Unraveled Wednesday 9/16/26

 Good Morning!

I'm sipping hot coffee and have a shawl wrapped around my shoulders as I type this post.  It feels wonderful!  Yesterday morning I actually turned the heat on in the bathroom when I took a shower.  The days do warm up a bit, but these deliciously cool mornings are bliss.

Yesterday we had flower beds weeded and mulched.  It looks so nice!  Fletch is no longer able to weed and I tried it but I'm not really a gardening type of person.  I don't enjoy it.  So...I called the guy who sends a crew out to mow our lawn and they took care of doing the job.  It feels good to have that done.

It's Wednesday and time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to chat about what we are making and reading.

Though I have not done any stitching in two weeks, I did manage to find a bit of knitting time and the first of Fletcher's birthday socks is finished and the second one started!

I wish the colors were showing more accurate in the above photo.  The heel and toe are knit using a mini skein from The YarnSmith in the color way "American Robin."  The other two colors are from the Farmer's Daughter - the August Sock Squad colors called "Harvest Lantern."  The band below the ribbed cuff, the heel and the rows before the toe decreases are knit in the mini - it is really a very pretty loden green color.  The main color is very light.  I like how the first sock turned out and am eager to complete the second.  Hopefully by Fletcher's birthday which is next week (I'd best get moving on it).

Reading has slowed for me a bit.  As I've mentioned, it has been a busy time and there are many nights when I'm too tired to pick up a needle or even read more than a page or two.  I did finish another Bruno, Chief of Police book, The Children Return by Martin Walker.  This is just such an enjoyable series.

I am continuing to listen to John of John by Douglas Stuart.  After last night's Zoom meeting and discussion, I am more interested in finishing this (I still have about 9 hours of listening left), but I tend to forget about it!  

I'm also continuing to read slowly Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps by Ted Kooser.  The short little blurbs (for lack of a better word - some are only a paragraph) about life where Kooser lives (Southeastern Nebraska) are just delightful.  I'm taking my time with this one to thoroughly enjoy it.

After some false starts with other books, Fletch and I have settled in to listening to Landmarks, another book by Robert Macfarlane.  This one has been described as a field guide to the literature of nature.  We both enjoy his writing so much.

Now it's time for my day to begin!  I hope to get a bit of knitting in this morning before I have a haircut appointment.  No other plans at this point which is just how I like it!  I hope your week is going well.

Mid-September! 9/14/26

 Hello My Friends!

Well, that was a bit of an unintended break - LOL.  I decided to not post last Tuesday for TNT because I had no new stitching to show (and I still don't, so unless I manage to sneak in some stitches this afternoon there will be no TNT post tomorrow).  And then one thing led to another and life got busy and I just stopped even looking at the computer (which really is an okay thing to do).

Nothing major went on - we did get our updated Covid shots during the week (and I'm scheduling our flu shots for this week).  There was a trip to Quest for lab work to be done.  Meals were prepared.  A little (very little) knitting was accomplished and a bit of reading (but again, no stitching).  I had a quiet, but lovely birthday and managed to turn another year older.

One day I wandered out to the garden to pick some parsley for whatever I was preparing.  Look what I saw:

I think/hope this is a Monarch caterpillar and there were more than a dozen of these guys all over my parsley plant.  Now I need to be careful when I pick!  For the record, there were also plenty of yellow beans hanging and ready to be picked, but I did not bother.  Fletch will save some for next year's seeds, but we already have a large bag in the fridge and there is the full gallon bag at Colin's, so I let these go.  One can only eat so many beans!

The kids have been away again, so I've been running over to feed Talbot (and clean litter boxes) twice a day.  This morning will be the last run - the kids come home today.  I have a big pot of Brunswick stew to leave in their fridge for their return.  And Bonnie, Mailing's Mom, is back from her Alaskan cruise, so she is taking over Iris duties for the balance of the week.

No real plans for this week other than a haircut on Wednesday and a flu shot (whenever I book them).  I'm really (seriously) attempting to clean out the freezer, so grocery runs have been lighter (and cheaper).  Today is forecast to be cooler, so Fletch is planning to grill a pork loin roast I discovered in the freezer...and I guess I may cook up some of those yellow beans that have been hanging in the fridge.

So, nothing exciting, but I'm hoping to get back to checking your blogs at some point today.  And I hope everyone is doing well!  Cheers to another week (and how can it be mid-September already?).

Weekending 9/7/26

 Good Morning!

