Red, White and Blue...and Brown and Green?

The day started early...and seemed even earlier because my head didn't hit the pillow until after midnight.  I chauffered DH around early this morning (he was multi-tasking, so I picked him up from the tire store and dropped him off at the barber shop.)

While he got a trim, I came home and removed a dead mole from Big Dog's jaws, rewarded her with puppy treats, washed my hands and made up a batch of blueberry and strawberry scones using this recipe.  Hence the red, white and blue.

The scones were pretty AND delicious - as anything with 3/4 of a pound of butter and a cup of heavy cream should be - and we now have a huge bag of them tucked away in the freezer to savor one-at-a-time.

After picking him up from the barber shop, we hit the grocery store and then Lowe's (it wouldn't be a holiday weekend if we didn't patronize at least one of the big box stores); then back to pick up his car and set into a day full of chores: he hooked up up a new heron spitter for the pond and worked on the lawn, while I cleaned the outdoor rug, then turned the power washer on the garage siding and windows and the sidewalk that runs between the garage and deck. 

Most people go to the pool or lake when they want a bit of water fun.  Me?  I get hold of a power washer and act like the Terminator. By the time I was finished, I looked like a moss-and-dirt covered creature.  Since I was grubby, it was off to the garden for some weeding and planting.  A brief rain storm finally forced me indoors long enough to shower, take youngest child to get a few things for Bible camp, then back home to face a truckload of mulch, delivered by my thoughtful husband.  (Hence the brown.)  I got the mulch down just as the sun was sinking and there was only enough daylight left to tie up the tomato plants, which turned my hands a beautiful shade of....green.

Tomorrow promises to be a continuation of the same:  after the youth group heads off for camp, it's time to put down more mulch, then more watering and weeding.  Maybe Monday will be an actual holiday, when we can kick back and relax.  (I did pick up the fixins to make homemade ice cream, so there is always that!)  I hope everyone has a safe and happy Independence Day weekend!

Two telecommuters

So this is what it's like to have your better half home all day with you. Hmmmm. Tony's offices were flooded from the river next to the plant in Ashland City. It will be a while before they get them rehabilitated, or find alternate office space to rent. For the time being, he's telecommuting too. He has set up a command post in the den (all the better to see the stock market on the big screen TV, my dear.) I think we'll save a bundle on gas for his car while they figure things out. And it really is nice to have him home when there's still daylight left outside.

But it's funny how you don't realize that you have little routines (and you LIKE them) until something comes along that disrupts those little routines. To cause further disruption, schools here in Rutherford County (including MTSU) were closed earlier this week. So instead of Monday morning being a typical starting point to my week, it felt like...Saturday. Running, pshaw - who wants to do that when you can rise late, stretch out and enjoy a very leisurely cup of coffee to start the day?

When evening rolled around, they wanted me to start something for dinner. Really? What a sweet idea...but isn't it the weekend? No? Seriously? It felt like it.

This morning wasn't much better, but I did manage to remember to start dinner and get it on the table at a reasonable time.

Tomorrow MUST go better. A new routine must be established. One that has two people drinking from a single pot of coffee and not quibbling over who gets the last cup...