Got a bit more done adding folks to my reading list at DW, now that I can find things, I do hope I remember how I did it though.

Yesterday it didnt rain, it wasnt sunny either, but I worked outside until I started to get clumsy.  I got another 10 bags of dirt and poo into the raised beds in the garden.  I cleaned out 5 of the raised beds and are close on three others, and while I was putting in the new dirt, I planted them up.  I got some peas, beets, pak choi, tomatoes and a couple other things into the dirt.  I also was pulling up the strawberry runners and trimming them and getting them into multipacks that I had saved.  I got two friends who want the extras, so they wont be wasted.   Remembered to water the stuff in the mini greenhouse too.  The yard bin is full.

Watched the birds and critters when I was taking breaks, saw the chipmunks again, and I am getting more and more goldfinches, the bright yellow ones.  The quail were very adorable, they walked across the street to the neighbors yard where he had been turning over his cover crop and were picking through that.

Today, going to the Lani Taylor signing at the Beaverton Powells.  The sister creature has finally finished moving all of her stuff out of storage and into the garage spaces she has at her apt complex.  I will get my Van back today.

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I guess I will have to put more effort into my Dreamwidth account now, I have finally figured out how to add folks, so now its just about getting the new reading list set up.

It would have been nice to afford to buy the LJ and return it to the US.

Been busy of sorts, the rains have been in the way of getting any yard or garden work done.  

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The lawn got mowed, and the faux cherry tree in the back which was neither dwarf nor producing fruit got cut down.  I still need to girdle the trunk so it actually dies.   I have to still clean up the tree debris, but thats always something to be done whenever.

I did finish up my taxes last night, and I printed them out on three ring hole paper since I couldnt find my ream of regular paper.  I need to get them in the mail today.  Then I will give the tax disc to my sister so she can do her taxes, and if she feels like it (and gets her refund quicker) she can use the efile that comes with the program.

Today I have Dental.  sigh.  Looks like tomorrow is the last dry day again for a bit, but, the sun comes out more frequently now, I will just chip away at the yard and the garden when I can.   I need to pull up the strawberry runners and get them into small pots and then figure out what to do with them.  These were off the Hula berries I got last year, so they were a pretty new strawberry variety, and I want to play with them some more.  I seem to have quite a few of them, and they are in the gravel area and walkway down the side of the house ... and where i keep my bins.

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I had overestimated how much I had done on friday, so when I went out and started to work yesterday, my back protested a lot.  It did not work itself out nor stop complaining.  So my great ambition was scaled back to "stuff I dont have to lift that weights more than what hurts to lift".  Since it was still misting out, I ran my saturday errands, filled the Focus up at the gas station, got my paper and fixings for dinner, and swung by the winter farmers market, which was still pitiful for my needs.  Only one plant person was there, and I had all of those already.

the misting finally stopped, and I got more cleanup done.  Slowly and gently.  I did assemble the new garden arch (after the frantic search for the paper bag with the critical nuts and bolts in it) and got it into place.  It was very lightweight, but awkward.  I put the window screen back in that the passiflora had pulled out with its over abundant growth too, once I scraped the moss out of the tracks.

Its supposed to start raining again this afternoon, so my plan is to get the lawn mowed and anything else will be nice.

While sitting and watching the birds and critters, I saw a pair of Crenellated Woodpeckers, a Red Winged Blackbird and a very large hawk of some sort.  I also saw a pair of very frentic chipmunks diving into the pile of black sunflower seeds, they would zip out of the verge, grab what they could and bound back to safety.  At first I thought it was a very small squirrel, until I saw it next to one of the squirrels out there feasting. Nice to know I still have some of them here.  I need to get my bird guide out to see who else is here (by name, other than knowing which ones are migratory) enjoying the all you can eat seed diner I run.  The little tiny finches are swarming the suet cakes, so I think I need to put more of them out.

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Yesterday was a full day for me outside in the yard.  I set a goal for cleaning and planting up the white picket fence bed, which I did accomplish.  Granted I didnt do one section because it had so much new growth of perinniels that I couldnt add much to it, other than dirt, and that would have buried most of it if I had.  I will go back and deal with it later.  I got the rest done, and yes, it needs more dirt here and there, and it was only roots and bulbs so I have to go back and do infill with the plants that will go there.   I used up 12 bags of dirt n poo total, I forget how many packets of bulbs and roots I opened, and I found my bag of real saffron bulbs, which had already sprouted, so I had to find a larger pot to put them all in.  Hauled a lot of grass and weeds behind the fence.

