Pot-a-Thon

 

April 29,2016

Potting at Master Gardener gardens is going on in earnest.  I did three so far: Bonnie Pophalm's, Carolyn Hofman's and Patty Witt's.  It's amazing how these plants thrive that we are able to get so many out of each garden.  To date: 9586 plants, with more to go.  The days have been very cold, especially yesterday, the 28th; the wind was raw besides and very strong.  About 35 - 40 MGVs show up at each place and arrange ourselves in various work stations.  It was nice to see Marie Bellin at Carolyn'; we hugged, but didn't see each other again.  I did a lot of sawing and cutting, plus lifting, which didn't help my back or arms.  It's nice when a strong man comes to our aid.  At Patty's we stopped at noon for sloppy Joes and side dishes.  It felt good to warm up after braving that cold.  I continue to marvel at the beautiful landscaping at these gardens.  Patty's especially had very much yard art amid gorgeous surroundings.  Her dining room looks out onto this landscape, which must be beautiful all year round.

When I got home I went to bed for a rest.  It didn't help that I worked a BigJig puzzle until 1:30 a.m., so I was beat.  I slept so soundly that I overslept,(I don't know if I turned off the alarm and went back to sleep) and was late for the knitting group.  I turned in four hats and picked up some more yarn.  The group was smaller than last time.

 April 23, 2016

Jim Cole and his helper Jonathan arrived at about 8:30 a.m. to begin stripping the wallpaper from the first floor half bath and the master bath.  Under the wallpaper in the half bath someone had painted "A silly goosey lives here".  I'm sorry that I didn't take a picture.

While they were working I walked across the street to Margaret McGinn's for the MARTA finance committee meeting.  We were done shortly after noon.

Tim and Jonathan left at about 4:30.

I went to the Q & A SIG, but it was a waste of time.

Friday, April 22, 2016

Jim and Jonathan arrived at 8:30 a.m. and continued working on the bathrooms.  Before going for my hair appointment I looked for some prints to be framed.  I must have gone up and down the stairs five times, but couldn't find them. I left for my hair at 9:30.  After my hair I shopped for towels and a shower curtain at Kohl's; a lot of good bargains.  I bought three each of bath, hand and wash clothes, and a bath rug, also some summer fingertip towels.  I picked up my free bagel at Panera's.  No one was sitting outdoors and eating today, on a windy 43º day.  

I found my prints when I got home.  They had been on the landing for years, but when I had the rugs shampooed I moved them with some books.  I went to the framing place that I used before; there was a spa in its place.  I went home to check on other framing places.  There was one in Greendale, but when I got there, the listed framing place was no longer there, but another art/photo studio was in the area.  I'm having my daylily, the artist print and a Vietnamese stitchery framed.  It should cost just over $200. Tim finished the job about 3:45 p.m.  I expected the bill to be $600, the amount he quoted in his email.  But removing the wallpaper was extra; so the total came to $825?.

When they left I put up the shower curtain and washed and rearranged the drawers in the master bath.

I wish that I had time to take a nap before going for a fish fry.  I met Peter at 6:30 p.m. at Innovation.  Instead of fish we each had an Angus burger.  We had just water to drink.  We drove around until we found a parking space near Cafe Bavaria.  We each had a lager beer, very refreshing.

 April 15, 2016

I can't believe how this project blossomed.  It all began when Ron Sonntag proposed a Vagabond Roundtable about Master Gardeners.  He really wanted Ed Kraus to lead it since he was a school friend.  I left a phone message and e-mail with Ed and got no response.  When I approached him at an MG meeting he wasn't interested.  Ron had similar results; he said Ed was getting married.  That turned out not to be true; however, Ed is moving to Ohio.  I can't imagine selling that property and that fabulous garden.  Judy Williamson agreed to work with me on the project.  Ron seems to be giving Judy more attention in it, even though I'm doing all the work.  

I started putting together a PowerPoint with a picture of my daylily in the background.  I worked pretty long on it, then showed it to Sharon Morrisey after one of our classes.  She thought it was very good.  Janet Wintersberger had some corrections and Judy didn't like the daylily background.  I had to agree, because it really clashed with the text.  I used very little text, depending mostly on talking points and pictures.  When I used a dull green background I liked the results better.

I no more than finished the project, when Bonita Clark approached me at an AAUW meeting asking if I had something about Master Gardeners.  I said I would be happy to share what I had.  I'm waiting for a call from Patricia of Alexian Village to arrange a day and time to give a presentation.

Then I got an e-mail and phone message from Sharon Morrisey that Bill Shaffer needed a program about Master Gardeners.  I said I would be glad to share it.  He called me while I was under the hair dryer and he said that he couldn't open the file in DropBox.  He said he would come to my house in the afternoon to pick it up on a thumb drive I'd put it on.  I picked up a free bagel at Panera's, before going home and got the PowerPoint on a thumb drive.  In the meantime, Sharon called and said Bill was in her office and could put the program on a thumb drive.  I also sent the notes to go with the slides.  I think they were very pleased.

I can't believe we do not have a program about the Master Gardener program.  We have talks about so many other subjects.  I hope my work will be put to good use.

