Why is it always about money?

Our design committee meeting was last night. Fun as usual, but I was anxious that our Main Street group president was going to give us the talk about going to the next town meeting to fight for keeping all the funding for our organization. I just cannot support that. I can support a cut in funding - I have issues with our lone paid full-time employee and feel we could do well with a per-diem person - but the issues is face each day here at work won't let me stand up at another town meeting to beg for money when I am confident that we, as volunteers, will keep our organization going no matter what.

It was blissful being an ocean away an not hearing the voice or the name of our governor. Granted, the UK is awash in politics with the impending election of a new PM in May, but Christie just upsets me and it was nice to be away from that.

Looking at what we have left as far as film and chemistry, I feel like Dems and I finally got it right and ordered just the right amount of stuff. We may actually not run out of anything this year! Problem - we have had to cut film and paper quantities for next year. Sigh...

I am loving walking around my yard and looking at all the blooming flowers - the bulbs survived! Every day I get out of my car and just walk around and look at all the tulips, daffodils, violets. And all the other stuff coming up - hostas, peonies, etc. Time to break out the feel-good spring time music!

A sneak peak...

Naps...

I will really need one. Got home around 7.30 pm. At this point yesterday I was sitting in a park in London talking to a guy who was drinking way too early... How do they always find me?!?

The view from the plane leaving just beats the view when arriving by a long shot. Manor houses, green hills, small villages, winding roads past council houses versus Route 208 and the garden State Plaza. Need I say more? Sadness... sigh...

Watch this space for the blow-by-blow... if you are interested in that sort of thing...

So apparently there are times when you cannot get into PV. I am just going to have to concede defeat and not bring Grandpa's Argus I did tape up the Diana to hopefully plug the light leaks and I will bring her instead. You didn't really think I would go to London without a medium format, now did you?

The friends told me to get the thumb looked at, but upon inspection, I believe the part has stuck back to the rest of the thumb. Heck, if anything happens, I get to experience the British health system!

Had a dream that I had students on a trip in London and we were at the Parliament buildings. Dare to dream!

Update...

So one would not think that as a lefty, losing the use of one's right thumb is such a problem, but I can tell you it is...

So, apparently swinging a hammer at a nail while perched precariously at the edge of a semi-high stone wall means you better have good aim! Thought I merely hit the thumbnail, soldiered on through the ouch, proudly surveyed the repair work on the compost bin and proceeded to refill the compost with the pitchfork. Until I saw the blood on my thumb. "Hmm, that doesn't look good." Head into the bathroom to wash it off, and once the water hit it, I realize a huge chunk was 3/4 ripped off and the water flapped it back. Well, I nearly fainted, Millie quizzically sniffing me while I cool off on the cold tile floor in the kitchen. Guzzled some OJ, and worked my way to the couch. Hubby comes home from the Canal tour and I get the "I can't leave you alone for 2 hours" talk - which is true; I am accident prone. But Millie was supposed to watch me and she took a nap... The thumb is throbbing and I stuck the piece back where it belongs - no ER for me this time. Just lots of cream and a big bandage.

But...

The compost bin is fixed. The bush was moved. Didn't get to move the leaves or turn over the dirt but I trimmed the lilac, last of the roses, sage, and butterfly bush. All before the boo boo.

So the lesson my dear students... do as I say, not as I do and watch the hammer's point of contact.

Let me tell you, if I could garden with one of those cave-explorer light-on-the-head type things without my neighbours - or hubby - thinking I am nuts, I would. Actually, that wouldn't stop me. It it my propensity for headaches that stops me. I gardened so much yesterday it my hips ache every time I stand up. Now that is a great sign... Spring is here! My arms are ripped apart as a result of pruning the roses and berry bushes, but in the best way possible...

Goals for today: 1. repair our compost bin - it is actually a repurposed futon frame we garbage picked. Horray for saving money! 2. finish leaf removal. 3. turn the soil in the vegetable garden. 4. move large bush to further up the stone wall - for privacy from my wife-beater neighbour.

Much to do, but I think I can get it done.

Then, nap with Millie, leave at 5.30 for dinner with friends - with a side trip to PV because this dipstick left all her respooled film at school!

A perfect night for walking in the city! Bringing the point-and-shoot...

So guess what?

I left the film at school! I didn't even remember when I was on the road and could turn around. I remembered in the driveway! Duh!

Looks like I will be taking a detour on my way to Fort Lee tomorrow. Hope the building is open.

Spent a couple of hours uncovering the gardens from their blanket of insulating leaves. Coming up: poppies, peonies, hosta, irises, echinacea, muscari, daffodils, beard-tongue, and more! Managed to get 1/3 of the property done - trust me, it's not big! So the power went out in our neighbourhood and I didn't even know! My neighbour had to ask me! Now, that's great! Better being in the garden than tied to the electronics.

And with that, I head back outside...