Two Weeks to OBX

In two weeks the Ducksters will be reunited at OBX, that's the Outer Banks for you non-middle Atlantic folks.  There is so much to do here first. Get the spring pruning done (butterfly bush and crape myrtle--I'm late on that), weed and spread mulch, get the porch furniture out, etc. etc not to mention the inside stuff plus actually getting the OBX stuff together and ready to go. So, what do I do, I buy three Cleveland Select Ornamental Pear trees for the edge of the old garden area.  I love these trees and they are all over here. They bloom in very early spring (already done) and they turn lovely reds and maroons in the fall. Their growth is very upright with a tear drop shape to the limbs.  They are often used in urban street scapes due to their upright shape and rapid growth. I got these from Vaughan's in Dublin (VA not Ireland) where I know the owners and love talking with them -- two sisters. Fortunately, I was smart enough to bite the bullet and have them plant them. Paid for them yesterday and Sherry Vaughan said maybe in a week or so they could get it done.  I reminded her--two weeks to OBX.  Now for folks in this area to say you are going to the beach (we always ask Myrtle or OBX--this is VERY different and tells alot about who you are) is like saying I'm on a pilgrimage and people take it seriously. So, low and behold Sherry calls about 11AM  to say, "We can be there by 1PM today to plant."  Mr.P. and I were just getting ready to go to lunch and take a bunch of old electronics to the e-recycling (remember I'm also cleaning out the storage room) which ends at 3PM.  This is county sponsored and only happens once or twice a year so missing this is not a joke.

 We strategize. If we wait and try to do everything together, we'll be eating lunch at 3PM.  So, I send off Mr.P. with the electronics (YES !!!, getting rid of something more) and go out to connect hoses, etc.  Also, while waiting I decide to get the area rug down in CD's bedroom for Mr.P's treadmill. Good move because just as I get the carpet on the pad, the door bell rings and they are here about 15 minutes early. Great !!! There is hope for a lunch by 2PM.  So, Sherry's son and two helpers get on the job (which was fantastic, planted,mulched and staked) and by 1:30 we're good to go.  No, Mr.P.  I come in and see he's called and call back.  OK  He's in this long line of folks with huge loads of electronics and is only two away from drop off. He's been waiting over half an hour.  OK. My back hurts from shifting stuff around and doing some weeding so I can move on to the mulch. I sit down with the heating pad on my back and do a little reading (yes, on the Kindle) and am just dosing off when Baby Girl does the "DADDY'S HOME" jump off the bed.  Wash hands, brush teeth and hair and change shirt. We're good to go.
We're just sitting down at one off our favs BT's when Mr. P. looks at his watch and says, "You said we'de be eating at 3PM and its two minutes of."  It's amazing what you do to meet the OBX deadline and keep moving on the at home agenda. Mr.P. is a brick. Don't you just love that man. I do.