Happy Labor Day!  It's a long weekend here in the States, but honestly since retirement it's hard for me to keep track.  I will tell you that the weather has been just about perfect.  Sunny days but low humidity and modest temps - I think the high temp yesterday was 78.  I've had a few texts from the kids who are out in Pittsburgh and it looks equally beautiful there.  They've had fun meeting friends for meals, visiting Phipps and the Aviary and then yesterday they took off hiking/backpacking in the Laurel Highlands.  They will come home today.

Do you remember how the other week I said I thought the beans were winding down?  I was wrong.  LOL

Saturday afternoon I wandered out to the garden to get some parsley.  This is what I came back with.  The yellow beans completely filled (to bursting) a gallon zip lock bag.  There was a quart bag of green beans, some cherry tomatoes and the parsley is on the top.  And a cucumber too!  All of the beans and the cucumber have found their way to C&M's house.

Yesterday afternoon I walked out to cut some flowers and came home with another basket full of beans!  HELP!!!  Today I will be cooking up a yellow and green bean casserole.

Yesterday I made Slow Cooker Italian Summer Soup using THIS RECIPE.  Wow was it good!  I used both yellow squash and zucchini and I also added some asparagus stalks we had.  This is a great recipe for cleaning out the fridge.  I think it would be great with hot Italian sausage rather than the sweet (or a combination of both), but I used sweet as I plan to leave a big container in C&M's fridge this morning for their return later today.  The sweet sausage is ok for Iris but the hot is a bit much for her.  On my way over to their house this morning to feed Talbot I will also stop and pick up a loaf of crusty bread to go with the soup.

I'm planning a few chores for today (bathrooms, laundry, etc.), but am hoping that the afternoon will find me with either a stitching needle in hand, or a pair of socks in progress in my lap.  Or both.  And a book too.  Probably a nap will occur as well.

Wishing you all a wonderful start to the week - enjoy!

Unraveled Wednesday 9/2/26

 Hello My Friends,

Hoo-Boy it is hot and humid this morning.  Not what I consider to be typical September weather (but who knows?  That could be changing...).  We had a lovely thunderstorm last night which cooled things down for a short while.  I was hoping to fall asleep to the rain, but it ended before I went to bed.  But...nonetheless...I slept much better than the night before and I am thankful for that.

And now it is Wednesday and time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk all things making and reading.  Everyone always shares such interesting and fun projects and a wealth of books is explored.  So hop in and enjoy!

If you keep up with my blog then you already know that I finished the Honky Tonk Shortie Socks last week.  Needing something on the needles for easy knitting whilst Iris naps, I cast on for another pair of socks (naturally).  These will be for Fletch's birthday which is later this month...so I need to stay focused and get them done!

This is the start of the first sock.  The two solid colors (and the green is like a dark olive or loden green - very pretty) are the selections from The Farmer's Daughter August Sock Squad.  The variegated yarn that I used for the cuff is from another dyer (I can't remember who) that I picked up at a fiber festival (I think NJ a few years ago).  The color way is "American Robin" and I love how it blends with the two solid colors.

My Semplice shawl has been on my mind.  I really need to pick that up and finish it...I'm not far from the end.  But with a 4 stitch increase every other row, the rows keep getting longer and longer!  And though I like the pattern, I'm not thrilled with the color I chose.  Oh well.  Sometimes that happens.

Reading continues apace.  I did finish Country People by Daniel Mason.  The book started off great for me - lots of laugh out loud sections and the quirkiness of Vermonters came through.  But, after a bit it just felt ridiculous and a little stupid to me.  North Woods by Mason is a much better book in my opinion.

Next up I read Winter: The Story of a Season by Val McDermid.  What a delight this little book was.  I could have read it in one sitting but someone was hankering for dinner (not me).  This little gem was charming and cozy and made me look forward to winter days!

I am also continuing to listen to John of John by Douglas Stuart, but it is a slow listen for me.  My mind tends to wander while listening to this book and even though I'm keeping an open mind, I'm not really into this one at all.  But, I will continue to listen and hope that it gets better for me.  Our discussion is next week I think, so I'd best get moving on it.

Fletch and I did start listening to The Proud Tower by Barbara Tuchman, but we both are having difficulty getting into it, following it, and not falling asleep while listening!  I think we will go with another book.

What are you making and reading this week?

Tiny Needle Tuesday 9/1/26

 Good Morning and Welcome to September!

