I'm Sure You're Tired

I'm sure you're all tired of hearing about my poor little garden, so here is some knitting for you...to be tired of hearing about.  Yes, last night while I was going back and forth between Knight Rider and Emergency!, I cast on a new sailor hat. 

Yarn:  Red Heart Supersaver Bitty Stripes

Colorway:  Rainbow

Pattern:  Basic Beanie

Needles:  U.S. 8 / 5 mm

Then, on a friend's recommendation, I switched over to Prime and watched The Sheep Detectives.  That's one of those I'd seen the previews for, but was kind of reluctant to watch it because I thought it would be stupid or childish.  You know, typical Disney-esque slop.  I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was.  If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. 

I also switched over and worked on this hat for a bit. 

Yarn:  Forbidden Fiber Co. Fortitude Sock

Colorway:  Starfall

Pattern:  Sockhead

Needles:  U.S. 2.5 / 3.00 mm

I'm really liking the way this yarn is knitting up, but then, everything Leann dyes is absolutely gorgeous.  

I also forgot to mention yesterday the new book I've started reading -- In The Hall Of The Dragon King, by Stephen R. Lawhead.  This is another one I bought a couple of years ago and forgot I had.  I'm pretty sure I've read this one before, especially now that I'm a few chapters in.  I keep getting flashbacks to the book store on the Navy base in Naples, so I must have read it when I was there.  If I did, it's been so long ago that I don't remember anything that happened, so it's almost like I'm reading it for the first time.  

This morning, I got up and made 8 more half-pints of pickled peppers. 

I had to laugh at myself, because I worried that I wouldn't have enough peppers for even 4 half-pints, which is what the recipe I use makes.  I ended up making twice that many, plus I had this whole bowl of peppers left over. 

I put those into a Ziploc and put them into the freezer.  I'm done with pickled peppers, but I think I might make some more pepper jelly next time.  When I do, I'm going to chop the peppers in the food processor.  It will probably work out better that way. 

By the way, I ate the little bit of the jelly that I made last time -- the small amount that didn't fit into my jars and I put into the fridge. I'd softened about half a block of cream cheese and put the jelly on top of that.  I don't know if I was doing something wrong, because my jelly kept sliding off and on to the plate.  Oh well, I just scooped it all up and ate it on the Great Value version of Wheat Thin crackers.  It still tasted good. 

I'm thinking next year, I need to plant fewer peppers and more actual food. Maybe some yellow squash and pattypan, if I can find it. Zucchini, and okra...too bad I don't really like corn.  Oh, I could do sweet potatoes.  I loves me some sweet potatoes.   Well, I'll have all winter to plan, and of course, I'm going to drag you all along with me.  

I haven't done much else this weekend, other than the necessary stuff like laundry, I mean.  I've been feeling really run down here lately, and felt I needed a weekend to rest.  I didn't even go to the farmer's market.  I had time, I just didn't want to.  I keep saying I'm going to go up to Batesville, too, but I haven't.  It's that whole "need to do my yard work before it gets too hot" thing.  

Then I have some sort of mental block about going anywhere after noon.  If I'm not on the road by 9:00 AM or so, there's no point in going so late in the day.  At least that's how my brain works.  But then, when you get up at 2:30, 9:00 feels a lot like mid day.  

One bright spot is that Shark Week starts today!  Woo Hoo!  The down side is that when you get up ridiculously early, you also have to go to bed ridiculously early, so I have to DVR everything and watch it the next day. 

On that note, I reckon I'd better get off of here and start getting ready for bed. 

Goodnight...

Not From Here

The plant had its annual book bag drive this morning. They do it every year, fill up book bags with school supplies and hand them out for free -- part of their community outreach program.  Earlier this week at the morning meeting, Group Leader Shark was announcing it, but she didn't know where it was going to be held.  I told her it's at the Kirk Truck Center, and she replied, "Which one is that?"  

The Kirk family owns several car dealerships here in town, so you have to be specific.  

I said, “It’s the one over there near where the old bread store used to be.”  Then I had to laugh at myself, because I'm not even from here, but I'm giving directions like one of the old timers.  And that bread store hasn't been there in years.  On the other hand, I have lived here longer than I lived in my hometown.  I moved here in '94, when I was 30, and I've lived here for 32 years.  

