Whoof!

[arliss]

Okay, the deck finally dried out enough I could sweep the ick off it. Leaves from last fall, blossoms from the spring, from the massive willow oaks in the yard. They slip into the tiniest crevice, mat, and start to decompose. I shifted empty pots around, commiting infANTicide when I disturbed an ant nursery. Found, cleaned, assembled, filled and plugged in the fountain, waterproofed the connection. Repotted the mandevilla. Now that it has room and fresh soil maybe it will take off and cover the whole white iron railing across the front--help hide some of the rust. Trimmed all the deadwood off the rosemary. I'll find or make a topiary form for it--it's all whopsided and silly looking right now. The other two pots of rosemary, the English and Spanish lavenders, the golden sage, oregano, silver-edged and English thymes, and the Russian sages have all come back, and I think the pineapple basil is having another run. I potted up the red hibiscus, it was rootbound and very unhappy. It's in the iron stand on the landing now. H took the snowshovel and broom (!), the tiki torches we've never used and probably won't, and the poles for the solar lanterns down to the garage. The swing and umbrella are up, the chairs and table have all been swept and wiped down, the fountain is burbling away, the empty pots have been stacked and tucked out of the way, the shelves have been swept clean and the deck floor is clean. If we have another dry day I'll clean off the potting bench and get it organised, and maybe set up the tabletop fountain. This should have been done a month ago, but it's been too cold and rainy.

I made lunch for Mom and made her eat it. Now for a shower and a quick run to the PO for stamps and the store for Pepsis for her, and maybe a quick trip to the fabric store for me.