School busses are rolling and kids are back to school.  Where did the summer go?  Mailing's Mom is traveling again (Alaska now and Europe later in the month), so I've got a full schedule.  But, it's a little different as Colin, Mailing and Iris are going away the next two weekends.  I'll still be going over twice a day to feed Talbot, but I will have more free time.  This week I'll be with Iris Tues-Wed-Thurs and then feeding Talbot Friday afternoon through Monday morning.

It's that time of year where I'm finding it difficult to come up with dinner ideas.  I'm tired/bored with stuff we have during the summer, but it's still hot - too hot for soups and stews and those comforting foods.  I'll figure it out, but sometimes it feels difficult to even think (stupid humidity and heat).

But for now it's Tuesday and time for a TNT post.  Some modest progress has been made on the Aquamarine Sampler.  Modest progress is still progress though!

The second Quaker motif has been completed and a star has been added.  Now the debate is whether to continue downward or go across.  I'll just wait and see what I'm in the mood for the next time I pick up my needle.

What do you have planned for the beginning of September?  I hope it is something fun!

Weekending 8/31/26

 Good Morning!

I've been up and at it for some time already.  Cookies have been made (oatmeal raisin) and the kitchen cleaned up.  All that and Fletch is just getting up!  I had promised Iris I'd make her cookies and since I will be with her tomorrow I thought I'd best get at it.  And before the heat of the day.  There are two dozen without nuts that I will take to Iris and another 2.5 dozen here for Fletch with walnuts.  I may be ready to go back to bed - LOL

Meanwhile, the weekend was so nice.  Plenty of time for stitching and reading and cooking!  Colin came for dinner on Saturday (Mailing and Iris come home today from their weekend away).  I made a shrimp and scallop dish with cherry tomatoes and spinach thrown in at the end to wilt.  Tasty!  I also made the shredded carrot and beet salad that we enjoy so much.

The day was lovely and after dinner we sat outside with a fire.  A new ginger kitty we had not seen before showed up.

She (or he...I don't know) was so friendly.  Jumping up in our laps.  Talking, etc.  She kept going over to the door looking for Mabel (who was inside already for the night).  When Mabel finally came downstairs and wandered over to the door, the little ginger kitty got so excited.  She (he) just wanted to be friends and Mabel was NOT having it at all!  Mabel hissed and growled.  Ginger kitty was not put off.  She (he) hung around for another hour at both the front and back doors!

Saturday morning I had to run to the grocery store (for the spinach for dinner) and scored a great find at the front of the store.  Bulbs!  You may remember when I showed a picture of the Tigridia flowers in Colin's front bed and mentioned that I wanted to get some.  Well, I found them at the grocery store...and a couple of other ones that I had never heard of!

Our flower beds will hopefully be a riot of color next year.  The Crocosmia even claim to be deer resistant!  I think we will still be putting everything inside the fenced garden anyway.  But, who knows?  I may go back to the store and get more bulbs.

Schools around here are starting today.  It's the first time I can think of that they are starting before Labor Day.  

Time for me to pour another cup of coffee.  How was your weekend?

A Finish For A Friday! 8/28/26

 Good Morning Everyone,

Another drippy morning here.  But...the temps are still cool.  Not for long.  I think the heat will be back shortly.  We had a heavy rainfall around dinnertime yesterday...another inch in the rain gauge.  The garden is happy.  Luckily I went out in the morning to harvest some things.  Cucumbers are still growing.  Cherry tomatoes are definitely slowing down and beans...they keep coming.  I thought they were finished, but between yellow and green beans, I harvested more than enough for two meals.

I wish I had thought to take a picture of the harvest and also a picture of the pesto we had last night.  Boy did that turn out well!  The pesto was made using both parsley and basil.  Usually I add pine nuts, but I didn't really have enough so I thought to add pistachios.  However, when I looked for the pistachios I found they were gone...someone had eaten them all...so I used hazelnuts instead and it was great!  Some garlic, fresh grated parmesan and EVOO did the trick.  I added some grilled hot and sweet Italian sausage I had in the freezer and dinner was delicious.  (We also had salad.). In the past I had not been a fan of pesto, but fresh from the garden makes such a difference.  Vibrant and tasty!

Yesterday included time for knitting and bingo!  The shorty Honky Tonk socks are finished.

I'm pleased with the way they turned out and they fit me!  I also wound the August yarn from The Farmer's Daughter to start a pair of socks for Fletch.  Not started yet, but maybe today.

This morning I have a massage booked for 10:30.  Definitely looking forward to that.  I have a couple of books to drop at the library on my way to the massage.  And, a couple of errands to run before that.

