Camelias in bloom

 

The camelia bushes are loaded down with blossoms. They are so beautiful. They probably could use some pruning. I'll need to consult an expert--I don't want to damage or kill them. The big one was here when we moved in 20 years ago. The little one was a gift from my coworkers when Mom died. Camelias are slow growing, but they seem to be very hardy. I mean, I haven't killed them yet. 

I have a big gardenia bush in front of the house that was also here when we moved in. It is in a bad location, but it blooms every year with the most incredibly wonderful smelling flowers. I love them. They were Dad's favorite flowers. I'm afraid if I try to transplant it, I will kill it. 

My gardening skills are marginal AT BEST. I enjoy the flowers so much, but during the summer when it's hot and humid and the weeds are waist high...I just lose interest. 

I'm determined to do better this year.

Pho Happiness

 

A rather cool late winter afternoon. Lunch at a new Vietnamese place in Chapel Hill, right next door to Local 506. It used to be an Indian restaurant. Good food and reasonably priced. My most favorite thing they made was crispy ramen noodles with fried tofu and veggies. They took it off the menu. 😞😞😞 But they have other good stuff, so not to worry.

Jon and Lila brought the boys and met us there to get take out. Then we went home and ate. Spent a nice day hanging out in the yard, cooking hot dogs on my home made rocket stove, building my shed and annoying the dogs. 

David is now 4 and James will be 7 this summer. Wow. Blows my mind. My grandchildren are growing up.

Finally got the shed together

 

It took months, but finally got the garden shed put together. When Jon and Lila came by with the boys, they helped me assemble it. It's really a tarp covered tent, but it will work just fine to keep my garden tools and wheelbarrow dry. I have accumulated quite a selection of tools the past year. I'm planning to do a lot more yard/garden work this year. Probably mostly flowers. I want to keep the bees and butterflies happy.

Vaccinated!

 

Got vaccinated last week. We went to a little independent pharmacy in Cary, next door to Mike's friend's new tapas restaurant. Thanks, Allan, for hooking us up. 

It was no problem--except we did feel kind of crappy the next day, which is good actually--a good immune response.

We got the Johnson&Johnson vaccine, so only one shot needed. I still plan to keep the mask on, but I do feel safer. Hopefully in a short while we'll be able to go to D.C. to see the boys. I miss them. 

David just turned 4. The James' will both be 7 this summer. I am just reeling. Time is zooming by. 

Feeling the Bern!

I did a watercolor of this now iconic photo from the happiest day of my life...AKA inauguration day 2021 when the ass clown's reign was officially and finally over. I won't lie--I truly and deeply hated that creature. 

We're almost a year into the pandemic. Things are just now starting to turn around. 1/2 million dead. Unbelievable. Mike thinks he has a line on the vaccine, so we're hoping we can get our shots soon. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to be able to go see the grandboys in DC. It's been since June that we saw them last. I see the other boys in Mebane about once a month, but even that trip is sort of nerve wracking. I just don't like going anywhere when so many people are still so casual about this virus. 

I am a couple months into the new job and it's going well. Also teaching this semester at DTCC and painting blocks for Art-O-Mat. I'm keeping busy. Makes the time go by faster--getting closer to retirement.

Weather has been crazy as usual. We had major equipment failure and had to replace the HVAC unit. ugh. Another unplanned expense. Of course the week we had no heat was the coldest it has been all season. But, we're back in business. It's all good.