I slept until 8:00am when I could no longer take the thought of wasting my valuable weekend away in hibernation. Unlike most other nights when Mindy stays, she got up when I did. I, however, had already taken my vitamin, made coffee, exercised, and walked Ykraps by the time Mindy came downstairs.
It was a sunny but chilly early morning. The day’s high temp was only expected to hit 58 degrees. Despite the morning’s chilly beginning, the sun really warmed things up nicely. As I often do, Ykraps and I toured the backyard at our walks end. Mindy greeted us on the deck with a hot cup of coffee upon our return. We stayed and enjoyed our morning coffee on the deck basking in the warmth of the bright spring sunshine. I even grabbed my guitar and played for a while. We hung out on the deck for about an hour or until 9:30am.
At one point we allowed Ykraps to wander the deck unteathered while we were engaged in conversation. Suddenly, Mindy saw him dart away in pursuit of a bird or rabbit. Calling after him did no good at all. He was gone in the same direction he took off for a couple of weeks ago. This is unusual behavior for Ykraps. I grabbed his leash and chased in pursuit. Sure enough, I found him about seven houses down in the backyard of a neighbor seemingly confused and unwilling to make eye contact with me. I think that he gets so caught up in the moment that he loses track of where he is. At any rate, I leashed him up and took him home where I relegated him to the house behind closed doors.
As the morning wore on, it was time for me to ready for a run. After all, we had a busy day ahead. While I ran, Mindy agreed to stay back and make our breakfast. I decided to run without tunes. When I returned from a hearty run, breakfast was indeed ready. It was extremely tasty! We had scrambled eggs, maple bacon, and some fruit. We finished up around 1045am.
After breakfast clean-up, I headed to my dad’s house to pick-up his 4X8 trailer so I could pick-up some mulch. Mindy waited at my house. I thought I’d be gone about 30 minutes but was actually closer to an hour. I spent a few minutes conversing with my dad. Ohio mulch is located conveniently around the corner on Roberts Rd behind the Upper Arlington school bus garage – maybe 2.5 miles form my home. I paid for two cubic yards of Absolute Black shredded mulch, but could only get one cubic yard comfortably in the trailer. Come to think of it, I’ve probably been shorted in years past since I always use the exact same trailer. Anyway, the gentleman told me that he’d remember me, and to simply come back when ready. I covered the mulch with a tarp and then tied it down before heading home. I was home with my first load in five minutes.
Once back home, I got out the various yard tools we’d need and then pulled my tractor around to the shed to pick-up the matching yard trailer. Mindy changed from shorts and a t-shirt to sweats and long sleeve t-shirt. It was still a tad chilly, especially when the sun went behind a cloud now and then. And in what’s a little out of character for me, I hadn’t even begun prepping the first flower bed that I wanted to mulch (the weeping willow flower bed in the far back). So, Mindy began weeding while I edged the large bed. It only took about 30 minutes to get it prepped for receiving mulch. And because there are a lot of fragile perennials in that particular bed, it took a while to mulch it in too. When we were done it looked great! Now it was time to move on.
For the next hour we mulched the other backyard flower beds until we ran out of the stuff. The other beds went much quicker due in part to the system we worked out, and to working easier open beds. When we ran out we took a short break then headed back to Ohio mulch for another load. The second load wasn’t quite as heaping as the last, but still plenty. We were back home and at it again in short order. After we finished the back, we moved on to the eastside beds around to the front, and then onto the Westside beds. As we finished up the second trailer full, we were both tiring quickly. The day’s weather was only improving as the sky kept getting clearer and clearer. Despite our being tuckered, we agreed to press forward to completion. Back to Ohio mulch for a third and final trailer full. I knew too that there was no way I needed a complete trailer full, but it didn’t make any sense to buy less. We’d use it at Mindy’s we thought if there was enough left.
Back home we were beginning to run on fumes. We finished the west beds and finished with the white pine in my front yard that I often don’t mulch for it providing it’s own. We were both exhausted! We had about a 1/3 of a load left when we finished. Instead of Mindy’s, I took the leftover mulch to my dad, along with his trailer. When I returned home, I cleaned and put away all the tools and then watered some of the dry spots in the lawn. Mindy had just finished showering and didn’t even realize I had left. She was tired and went off to nap. While she napped I showered. It felt refreshingly great to wash the excessive dirt away. All day long we had kicked around different ways to spend our evening but ultimately agreed to stay home and make dinner. I planned to hit Kroger for some big juicy steaks. Given the option of going along, Mindy opted to stay back and rest even further. I decided, since it was so nice, to drive the BM’er. Destined for the Arlington/Grandview Kroger, I cut through Arlington winding my way across Cambridge and Tremont. It’s short but absolutely beautiful drive any time of year, but especially in the spring.