Mailing is headed to the Catskills with a group of friends for the weekend and she is taking Iris.  So, Colin will be over tomorrow for dinner and (hopefully if the weather holds) a fire in our fire pit.  Looking forward to that.  Planning to fix some shrimp and scallops for dinner.  YUM!

Do you have any plans for the weekend?  The last one before Labor Day!  YIKES!!!

A Bear on Thursday!

 Good Morning!

Looks like we are in for a rainy day.  I've a load of wash in already, so the dryer will be put to use.  And I have a bunch of things I'd like to accomplish today.  We shall see...I tend to be full of big plans that don't always materialize.  But, no harm if I don't get everything done.

Yesterday was a lovely day with Iris.  We were outside for some swinging time and also playing in her mud kitchen.  That girl loves to wash dishes!  LOL. As I had hoped, I was able to finish the foot of the sock (25 rows) while she napped.  My intention was to finish up the toe area last night while listening to John of John.  But that did not happen.  I was distracted by other things and then we watched another episode of Ted Lasso and then I was too dang tired to knit!

On Tuesday my brother in Colorado (Boulder) texted me that a neighbor had come up in his driveway to warn him to keep the dogs inside - a mother bear and her cub were sitting on the fence between their properties.  Phil said he would not try to get close enough for a picture.  But then a little later he texted that the bears had decided to move on.

I cannot imagine seeing that in my backyard!

Time to get moving on the day.  Yesterday when I walked out to the garden to check on the large tomatoes (all still green), I noticed more beans:( both yellow and green to pick as well as more cherry tomatoes.  I'd like to get out before the rain comes.  I'll also grab a bunch of parsley as I plan to make some basil/parsley pesto for dinner tonight.

What do you have going on today?  I hope it is something fun!

Unraveled Wednesday 8/26/26

 Hello and Good Morning!

Thanks for the well wishes for my dermatologist appointment yesterday.  I'm so happy to say that absolutely NO spots of bother were found...in fact, my doctor said my skin looked great!  Whew!  All clear for another 6 months.

And now we find ourselves on a Wednesday morning.  Time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers for an Unraveled Wednesday post - the last one for August 2026.  Though my second Honky Tonk shorty sock has not been finished, progress was made.  I knit quite a bit on Monday while Iris napped and I am now just 20 rows short of starting the toe decreases.

With any luck I will knit those 20 rows today while Iris naps and maybe even get to start on the toe decreases!  

I'm anxious to pull out my August Farmer's Daughter yarn and get started on some socks for Fletcher.  The mornings are cool and a new paid of socks may just be the thing.  Of course, I need to knit socks for Iris as well - she has outgrown all of the ones I made for her the other year.  My email tells me that the September yarn from the Farmer's Daughter should arrive Saturday!  Time to get moving.

Reading continues to be good.  Fletch and I are almost finished The Wild Places by Robert Macfarlane.  I think we have just about an hour left to listen.  I've been thinking about what we should read or listen to next.  Colin suggested we might enjoy The Proud Tower by Barbara Tuchman.  I've never read anything by her, so am leaning towards that, but I also re-discovered a book on our bookshelves in the office that we read decades ago and may want to revisit.  Driftwood Valley is about a couple's experiences living in the wilderness of Northern British Columbia.

I'm continuing to read Country People by Daniel Mason and am enjoying it.  For me it is not a fast read, but it's providing some good laughs now and then.  

Tana French is not an author I've ever read...not sure why...but recently someone's review of one of her books convinced me to try one.  I picked up The Searcher which is the first of the Cal Hooper books and really liked it.  I will be finishing up that series for sure.

Finally, believe it or not I started listening to John of John by Douglas Stuart for our Read With Us group.  We will be meeting to discuss this book in September.  I'm only 35 minutes or so into it, but I'm happy that so far it is not like Young Mungo at all!  LOL. There is still a lot of listening for me to get done before our Zoom meet-up.

How about you?  What are you making and reading these days?

Tiny Needle Tuesday 8/25/26

 Good Morning,

Welcome to the last TNT for August 2026.  How is that even possible?  Regardless, I managed to get a small amount of stitching completed in the last week.

The first Quaker motif on the left has been completed and a second one started.  Sorry for the wrinkles.  I did take the sampler outside yesterday when I got home from watching Iris.  I was hoping to get a photograph in daylight thinking the thread color might show up better.  But...that did not work out.  I couldn't get the piece to lay flat enough plus I was worried about deer poop and piss getting on it!  Those critters are all over our yard and don't pick one place to do their business.  LOL

This morning I have an early (8:30) appointment with my dermatologist.  My semi-annual body check.  Hopefully no spots of bother will be found!  A little grocery shopping needs to be done and other than that, the day is open.  I'm hoping for some good making time and some good reading time.