On a similar note, school starts next week.  Yes, in July!  I overheard a couple of my coworkers talking about it, and was looking at them like

They saw me and both of them started laughing.  I just couldn't believe school starts so early these days!

We always used to start at the end of August, but then, they get a lot more days off than we did back then.  One of the others told me they are getting a Fall Break starting this year, in addition to Thanksgiving week, and two weeks at Christmas, and Spring Break, and Good Friday and Easter Monday.  Sheesh, no wonder they have to start so early!

By the way, we got chewed out once again by Uncle Supervisor because we aren't brazing enough for them.  He said, "Explain to me why I'm not getting my 2000 headers per day!"  I replied, "I would, but you don't listen." 

Before I explain anything to him, maybe he should explain to me why upper management doesn't consider my department a priority, or why the only time we see our supervisor is when he's yelling at us.  Or why when we need him, we have to watch and see when he goes to the bathroom, then wait outside the door so we can catch him before he dashes back to his beloved sheet metal department. 

Inspector Gadget may have been annoying as heck, but I'll have to hand one thing to him.  He was always there when we needed him.  And he eventually realized where the problem was -- and it's not that we're all standing around doing nothing all day.  But he's on the lines now, and we're with someone who acts like he'd rather forget we exist at all. 

Maybe he should explain to me why I had a 8 piece order that only had 7 headers in it, or why I'm have to beat my adapter tubes into place with a hammer because they don't fit into the jig, or why I spent 10 minutes hunting for a jig that we don't even have.  And why are they having us braze assemblies that they won't buy us jigs for in the first place?  Or why one day last week I got an order of 16 adapter tubes and 7 of them had been smashed flat in the machine but the operator sent them on down the line anyway instead of scrapping and replacing them.  Or why I'm having to re-round the ends of adapter tubes because they're sending then over oval shaped.  Or why I'm having to open up the holes in the ends of the headers when you have people paid to do that.  And why did I have three orders last week that had FOUR milestones ...each?  

Then explain to me why you're doing absolutely nothing to resolve those issues, and we'll talk. 

That last one is rhetorical.  I know why.  It's because if they acknowledge the problem, they'd have to solve the problem and it's so much easier just to make your brazers into scapegoats.  

On to more pleasant topics, like my garden.  This week's harvest is a bit smaller, but that's OK.  I figure it's because I harvested so heavily last week and the week before. 

The heat might have something to do with it, too.  Maybe when it cools off a bit - like in mid-September -- they'll pick up again.  I'm not worried, though.   I've already got more peppers than I can eat anyway.  Between these and what I have left from last week, I should have enough for two or three jars of pickled peppers, especially since I got the half pint instead of the pint jars.  

A bit of good news, my zinnias are putting out new growth lower down on the stems. 

That's exactly what I was hoping would happen, and maybe now that I've thinned them out, they won't get so leggy.  I've put the stuff I cut off into the newest raised bed.  I'll let it compost over winter, then it should be ready to finish filling by spring. 

In some not so good news, something has been chomping the heck out of this little tomato plant.  

None of the others in that bed have been affected, but this one is nearly stripped bare.  I think it's because it's the only one that isn't next to either a basil or marigold plant.  

I keep running out there to see if I can catch the critter in the act so I can kill it, but so far, no luck.  Instead, I gave it a good spray with Neem oil, and moved another of the spare basil plants into the bed next to it.  

Hopefully, that will repel whatever it is that's eating it.  Funny thing, I bought some more Neem oil at Walmart yesterday because I'm running low, and the cashier said, "I didn't know we had Neem oil back there!"  I said, "Yes, ma'am, this is concentrate, and they also have it ready to use."  She also gardens, and seemed really excited to find that out. 

The last thing I did before the day's heat set in was to sift some more red clay and get back to filling in those ruts the landscammer left in my front yard.  

I'd really like to find someone who can completely re-do my front yard and find out why it stays so spongy all the time.  Even without the ruts, it's so hard to mow because of that.  But at this point, I don't trust anyone any more, so I'm kind of stuck in a rut.  

HA HA HA HA HA!  

OK, I'll stop now. 