Today, more planting of bulbs and roots, they will go into pots and tubs and a few select spots in the back yard, and I hope to mow the lawns.  There is cleanup and redirting to be done in the garden area too, so I have some things to attack on a very serious effort front.  I do have a few veggie starts to get into dirt already.  I am hoping that the new spinach variety wont bolt immediately like the others have done in the past.

I made the birds and critters happy, I dumped about 15 pounds of black sunflower seeds out for them in one big pile.

One of my neighbors gave me three bags of glad bulbs, and I in turn gifted him with the bad cedar post that I hadnt gotten rid of yet, he is going to use it for his Mason bee nests.

Finally heard from my Godson on his graduation date, so it looks like going to NYC at the end of May.  Starting to work out the details with his Dad on when we will be there.

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I went to Portland Nursery and picked up a Stainless Steel Rose for Ru, and on the way back home, picked up more bags of dirt and poo.  The sister creature has the van for now, she has to clear the last of her storage units before the 8th.   So, I have four large stacks of bags in the driveway now, and with the sunlight here, I am going to use up both of them today and hopefully the weekend.

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All the running around got done, books got signed, dinner got eaten, discovered that my Blackberry is a very sturdy phone after it sat outside in the rain for an hour (it fell out of my coat pocket).

Lots of things to do, like trash prep, but I need to do other things too.  Right now it doesnt seem to be raining, so that might be my clue to work outside today, and according to the weather guessers, no rain for four days.... I have great ambition if that is true.

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I finally got the old printer replaced with the new printer.  I only knocked over two stacks of books in the removal and installation process, which in itself was a miracle.  I pulled out old wires and cords and replaced the cable to the modem with a much much shorter piece of coax, so the nest of connectivity is much less mess now.  And cleaning up that area where the wires were.  Only one trip to Best Buy for a new cable I didnt know I needed in the right length.  Still to do, put all excess wires/cords into a bin of keeping to get them out of the way without losing them all, and plug in the phone in the office.  Recycled all the packing material and gave the box the printer came in to my sister, like she needs more boxes, but this one has handle holes and will be good for something for her.

Now I can finish my taxes.

I also managed to get the april bills organized and written out and a quick trip to the post awful to mail one item to Miss Annie.   It was a full day of productivity even though it was just two simple things.  The Resident Evil Feline at one point tried to intensely supervise the printer action, but, I tossed his fuzzy butt into the hallway.

My new fancy HP printer now has its own email address to send shit to for printing from anywhere.  Which I did not activate the account for.  I also opted out of everything for the printer I could.   I had one of those evil thoughts that if you knew someones printers email, you could enact Death By Printer if you didnt like them very much.

Today, New Book Tuesday, and a bunch of errands ... the sister creature and I are going to a signing at the Downtown Powells for Anne Jacobsen, who wrote Area 51.  We have read a lot of UFO books, so this one was particularly good, and her new book  is Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis, which also addresses our love of Government sponsored ESP and related activities.   I also think that the people watchcing will be most excellent at this event.  We have to do some of the sisters errands too, but, its all good.  Plus recycling the old printer while we are at it.

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Made a failed attempt to do my taxes on Friday, and did some cleaning otherwise.  I declared Saturday to be a day of Meh, and ran around with the sister creature.  I will say that I found Sour Cherry Peeps and leave it at that.  I have enough of them to put myself into a coma if so inclined.

I need to get back into getting things accomplished today.  And it seems to not be raining at the moment.

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When I went outside yesterday it started to rain again, so I got the bins back by the side of the garage and did other stuff.

Today, not sure, still trying to wake up, I will go and get my Sunday paper though.

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Had to finally replace one of the bird feeders yesterday, one side was cracked all the way down.  I used one of the new replacement feeders I had in the garage.   Managed to work outside doing more cleanup, I got one of the raised beds roughly cleared out and other work.  Hoed a section of the white picket fence bed in anticipation of planting some roots or bulbs in the near future.  Got the yard bin filled up and to the curb.  Assembled a few more solar art things, and got two strings of solar lights wrapped around the two wire obelisks in the front yard.

Today, its not raining at the moment, I will get the bins back where they belong and perhaps do some more work outside.

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It was trying to rain again yesterday, so I went out with the sister instead.  She had done stuff with her son and granddaughter so her day was all mixed up.  So, we went to Broadway Books to get tickets for their Jacqueline Winspear signing next week, and went to dinner at Milo's and a stop at Target and then I got home at 11pm.  We had a bit of a late start as it were.

Today, trash prep day, and I need to refill the bird feeders.  All of them.   I hope to get some work done outside if its not raining, nor if its too cold.