May your Tuesday find you doing something you enjoy!

Weekending 8/24/26

 Good Morning!

It's a crisp morning here in Eastern PA and it feels great.  Feels like the humidity has been kicked away.  We had another strong storm late Saturday night.  Thunder, lightening and pounding rain.  Not enough to measure in the rain gauge, but it sounded almost like hail it was coming down so hard!

How was your weekend?  Ours was nice.  I took it easy and after getting some mild chores done on Friday I successful stayed away from doing any others.  Just as I was getting ready to cook some dinner on Saturday, Colin called and invited us over for dinner.  A nice surprise.  Iris and Mailing will be away this next weekend and then the following two weekends Colin, Mailing and Iris will all be away.  It was good - especially for Fletch - to see everyone on Saturday because it will be a month before we are back there!

Saturday morning I got busy making some food.  First I put up two jars of pickles using a large cucumber from Colin's garden.  Then I made a big batch of ham salad with some left over ham from Friday night's dinner.  Because I enjoy cooking so much, I don't consider making stuff like this to be a chore.  I debated about making a cake or cookies, but decided against that (for now).

On Sunday I finally wandered out to the garden in the afternoon.  I spotted no beans (which is ok) and only 5 cherry tomatoes.  There are still a number of large tomatoes on the vine, but all green.  The garden seems to be winding down.  But then, I discovered this beauty hiding!

A nice, hefty cucumber (which Fletch says looks more like a zucchini).  It is about 8" long.  For some reason the cucumbers from this plant are not all that tasty raw, so I will most likely be making more pickles.

Next I started looking at the apples on our tree and ended up picking a bunch.  Our tree is a red delicious that Fletch planted 3+ decades ago.  There were many years when we had good crops of apples and made a lot of applesauce.  Then the apples started looking damaged and fell early from the tree.  This year we are back to having nice looking apples.

After dinner last night I peeled and cut up the apples and made a nice pot of applesauce!  YUM!!

When I wasn't cooking I managed to read a bit and knit and stitch a little.  How about you?  What was your weekend filled with and what did you do?

It is August's penultimate Monday - let's make the best of it!

TGIF. 8/21/26

 Hello and Good Morning!

It's a drippy morning.  I successfully made it home from watching Iris yesterday before the heavy rain.  We had had a little bit of light rain mid-day, but after I was home the sky opened, the thunder boomed and the lightening was shining.  And we received 2" in under an hour!  Colin and Iris were running some errands after I left, so I hope they did not get caught in the downpour.

Meanwhile, look at our hibiscus!!

It is so gorgeous.  I snapped that picture just before leaving for Iris yesterday morning.  I also looked and saw there were a few more large tomatoes to pick.  Two were picked.  The third which was the largest and  beautifully shaded in red had a giant slug on it happily munching away.  I got grossed out and left that one on the plant.  There are still a couple of cucumbers that might grow and there were just a few cherry tomatoes.  I avoided looking at the bean plants - LOL

Zhongren (Mailing's Dad) was recently in Japan.  He retired a couple of years ago, but is back to consulting (can't sit still - hahaha) and does a lot of international travel.  He will often bring us a little something from wherever he was.  I'm pretty sure this is a box of red bean paste mochi.  I do love me some red bean paste and am looking forward to trying these.  But just look at how pretty the packaging is:

Last night when I woke around 2:30 (as one does), I looked out the back window and spotted a doe browsing the Rose of Sharon plants while a fawn was resting on the grass.  Too cute.

My plans for today include booking a massage and booking a hair appointment.  The house plants should be watered and the stairs need to be vacuumed.  Also, dinner needs to be decided.  But before any of that will be breakfast once Fletch is up.  I'm making multi grain pancakes (so we can feel healthy about eating pancakes) with blueberries.  Also bacon AND sausage (Fletch wanted both).  That should get my Friday off to a great start!  I hope your Friday is a good one - enjoy!

Unraveled Wednesday 8/19/26

 Good Morning All,

How are you this morning?  I am doing ok though I wish I had slept a bit better.  It feels as though I woke up every single hour!  But, the coffee is almost ready to pour, so let's get on with it!

Here we are back again at Unraveled Wednesday.  Time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to chat about what we are making and reading.  Though I did not get as far as I had thought I would, knitting has been good.  The first shortie sock was finished and the second one was cast on.