And finally, I finished reading that book A Single Captive Spark.  I'd actually finished it last week, but it was so awful I forgot to tell you about it.  I was right.  It definitely won't become a classic. On the other hand, as someone who grew up in Middle Earth, in Narnia, and on Pern, I realize I wasn't the target audience for a book like this. 

Simple, shallow, and the "big twist" was pretty obvious from the beginning.  

The funny thing is, I kept imagining the antagonist Helio as some sort of Krampus like creature, because the author kept describing his appearance as terrifying, and I couldn't figure out what was so terrifying about him as a man. 

He was tall...not frightening.  He had red hair.  Again, not frightening.  He had heterochromia.  Unusual, but again, hardly terrifying.  Oh, he had a battle scar on his face.  Maybe a bit unsettling, but you would think in a country that has been at war for hundreds of years, that shouldn't be all that ...terrifying.  

There is a sequel, but I won't be buying it.  In fact, I'm glad I got this one for free, because I would have hated to waste my money on such a book. 

I guess that's it for today as far as news goes.  I found Knight Rider on the ROKU channel, so I'm going to settle in for an afternoon of knitting and Knighting.  

Laters.  

They're Here!

The first two items from my Prime Day spending spree have arrived, and those are some raised beds for my garden.  I didn't take a picture, because as of this moment, they're still in the boxes they came in.  I didn't think that would make a very interesting photo...boxes and all.  The last of the raised beds is supposed to arrive tomorrow, so I'm hoping that early Saturday morning, I can start putting them together before it gets too hot.  

I really wanted to at least start getting things in order this afternoon, but it's just too hot right now.  I don't handle the heat as well as I did when I was younger.  And since I get up at 2:30 in the blessed ay em, by the time it's cooled off enough to work outside, I'm already in bed.  

I don't plan on planting anything in them this year, so there really isn't any rush, although I may have to stick a tomato plant or two in some of them, since none of the ones I've planted have died.  On the contrary, they're all thriving.  

Once I get the beds all into place, maybe I can finally get that vlog done for you.  But don't hold your breath on that...

In other news, I finished reading Bunker Hill. It kind of took me by surprise, because I didn’t realize how close I was to the end.  The bottom of my kindle kept saying 3 hrs 45 minutes left in book.  Imagine my surprise when the next page said EPILOGUE.  I've read enough of this author's books that I should have remembered he always adds so many extras at the end -- things like paintings of the main characters accompanied by a brief biography, and in this case, paintings of Boston that had been done during that time.  I pretty much skimmed through all of that, since I already know what George Washington and Samuel Adams looked like.  

Now I'm reading A Single Captive Spark, by Emberly Ash. It was another one of those First Reads freebies -- a fantasy, this time.  I'm only one chapter in, so I don't yet know if it's going to be good or not.  I can already tell it's not going to become one of the great classics, but it might end up being an enjoyable read.  I'll be sure to let you know. 

That's about it for today.  This getting up in the middle of the night is taking its toll, but in a way, I kind of like going in early.  There's only three brazers who come in at 4:00, and one of them has been on vacation all this week, so it's only myself and Demi-god.  There's a sense of freedom and relaxation with it only being a few of us.  I hope you know what I mean. 

The downside is having to go to bed in the middle of the afternoon, which it now is, so I'm going.  

Goodnight. 

First Harvest

There I was in the garden, just a puttering away, when I saw...

cayenne peppers!  It's my first harvest of the year! 

After I brought them inside and washed them, I think I probably should have left a couple of them on the plant just a tad longer.  

Oh well, they are strung up and hung up to dry.  Next time I won't be so impatient.   Let me rephrase that, next time I'll try not to be so impatient.  

And look!  Some of my banana peppers are starting to fully ripen, too. 

You can actually pick them while they're still yellow, which is what I did last year and the year before.  But, one of the gardening videos I watched said that if you let them turn red before picking them, they'll be sweeter and not have that peppery tang.  My mind interprets that as they'll taste less like a bell pepper.  

I don't like bell peppers.  I have gotten to where I can eat them, but they're not my favorite.  When I was a kid, I hated them so much I used to tell people I was allergic just so I wouldn't accidentally get something with bell peppers in them.  I do like sweet banana peppers, though.  They add just the right amount of crunch to a chicken salad.  Most of mine will end up getting pickled, though.  I've got more than I'll be able to eat before they spoil.  

