The Oscars LOL and My Sore Back

Spring has hit full force in my part of Texas.  We even saw some Bluebonnets this weekend on our way to see my Mother.  It has been pretty warm, even reaching 90 a couple days, very windy as you would expect in March and sadly very dry.  We really need rain to break this drought.  

Along with this nicer weather comes a lot more yard work.  And my back is paying the price.  Hauling around those bags of garden soil and fertilizer and getting the garden planted (sorry no pics) has taken it's toll.  Parts are hurting.  I try to get too much done too quickly and being this late in the year for planting puts the pressure on.  Thankfully 'K' has pitched in and made things go much faster than if it was just me.  The flower beds are receiving attention now and by the end of today we may be finished with the biggest part of those.  

I don't watch the Oscars any more and rarely did anyway.  Too much political activism with those that really have no clue about the real world.  But I did see a little of the aftermath.  Videos of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock with a full wind up for a joke about his wife.  It was a stupid harmless joke by an annoying comedian that didn't sit well with a cry baby.  Take that up after the show tough guy when your temper has cooled and the guy can defend himself.  Don't blindside the guy, it was a chickensh*t assault and the guy should have been arrested.  All of it was in poor taste to say the least and obviously adults weren't on duty.  I have no idea what Chris Rock thought about it and don't care, but he took it like a man even if it was deserved.  Just more useless entertainers that are too full of themselves and the things they represent and do mean nothing at all in the scheme of life.  Another reason I rarely watch movies and almost never go to a theater.  'K' loves movies and I agree to go about once a year but it better not have any of that woke garbage.  OK enough with the rant.

Y'all behave and Happy Trails

Eye Follow Up and the Garden

I went for another follow up for my eye surgery and everything is good to go.  I also scheduled for the next eye and paid for that.  April 5, 1:30 pm.  A later time will help hopefully with the wait as per the person who got me scheduled.  It was 4 hours of mostly waiting last time.  It may also be easier on the not eating 6 hours before due to my blood sugar issues.  Mine was too low last time and I had to get some sugar in me as soon as I woke up to keep from getting any lower.  Waiting for more than another 4 hours would have been bad.  

I headed over to Home Depot immediately afterwards to pick up soil/compost for the garden and get any plants for it.  Did well on the soil as it was half price but of all things they had no vegetable plants.  That threw a wet blanket on my enthusiasm to get started on my garden.  This will actually send me out shopping for vegetable plants.  Nothing is close and they are spread out.  I may wait a day as I want to  try to get some of that soil hauled around from the front to the back where the garden is.  The bags are much heavier than I anticipated and lifting the ones I got in and out of my car made stuff hurt.  But I'll get it done.  I plan on some new things this year.  Potatoes and carrots.  I will try onions again if I can find any.  Of course there will be the tomatoes and I will plant many more than the two I did last year.  There will be at least 6, I have found that is a good number if they all produce well.  We shall see.

Happy Trails

Cataract Surgery etc.

My cataract surgery went well.  Still dealing with the dilation and the eye settling down after all the trauma.  I could see well enough after surgery to not need my glasses.  However, with the other eye being as bad or worse than the other it is a bit disconcerting.  I don't see well enough to feel comfortable driving yet.  I can't read anything so we went to Costco and got some readers.  I can read now but things are still off due the significant differences in the two eyes.  I went in for a check the day after surgery and they said everything looked good and all the weird things I was experiencing were normal and will clear up in 3-4 days.  I go in again next Wednesday for them to take another look and we will then schedule the next eye.  Oh, and the colors.  I didn't know I had any degradation of color.  Closing one eye and then the other I see a huge difference.  The new eye is much brighter/whiter.  While the other has darker richer colors.  I think I like the older better as far as colors go.

My hearing aids have been acting up.  They have lasted longer than they are supposed to and should be replaced.  However with the spendy cataract surgery I am reluctant.  Plus the model Costco currently has it about a year and a half old and the new models usually come out every two years.  After letting them test my ears again today and making adjustments I am hoping to hold out for the newer model.  'K' disagrees as you would expect.  I sympathize with her, but it's no fun for me either.  This getting old stuff....

I need to get my garden planted soon.  But I can't do any lifting until 7 days after surgery, I can't even bend over.  Glad I don't wear socks much lol.  Hopefully I can get it set up between surgeries and that a sneaky late freeze won't destroy my efforts.  

