One Drive has been showing pictures from my Mashpee gardens, and I’m pretty depressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have to remember that it took 20 years to build up those gardens, and many plants and shrubs were from end of season sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, I did a better job of decorating the deck here last season. This year I opted for tomatoes instead of flowers, an experiment, particularly with the giveaways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We’ve spent so much money and effort on upgrading the house that we haven’t been investing so much in flowers and plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We economize on food and entertainment, opting to stay home and cutting back on paid subscriptions to cable stations, newspapers and magazines. One could easily be depressed if it weren’t for the fact that we live in a strikingly beautiful town and don’t need a lot of external activities or objets d’art<\/em> to satisfy our aesthetic cravings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today I washed the sunroom\/solarium glass walls, inside and out. They may not be 100% but they are a lot better and anyway if they need a touch up, tomorrow is another day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I also cleaned up my yard debris mess next to the side shed. Ready for the transfer station tomorrow. Meanwhile Ron did a small transfer station run and brought home a pile of lumber that had been discarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Had a great conversation with people at UCOP, the University of California Retirement Office. They squared me away on monthly survivor benefits, which equal a base benefit plus cumulative cost of living adjustments. There is also a modest lump sum death benefit which should take care of processing Ron’s remains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I’m still hoping that one or both of the driveway companies will give me an original signed contract.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" One Drive has been showing pictures from my Mashpee gardens, and I’m pretty depressed.I have to remember that it took 20 years to build up those gardens, and many plants and shrubs were from end of season sales.Also, I did … Continue reading