In other news, I had a bit of insomnia last night, so I made the best of it and finished reading The Museum Of Second Chances.   I really enjoyed this one -- much more than I thought I would.  It's going to be released July 1, but I got an early copy through the Kindle First Reads deal.  Now, I'm back to plodding my way through Bunker Hill:  A City, A Siege, and A Revolution, by Nathaniel Philbrick.  I'm about 100% sure this will be the last of his books I read, and I'm only reading this one because I'd already bought it.  Oh, it's not a bad book, but it's not exactly edge-of-your-seat reading. 

At work this morning, Group Leader Shark went on a tear in the morning meeting, and it's about time if you ask me.  What had happened was, one of the other brazers had gotten an order in which one of the adapter tubes was bent wrong.  The funny thing is, last week, I had two orders with the exact same part bent in the exact same way.  

We decided to go tell GLS, and she said something about needing to get someone to check the programs in that particular machine.  I said, "Yeah, but if they'd done a first piece inspection like they're supposed to, they'd have caught it before running the entire order wrong."  Then the other brazer said, "Or does that whole first piece inspection requirement only apply to us (brazers)."  To which I added, "Because it sure feels like it," and pointed out that Demi-god also had an order with parts bent wrong that he was going to have to get re-done. 

 So, at the meeting, GLS said that from now on, when we get an entire order done wrong, we have to put the re-work in through the dispatcher so that the quality department can keep track, and for us brazers to take the parts back to whoever did it wrong, and they can write up the scrap tickets.  She said that if they get tired of writing up their scrap, they'll learn to pay attention.   She told them, "It's not fair for them (the brazers) to have to keep writing up your scrap!" 

That's exactly what I've been saying since we started this!  Will it work?  We shall see...

And finally, I still haven't watched a World Cup game, but if I did, this would be me. 

Anybody know how the American team is doing?  

Feeling It

All that yard work I did yesterday, yeah, I'm feeling it today. Even so, I managed to get out early this morning and spread the fire ant treatment stuff.  I was supposed to water it in, but I decided to pray for rain instead. 

Before I get into all the boring garden stuff, let me show you this:  

It was such a lovely day outside, I sat in my chair and knit a bit before the bugs found me -- which didn't take long.  Then I came inside and watched TV for the rest of the day. 

Now, on to the boring garden stuff.  As I had hoped, my plants have perked up a bit, 

especially this little marigold.  

I suspect it just needed a good drink of water.  I'd been watering them, but I must have missed its cell.  To prevent such things from happening in the future, I found an old tray and put the others into it, so I can bottom water them all. 

I had watched a video on YouTube about mistakes gardeners tend to make in April, and one of the big ones is overwatering or underwatering.  They recommend deeper, less frequent watering, so what I did  was to get my moisture meter out and measure the soil a few inches down.  It was good, so I didn't water the ones already in the beds.  

On a similar note, I noticed that some of the basils I still had in the hydroponic sponges had died, so I stuck the remaining ones into my empty planter.  

I still have 14 of them that I'll need to do something with.  Some of them will go into the tomato bed, but I don't know what I'm going to do with the rest.  Any locals want some sweet basil plants?   I don't know what I was thinking planting so many.  I guess I did it because I expected most of them to die.  Now that I know more about how to start seeds, next year, I won't plant so many.  And I'll start my tomatoes earlier.  

Right now, three of the four cups have germinated something.   

I'm not going to give up on the fourth one just yet, but if it doesn't germinate by the time the others are ready to put into the beds, I'll just buy one.  Provided there are any left in the garden center.  If there aren't, maybe I'll just roll with three plants. 

I was also pleased to see that my little zinnias don't seem to be suffering any from being pinched. 

I don't know how well you can see in this photo, but some of them are already starting new branches. 

In the midst of all of that, I finished reading In The Heart Of The Sea.  It was pretty good, which makes me think the other book was an anomaly.  I might try to read some more of his works, provided some of them end up on a daily deal or something. 

