Staying busy

I've been filling the time I'd normally be focused on the news with plenty of other things.  Silly stuff, but it feels especially important to be organized right now.  And, it's autumn, so there are plenty of gardening tasks that need to be done.  Rob put his greenhouse up on Saturday, so he's ready.  I didn't get quite that far.  I had some pruning and weeding to do and after that, I cleared off the vegetable patch, which is also where my portable greenhouse will go.  I could spend a whole weekend in the permanent greenhouse, just cleaning up all the little messes I made and left during the heat of summer, when my energy was zapped and I just couldn't put those pots back where they belonged or sweep up the little bit of dirt I spilled.  And, the spiders had a hey-day in there this year, so I need to sweep out the cobwebs.  A lot happens out there in a year.  

I'm keeping up with the news, enough.  Just a little here or there.  Nothing that sounds too sensational.  Anything that's about real people and not politics.  I'm taking comfort from preparing.  I cleaned my pantry this weekend so I could make a little room to store a little more food.  I bought a couple of things that I was going to need soon and were on sale and that I thought might get more expensive later, including a new pair of walking shoes.  It's not that I believe anything bad is going to happen.  I can be as optimistic as Rob and believe that we won't be affected too badly.  But, the election has made everything so unpredictable.  I'm less worried about what little t will do than I am about him losing control of the chaos...starting a downward spiral that he can't stop and that we all get caught up in.  

In the meantime, there's still work to prep for next year's garden.  This year, that meant some digging up and dividing.  This area used to be three clumps of yellow daylillies and a large clump of amaryllis.  There's still a clump of daylillies and some of the amaryllis, but now there's also a small clump of spider lily, a white Nile lily and a purple one, and a small clump of yellow Louisiana iris.  There are two other small beds that got some transplants this weekend as well.  I made room in the sun for a couple of daylilies that were still in shady spots and in digging them up, I dug up some shade loving volunteers that I moved into a little shade garden that I've been struggling with all year.  It's a weird spot that's shady until very late in the day when it gets about an hour of very intense, hot, end-of-day sun.  

It's shrimp plant season.  I love my shrimp.  I'm about to move one that's not doing as well.  I moved this one a couple years ago and it's thriving now.  I love this one because it's a shrimp plant that's the color of cooked shrimp.  I couldn't resist.  These come tagged as full sun plants, and that's where I put them, but around here, they like a little afternoon shade.  

I've also been playing in the aquarium.  About every 3 years, my aquarium needs a "reboot".  The fish start to age out and I end up with a couple of fish and a boring tank that's more burden than pleasure.  And, then I pick a theme (active tank or slow, relaxing tank) and add some fish and a couple of live plants and off we go for another 3 years of me enjoying being a fish keeper.  Rob tells me that there are people that are fish keepers and people that are fish buyers.  The people in the fish store know the fish buyers because they're there all the time, spending money.  They get extra attention and their questions are taken seriously. The staff don't know the fish keepers because we're only there every few years.  We're treated like uneducated hobbyists and twice I've had my questions or decisions laughed at...not in a kind way.  

There are only a few fish in there right now and most of them are bottom feeders to help clean up the tank.  I'm adding fish slowly so I don't overtax the cycle that converts ammonia to the nitrite that feeds the plants that create extra oxygen in the water.  

We were in Petsmart yesterday buying plants and I saw a school of the next fish I plan to buy.  They're bright red (cherry barbs) and fast swimmers and should really add some movement to the tank.  Then maybe a shark.  I've never raised a shark before.  

Do you ever walk past someone's car and think 'I think we'd be friends'?

Everybody have a great week.  Find something that makes you happy and gives you peace, whether you're worried about the future or not.  Don't buy in to the news media's desire to shock you and keep you clicking.  Try to find something that's important to you and focus on that.  Thanksgiving is right around the corner.  I've been practicing making cornbread for dressing.  And, playing the ukulele.  And, the garden and the aquarium and cooking.  And, work.  Whatever it takes to slow your heart rate and help you relax your face muscles and maybe sit down for a few minutes, without wringing your hands.  

Lane