breakdown blues

The delights of gardening have been well-documented here. But any illusions about the bliss of homeownership were soundly crushed this spring as we juggled planned and unplanned home projects. My mental energy was diverted from nursery decor to window replacement, from editing to A/C repair. Planned upgrades included a new cap and crown for the chimney and new windows. Unplanned “upgrades” included a new electric meter box, a new refrigerator, and a new A/C condenser. It seems the closer we get to the baby’s due date (now next week!), the quicker the succession of problems. In early May, as I recounted the fridge debacle to an overnight guest who arrived the day after the appliance’s replacement, I realized that air was blowing through the house but it wasn’t getting cooler. This week, the new condenser was installed and cool comfort restored. Predictably, a thunderstorm knocked out the internet a mere four hours later. (Ironically, as I was writing this post.) The dryer—which is older than I am—has been making funny noises (the HVAC tech volunteered that it’s probably a loose belt) and the neighborhood woodpecker has decided our wood trim is his favorite breakfast treat. So, back to gardening: At least the netting is keeping the birds, bunnies, and squirrels off my produce!