Not my favorite day

So far...although some things about it are good. My cold is better...still some occasional coughing, but it is always good to be sick, because it is so wonderful to be well and we don't usually appreciate it. Note to self: must start gratitude journal...

Tuesday is the day Ray has to be in early. He often goes early other days for meetings or preparation, but on Tuesday he has a 9:30 seminar. He's a little more distracted and stressed on those days...and leaves early. I go with him some days when I have things to do "in town." Today, though, I am home...and happy to be here. Time to think about what I'm making for dinner. I have made good progress in "getting rid of" my veggies that were piling up. Plan for tonight: chicken and chorizo...potatoes...green beans...a menu that would particularly appeal to my Mexican son-in-law, I'm guessing. Too bad I can't invite them over for dinner.

After Ray left, I thought my Dad would be arriving before long. On days that he has no appointments, he has been trying to come here early, while it is cool, to work in the garden. I planned to work outside, too, while it was cool. I did some computer work before he came, to take advantage of the quiet. Very boring stuff, clearing up old papers, entering recipes...I have been using Spark People to keep track of my recipes for several years, but their popup ads have become very annoying, particularly when I am using my iPad. I am trying a new program, Big Oven, and we'll see how it is. Entering is easy, but will it be easy to access my recipes when I want them?

About 10, I called my Dad and he called me back a minute or so later. He is often perplexed as to how he missed my call... He is meeting with a friend this morning, David, to talk about bridge. I am glad he is busy. He was apologetic and I felt bad, making assumptions about his life...Yesterday he had mentoring and tomorrow he is participating in a study about music at UGA...so I thought he would be here today.

So I went out before it got much hotter. Sunny, but only in the 70s so far. I let the chickens out to forage and wandered around in the garden, watering some lettuce seed that has not come up, maybe because it has been dry the last few weeks. I picked a couple jalapenos and 3 beans, left from the last batch. I felt something on my foot, an ant biting me, and I looked down to find them swarming all over my shoe! I screamed, a really good one, and kicked off my shoe and ran. So much for gardening today! I am lucky, I think I only have the one bite. I'm not sure about my shoe, though. Perhaps it is now part of their nest...I am happy to relinquish it. The ant poison will go out later today, when I have recovered and it is cool again this evening. Time to close the windows and the shades and retreat into the house. Maybe I will not mind too much when I leave the country life. We are thinking when Ray retires, we will sell the house and move somewhere that doesn't require owning a car.