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I got new plants, some herbs, some veg, and a lot of flowers.  I got my nemephilia (black penny) and some poppies, a bit of this and a bit of that.

So of course, its raining out there.  Steady steady rain.  The plants are all sitting in the back of the van for now.

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No sign of the crow yesterday or today, but, I will keep looking.  I am hoping it got better and flew off.  I want it to have flown off.

I got some time in outside yesterday, just a bit more clean up and stacking the new bags of dirt and poo.  I also sat and assembled some of the new solar yard stuff.  Put water in the trays in the little greenhouse so the plants dont dry out.

Today, its really nice out, I think I will do my Tuesday stuff and perhaps hit the Portland Nursery.  I am jonesing for new plants.

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Its Spring... Vernal Equinox and all of that.  Its still somewhat raining like its December here.

It was too cold outside for me yesterday, despite the sunlight.  So I went and fetched more dirt and poo for the collection in the driveway.  One never has enough at the begining of gardening season.  I think I must get about 200 bags total each year.

After I get done on the computer, I need to go outside.  I have a crow in the lot next door, and I am going to call the Audbon Society about it.  I doubt I could catch it, despite it not being able to fly and walking very carefully.  I have heard crows this morning out there, cawwwing... so I am pretty sure its still alive.  With the number of small hawks here, and other predators, its hard to say about survivability before recovery.

The rains are supposed to come back this afternoon.

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I got about 2 hours in outside yesterday before it got cold and was trying to rain again.  Then I stayed up all night watching an Alien Nation marathon on tv.  I did record the movies though.

Today, more sunlight, so outside I go. 

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Friday was cold and wet, and drivers were stupid, there was an accident on I5 that caused drivers to exit to lesser roads, and that made me a few minutes late for my B12 shot at the VAMC.  They clogged the off ramps so cars were at a trickle to get across Barbur.

My regular nurse was off, and I wasnt impressed by her replacement, he kept getting my name wrong despite me correcting him as to pronunciation and using my middle name as my first name.  I almost asked for a different nurse if he was that screwed up, how was the rest of his skills?

Ran errands on the way home, paid the last two bills for the month and bought some potted flower starts.

Its sunlight outside, I will go and fetch my sunday paper and then work out in the yard if it doesnt rain anymore.

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I wish I could draw political satiric cartoons, I would draw a picture of a gate with "Make America Great Again" on it and under the archway, jackbooted thugs would have elephant skulls on their caps and sorting out the people who would have healthcare, clean air, basic human rights, and all the other things that the current administration deems "unneccessary", after hearing last night that Meals on Wheels isnt a proven working program (wasting all that precious taxpayer money)   I also think the Coast Guard, with having their budget gutted should no longer provide any coastal support for the Cheeto's protection, since they arent really needed either.

Book Club went well, wednesday I slept ... Thursday I did my PT appt and finally got some yard time in... not much but I did fill the yard bin up with dead stuff.

Today, up to the VAMC for my B12 shot.  I have a couple of bills to pay since I didnt have time to mail them (having spend the week in the neighbors mail).  The sister creature should take possession of the last garage at her complex, and start to empty her last storage units into it.   Its a good thing that we might have sunlight on sunday and monday, I know I am determined to use that time outside myself.  I got stuff to plant, things to do out there.

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I know I ran some errands saturday, and sunday we had Sunlight.  A whole day of it.  I took this chance and went and got dirt and poo and I did a bit of yard cleanup, I refilled all my bird stations.

Monday it was off to Salem with my sister to take her daughter and son in law out to dinner.  Eldest Niece's birthday was sunday.  Presents and cards were given.  Dinner was eaten.   Sister and I went to two separate WallyWorlds on the way home because my sister had given her granddaughter the small flip its unicorn/dragon stuffy and wanted to replace it.

Tomorrow, book club.

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I was productive yesterday, did laundry, cleared out the kitchen sink and ran the dishwasher.  Organized bills and figured out that I am missing a handful of mail somewhere.  This is probably because I stuck it in a bag and when I got in the house, put it down and forgot about it.  I have my list.  If I dont find the mail, I can still pay them on time.

Went to eat at WOW Burger in West Linn with my sister, and came home to find the cat had horked up on the pillows, so another load of laundry was done, and managed to clean the portable phone and the paperback I was reading.  At least it wasnt on my Nook.

Today, off to Dead Lobster for lunch with T.  Its her birthday and she is 3 1/2 months older than I, so I have some very tacky and tastless cards for her, plus her prezzies.

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