Meanwhile...

[This rose is just getting weirder]

I needed a few things, so I hopped on my bike and attacked the Wal*Mart. I really like their hanging planters, so I bought four -- three smallish, one larger. Their planters are terra cotta colored with a water reservoir in the bottom so the plants aren't gasping of thirst on a summer afternoon after being watered in the morning.

I also bought (and hope they fit!) a couple pairs of Danskin yoga pants, black, and a scoop neck top, also black. If the pants fit I will try to scrape off the little danskin logo at one ankle.

Butter was cheap, eggs were cheaper, so I struck (four pounds and two dozens, respectively).

Best of all, I bought myself a telescoping walking stick. It's not the device of my dreams, which would be sturdier and also include a monopod. But it will ride nicely on my bike rack so that I can bike somewhere and then use it for stability. I am finding I'm a little happier walking over uneven ground with the aid of a walking stick -- I've developed quite a horror of injuring ankles or knees one more time.

Tonight I will take my hanging plants out of their flimsy white pots and give them a little good soil as well as room to put down roots and drink more water. [Update: I did re-pot my plants but think I may need variable lengths of chain so that they aren't all hanging at the same height -- it looks weird. Also, the Danskin pants are okay but a mite snug and the telescoping walking stick needs to have its screws tightened.]