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

The day of our presentation finally arrived.  I picked up hand-outs during the week (reference cards, plant sale, How to Become a Master Gardener and a lawn care schedule). I picked up the Vagabond calendar from Pressworks (Tom couldn't find it right away) and got to WG's in plenty of time.  Judy and Janet Wintersburger put some hand-outs on tables while Ron hooked up my computer to the projector.  Nothing happened at first, and I was beginning to panic, until he tried another cable (USB) and it worked just fine.  After a nice introduction, I started at about 5:40 p.m.  My voice got weak into the presentation after talking so long.  I'll remember to take water with me to Alexsian Village.  I thought my half went pretty good.  Judy was not prepared.  She went through the pictures and said a few things, but she could have been more thorough, especially going through the information on the Resource Card.  I got a lot of nice comments when we were through.  Janet was stone-faced.  Judy said she wanted more information, but that was before I started talking.  Janet didn't know what I had in my notes.  I have more confidence now, and I think Alexian Village will go better.

Advocacy Day in Madison 2016

 April 13,2016

Peter and I met at the Gurkey Corners P & R for the UW-M bus to Madison to take part in Advocacy Day and Posters in the Rotunda.  The bus was less than half full.  We got to the Capitol at about 10:45 a.m. and were met by UW-M Vice Chancellor Tom Luljak.    All UW schools were represented showing the research projects they were involved in.  We approached a number of displays and the students talked about their projects.  What impressive endeavors.  Some of the language was over my head.  We gathered in one of the rooms for a box lunch and soon were joined by legislators talking and answering questions about various funding and problems with funding the University.  Tom led us on an informal tour of the Capitol before boarding the bus to go home.

We got back to Gurke's Corners about 5:30 p.m. just in time for Happy Hour at Blue Sombrero very close to the P & R.  We each had a margarita and free tacos.  It seemed enough to satisfy.

 April 10, 2016

My birdbath was frozen; no wonder at 24º.  A nice group at breakfast, then pickleball.  Ron approached me and said that he needed the article about the Master Gardener Roundtable for the Vag Life.  I just sent it to Judy Williamson before leaving for breakfast.  She sent a reply as I was talking to Ron. Sad news when we arrived at Pulaski, Ti told us that Leigh (sp) died, no idea how, but it was a shock.  I played with him often.  He wasn't especially thrilled to play with such a poor player, but I felt good when he missed some shots.  When I got home I revised the article for Ron and I'm quite satisfied with it.

I'm reading the life of Pope Francis on my Kindle.  Went to 4:00 p.m. mass.  Grilled a chicken breast with fried potatoes and frozen corn for supper.  Cleaned up the kitchen.  I think Peter will want to stay over.

Peter was doing his dishes when I got to his place and then Schwabenhof for some German Club party.  His table was cleared of all the clutter, living room looked pretty neat, and he boasted that he got rid of the head board that he bought about four years ago.  No, he didn't get rid of it, it's in the bedroom.  I said that won't work until it's attached to the bed.  I gave him until the end of May to get the job done, but that also means he will have to clean out the back bedroom.

Peter drove my car to the Schwabenhof, where there was a lot of German dancing.  I filled my stein while we watched the dancing and then danced to Johnny Hoffman.  We didn't pay admission; proceeds from raffle sales paid for the expenses.  Peter bought some tickets and he gave half to me, not realizing the my half was the part he was supposed to keep.  We had a good laugh about that.  I bought 6 for $5.00, but didn't win.  We sat with Marilyn and her gentleman friend.  They don't belong to a club, but do a lot of dancing, and we've seen them at dances.

Peter followed me home.

The weather advisory of freezing rain and sleet never materialized, but there was a steady rain.

I made scrambled eggs with fresh chives for breakfast with yogurt and strawberries and raspberries, toast and almost the last of the stolen.  We read the paper, watched TV and listened to music.  Peter noticed "Witness for the Prosecution" was being acted in Hartland.   I was surprised that he wanted to go to the theater.  He is good at finding things to do reading the paper.  I bought tickets online, and we plan on doing that next Friday after having dinner at Hoffman's Hartford Restaurant. With this wet ground Peter was not about to go on a Vag hike.  I checked movie listings and suggested seeing "Eye in the Sky" at the Ridge.  We went to the 2:20 p.m. show.  Helen Marin was an army colonel with a mission to capture, then eliminate a wanted terrorist.  The order to eliminate came when surveillance showed that a group was arming two suicide bombers.  A beautiful little girl selling bread near the target caused a halt and reconsideration of the plan.  It was very tense until the last moment.  There was enough to discuss afterward on the moral decision to bomb the target and how much collateral damage was acceptable.  Do suicide bombers consider what collateral damage they do when they blow up market places and other gathering places?  Zaffiro's is very convenient for something to eat, so we shared a sausage pizza.

We parted at the parking lot.

Monday,

I read most of the day.  I feel terrible that I don't move around more.  Jay loaned me Shopping, Seduction & Mr. Slefirdge.  It can't put it down; I'm going to enjoy the final episode of Mr. Selfridge on Masterpiece Theater.

