Got a few things done around the house this weekend despite being in a mood that’s not good to be in. I decided that I was gonna basically unplug from the phone and take time for me this weekend. I have not answered the phone or texts for most of the weekend; for those of you who tried I was offline and didn’t concern myself with much of anything other than a mental vacation.

I need to do this from time to time and will probably be doing it more often (some areas I want to travel have no cell service so that will suffice). This was totally unplanned but it all just fell into place so I went with it.

As I have previously posted, I have wanted to get the trailer out for a trip for some time now but the weather has been so iffy and crappy. I really need to go someplace soon. I have gotten some things done around the house. Except to catch the weather at 6 Saturday morning, the TV was off all day until evening.

A few years ago I added the Hot Rodd electric heating element to my trailer water heater. It supplements the propane burner, and it works fantastic, but there is one problem: you could only heat water by going outside to manually plug it in inside a compartment and doing the same drill to unplug it to turn it off each time. When I bought it they had a switch (for an extra charge, of course) but I didn’t buy it, thinking I wouldn’t really need it.

Well, I found out that I need it after all so I bought one last week and installed it this weekend. A flip of the switch will control it now. The tank is only 6 gallons so it heats fast enough between the propane and electric element on at the same time (I mean it IS vacation…who really cares about time anyway?). I turn it off when not using the hot water – it’s just a waste of energy to let it keep the water hot if it’s not being used.

It’s getting into the beginning of travel season so now anyplace I go I’ll probably need to reserve a spot. It’s just guessing the weather and figuring out the place to go but I have a few places in mind so I can go ahead and make a reservation. Looking at a campground I was considering last night it was already booked so it may just be a trip our two to a forest someplace. I’ll continue to look today for someplace though. I’ve been around to several areas of the state so I have a good idea of how the areas are and some of the things to see and do. I just need to get some traveling in before school is out. I want to avoid the crowds.

I had three plants in pots in my window I started from seed. I though in both pots were tomatoes, but as they grew the one on the left didn’t look right. I had my suspicions for the last few weeks as to what it actually was. I looked it up over the weekend and I was correct – a jalapeño pepper plant. I forgot I had planted a seed of one I sliced up to cook with.

Both of the tomato plants and the pepper plant are all about 6-8 inches high so I transplanted them all into bigger pots this weekend as well. I guess I could use the newly-emptied pots to start some more tomatoes. Hope the jalapeños do okay since I want to make some salsa. I even popped a few bell pepper seeds in my window boxes this weekend. Might as well take advantage of the space. I cook with them – not a fan of raw – so all I need are a few plants. I will have to find some other things to put in the window box. I’ve got cherry tomatoes and they have seeds!

The rest of my gardening endeavour is still looking pretty good. Things are really growing in the raised bed, and there are many surprises popping up in the yard. The crocus are gone, but the bluebells (hyacinths) are in full force, the rhodys are coming on strong, there are a few daffodils and there are many plants growing around the yard that do not look like weeds so I am anxious to see what blooms. The apple, plum, and cherry trees are all flowering, and there are a few other trees that I have no idea what they are – they have some really good-smelling flowers though. Gonna have a big crop of fruit this year by the looks of the flowering on the branches. And of course there are the dandelions…

The birds are going crazy and I got a few new ones to look at this past week – American goldfinch and golden-crowned sparrow. Nothing unusual – just my first ones of the year.I got the feeders filled. The birdbath got cleaned out and they really like that.

I was finally able to work on mowing the yard this weekend and have to finish it up today. The grass was pretty thick and so full of moisture it was mighty slow going. I’m trying to cut it shorter this time so I can let it go a longer amount of time between if I need to. The previous tenants left me a mower and trimmer so I didn’t have to buy anything or hire anyone. I get absolutely no joy out of mowing grass so I may find a neighbor kid to do it eventually.

I’ve been eating too much stuff I shouldn’t be eating recently so I have got to buckle down again and eat better. I have been on a seafood binge lately. Yeah, it’s baked but it’s also breaded so I try to keep the portions down, but honestly…who can REALLY eat only six shrimp when there are two dozen in the box?!?! Water consumption is up so that helps the body and gives an energy boost. It also helps fill stomach space instead of food. I am eating more salads and veggies and I am definitely more active now but I have to get better at being better again.

A BIG problem is I haven’t felt much like cooking lately. I still really enjoy it but haven’t felt like doing it. I’m getting back at it though and I am making a few things today from the Hello Fresh recipe cards after a visit to the local grocery store. The cool thing is that I already have most of the things for two of the recipes. I may look at a third recipe, perhaps for the Instant Pot, but not sure what yet if at all. Perhaps those wonton wrapper lasagnes. Those were good.

It’s very frustrating to try to find ways to stay away from Amazon. I needed to order a few things and the products I need have to be ordered through an Amazon storefront anyway so I broke down and got Prime again. I’ll still shop local as much as possible. It does include Prime Video though.

I have been catching some TV shows on Prime that I have never heard of before but that I like. “Corner Gas” is another Canadian show and is kind of “Scrubs in a Saskatchewan convenience store”. It isn’t “Letterkenny”, but it has its moments. Another one I just discovered is “London Irish”. The first episode is hilarious. A quirky show and very very funny. Can’t wait to see where this series goes.

That’s it for today. Off to the store.