So much to do, but where do we start?

I've already let you in on our plans for a new flower garden in the back yard. I got most of the outline dug out yesterday, and though the actual digging was easier than I imagined it would be, the bed itself has taken on a much larger footprint than I originally planned on paper. We are going to have to hire someone to do the heavy work, or it will be years before we get this done. I'm not kidding. At least two years. Any of our neighbors can back me up on this. Once I get the outline completed, we'll call in our landscaping guy. It's nice to have a landscaping guy. He'll probably want his trailer back, though, so there's another chore to finish. Half a trailer load of topsoil has to be relocated, and soon.

Our raised bed kits absolutely must be in place by May 7 so we can get the tomato plants purchased and planted before all the good ones are gone. I probably shouldn't have picked this week to work night shift. It's going to rain all week, though, so nothing would get done outside anyway.

We also have to finalize our plans for an extension of our existing deck across the back of the garage. We know what we want to do, but there's an awkwardly placed retaining wall that has to be worked into the design. At least we have a reputable contractor, so that's one less worry. Oh, and we need to replace our garage door as well.

So. Raised beds need to take priority. Then the new flower bed. Then the deck. Well, the flower bed and the deck can be done simultaneously, since we'll use different contractors. But before the deck goes on, we may need to address the new rain garden location, so we can bury the drain pipe from the garage downspout first. Geez, it shouldn't be this hard. But it's going to be great when it's all finished. And whatever we decide, it's not going to be a catastrophe if we're wrong. I have enough of that kind of pressure at work, thank you very much.

This little piggy went *crack*

About six weeks ago, I was climbing over some stuff on the library floor, potential ebay merchandise actually, trying to not knock over a camera tripod while stretching to reach a lamp that was left burning. I was wearing my very comfy and squooshy terrycloth flip-flops, and put my right foot down in such an awkward position that I when I shifted my weight, I somehow managed to break my third toe. It was quite sore and swollen and VERY purple for a few weeks, but lately has felt pretty much like new.

Soooo....... Yesterday I spent most of the day putting stuff away in my newly remodelled kitchen, as well as moving some of the living room furniture into the new sitting/media area adjoining the aforementioned new kitchen. We then were able to set up the dining room furniture in what was the living room; it's still carpeted in there, so I had my trusty canister vac with me to suck up whatever little mummified bits had been hiding under sofas, chairs and tables for however long. I was wearing my sensible house slippers, with the fleece lining, but my feet got really hot in them, so I figured, "Huh, what are the chances lightning will strike twice?" and changed into my flip-flop slippers.

Yup. I did.

Wasn't five minutes later, I reached out a little too quickly with my right foot to hit the OFF switch on the vacuum, and instead whacked my fourth toe on the hose connector sticking up from the top of the vac. It is, I am certain, quite broken. It hurts worse than before, and although it has yet to swell, it is a most vivid shade of purple and is giving me great discomfort when I have to wear actual shoes. I have it taped to the neighbor toe (the one that just healed) and have myself on scheduled doses of naproxen twice a day, with Ultracet at bedtime.

I hope my two big toms don't feel the need to bodyslam my feet in the middle of the night for a while.

A little teaser

Just a little glimpse. It's almost finished! I want those counters to stay clear forever. Aren't they pretty?

I can haz desk, plz?

This is supposed to be my new workspace. The local chapter of the Feline Audubon Society thinks otherwise. They utilize a somewhat different system of avian taxonomy, based on size, situational awareness, speed of flight and flavor. It's more like "taxo-nom-omy."

I should note, the kitties are all confined to the indoors, so the only thing they kill now is time. And the occasional bug. Nom, nom, nom.

K thnx, bai.

The fog comes on little cat feet

But sometimes it's just dust.

I feel so...... valued

Dear Ms. W______:

Thank you for contacting Whirlpool Consumer Direct Sales.

I apologize for the frustration you have experienced with your broiler pan. I
will certainly pass this information on to our management team.

Whirlpool is constantly striving to improve our customer service and your
feedback is valued.

You may also contact us by phone at 1-800-442-9991. Our hours of operation are
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

You are a valued Whirlpool customer and we appreciate your support of the
Whirlpool brand.

Linda H.
Whirlpool Consumer Direct Sales

Shenanigans!

As some of you know, we are remodelling our kitchen. Not so much remodelling as reconstructing that entire end of the house, including garage, new pantry addition carved out of said garage, kitchen, dining room and laundry room. We are keeping the gorgeous old Bosch dishwasher, but everything else was replaced with new KitchenAid Architect II series appliances. Only the double wall oven is actually installed at the moment.

You know what? These days a 3K oven does not come with a broiler pan. That's right. I'll repeat it: A three thousand dollar oven does NOT come with a broiler pan. It does come with a redemption coupon so you can call a toll-free number and have a "complimentary" broil pan, broiler grid and roasting rack combo shipped to you, but here's the catch. They charge $15 shipping. Out of curiosity, I visited the KitchenAid website and learned that the very same product could be purchased online and shipped to my home for $8.95.

It's identical to the broiler pan and grid I had from my old Whirlpool range. It was in excellent condition, and I would have kept it had I known I would not be receiving one along with my high-end wall oven. I mean, really, who would have thought to ask if the broiler pan was included? They always have been in the past.

I did email KitchenAid and told them I am calling shenanigans on them. Perhaps my next email should be to my state's Attorney General's office.

Another one-day weekend

I worked an extra shift last Sunday, making last weekend the first in a string of one-day wonders which is looming ahead for most of the summer. Our first pharmacy resident has finished her year with us and moved on, and her replacement will not be trained and licensed until well into August or possibly September. Lots of "opportunities" for overtime. Time and a half at pharmacist's wages is hard to pass up, and my bank account needs some heavy-duty replenishment. New kitchens don't come cheap.

But, I've just squandered a perfectly good day off, and now I have to work straight through until Tuesday evening. I can't really do much around the house, due to the general state of disruption brought on by the previously referenced kitchen remodelling, which also includes the garage and former dining room. I did manage to do some cleaning, and some laundry, but the weather was sort of passive-aggressively menacing most of the day, so the gardens were neglected. We've had such cool (for June) temps lately, I'm loathe to go out and work in the more seasonal heat and humidity which have beset us over the last week. My landscaper has apparently fallen off the edge of the Earth, leaving us with a roughed-in planting bed project at the end of the driveway. He didn't make much progress. I bought the plants for it weeks ago, and they are not looking so spry. Oh, and yes, he's the fellow who is supposed to be fixing the fence that was compromised by the heavy rains two weeks ago. I'm concerned that he's been hurt or has been locked in a dungeon by his neighbor. She's stolen him away from me in mid-project before.

I just have no ambition today. I did make some cosmetic changes to this humble little blog, so hopefully the blogroll is easier to read now. I've been jonesing for the loveliness of the Pacific Northwest and let that beautiful part of the planet be my guide for the newish pallette.