Tuesday,

Did more reading.  We met Rudy and Toni for lunch.  Rudy is close to tears about Toni's condition, both physical and mental.  I did a few odds and ends at home before heading out to the Legion to play dominoes.  Nancy is really a thorn at our table.  She is so rigid with her "rules", even implying that Peter and I show favoritism when we play.  He played a 3 to reverse the play and I won.  She had a fit.

Start of my Journal

 April 4, 2016

Good intentions are just that if I don't follow through.  My first good intention started with the scale, which registered 149 pounds. .  I wish there were no mirrors so that I didn't have to look at my belly.  Fish fry on Friday, breakfast at Genesis, followed by lunch at AAUW didn't help. 

It was good to see Donna and Lou, back from Florida.  Lou bought a condo in Riverfront and the prospects are good that he might let us rent it. We had a lot of catching up to do about Toni and the Red Hats. 

I got to the Rep on Sunday expecting Janice for Rep in Depth. I had a queer feeling that I should have sent an email reminding her.  But since we discussed it at Easter and she has such an efficient calendar, I was sure she'd remember. I called her at 1:15 and she thought it was an evening performance.  There was enough time to get to the Rep in time, and she just made it.  I had to change my date because of the Austrian Club party, so we didn't have front row seats.  American Song was a one-man performance about a relatively normal family with one son who does a mass shooting.  Act II involved the audience in the lobby in groups of about 6, with a facilitator, discussing the play and its social impact.  We thought it was worthwhile. It was 34 degrees at 8:00 a.m., a little warmer but very windy when I was walking to the Rep, and 70 degrees when we were leaving. 

This morning the temperature was 34 degrees with not much promise of warming up.  Updated the Vagabond calendar and sent it on its way.  Cleaned out the freezer and found food that needed tossing and enough to keep me fed for a few days.  Today is the Brewers' opening day and I'm watching the game with light snow flurries out the window.

I keep thinking of Peter's bathroom flooring that he had done on Friday.  After my hair I dropped in to check on the progress.  The bathroom was done, the man was working on the hall, and Peter intended to extend the flooring as a pathway to the front door.  Why? I asked.  I guess he wanted to make use up the tiles, but bathroom tiles in the living room would look awful.  I came just in the nick of time.  There is no room  to walk in that house.

April 7, 2016
Yesterday I donated blood at 11:45 a.m.  My pulse was high at first. The tech said I probably exerted myself, which I probably did taking liquor down to the basement a couple of times.  The second time my pulse was OK.  I rested most of the afternoon until it was time to pick up the Vag calendars and get to the meeting.  The program by Monte Perkins on the Festival City Symphony was very enjoyable and informative.  Sue Cummings shouldn't even be at the meeting.  You'd think with the election coming up in May she'd have something to say besides "no report".  The Tom Anthony band provided some nice danceable music, but I took it easy not to tire myself after giving blood in the morning.  We left before 10:00 p.m.; Peter to the Schwabenhof, I went home.  Restless night.  I don't know why it takes me so long to fall asleep.

Today was a very full day.  Tim Cole (son of Vag Pam Cole) looked at my bathroom paint jobs at 10:00 a.m.  He will get back to me with a quote and can start the job in about two weeks.  He comes highly recommended by Vags.  Shopped for a kringle to take to the MG class plus other groceries.  Last class on herbaceous ornamentals.  Got home with just enough time to check email and do a few odds and ends.  I wasn't hungry enough to eat before leaving for the talk on edible gardens at the New Berlin Public Library at 6:30 p.m.  Ben Futa was passionate about convincing us how beneficial planting vegetables was instead of ornamentals.  Mary Orley approached me and asked if I was the one that posted pictures from Florida on Facebook.  She saw the same burrowing owl, even though they are quite common in Florida.  After exchanging locations, I found out that she owns a condo walking distance from the condo we stayed at. The talk lasted until 7:30 p.m. which still gave me time to get the the WAUC meeting. I'm glad I went.  We had a speaker that came because he saw a notice that Terry posted on Craig's List.  He talked about Google and held everyone's attention.  He's planning on coming again in September.  Afterward, we met at Wendy's.  Bob and I rolled our eyes a few times with Ginny's tirade "you know what I mean", countless times.  I try to block it out, but it's impossible.

Friday, April 9, 2016

I woke up this morning to white grass.  The snow keeps falling ever so lightly, but it's still snow.

I had my hair done and should have been there earlier because I needed a waxing.  Got a free  bagel from Panera's on my way home.  Didn't do much when I got home.
Got to Peter's at 5:30 intending to go to the Austrian Club meeting.   Peter asked if I saw the Austrian Club newsletter.  I had.  He was quite upset that our picture was not included in the collage of members attending Grunungfeier.  He felt if we weren't important enough to be included in that picture, we wouldn't be missed.  So we joined the Vagabonds at the Machine Shed instead.  Fred and Carol were already there, Soon a lot more filed in.  A total of forty were seated at round tables for a family style dinner.  Food was OK.  Peter had to brush snow off his car and mine when we got to his house.