Octoberfest
Tonight we went to the the birthday party of a friend of ours (he turned 65) and the theme was also “Octoberfest”. We were told that the beer, meat and desserts were supplied, and just to bring, if we wished, another warm dish for the occasion. Seemed reasonable, since it was threatening to SNOW, that we were “not going to have salads”. The Oom-pa-pa music was absolutely appalling.
For the soirée, I made Boston Baked Beans… from scratch; lovingly tended them IN THE CROCKPOT all day while my Fall Bulb and Yard Sale was on.
Speaking of which, I got very poor attendance at my bulb/yard sale AGAIN. I’m trying not to take it personally, not that people are staying away thinking, “Oh, it’s just ANN, let’s not go…”! SERIOUSLY, I’m not feeling that way, but I believe this is the last time I try this.
In the first place, in my area, the bulbs are a bit of “a hard sell”. We don’t have a proper garden centre, and we’re out of town; folks don’t just impulsively stroll in (as to a regular store) to buy tulips, daffodils and crocuses, etc., no matter how special the selection! I have not even reached the break-even point, and there are THOUSANDS of bulbs left to plant. The wholesale growers want orders to be for minimum quantities, so that limits the selection here; it’s all a moot point if people don’t come to look anyway.
The other “killer” consideration is that the FREIGHT is frightful ! I paid $145. freight on seven boxes of bulbs.
I’m disgusted and discouraged. Even the weather did not cooperate today; even though it did not actually RAIN today (or yesterday while I set up), the wind was bitterly cold and damp and relentlous. While I packed up what was left of the yard sale, and that was a BIG job, I was freezing cold and feeling sorry for myself. I have tons of stuff to get rid of, so I’ll make the rounds of two “church” outlets and the “swap shed” at the transfer station (dump site).
I have hundreds of bulbs to plant, too. I will NOT do this to myself again. I’m still interested in getting perennials in the spring, mainly because I have cases of brand new “signature” 1/2 gallon pots in which to plant the bare roots that I get from the growers. I’ll give it my best shot next year and then decide if it’s worth continuing.
And I just had another horrible thought. I have a case of Amaryllis bulbs coming this month! I supposed I’ll give them to friends, or as Christmas gifts, or sell ‘em on eBay! I had forgotten that the shipment of those amaryllis is delayed… and that will be ANOTHER hit for freight. Crap.
Things are pretty good around here otherwise. It could take a month of Sundays to plant the perennials that I have left, and the fall bulbs, but I’ll just get done what I can before it’s time to hibernate again.
I must plan to get to Calgary again soon. I’m really dragging my heels on that one, but I know my two daughters who live there will appreciate my visit, and my stepmother, in her own way, too. I usually take stepmom a few dozen containers of soup, chili, rice pilaf, and other small meals. Myrtle does not have the energy or desire to cook well for herself, so she can just “nuke” these little containers of food. Also, when my girls visit “Granny”, they, too, can have some easy meals to prepare and don’t have to spend so much time in the kitchen in order to have something to eat with their grandma. I’m not trying to impress Myrtle, I just want to think that, at the end of the road, I’ve done some little thoughtful things. She hasn’t always “deserved” thoughtfulness and respect from my sister and me, but now she is elderly and infirm and most of us will be there one day.
Well, this is it for today. I’m anxious to check in with my gardening chat friends. Sorry I neglect my weblog so much: it’s strange that I do, because most days I think at least once, “Oh, I should write about THIS in my blog tonight!”, and then I don’t get it done. I never was a good diary-keeper.
Stay well, my friends.
~Ann
