Category Archives: garden

I didn’t get enough tomatoes to make soup but I was gifted tomatoes from Melonie so I made this Deborah Madison favorite.

Saute some shallots in butter. Cut up your tomatoes and put them in the pot with salt. Let them slow cook all afternoon.

Whir with the stick blender. Strain into a new pot. I often skip that step. I add a plop of cream.

It’s some weird trick of the light but this photo look like there’s a golden lump in there.

My computer situation has become a big enough pain in the butt that I bought a new computer. Normally I would pick up my computer at the Apple Store but there is no Apple Store downtown right now. When I purchased it, it was supposed to be delivered next month.

Then I received notice it would be delivered on the one day neither of us would be available to be here.

This is the flower area. It still looks pretty good.

My notice said I could click to make adjustments to my delivery. I clicked and was sent to a page that confirmed, yes, I was scheduled for a delivery and if I need to make adjustments, I should enter my numbers and click here. I entered and clicked and was sent to a page that said, yes, deliveries are a thing that happen and to click here for more information about my delivery. It sent me back where I started.

I had to phone.

I picked every tomato I thought had a chance of turning red. Also: oh my, that window. It seems like everything is extra gross since the smoke.

If you’ve called any customer service line recently, you already know that a robot makes you talk to it and says it can understand full sentences and then it understands nothing and just gives you information that you already have. Once I got through to a person, TylerJustin he said I really needed to talk to UPS because it was in delivery mode now.

I talked to the robot at UPS who was convinced I needed a pick up and no matter what I did, she tried to get my address so she could schedule the pick up. I yelled at her until she reluctantly sent me to a real person. Oh, but my computer is coming from overseas, did I want to be transferred to the international UPS customer service?

Why the hell not?

Here’s what happens if you empty an old envelope of “assorted squash” into your garden and rake it around.

That person helpfully let me reschedule gave me a 13 digit case number.

Two minutes after we finished my cellphone rang and local UPS told me that they couldn’t really reschedule but we could leave a note on the door to tell the UPS driver not to leave it if we weren’t there.

Maybe this could work. But also, maybe not. I don’t trust anyone to do anything right in 2020.

We talked some more and we were able to arrange for the computer to be held and we will pick it up.

I would end on a triumphant note but let’s see if this all goes to plan first. I will report again in a week or two.

The cherry tomato has been the only super productive plant and it gives us enough for a taste at every meal plus some to bring to Dad.

Staying home more I have learned so much more appreciation for the garden.

Both Bob and I have gotten into the habit of sitting out there with a book. I’m getting more familiar with the individual sounds of the birds and their funny habits. I try to keep the birdbath refreshed for them.

It’s starting to wind down. I know there are potatoes but not 100% sure where they are located. A few carrots and beets.

A lot of Cucurbita.