Adventures and outdoor chores-- end of vacation note

(The cow pictured is a statue...)

Our "adventure" yesterday was a good one-- we went to the Ben and Jerry's factory in Waterbury, VT. I've been before, but it was eleven years ago. It was nice, but o, was the wind cold! We went on the short tour, tried mango ice cream (nice, but not my favorite), and hit the gift shop. Then, Meg, Tim, and Holly went up to the playground for a bit and I waited in the car. I needed to not be on my feet for a few, and it was good for them to go do a little family time without me. We went to lunch at one of my favorite diner-like places in Montpelier, the Wayside. Good food, good service, and the prices are still very reasonable. It was pleasant to get out and do something different, for sure, and I'm grateful I was invited along. 

That all said, Meg also helped me get my last set of curtains up, too-- hooray, vacation indoor projects completed! Today, assuming it warms up (it's still in the 20s this morning), I'll putter around outside for a bit. I don't think I'll get a lot accomplished, as it's just too cold still, but I can take a look around and see what needs doing. I know there's pruning of roses to do, but I usually wait until the first leaves are showing. Maybe unconventional, but it's my approach and at least I'm not cutting off parts that are still good to go. I want to see what's what, make a plan, and then figure out how I'm going to get it all done. Again, not very conventional, I suppose, but it works for me. It is clearly too early to do any planting, and we want to replace the soil in the raised beds-- so, that's probably high on the list of what needs to be done next. 

Did I mention my forsythias bloomed this year? It's been a running disappointment for years-- we put the plants in the ground in April of 2015, and we've had a measly handful of half-hearted yellow blooms here and there, mostly at the base of the plants, ever since. Geoff aggressively pruned the shrubs last summer-- they are an unruly bunch-- and how 'bout that? They are a gorgeous display of blooms this year. I don't know if it is because we had a relatively mild winter, or maybe they got the idea that if they don't ante up, they'll be trimmed again. Actually, we will prune them back again-- they are huge (and a little invasive). I am glad they bloomed, though. Yellow daffies, yellow forsythia, yellow finches-- almost time for all of the purples to show up. I had a few crocuses pop up here and there, but they seem to have either given up or been eaten. Put that on the fall to-do list-- replace crocuses in the front. 

So, vacation ends now. The weekend is just a weekend, in a lot of ways, except no grading of papers. I have a couple of Zoom poetry things to attend, and I'll be Holly-watching, but that's my "normal." Today is "it," as far as vacation time goes. And I plan to enjoy it.

Have a good day,

C