Hello? Anybody out there?

Some explanatory notes:

• a whatever was handy shed
• a soldiers and sailors cemetery, thru the bus window (ergo the smudges and reflection)
• the 'street' to the house where the yardsale was held
• old bus stop sign, taken during this morning's wait...
  

With certain exceptions, I do rather feel like I am more alone than I ever felt in Italy, so much further away...(farther away? Nina - which should it be?)

Today was oddly glorious.

The morning started (at 7, on a Saturday, waiting for a bus at the top of the hill from my place, by golly) with a trough of rain cells aimed arrow straight for us. It wasn't, however, a storm - just rain, so I opened my umbrella and huddled real close, pretty much inside of, the hibiscus hedge at the bus stop, and things were fine. The bus - given it was early on a Saturday morning - made it from its starting point to where I was a good 10 minutes earlier than it would have if it had been a reasonable hour.

That early bus was necessary if I was going to make it to a must-be-there-at-opening yard sale on the other side of the island (and more importantly, on another bus route.) I'd tried to get there all week. I'd semi-arranged to buy an oriental rug from them (well, oriental-patterned rug, the rug is actually by Mohawk Carpets), and my work buddy was going to do help Wed or Th or Fri this week, but as a supervisor he had to step in when one of his inspectors called in sick.

So - Saturdays meaning even skimpier bus service, with the next bus in to Hamilton being an hour later - my 7.10 am bus got me to the bus terminal in Hamilton about 7.45. The #8 runs every 15 minutes, and the ride out to the Port Royal area in Southampton would take about 30-40 minutes, so I stopped for a coffee and breakfast, then caught the bus. (Taking the next bus at 8.15 from the house would have meant I wouldn't have made it out there until around 9.30. Early is must-do with yardsales having stuff you know you want.)

Anyway, it was a good sale to attend. Besides the rug, I got sheets and towels and kitchen stuff, and feel things are nearly complete. Too late for the microwave, tho - she'd promised it to someone already - and she had no pots/pans. By the time I left they were just giving me whatever I asked about, which was nice.

Roy showed up at our agreed-to time, we loaded his car, then he decided he wanted to go see what they had at the sale for himself. He bought some binoculars and some tools, and we high-tailed it over to my apartment, hauled the stuff up to the unit, hopped back in the car for redelivery of me to a nice garden center/nursery. He, I think, likes to take his boat out and go fishing, and play golf on the weekend. Nice guy, and has been warmly helpful.

I've been thinking I'd like to set up some pots on the deck, with herbs and veg, and maybe some bigger growy stuff to help moderate road noise - some rosemary for near the bedroom windows (love the smell), some hibiscus, perhaps some other things that can tolerate a lot of hours of sun, the somewhat salty breeze and a distinct lack of my Mother's green thumb. (She can get anythingn to grow.) Ergo the garden center visit, Aberfeldy near the National Trust offices at Waterville . The herbs were priced acceptably; the potted plants started at $15 and, depending on size, were $48 or $68 or more for showier, instant coverage plants. They do deliver (free); they do have a good selection and patient, helpful staff.

I walked into town from there, stopping at a couple shops carrying things like outdoor furniture, kitchen cabinets and tables, and such. Nothing persuasive - I'm sort of looking for something that could serve as a worksurface island for the kitchen - and so continued on to check out a couple sites for which I have applications under review, and then to the one in-town hardware store. Everytime I've asked where to look for something, I've been told Masters, so I was glad to see what the place was like. One thing immediately apparent - one does not go to hardware stores for building supplies. The temptations were primarily garden-oriented - their pots and potting soils were less than half what Aberfeldy charged for the same thing - but I am a sucker for hardware shops and have to look at everything.

And then home. I've unpacked the bags I set inside this morning, and I've started doing some serious cleaning (ergo the time-out to write for a little while...)

Fun.