Garden update:  The mint continues to go crazy (I need to drink more mojitos).  Pretty sure the basil is doomed.  The two purchased tomato plants are growing nicely - blossoms on both and I even spotted one tomato yesterday.  The grown from seed ones... well, three of them are still alive, but still only about 3" tall.  The pepper plants are not only alive but look happy, even though they too are only a couple of inches tall.

Rest of the yard update:  I'm glad I got moving and mowed last night as it is raining again today.  Hopefully I can finish the weed eating this weekend (the battery didn't last long enough to finish it all last night).  The swing set is set for delivery on June 7th, so I fully expect it to continue raining until then.

One of the mourning doves has fledged.  The other, as I read online is typical, is being stubborn and hasn't left the nest yet.  I was blessed to see the first guy down in the grass a few days ago.

I was correct that the pest company would simply dust the holes for the eff'n carpenter bees.  So far I haven't spotted others flying around, but I remain on watch.

Shoulder update:  On Monday the ortho/doctor indicated I could drop off to 1 or 2 times a week with physical therapy, so I cancelled my Wednesday appointment.  We'll see how this afternoon goes with 4 days between visits.

Eff'n carpenter bees.  They're back and gnawing at the underside of the roof over my deck.  I've killed two females so far and am presently waiting for a third to feel comfortable enough to come back so I can make another attempt at her life.  My pest control company, which was here a few weeks ago is to return tomorrow, not that I see them doing more than dusting in the holes.  Big whoop.

The company that put the roof on assured me they never had issues with carpenter bees coming after it.  The internet assured me if we varnished that wood it would keep them away.  Nope.

Still waiting for the swing set to get scheduled.  I haven't done anything with regard to the mud pit either.

Back on April 9th I planted some tomato seeds.  On March 7th I had planted pepper seeds.  Both are still pretty small, despite being under a grow light for a few weeks, but I moved them into bigger pots today.  Hopefully something survives. I've never had luck from seeds.  After a week of disappointing odds and ends I just want some small victory.

Of the larger items purchased form the hardware store and potted in larger containers a few weeks ago they still seem to be growing roots as they haven't shot up just yet.  I noticed today that I have little bugs with larger wings all over the tomato plants - time to do some research. The basil isn't looking great, but the mint seems to be quite pleased.

The strawberries from last year have greened up nicely.  It didn't produce too many strawberries last year, but it is a pleasant surprise that it survived the winter since the pots were outside.  The pot of potatoes are also looking quite good.

My eyes often open somewhere between 5:30 and 6:20am.  My alarm is set for 6:40am, so typically I am excited at rolling over and trying to close my eyes again.  Today, when I woke at 6am I decided I had time if I got up to get in the hot tub whilest I listened to a daily podcast (Bible in a Day, thank you Father Mike) and shower off quickly before getting Avery up.  So - at last I finally had my first soak that wasn't in the dark.

Last night while we were out back I dug two full bricks out of the pressed down dirt.  Now I know where the big pile of bricks in the garage came from.  I guess they used this lot to dump things.  Yay.  We picked some of the larger surface rocks and tossed them into the rocked area beside the concrete slab and I moved her existing play toys to the now dry mud pit.  Did you watch Parks and Rec?  I can't help but think of "the pit".  I also reached the swing set place - he basically pushed me off indicating he would call me when he's ready to schedule me.  *sigh*  Next time I won't be nice and postpone due to rain and mud.

Today the asphalt guy was here to re-seal the driveway, so that is at least checked off of the household to do list.  If anything would have the swing set guy call right away to deliver immediately it would be having a driveway that I shouldn't use for 48 hours, right?

There was 4 eggs in the robin nest.  They were getting big and I was concerned as they didn't seem super reactive, but I have seen the adults coming to the nest and I heard them making plenty of noise.  Then tonight I found one down below on the concrete and he is no longer with us.  This hurts my heart so much.

It doesn't seem like the mourning dove ever moves from that nest.  I learned that they swap out, so I just am not there at the right time. Since there is a feathery bum on the nest all the time I haven't been able to peek through the deck to look for eggs there.

Tonight we're back to freezing temps, so I once again brought everything back inside *sigh* I am so over this.  I guess I should shut up, at least the sun was out today instead of rain, right?  I haven't been able to get ahold of the swing set people yesterday or today.

I still don't know what I'm going to do out there.  I called a place right up the road.  They do have top soil and the rocks, but they only deliver and dump, they don't provide the services to spread.  Not having time to breathe as is, the tire on the wheelbarrow being flat every friggin time I need to touch the thing, and my recent endeavors with my shoulder tell me that wouldn't have worked out very well.  Even if I could do that part of the work I don't have the tools or the strength to tamp the areas that are a complete mess.  I HATE how steep the back and side is going towards the fence.  I'm not happy with the current results, but I'm in too far at this point.  F this.

Yup. Mud.  Lots of mud.  Swing set delivery postponed.  I am to contact them when it seems reasonable... uh... so, maybe sometime this year we'll see the swing set.

I did get the other landscape guy here today.  His price tag is as high as the guy who flattened everything out.  Ouch.  Not sure right now what to do. I punted and said I'd be back in touch after the swing set is in.

Physical therapy continues.  Two more works of that scheduled. Shoulder still hurts in some directions.  I need to keep this thing moving.  I need more hours in the day, please.

The delivery/stand up of the swingset is set for Thursday (providing the weather doesn't create a complete mud pit by then).

I took my first soak in the hot tub last night and I head to my follow up appointment with the ortho dr today.  Busy busy busy - good stuff.

A little bit of new stuff:  we were up bright and shiny yesterday.  It was Avery's first swim lesson in a series.  Technically she has had a few other lessons when she was teeny, but this is different.  Mommy is not in the water and she works with an instructor.  It ended up being 3 little girls (they indicated on the website it would be a ratio of 4:1).  She did really well, even jumping in (with a little bit of a crouch) to the teacher at the end of the lesson.  They're short lessons, but it's something and I can watch to see how I can try to break things down and reinforce this summer.  My goal is to have her actually swimming.

Update to my updates:

The second electric estimate was even higher.  *facepalm*  Delivery was set up for yesterday, so I called the first place back.  The great thing is the electrician arrived about 5 minutes after the delivery team, so they were ready to get that entire project complete yesterday.  It hurt to write the check, but it's done!  The hot tub is full, I put the initial treatment in, I will check the ph tonight and hopefully will get to wash away some of the other anxieties that continue to linger.

The landscaping guy also came yesterday.  I'm going to freely admit, this one chalks up to not being crystal clear between the two of us.  My anxiety is a bit higher as a result.  So he flattened a 28'x35' area.  Technically that is probably what they indicate for the set given that they say to have 5' all around it as play space, but I'm sorry, that's excessive.  The good news is I have a very big flat space.  The bad news is two-fold, this means a dip down closer to the top of the yard now and a much steeper dip at the back -- which is WAY to close to the fence for my liking.  It feels like a launch pad for a future dog.  The other bad news is I am back to a mud pit that needs a lot of grass seeding and all of that expense.  I need to take a minute and think about what feels like the best path forward now.  Another piece of good news is that I can call the swing set folks to set delivery to said mud pit.

In the middle of this crazy packed day I ran my sister back to the airport.  Traffic and closed lanes made this a two-hour ordeal.  *shakes head*  But she is home safe and sound.

Physical therapy still hurts on the directions where I have some restrictions.  I need to really work things today.  I have a follow up tomorrow at the ortho.