Shopping and Mushroom Planting – PFTR

It’s been a busy week and we have had big temperature swings. Monday and Tuesday, it was in the 20’s (in the teens with wind chill) and toward the end of the week it was back in the 60s. That might not seem cold to some of you, but to us, anything below 30 is COLD!

I was pretty well prepared for this cold snap. Chicken waterers were emptied and metal plans substituted, heaters in the chicken coops and greenhouse were hooked up, rubber gloves and rubber boots where located where I could find them.  All and all it went pretty well.

You know how Judy always complains about me dragging her to the town to go shopping?  Well, I want you to know that this week, out of the blue, came 3 Judy shopping requests. You heard me right, not one, not two but THREE requests in less than 4 days.  “Vince, would you like to go to ____ so we can get_____?” I was very content to stay home, especially in the cold. But being the kind hearted person I am, there was no screaming, no threats of missing meals, no retaliation of buying more yarn, just a, “Sure Dear I would be happy to take you”.

Our first excursion was to the grocery store to get Blue Bell Christmas Cookie Ice Cream.  It was in big demand last year and we were never able to find it. A couple of weeks ago I saw the rare ice cream in Walmart and purchased one.  Upon arrival at home, Judy’s first comment was, “You only got one?” I thought we should make sure we liked it before filling the freezer. Then came the taste test.  OMG, you would have thought Judy died and went to heaven. I have to admit it was pretty good. The following week, we looked to replace the quickly emptied carton, but it was nowhere to be found.  We went to three different stores and all were out. I kid you not, there is a facebook group that reports on the availability of that ice cream in this town. Word went out this week that Christmas Cookie was back so that’s what stimulated Judy’s first request to go “SHOPPING”.  

The second request came mid week and this time it was to go to Walmart.  Are you kidding me, Judy wants to go to Walmart!!! So off we go again. This time she wanted to shop for little Christmas gifts.  I didn’t mind because I did need a few things for the mushroom garden.

The last request came when she heard about an Advent Calendar being sold by Aldi. I told her I saw it by the registers the last time I was in the store, so off we go to get one. When we arrived at the store Judy headed toward the last known location and I went in the opposite direction.  In a few minutes I see her coming with a frown on her face. As she gets closer she tell me she can’t find them. So off I go searching where I saw them last. The first thing I do is ask the cashier if they have any more. She tells me they have been moved and we head to the new location.  After awhile I spot them and show them to Judy. Judy says, “they’re chocolate” and I reply “yes they are”. Judy quickly responds, “I hate chocolate – I wanted cheese.” CHEESE – there was never ever any mention of cheese. All that she said (or I heard and the debate continues) was Advent calendar.  After a brief discussion about who said what and when and the unsolicited comments of an eavesdropping shopper (she had to tell us how she and her husband don’t say and hear the same thing…geezzz), I ask another worker if they have Cheese Advent Calendars. She points to the refrigerated cheese area and says, “they’re at the end of the shelf”.  Once again, there is momentary harmony and joy is restored. Judy has her cheese calendar and off we go on the rest of our adventure, hopefully, without the help of anymore eavesdroppers! By the way, Judy doesn’t hate chocolate and I have never figured out why she insists she does. I have seen her eat it more times than I am years old and that’s a lot!

The last part of the week, I did get to mushrooming and the first thing I had to do was get the area ready and find all the items and tools required. The placement area had already been cleared and a number of oak logs were cut and ready for planting. To keep the logs from sitting directly on the ground, I used plastic pallets, on which the logs would sit.  Being ergonomically minded, I needed a work surface (table) on which to prepare the logs. Again, I repurposed some materials on hand and made a sturdy table.

As with most everything I do these days, it all takes longer than I think it should take. I’m going to need to get more oak logs cut before I can get all the plugs inserted.

Later this week, I’ll do another post with the step by step instructions for plugging the logs. It’s all pretty interesting.