At Kroger I decided to grab a few items I needed off my grocery list too. I grabbed some produce, milk, and other miscellaneous items. In the meat department I found packages of extra-thick T-Bone steaks on sale for half price. They were normally $9.55 per lb, on sale for $4.77 per lb. They were about one and a quarter inch thick – just really nice looking steaks! I grabbed a pound of fresh shrimp, too. And to save myself a trip elsewhere, I grabbed six pack of Goose Island IPA. Being a card carrying member, I saved a whopping $38.00 on that little shopping spree!
Back at home I put away my haul, fired up the grill, and cracked an IPA. Mindy was already waking from her slumber when I went up to get her. By now it was approaching 8:00pm. We cooked both the steak and shrimp on the grill, cooking the shrimp in a baking dish design for grills full of olive oil, garlic, and lemon pepper. As a side, we made brussel sprouts in the microwave.
The steaks turned out perfectly. They were browned and seared on the outside, yet pink and juicy inside. But what’s even more impressive, they were big and they were tender! These steaks were awesome! Take that Hyde Park. This is how you do it! Because the steaks were so big, we had to have two plates – one for the steak and another for the shrimp and brussel sprouts. My best guess is that the steaks were close to 1.5 lbs. each. Despite there size, Mindy ate her entire steak!!!! Let me repeat that. Mindy ate her entire steak!!! I couldn’t finish mine. I packed a substantial amount of the strip side into a freezer bag as a leftover.
After we cleaned up the dinner mess, it was nearly 9:30pm. We chose then to get in the hot tub since the both of us were sore from the excessive yard work. Tonight the hot tub felt incredibly good! And to Mindy’s satisfaction, I didn’t put the Larry the Cable Guy CD in. We stayed in the tub for about an hour. I was pruning upon departure. It was now nearing 11pm. Mindy was ready for bed, and I was ready for mad TV. We went off to bed where I tuned into Mad TV. As usual, I began slowly drifting off to sleep with the aid of the comedy, waking only momentarily whenever Mindy would try to steal the remote out of my hands.
I slept until 8:00am when I could no longer take the thought of wasting my valuable weekend away in hibernation. Unlike most other nights when Mindy stays, she got up when I did. I, however, had already taken my vitamin, made coffee, exercised, and walked Ykraps by the time Mindy came downstairs.
It was a sunny but chilly early morning. The day’s high temp was only expected to hit 58 degrees. Despite the morning’s chilly beginning, the sun really warmed things up nicely. As I often do, Ykraps and I toured the backyard at our walks end. Mindy greeted us on the deck with a hot cup of coffee upon our return. We stayed and enjoyed our morning coffee on the deck basking in the warmth of the bright spring sunshine. I even grabbed my guitar and played for a while. We hung out on the deck for about an hour or until 9:30am.
At one point we allowed Ykraps to wander the deck unteathered while we were engaged in conversation. Suddenly, Mindy saw him dart away in pursuit of a bird or rabbit. Calling after him did no good at all. He was gone in the same direction he took off for a couple of weeks ago. This is unusual behavior for Ykraps. I grabbed his leash and chased in pursuit. Sure enough, I found him about seven houses down in the backyard of a neighbor seemingly confused and unwilling to make eye contact with me. I think that he gets so caught up in the moment that he loses track of where he is. At any rate, I leashed him up and took him home where I relegated him to the house behind closed doors.
As the morning wore on, it was time for me to ready for a run. After all, we had a busy day ahead. While I ran, Mindy agreed to stay back and make our breakfast. I decided to run without tunes. When I returned from a hearty run, breakfast was indeed ready. It was extremely tasty! We had scrambled eggs, maple bacon, and some fruit. We finished up around 1045am.
After breakfast clean-up, I headed to my dad’s house to pick-up his 4X8 trailer so I could pick-up some mulch. Mindy waited at my house. I thought I’d be gone about 30 minutes but was actually closer to an hour. I spent a few minutes conversing with my dad. Ohio mulch is located conveniently around the corner on Roberts Rd behind the Upper Arlington school bus garage – maybe 2.5 miles form my home. I paid for two cubic yards of Absolute Black shredded mulch, but could only get one cubic yard comfortably in the trailer. Come to think of it, I’ve probably been shorted in years past since I always use the exact same trailer. Anyway, the gentleman told me that he’d remember me, and to simply come back when ready. I covered the mulch with a tarp and then tied it down before heading home. I was home with my first load in five minutes.
