Meatloaf at the Market Day

Yesterday (May 12) there was no post because the gray skies and northeast wind continued, and that did not seem worth mentioning. Peter finished wiring in new outlets and did some other work, I helped Katya study for a final exam next week, and there was no excitement anywhere. There was not even a sunset meriting a walk to behold it.

Today (We just realized it is Friday the 13th!) it was warm enough that only shorts and t-shirts were needed outside. The sun shone for much of the day. In the late morning, Peter suggested going to the Oxford Market again for lunch. It seemed to me that there were plenty of menu selections on the boat, but I was agreeable to going out. (Besides, I needed to go to the market for my Diet Coke.) Once we arrived, I realized why we went today. Friday is meatloaf day, and Peter had previously raved about it. He was in luck, because we arrived just in time for him to get the very last serving, with gravy, mashed potatoes and coleslaw. I ordered a veggie wrap, which was also delicious. We sat at one of the picnic tables on the sidewalk in front of the store to eat. There was a large pot of colorful flowers on each brightly painted table, and more flowers in flats and pots filled shelves separating the street from the sidewalk as gorgeous hanging baskets hung from beams. They all must have arrived this morning, because I noticed yesterday that the shelves were mostly empty and there were no hanging baskets. I suspect the new ones will disappear quickly also as there seems to be a mania for flowering plants here in Oxford.

Each day when I walk about town, I find something in bloom that wasn't out the day before. Today, we discovered large, vivid pink Chinese peonies with layers of petals; some of the blooms were accented with a middle layer of creamy white petals that were thinner and pointed, enclosing a few more petals of pink. We also encountered a large China rose bush with each bloom uniquely colored and striped. 

Chinese peony

Pink and deep red China rose

China rose in shades of red, yellow and white

China rose on same plant with more speckles

The wind was lighter today, and we were able to get the stack pack sail cover attached to the boom. We plan to arise early tomorrow, before thunderstorms arrive late in the morning, in order to put on the mainsail.