March Roars In With Frost In Its Beard
Most of February was relatively mild but here in the first week of March, temperatures plunged to 17 F. I’ve started seeds late this year because toward late February it was quite cold. Now eight 6-packs have popped and are waiting in the bay window but it’s too cold to go out to the greenhouse. We have heated pads and a small space heater, but 19 or 20 degrees is iffy for any plants in a small plastic greenhouse.
The ground is bare now. We ‘ve had up to five inches of snow at various times, a couple of storms with a wet heavy snow that bowed branches under its weight. But now, we’re clear and I hope we stay that way. Today is sunny but cold.
I finally have an appointment for my 2nd shot of Moderna vaccine scheduled for next week. It’s astonishing how much time and work I’ve put into getting vaccine appointments for Woody and myself. It’s been incredibly frustrating. I know people over 75 and with serious conditions who’ve been unable to get an appointment. One friend drove all the way to Gillette because she could find nothing on the Cape -- rather her daughter drove her all that distance, well over 120 miles.
We had Dale and Stephen who are in our safe pod over for supper Saturday. This weekend, we’re quiet. I lost a lot of time this week because our land line stopped working. I spent two and a half hours going through three levels of techie support without success. But a Wellfleet techie who works for Comcast came yesterday and fixed it all in half an hour as well as fixing the little TV that sits on the diningroom table where we eat. I lost Tuesday and got nothing else done. I was exhausted when I finally got off the phone and had lunch @ 2:15.
I started peppers, sweet, frying and hot this week as well as Oriental eggplant [those very dependable long skinny fruits] and an Italian type. Also one more six pack of red cabbage. Peppers are notoriously slow to germinate, so I’ll have to put off starting paste and cherry tomatoes for up to a week. It makes me feel so good to see the seedlings in the bay window. Sunday they’ll go out to the greenhouse. It’s been too cold at night to take them out yet even though these are hardy vegetables. No veggies we grow are hardy @ 16 Fahrenheit.
Cats may be difficult to train [unless it amuses them] but they are excellent at training us. Schwartzie has Woody trained to clear a spot on the coffee table before we start our morning coffee. That’s when we plan our days. Schwartzie also demands a little catnip, which he has trained Woody to give. Mingus has trained me to come into the livingroom – leaving my computer and my office—and give all three cats treats just after noon each day. Willow has me trained exactly how when I get into bed, I should behave and how I should pet her. They are patient but inexorable. Willow has also trained us to place her food dish away from the two male cats @ supper.