Once back home, I got out the various yard tools we’d need and then pulled my tractor around to the shed to pick-up the matching yard trailer. Mindy changed from shorts and a t-shirt to sweats and long sleeve t-shirt. It was still a tad chilly, especially when the sun went behind a cloud now and then. And in what’s a little out of character for me, I hadn’t even begun prepping the first flower bed that I wanted to mulch (the weeping willow flower bed in the far back). So, Mindy began weeding while I edged the large bed. It only took about 30 minutes to get it prepped for receiving mulch. And because there are a lot of fragile perennials in that particular bed, it took a while to mulch it in too. When we were done it looked great! Now it was time to move on.
For the next hour we mulched the other backyard flower beds until we ran out of the stuff. The other beds went much quicker due in part to the system we worked out, and to working easier open beds. When we ran out we took a short break then headed back to Ohio mulch for another load. The second load wasn’t quite as heaping as the last, but still plenty. We were back home and at it again in short order. After we finished the back, we moved on to the eastside beds around to the front, and then onto the Westside beds. As we finished up the second trailer full, we were both tiring quickly. The day’s weather was only improving as the sky kept getting clearer and clearer. Despite our being tuckered, we agreed to press forward to completion. Back to Ohio mulch for a third and final trailer full. I knew too that there was no way I needed a complete trailer full, but it didn’t make any sense to buy less. We’d use it at Mindy’s we thought if there was enough left.
Back home we were beginning to run on fumes. We finished the west beds and finished with the white pine in my front yard that I often don’t mulch for it providing it’s own. We were both exhausted! We had about a 1/3 of a load left when we finished. Instead of Mindy’s, I took the leftover mulch to my dad, along with his trailer. When I returned home, I cleaned and put away all the tools and then watered some of the dry spots in the lawn. Mindy had just finished showering and didn’t even realize I had left. She was tired and went off to nap. While she napped I showered. It felt refreshingly great to wash the excessive dirt away. All day long we had kicked around different ways to spend our evening but ultimately agreed to stay home and make dinner. I planned to hit Kroger for some big juicy steaks. Given the option of going along, Mindy opted to stay back and rest even further. I decided, since it was so nice, to drive the BM’er. Destined for the Arlington/Grandview Kroger, I cut through Arlington winding my way across Cambridge and Tremont. It’s short but absolutely beautiful drive any time of year, but especially in the spring.
At Kroger I decided to grab a few items I needed off my grocery list too. I grabbed some produce, milk, and other miscellaneous items. In the meat department I found packages of extra-thick T-Bone steaks on sale for half price. They were normally $9.55 per lb, on sale for $4.77 per lb. They were about one and a quarter inch thick – just really nice looking steaks! I grabbed a pound of fresh shrimp, too. And to save myself a trip elsewhere, I grabbed six pack of Goose Island IPA. Being a card carrying member, I saved a whopping $38.00 on that little shopping spree!
Back at home I put away my haul, fired up the grill, and cracked an IPA. Mindy was already waking from her slumber when I went up to get her. By now it was approaching 8:00pm. We cooked both the steak and shrimp on the grill, cooking the shrimp in a baking dish design for grills full of olive oil, garlic, and lemon pepper. As a side, we made brussel sprouts in the microwave.
The steaks turned out perfectly. They were browned and seared on the outside, yet pink and juicy inside. But what’s even more impressive, they were big and they were tender! These steaks were awesome! Take that Hyde Park. This is how you do it! Because the steaks were so big, we had to have two plates – one for the steak and another for the shrimp and brussel sprouts. My best guess is that the steaks were close to 1.5 lbs. each. Despite there size, Mindy ate her entire steak!!!! Let me repeat that. Mindy ate her entire steak!!! I couldn’t finish mine. I packed a substantial amount of the strip side into a freezer bag as a leftover.
After we cleaned up the dinner mess, it was nearly 9:30pm. We chose then to get in the hot tub since the both of us were sore from the excessive yard work. Tonight the hot tub felt incredibly good! And to Mindy’s satisfaction, I didn’t put the Larry the Cable Guy CD in. We stayed in the tub for about an hour. I was pruning upon departure. It was now nearing 11pm. Mindy was ready for bed, and I was ready for mad TV. We went off to bed where I tuned into Mad TV. As usual, I began slowly drifting off to sleep with the aid of the comedy, waking only momentarily whenever Mindy would try to steal the remote out of my hands.
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