The heel flap on the second sock is about a third of the way knit.  Maybe I will finish that and turn the heel while Iris naps today.

As for reading, I am so happy to tell you that last night I finished The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett.  I even finished it in time to return it to the library before they closed (it was due back yesterday).  Whew - what a long, long book.  Stockett is a good story teller and this was a good one.  It just could have/should have been shorter (my opinion).  About half way through the book I got bored.  It felt bogged down.  After another hundred pages or so I just got annoyed!  But, I persevered and I am glad I finished it.  There were a lot of different story lines going on and not all of them were wrapped up (again, my opinion), but there were so many laugh out loud parts in the story and I loved Meg's character.

Last night I started Country People by Daniel Mason.  I'm only 20 or so pages in, so no review yet.  I am looking forward to this particularly since both my parents were from Vermont and I spent so much time in Vermont growing up.  Someone wrote that Mason does an excellent job of portraying the quirkiness of Vermonters (and they sure can be quirky!).

Thanks to enabling from Kat, I also have two new (to me) Ted Kooser books:  Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps and The Wheeling Year: A Poet's Field Book.  Neither of these are volumes of poetry, but rather snippets that Kooser has written about the area of the country where he lives (Southeastern Nebraska).  I started looking at The Wheeling Year and was immediately drawn into it.  I forced myself to put it down and get back to The Calamity Club.  Now I'm looking forward to delving into these two books.

Time to sit back and enjoy my first cup of coffee.  I hope today finds you with a good book and a fun project!

Tiny Needle Tuesday 8/18/26

 Hello and Good Foggy Morning,

Oh my!  It is close and very, very humid out there.  We had 1.5" of rain Sunday and Sunday night and everything is dripping.  I'm late to ask, but how was your weekend?  Mine was good.  No pictures.  A delicious meal at C&M's (the flourless chocolate cake and homemade ice cream were wonderful!!).

The X-ray results of my knee show that my bones and joints are all normal (not even any sign of arthritis!).  So, who knows what's been going on?  I will say that things have improved a lot - whether it's just time or my exercises or something else, I don't know.  I'm just happy to not be in constant pain.  And happy to be able to walk somewhat normally!

Meanwhile, it is Tuesday and time for a TNT update.  Once again a bit of progress was made on my aqua marine sampler.

Two sets of numbers completed and the third line is complete.  The large space in the middle will have a bit of "something" coming up from below once I get started on it.  The beginning of a typical Quaker motif has also been started on the left side.  Things are moving along.

I've already poached some chicken breasts which will turn into a chicken salad for dinner.  I'm thinking a nice cold carrot salad and maybe some cucumbers with radishes to go with that.  It's hard to think of anything hot in this steamy weather.  Yesterday I heard my first cicada of the season (Fletch says he's been hearing them for weeks, but I have not noticed) and I guess the dog days of summer are upon us.

Stay cool and don't do too much in this weather!

Friday's Fast Post 8/14/26

 Hi All,

I actually overslept this morning!  I was up at 5 to let Mabel out and then went back to bed and fell sound asleep with some very strange dreams.  HA!

The knee X-ray was quick yesterday.  I arrived at the facility around 8:30 when registration opens...went in...registered...went upstairs for the X-ray and was out of there around 8:50!  My doctor should have the results by sometime Monday.

Look who showed up the other day!

Two sweet fawns.  One resting and the other nosing around looking for apples.  The mother doe was also there - just not in the picture.  As soon as she started moving into our neighbor's yard, the resting fawn got up and trotted after her.

I tried a new recipe for cookies.  No flour, no eggs, no white or brown sugar!  They are chickpea peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips.

Just one can of drained and rinsed chickpeas smooshed up in the food processor.  Then you add 1 cup of peanut butter, 1/3 cup of maple syrup, a pinch of salt, a teaspoon of baking soda and a teaspoon of vanilla.  Mix all then fold in 1/2 cup of chocolate chips.  The dough is very wet and sticky.  I used an ice cream scoop to get them onto the baking sheet.  They only need about 10 minutes at 350.  They don't look like much, but I think they taste good.  Fletch says they could be sweeter (naturally) and he would like them crispy.  So, this batch is going over to Colin & Mailing today.  Hopefully Iris will enjoy them!

Any big plans for the weekend?  None for me other than dinner at C&M's on Sunday.  I'll be taking homemade vanilla ice cream to go with the flourless chocolate cake Colin is baking!  YUM.