Happy Trails

More Freezes and the Tiller

As predicted we had freezing weather again last week.  They said light freeze which usually means there won't be one this time of year.  Well the light freeze was correct for the most part but Saturday morning it was much colder than a light freeze.  It got down to 27 in town.  By the time I got up my temp reading was 29.  All day Friday was mostly 40 with winds around 40 mph that were unceasing.  That makes it very uncomfortable when there is no sun.  So we stayed inside most the entire time.  This past weekend was the latest freeze in our parts since 2006 'officially.'  We have had later here up in the hills.  I think that the average last day for freezes here is 3/13.  Not sure we won't have another the way this winter has gone.  It has played havoc with the wildflowers getting started.  I see several trees that had blooms earlier this week that have turned brown now.   

I am not going to get a a big hurry with my garden due to the crazy weather.  But I did get my little tiller out and tried it out.  I must say I was pleased and it caused  me so much less work.  

A shot of the tiller and before use:

                                                           Results

This is an above ground garden so I didn't go too deep as I have a weed barrier I didn't want to deal with.  I am pleased how well it did.  I will bring in more soil to mix in with what I have and then start shopping for plants.  I may try potatoes this year.  I know nothing about them but saw a video on you tube on how to do it and I may give it a try.  

Tomorrow (Tuesday) I head to surgery for my cataract on my right eye.  I'll be glad when I get that behind me.  But I am looking forward to being able to see better again and rarely wear glasses that I have for almost 40 years.  

Happy Trails

Crazy Weather and Inflation

Late post today.  We went to the grocery store early and to top off the gas in the car.  Sheesh.  I learned that gas had gone up overnight to over 4$/gal.  Luckily it is still ONLY 3.79 here.  I doubt it will stay that way and will go up a bunch later today.  A barrel of oil is $130 this morning.  This will once again affect grocery prices.  Including last weeks Costco trip and todays grocery trip we came in just short $600 and that was with NO meat.  Granted we stocked up on things we won't use for a while.  I don't know how a young family gets by having to spend a lot on gas to get to work just to put it all back in the gas tank and the grocery store.  I would really like some one that voted for Biden explain to me how things are better now.  

I may have found something that will help with my garden and also the wife's(mine) flower beds.  Here is what I am dealing with in my small garden that whipped my tail last week:

That dead grass is Bermuda, it's from the devil.  Once I get all that out of there I will get some more garden soil to refresh it.  But getting the grass out is near impossible with Bermuda, at least for my old bones.  So I started looking around and found an electric tiller and they are really cheap and had great reviews.  It's light and easy to handle.  I have only put it together for now so no pics yet.  Once this stupid weather makes up it's mind that winter is over I will get out there and till that up and see how that thing works.  It's gotta be better than the by hand way or a grubbing hoe.  Pics when it happens.

Speaking of the weather, it's in the low forties this morning with a howling wind and won't get into the 50's today after hitting 80 yesterday.  And we will get another strong front Friday with a chance for a light freeze Saturday and Sunday.  At this rate we could have a freeze as late as April.  It's very rare but has happened out here where we are a couple times when the official weather says it didn't.  That makes it hard on the garden by freezing any new plants or delaying planting.  The deer are very confused by this crazy weather too.  They are huddled up behind the house with a look on their face like 'where did the warm weather go?'

Happy Trails

Outta Gas

Figuratively not literally.  Although that may all too well be true in the future with all the garbage going on in the world.  But figuratively speaking I ran out of gas very early today.  Took Snickers on our walk trying to get back into that and then was anxious to get out and start on yard stuff.  I have a huge list and I have been chomping at the bit to get after it.  Started repairing the door on my cheap shed.  I have one of those you snap together and are made out of something I don't recall but seems like plastic.  Maybe resin.  The door needed a hinge as the other just won't cut it any more.  Then I started in on the garden.  I have grand plans for it, or did.  Got all the things holding the black plastic (landscape timbers) I use to cover it removed, then the plastic.  There was quite a bit of dead grass.  Get the rake out and in one going over that not even came close to removing all the grass I was done.  Other than being tired my back tightened up almost immediately.  I quit then.  Very discouraging to give out so soon.  Maybe after a little rest I will hit it again for a few.  Nah, won't happen.  

The years are starting to make themselves known very loudly.  Some sort of garden will appear this year regardless.  I will most likely buy bags of garden soil to use to rehab it.  I need at least 20 bags so I will have to have it delivered.  I'm choosing bags as it will be easier for me to handle instead of having a pile of soil to transport in a wheel barrow, dump and then spread.  The bags will allow me to haul them and place them where needed and spread.  Easy peasy. LOL who am I kidding.  I'm hoping that will be the easiest method.  As much as I would love to have about 8 yards of garden soil delivered for my entire yard and flower beds I know what would happen with that.  It takes much too long for this one man show to get that much soil/topcoat to get dispersed as I have done that several times over the years.  Too many years.  I wish I had a small tiller, maybe I will shop around.  Just another old man's rambling.

Happy Trails