6/30/16

Greenery

No more was accomplished in the sewing room yesterday. When I got home from the grocery store, I was completely wiped out. After putting away the groceries, I sat with a cup of coffee and put my feet up. Then, in an act of stoutheartedness, I resisted the urge to take a nap by going out and watering the annuals. (This made my little cat very happy since he could go with me.) My thinking was that after coffee and activity, my desire for a nap would decrease. It did not, and I gave in after that.

The grocery store has always been my bugaboo as long as I can remember. There was a time when I sat in my car in the parking lot, steeling myself to go inside. There is no rational explanation for this, but I've always thought it's the many decisions one must make once there. It starts the instant you drive into the parking lot...choosing a place to park. Once inside: cart or basket? Fresh or frozen?


Corn or peas? Chicken or beef? The decisions are endless, right up to the point when you unload your groceries from the cart. Paper or plastic? And don't even get me started on people who seem oblivious to others who are also shopping, blocking the aisles with their carts while they chat with someone. It seems ridiculous that it tires me out so much, but I've given up thinking it will be different. The only reward is the feeling of power I get when I'm all stocked up and the groceries are put away, and I don't have to go back for at least another week. Please tell me there are others who feel the same way. 

So even though there was no sewing, it was a good time to finish up Block #5 for the Bee-utiful Quilt-A-Long. This block is called "Bee Courteous". Those little honeycomb hexagons took forever to stitch.


While I was at the grocery store yesterday, I picked up a catnip start and a basil start. My basil is resisting efforts to prevent it from blooming. Once they bloom, they turn bitter, and they're not much good for cooking...especially when basil is the star of the show. The catnip was for the catio. This morning I headed down to the greenhouse to pot them.

Along the way, I noticed that another sunflower has opened. This one is called Floristan.


Also, I noticed that the hydrangeas are claiming their turn to shine. This purple one was a Mother's Day gift from Erik and Mae. I keep thinking it will change color, but it's been in the ground for about three years now, and the purple is as bright as ever. 


This one has pink, lavender, and blue flowers all on one bush.


This is our largest plant, and it didn't bloom at all last year. I think I might have pruned it a little too vigorously. This year, it's covered in flowers, and they are huge...about the size of a volleyball.


Here's my new basil. I've taken to buying the living basil in the produce section, and then potting it. It lasts longer that way.


The tomatoes continue to amaze me. I'm so glad I switched to Romas this year.


The foliage is looking beautiful and they are covered in flowers.


While I was in the greenhouse, I noticed this at my feet. Obviously, a squirrel has been hanging out here using it as his private dining room.


And there's the potted catnip for the kitties. Mike is going to work building some shelves this weekend. In the meantime, we've put a chair and an upside-down trash can with some cushioning for napping. Also, I put a little crackly tunnel and an empty box. There's also a ring toy with a ping pong ball. I have yet to see either of them use any of it, although Sadie spends quite a bit of time out there. Smitty is staging a boycatt.


The next block for the quilt along won't be released until Saturday, which gives me some time to get back to work on the Gingerbread Square block. And that's where I'm headed next. Before I go, however, I wanted to share this product someone posted on Facebook this morning. She said she had washed a quilt and had red run into white fabric. This seems to be a common problem, and so I'm sharing this product. I can't vouch for it, but the original poster said it worked to solve her problem.



11 comments:

gpc said...

I don't pretend to compete with you in the groceryphobia department, but I have been known to eat from my pantry long after it makes sense -- a can of corn or unadorned boiled pasta or rice for a week's worth of dinners, for instance. A benefit (or sorts) of living alone. I don't know why, I do not mind grocery shopping once I am there and am way too good at making choices -- buy it all!! I just know that I avoid it as long as I can. It works well in the summer when the farmer's market is all I need, but winters can be brutal. :) I love the catio, lucky kitties once they figure out how cool it is.

Linda M @ Pieceful Kingdom said...

I totally understand the grocery store thing. I HATE going. Every time I go my hubby will ask, "So how was Kroger" and he waits for the tirade. They have fixed one problem I had...I used to always get sick a couple of days after a grocery store run, but a couple of years ago they put out disinfectant wipes, which I grab the moment I walk in and wipe down the cart. I don't believe I have been sick once since then after I do my shopping. My best bet when doing the grocery shopping is tunnel vision - I make all the decisions before I go and I keep my head down looking at the list and race through the store as quickly as possible. I don't even look at the sale items...I just stick to my list. I don't think I have any kind of phobia about it (now that I don't get sick all the time!) but I just hate the entire experience. But I'm a homebody, so there you go. Oh! And some of the stores around here did just start online ordering...for about $5 you can place your order online and then pull up and they load your groceries for you. I think I will have to give that a try. And, you just reminded me that I have to make a grocery run tomorrow morning...ugh.
The catio looks great by the way!

Barbara said...

I recommend EXTREME caution with using Cabona color run remover. When my water heater leaked, a bag of fabric got wet and a batik bled onto the printed fabric under it. I used the color run remover on the print and ruined all 9 yards of it. The product removed all the blue in the print and left the color from the batik that had run.

Vicki Welsh is a hand dyer who has written extensively on how to remove color run from a quilt. I don't have the link handy and can't search for it right now. A Google search should find it.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I hate grocery shopping too - and usually get sick afterward as well. Vicki Welsh was my recommendation for any answer to color run. I think Smitty will adapt - as long as he gets his walks with you.

Betty said...

I put off doing the grocery shopping as long as possible. I can get creative when the pantry starts looking bare! One part of my brain says I should go more often and it wouldn't be such a chore. The other part just says wait and get it all over with at once. Like you said, it's all those decisions!!
Smitty might like the catio better when he discovers the new nip source!

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Try making a grocery list. I start with items at the back of the store, then work my way to the front. I list the items in groups, like the aisle they are on. It makes shopping easier and quicker. I also take a couple more reusable bags than I think I'll ever need, just in case. My hard part is the times I need something, and I don't know what aisle it will be on, since it is an item that is only purchased maybe once a year or less.

Kate said...

I'm with Barbara - er, the other Barbara. I used that Carbona product on a quilt that had the backing bleed, and not only did it NOT solve the bleed, it faded out all the color in the quilt fabrics. If you search Carbona on my blog, you can see the before and after pictures.
The catio is looking good! I want to add one - CC desperately wants to be an outside cat - but not while we're in a rental house. Sigh. Someday.

Dana Gaffney said...

We have two grocery stores in town and I need to shop at both to get everything I need, but I'm also the person chatting in the aisle although I do stay aware of being in anyone's way :) As long as Sadie is enjoying the Catio I'd call it a success, Smitty gets out with you so he's happy.

heartsease54 said...

I've worked in a grocery store for over 30 years, so am really tired of grocery shopping now. It seemed like I was always dragging stuff home with me every night. I love your hydrangeas!! Living in a zone 4 area means I cannot grow them and I adore everything about them. But my peonies are outstanding. The catio looks to be a big hit for Sadie, just wait until it is pouring rain, then I bet Smitty changes his tune.

Vicki W said...

Thanks for the mention Barbara! The information is at www.colorwaysbyvicki.com and the link is on the home page.

Kate said...

Love that sunflower and the hydrangeas! I'm lucky, My Guy has taken over the grocery shopping, I just have to have a list ready to go when he is.