Unraveled Wednesday 8/12/26

 Hello My Friends,

The weeks keep zipping by, don't they?  It's hard to believe that soon the school busses (or, as my brother calls them, the little yellow prison wagons) will be on the road again.  And, the bottom of my street (which is a narrow road) will be clogged with cars waiting for the school bus (apparently the kids can't walk down to the end of the street and wait...they must be driven).

The doctor's office was successfully found yesterday and I had a great visit with my primary care physician.  All of my "numbers" have improved which is great news.  I am going tomorrow for an X-ray of my knee.  My doctor is sure it is simply arthritis (which is more than enough) and not some other issue with the knee...but an X-ray will be done for confirmation purposes.  Meanwhile, I've started doing some exercises specifically for arthritic knees and this morning things already feel better!

I'm continuing with my arm exercises with baby weights (3 lbs) and doing that has completely eliminated the shoulder pain I was having (again arthritis).  And I've started incorporating some other movements that I used to do on a regular basis.  I believe that movement is key.

Meanwhile, enough of the aches and pains of aging.  It's Wednesday and time for linking up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk about making and reading.  I don't have a whole lot to talk about, but let's jump right in!

First up is the almost finished first Honky Tonk shorty sock.

I was positive this would have been finished by today, but life got in the way.  I've about 10 rows left on the foot until the toe decrease.  With any luck, I will finish this today whilst Iris naps.  Then it will be time to start (and finish quickly) shortie #2.  My August yarn from the Farmer's Daughter arrived and Fletch really likes it, so I will be making a pair of socks for him.  And, of course, there are still many more skeins waiting to be knit up for various people.  Iris has said she would like another pair of socks (I'm sure the ones I last made for her no longer fit...she is growing so much!).

The Farmer's Daughter's August yarn:  "Harvest Lantern" - the little mini skein has a bit of loden green in it and the two skeins together are so pretty.

On the reading side of things, I'm still reading The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett.  I'm past the halfway mark, but my reading has slowed.  I'm actually getting a little tired or bored with this.  The book seems way longer than necessary...but that's just my opinion and I may have a change of heart once I finish it.  There are so many different stories going on and of course various bits of ugliness (1933 Oxford, MS).

Fletch and I are continuing to really enjoy Robert Mcfarlane's The Wild Places.  We have enjoyed all of the McFarlane books we have listened to, but perhaps this one may be the best so far!

Not started yet, but I decided to go ahead and download from Audible John of John by Douglas Stuart.  The queue at my library for the book is still pretty long and I'd like to have read it before our RWU book club meeting in September.

And that's a wrap for one.  I'll be with Iris again today and am looking forward to that time.  I hope your Wednesday brings you something delightful to enjoy!

Tiny Needle Tuesday 8/11/26

 Good Morning!

It's Tuesday and we seem to have survived another most humid day...more in store of us I'm afraid.  We had a few sprinkles and some distant thunder, but nothing significant.  We need a good, strong summer thunderstorm to clear the air (and water the garden).  However, it did cool down enough last evening that I did not even have to use the AC in the bedroom!!  That was wonderful.

Well, time for a TNT update.  I managed to finish the second row in the sampler.

Quite wrinkly, but there it is.  Next up some numbers.

I've a busy morning ahead of me.  My 9 a.m. appointment with my primary care doctor will be at an office I need to find!  Last week I got a phone call from the doctor's office telling me that a pipe had burst in their building and that upcoming appointments would be at another office.  It's not that much further away, but I need to locate it which means leaving the house a little earlier than normal.

Grocery shopping may be skipped.  We have so many (so many!!) leftovers in the fridge that it is crammed to overflowing.  I really want to use stuff up and then scrub the fridge.  Tonight I'm planning to make a quiche with asparagus and some left over ham.  I'll probably add mushrooms and onions because they are plentiful!

Here's hoping that this Tuesday finds you enjoying life!  Have some fun.

Weekending 8/10/26

 Good Monday Morning!

How are you and how was your weekend.  Mine was good.  I found time for a little bit of everything.  Some chores (bathrooms, laundry, kitchen floor) were done.  There was time for stitching and knitting as well as a bit of reading.  And baking and cooking.

A huge yellow bean casserole was made - like Thanksgiving huge.  Lots of onions and mushrooms sautéed up to go with the beans.  Actually I mixed yellow and green beans for the dish.  We've had it twice and there is still at least another serving!  And those beans keep coming in.  I won't bore you with yet another picture, but trust me when I say that Saturday I picked another two servings (at least).  And one of the large tomatoes finally ripened to where it could be picked.

