Ron is off again to do errands. I am amazed how the to-do’s pile up.

Post office, Job Lot, Cape Gallery photo drop-off, dry cleaning pickup, Kappy’s for mead.

I’ve been busy, too. Finally cleaned off the ping pong table. April would like it and that’s great with me.

Ordered a holiday gift for Jim, cancelled a software subscription.

Still trying to find a tree service to remove the big arbor vitae. It measures 17 feet.

Have taken my name off almost all tech-related mailing lists, which only upset me.

It’s been pouring all day. My only venture forth was to pick up the mail during a brief moment of calm.

Ron did his errands: shipped the cane to Mike, stopped at the Senior Center and Roche, deposited checks at the bank, shopped at Botello’s for a new chainsaw chain, brought clothing and a comforter and winter blankets that I retrieved from the attic to the dry cleaner.

I/we were right to power through outdoor chores at Edgewater yesterday.

Ron made oatmeal for supper last night. I fell asleep at 8, woke at 6:30 this morning.

Finished cleaning up the front yard at Edgewater, then cleaned up the back as well with a last-minute assist from Ron and James. Wanted to beat the rain predicted for tonight and off and on tomorrow.

Ron cleaned the gutters in the front and around the farmer’s porch.

Hit terrible traffic on Route 28. Circled to avoid it.

Drove Peter to the doc’s yesterday for a checkup after a bad day and night. He’s okay, part of the healing process.

Meanwhile, Ron was at his doc’s for a routine checkup. He’s also okay.

Ron and I went shopping in the morning for an amp for James. We went to two legendary Hyannis shops: Charley’s – fantastic – and then Jack’s Drum Shop.

Ron didn’t get around to testing the amp until bedtime. Fortunately, we had a patch cord in the cable and cord box in the basement.

I picked up a truck-full of leaves from the front yard at Edgewater. Finished around 4:30. Ron had put the lights on – pretty!

Ron powered through some winter prep by draining and storing the hoses and winterizing two yard tool motors.

I put lights on the big bushes by the steps.

It started raining a while ago, too wet to do leaves or gutters at Edgewater.

Ron managed to clean our front AND back gutters, by himself, and working well after dark.

I finished leaf pickup, at least for now, and pruned garden detritus in the back yard.

We picked up a pile of “used” tomatoes this morning. I made more sauce.

Ron and I got a fair amount done today.

We replaced the yellow caution tape with a 200 foot clothes line. Ron was amazed that the yellow tape had been in such a straight line.

I took care of leaves on the front and side lawns and the street and cleaned up a wheelbarrow full of detritus from the front garden. Ron cut down a bunch more ugly brush. We brought a small load to the transfer station.

Stopped at the market for my meds and a few groceries.

Ron is making meatballs. He and James have a guitar lesson tonight.

Our first time, and we shopped small at Splash Stationers, Heart of Stone, Stephanie’s, Titcomb’s and Scenic Roots,

Picked up gifts for Peter’s birthday and Christmas presents for Cindy and Mary.  Ron got a beautifully illustrated Watership Down for Jen’s three musketeers.

Got some nice cookie recipes, too.

Did a medium-sized shop and had lunch at Market Basket.  A fine way to spend the afternoon.

Ron and I just got back from a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner, hosted as a gift to the community by Craigville Pizza & Mexican. Turkey, ham, mashed and sweet potatoes, squash, green beans, corn, broccoli, salad, roll, stuffing, gravy AND Centerville cherry and pumpkin pie. The nicest Thanksgiving meal I’ve had since Carolyn passed away. And NO banishment to the nether regions of the holiday table or listening to someone do laundry!

Carolyn Canfield Oakley, born November 10, 1947 and passed away on Saturday, April 19, 2008.

I’m thinking about her today because it’s Thanksgiving, and since Carolyn died, I haven’t enjoyed this holiday. It was special because she and I attended one of the last Mashpee Thanksgiving community dinners at Camp Farley. It was our last real outing. Her health deteriorated very fast after that, and she died five months later.