The bliss of running errands

I picked up one cauliflower, rejected it, lifted another. It fit in the palm of my hand, on the cute side of small.

Tomatoes worthy of the name! Radishes to die for.

The serendipitous meal planned. You know the kind — when you see some particularly appealing pile of eggplant or bok choy and design a meal around it? Today it was poblano peppers. I bought three. And marscapone cheese.

But they did not have pansies at the adjacent greenhouse. Damn! It was the whole motivating force behind running the errand. Ever since I got my second shot a month ago, I’ve had pansies in the brain.

That’s okay. I went for deep purple and bright pink petunias, some elephant-eared begonia, pink and white snap dragons. A few more bags of dirt. We are supposed to have glorious weather all week.

For what it’s worth: Needham, Mass farm store: every single shopper and clerk wore a mask. Newton, Mass CVS: every single clerk and shopper wore a mask. I did not wear a mask to walk Finn this morning for the first time in a dog’s age (ha ha) but I did while shopping.

17 thoughts on “The bliss of running errands

  1. Marti

    For me, not at that bliss state yet. This past Wed, it was 15 days since I had my 2nd Moderna shot. My sister in law and nephew are coming over tomorrow to treat us to lunch…I wanted to make lunch but they want to go out. Haven’t seen them since Jan 2020 nor have we been to any restaurants since the pandemic. Here in New Mexico we await word from the DOH and governor re the mask issue…I am apprehensive about dining out but I always keep a supply of masks in my purse. They on the other hand, sister in law is 83, nephew is 56, have dined out many times over the course of the pandemic and took 3 trips to CA even when it w as iffy…not sure this will be the most relaxing meal I’ve ever had!

    Reply
    1. deemallon Post author

      Doesn’t sound relaxing to me. We MAY go out this weekend but only if there’s outdoor dining. I’m not quite caught up with the CDC. In any case, I hope it’s a pleasant meal!

      Reply
      1. Marti

        it was a fine lunch at of all places a very good Irish pub where the grub was as good as any I’ve had in Ireland and this is New Mexico! It was a great change from our usual spicy Hatch chili fare: We had fish and chips, Caesar salad, patty melt and seared ahi with a Guinness for the nephew…BUT it had it’s moments:

        New Mexico is now mask less except for health facilities and public transport but it is up to the discretion of stores and restaurants as to whether or not to enforce mask wearing. I think, as a nation that we are simply moving too quickly to get rid of masks;it seems to be such a political move to quell those who are resisting so they can see their way to getting the vaccine. So of course, R, my nephew and myself had our masks on, my sister in law simply refused to wear one. Nephew told her that he would be happy to bring her lunch to the car, he was so exasperated.

        In the pub, the servers and the patrons were all masked but as we were led to our table, our server told us that masks were optional…my sister in law wisely said nothing and it turned out to be fine catch up with family news lunch. She is the only woman I know and mind you she is 83, who sailed through her vaccines with no problems whatsoever and she does have health issues…go figure! I finally couldn’t keep quiet and told her that she sailed through because she is one “ornery” woman and she laughed and was pleased to be called ornery; all the while her son, my nephew, rolled his eyes.

        In the end, it comes down to family and it was so good to finall, safely, be with them after so long. She had wanted to visit many times but I told her that until we were all vaccinated, a visit would have to wait.

        Reply
        1. deemallon Post author

          I sailed thru my vaccines without any issues (beyond a sore arm). Glad your lunch worked out okay for the most part.

  2. Nancy

    Oh my gosh the beauty of growing things & yummy foodstuffs! It’s nice to be able to go out, but I’m in no rush, have nowhere to go and feel the need to watch and see what happens with all of this mask removal stuff.

    Reply
  3. Joanne in Maine

    Not here in Maine, either. Everyone masked. Mask dispensers at the door. If you forgot. We have 40% of the population refusing to get vaccine. So– we’ll stay masked. They can infect each other. I stopped and bought coleus- all the bright variegated ones. Last summer three of them made a magnificent pot display. I also bought marigolds. They had the French red ones.
    Welcome Summer 0f 2021. We’re still alive.

    Reply
    1. deemallon Post author

      Yes to still alive! I want to get some coleus for my containers too. I overwintered some cuttings but they’re not all that vibrant looking.

      Reply
  4. Hazel

    A celebration in color here!
    I’m so happy for you that you’ll see your boys soon! Blue has been here for two wonderful weeks, a few more days to go. Wishing you safe travels and ease with all your brother’s care.

    Reply
    1. deemallon Post author

      So happy you’ve had Blue home! PS I love the slightly larger works you made recently. Whenever you take a turn in another direction, it seems, I am always impressed

      Reply
  5. jude

    Planting, planting… my days. Always masked while shopping and will probably do that through next year. It’s no big deal really. I think of it as spreading the love.

    Reply
    1. deemallon Post author

      It really isn’t a big deal to wear a mask. As for the garden, I love this time of year. You can practically hear the ferns growing .

      Reply
  6. Acey

    Here in the mid-state land of whatever the hell… today at the hardwick co-op they had a masked cashier for the masked people and an unmasked cashier for the unmasked. J said it was 70-30% in favor of unmasked.

    I just want to go out to the Valley and get some rainbow sherbet at Cook’s …

    Reply

Leave a Reply