A peach-blueberry cake was baked.  Good, but very sweet and rich.  Most of it will be going over to C&M today.

When I ventured out to the garden on Saturday I noticed that our hibiscus has opened a few of its buds!

The plant is loaded with clusters of buds - often 3 or 4 together.  It should be amazing when more open.

Figgy is doing well - still figs on it, but they do not seem to be getting larger or ripening.  Fingers crossed we get some.  And our apple tree is loaded with fruit.  The apples are all on the small side, but some look to be in very good condition - I may be able to make some applesauce!  So far the deer are sticking with consuming the fruit that has fallen - no standing on hind legs and reaching for branches (yet).

I hope your weekend brought some good things to you and I trust that the week ahead will be a good one!

Thursday Doings 8/6/26

 Bonjour!

We had some strong thunderstorms yesterday evening - just when we settled in to watch the first episode of the new season of Ted Lasso.  Fortunately the power stayed on.  We were gifted another inch of rain.

What you see above is perhaps the final glad blossom (there may be one more stalk that has not yet opened) along with a couple of zinnia, a couple of snap dragons and one marigold.  I do love fresh flowers in the house.

Yesterday was busy, but my mile long list was almost fully accomplished.  The only remaining thing that wasn't done was grocery shopping and we will take care of that this morning.  I've been wanting to cut the dead stalks from the Iris as well as the Glads and that was done.  More beans were picked and then blanched and quickly frozen.  Not having a chest or second freezer, my space is limited, but a few bags of summer beans are now in the freezer for cooler days.  There are still plenty in the fridge that I will be using in a day or two.  I also picked more cherry tomatoes, a cucumber, and noticed that FINALLY the bigger tomatoes are beginning to ripen.  There are not that many - maybe four on the plant, but any garden tomato will be so welcome.

There was a bit of running around - a trip to the post office to mail off a birthday gift for Leslie and (of course) a trip to CVS.  Another trip to CVS will be made today or tomorrow.  I'd also like to get to Trader Joe's - either today or (most likely) tomorrow.

Domestic chores (laundry, cleaning) were deliberately left off my list!  HA!  But really, towels should be washed and bathrooms cleaned.  Time will tell.

What are you up to as we wind down the first week of August?

Unraveled Wednesday 8/5/26

 Hello, hello,

I was out early this morning to have a blood test done.  On the way home there were actually sprinkles on my windshield.  I don't think rain is in the forecast, so that was a surprise.  It is very, very humid.  Thankfully my knee continues to feel better...it's just so weird though.

You all know I'm not a huge list-maker, but today I have a list of things to do that is a mile long.  There are not enough hours in the day.  But first, it is Wednesday and time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk about making and reading.  Two things very dear to my heart.

Though it seemed to take FOREVER, I got through the heel flap and turn on my shortie sock and I am now onto the foot.

There were several times whilst knitting the heel flap that I would end up with extra stitches...or too few...always on a purl row.  I think I was just plain tired.  At least I was able to fix it.  The gusset stitches were picked up and then the decreases were done.  I'm now 20 rows into the foot, so not quite a third of the way, but close.  With luck I'll be casting on the second shortie sock soon.

Reading has been a pleasure.  Fletch and I did finish listening to The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot by Robert Macfarlane and we are now well into The Wild Places.  I had not realized, but these are part of a series on "Landscapes" by Macfarlane.  "The Old Ways" is book 2 and "The Wild Places" is book 3.  We will need to go back and listen to #1 and then #4.  Macfarlane's writing is so enjoyable and the narration of these books has been great.

I also read a volume of poetry:  The Wild Iris by Louise Gluck.  Though as a review states these poems celebrate being alive, I found them to be a bit on the dark side.  Still, some of the poems were extremely beautiful.  This particular volume won the The Nobel Prize in 1993.  Colin had seen a write up about Louise Gluck in The New York Review of Books and then bought this volume (because of the title!!).  Once he finished reading it, he passed it on to me to borrow.  I do love having a son who loves to read!

Before leaving Colin & Iris yesterday I grabbed one of the cucumbers from their garden.  Last week Colin used about 15 to make pickles and there are now at least another 15 on the counter in his kitchen!  I had used the last of mine the other day and the one still in the garden has not grown large enough to pick yet.  I think the one I took had been sampled by someone...perhaps a little mole?

No worries - I can just cut that section out.

Well, time for more coffee and getting a move on my long list of things to do.  I hope your Wednesday is a good one!