You're Doing It Wrong

We went to Chicago to visit friends. Well, I went to see friends. Bob went to have adventures.

The trip went as well as you could want. The travel went smoothly. Our lodging had plenty of space and a great location. We all had a great time catching up.

If you were going to complain, it would be about the first morning when it was cold and raining sideways but that was over quick.

I didn’t keep track of any funny stories and took hardly any photos.

One of the highlights was the Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise where you cruise around and the guide tells you all about the buildings in the downtown skyline. Super interesting. One and a half hours and you know how there’s always that one person who can’t resist talking the whole time? Not on this tour. Everyone rapt.

We also went to a Cubs game. I am not a huge baseball fan but I wanted to see Wrigley Field and it turned out to be fun. Since I spend so much time at soccer matches it was interesting to see how the rituals of a different sport played out.

That was the trip.

I am still trying to get the yard under control. Every spring I mildly panic because the work seems so overwhelming and it is particularly crazy this year due to all the rain. I finally managed to out in the berry patch to get it cleaned up and look what I found!

Lots more coming in soon. This is my favorite when we go from a few berries in a bowl to more than we can eat.

Also while I was out there one of my earbuds fell into the berries. I had to crank some loud music to the highest setting and then crawl around on my hands and knees with my face in the dirt and brambles in my hair.

I found it!

One night the Raccy with the mangled tail stuck his head in for a peek. Decides to back out.

This place belongs to Stinky.

Another matter that is overwhelming me is my apple tree. There are so many apples, and it’s leaning, and the branches are flopping. All the helpful tips online are from people who have property and orchards and stuff around to stake or prop up a tree. They are not considering the urban home with one measly little apple tree and nothing but a drawer filled with toothpicks and rubberbands to problem solve with.

Also, no spoilers but I am catching up on the latest season of Stranger Things. I love the content warning: fear, language, disturbing images, gore … and

smoking.

I don’t know how I always manage to be out taking photos in such ghastly light. Sorry.

The apple tree seems to have a million apples on it right now which is about 999,975 more than it can handle.

I have to keep an eye on it and read up on apple trees. Hopefully it’s smart enough to drop off a bunch itself.

But already we can see it’s leaning. We gotta devise a system to prop it up.

I’m sure YouTube will have more info than we know what to do with.

Last year we had 5-6 apples and they were delicious.

The bro house across the street was empty for a couple of years and now it’s an Air BNB. It can fit a lot of people so almost every weekend there are lots of cars over there.

I’m not complaining. So far it hasn’t caused any trouble.

This weekend there were 2-3 cars, 2 big pick-ups and 2 flatbeds – is that what they are called?

This morning I heard funny noises out front and peeked out the window and they were loading up classic cars on the flatbeds.

Not like olde timey cars and not like muscle cars.

Like slicked out 80s Chevy Monte Carlo or 80s Cadillac. (I don’t know cars, that’s my best guess.) I thought it was kind-of cool. There are a lot of car events around here so maybe that’s what they were up to.

This represents about 90% of the gardening I have done so far this year.

I was inspired by my husband’s coffee system so I started a new tea system.

I make my tea in my cup. I use leaf yerba mate in a tea ball.

When the first cup is ready, I transfer the tea ball and boiling water into the travel mug. Then when I’m ready for more, it’s all ready to go.

I can’t believe it took me this long to try this amazing and life-changing approach to morning beverages.

Here is a view of the tea ball in the bottom of the travel mug but you can’t really tell. Trust me.

Last time I was in Orleans I left my travel mug so when I bring it home I’m going to adopt this new system at the office, too.

I bought another bird feeder — so now I have four.

The bird feeder store is a dangerous place. You go in with a thing in mind and end up with a nice man helping you load all your stuff into the car. I even bought “squirrel baffles” which the guy said would not keep squirrels out but would help with the rain.

Now my birds can stay dry while they snack.

See? It says Birds’ Choice. Is there a possessive apostrophe? I can’t tell. I hope there is.

I was disappointed that no birds showed up (while I was watching) for 2 days! But Bob said he saw Squirrel out there and the peanuts are gone.

Actually after I first put it out I was outside doing yard work and blue jay landed on top and checked things out but did not go for the peanuts. Is he really too big? The blue jays seem determined but maybe they don’t like this one. They still scare the other birds away when they pick up tidbits underneath.

They also appear almost instantly if I go outside. They know me as the lady who brings out the peanuts.

I have never attracted a hummingbird to a feeder. This is my third time trying over the past several years. I remain hopeful.

Progress report: project of forever, part 2 of 3:

9612 / 40000 words. 24% done!