night (reminder that it's still early spring, eh?)--  And it's Friday. And payday.  Last night, I watched the first few episodes of The Other Bennet Sister on Britbox. It's quite good. I highly recommend it-- it connects with the things we all know from Pride and Prejudice, but the focus is on Mary, the sister no one ever seems to remember. The mother is vain and sometimes cruel, the younger sisters are still brainless, Lizzie is hardly even involved, nor is Jane... but they are there, and they are as we have come to expect them. Mr. Collins is as odious and cringey as usual, too. But Mary gets to speak! She has hopes and dreams, and a terrible sense of unworthiness rooted in her mother's suffocating behavior. Mary is becoming more independent, though, so this newfound courage and sense of self is refreshing-- even as it is thwarted, time and again, by social rules and her domineering mother.  And I'm only in a few episod...