The sweetpeas finally made their appearance on Sunday morning but, alas, they got quite a beating on Monday. Not from those wretched snails but from the two goons … I mean, gardeners … who at last arrived to work on the main garden. The Landlady assured me she had warned them to leave my patch alone so they didn’t dig it up. But that didn’t stop them from walking on it, throwing down their tools there and before leaving, even laying a big piece of wood right on top of the collard greens. Earlier I had been so irked by them that I took smoke breaks in the back with Sparky so as not to have to watch. I did the best I could to water and comfort the poor plants when those “gentlemen” departed but further planting is definitely suspended until their final exit. And the sooner the better.

Husband and I talked on the weekend, agreed we’d both plant the entire garden in vegetables were the Landlady not so set on bricks and grass. Looks like she’s not getting her bricks. At least so far the space has been completely cleared and I suppose sowing grass seed is the next step.

Patience is a virtue, they say, but whatever you call it, I’ve always had an extremely limited supply of the stuff, never more than when finances are involved. I hate being broke when I know money is coming, especially when the government owes me. That total is now up to five hundred, but then we were told not to expect the “stimulus” payment until May. Ah, come on, I wanna be stimulated!

Meanwhile, the State of Hawaii owes me a dollar. State law requires that a refund be given to all residents whenever there is a budget surplus for two consecutive years. So they’re giving us all a dollar. No comment, or at least none fit for public consumption.