I diagnosed the problem with the vacuum correctly - there was a partial blockage half-way through the hose. I finally settled on using a spirtle to drop through the hose and gradually push out the wad of hair stuck to some kind of plastic clip. I've never used a spirtle to make oatmeal (though I'm making it regularly again now that it's autumn weather). I'm not sure what you'd actually do with it that is more efficient than a wider wooden spoon? It has been rinsed off and is drying before going back into the ornamental pitcher full of other wooden kitchen implements.

I moved four potted plants out onto the driveway in front of the garage; I haven't cleared out space in the greenhouse for them yet. Peppers and tomatoes and eggplants are still forming and growing.

This afternoon I had to reinforce the compost siding (a plastic wrap-around thing meant specifically to be used for compost) because the puppy figured out how to collapse one side and walk right in. That dog does the math - as sweet as the face is there is a little devil inside! After that I hauled all of those now-recycled pasta sauce jars and lids to the village recycle bins. There were two excellent sturdy milk crates in one of them that yes, I grabbed and brought home. I'll clean them up on general principles and probably use them in the greenhouse to prop things on or store tools in.