And finally, if you haven't watched Mercy on Prime Video, I highly recommend it.  It's edge-of-your-seat intense, and focused on telling a story, not on cramming as many obscenities into a two hour period as possible.  In fact, it's so intense, I need to watch an episode of Great British Sewing Bee to relax my brain.

That's just what I'm going to do.  

Laters...

 

Pinching Day

At long last, it has arrived.  Yes, Gentle Reader, today was pinching day!   For my zinnias, I mean.  I decided they were tall enough, and all of them were growing their fourth set of true leaves, so I figured they were ready.  Here is the before photo:  

And here is the after:  

I left this one little one unpinched, because it was so small, even though it does have three sets of true leaves.  

I'll give them about a week to recover, since pinching sends them into a little plant panic, then I'll move them to their permanent home in the raised bed. 

Speaking of homes, I moved the last little bit of firewood that was right by the back door, and put the plant stand with my Whatever Cacti into it's summer home.  

I think this little stack beside the shed will have to stay here for the summer. 

The rack I bought is full, and it doesn't feel safe to stack wood any higher than this.  

If you look carefully, you can see the side of the rack, and I've got wood all the way to the top.  Of course, if we weren't in drought conditions, some of that wood might have gotten burned in the fire pit.  Today would have been a beautiful day for it...if we weren't under a burn ban. 

As it was, I spent most of the day working in the yard, mowing and weedeating when I wasn't piddling in the garden spot. I even mowed behind the back fence.  And I managed to avoid the largest patches of clover.  

Clover is one of the best weeds you can have in your yard.  It's good for the bees, chokes out other weeds, and fixes nitrogen in the soil.   Plus, it's edible.  I don't much like the leaves as they have a bitter taste, but the blossoms have a very nice, kind of nutty taste.  It wouldn't hurt my feelings if my entire back yard became covered in clover.  

I was going to spread my fire ant granules after I got done mowing, but I think that will have to wait until tomorrow.  I'm so tired right now, I can barely lift my arms, even to knit. 

The last thing I did before coming in and taking a nice, hot shower was to plant my sweet banana peppers. 

I even put a couple of marigolds in there for companion plants.  I waited until the sun was mostly down and it was almost the time between times to do it, because they say planting them in the evening gives the plants a whole night to recover from transplant shock before dealing with sunlight.  I see a couple of them look a bit droopy, but I'm hoping they pick up in a bit. 

I've got room for three more plants in the bed, so I'm thinking maybe planting some cayenne or chili peppers -- something that I can string and dry the peppers.  Probably cayennes, because Cody said he can always find something to do with them. 

In other news, I finished Mrs. Frisby And The Rats Of NIMH this morning, then watched the movie based on the book.  As is typical, it didn't really follow the book all that closely.  Tomorrow, or more likely Monday, I'll take it back to the Little Free Library and see if they have anything else I want to read.  If not, I'll read something on the Kindle.  I've got lots of books on there. 

But for now, I think I'll go watch House Of David on Prime. 

Laters.

Good News!

Good news!  The county is finally getting the debris from the ice storm cleaned up on my road!  Woo Hoo!  It's only been two months, but to be fair, there was a lot of debris from that storm.  

It's going to feel kind of weird to be able to drive straight down the road, instead of weaving my way around fallen branches and stuff.  Well, it is a narrow road -- barely over one lane wide.  But we like it that way.

Except when it's blocked by storm debris...or the garbage truck. 

In other news, I'm sure you'll all be pleased to know that I made it into town and put the book I just finished back into the Little Free Library, and look what I found to replace it!

Funny thing is, I almost bought this one for my Kindle over the weekend, but backed out at the last minute.  Good thing, because now I don't need to.  This one ought to read up a lot quicker than the last one did, then I'll take it back for someone else to enjoy. 

By the way, Edna, I finally made it to The Nest Egg, but the yarn was already gone.  Oh well, it's my own fault.  I should have gone that very first day.  

Since I was in town, I briefly thought about running to Walmart and picking up a few more bags of garden soil, but I didn't.  I came home and watched the next two episodes of The Faithful: Women Of The Bible, and knit on a sock yarn hat instead. 

Here's a fun fact for you.  My mother wanted to spell my name Rebekah, like in the Bible, but talked herself out of it at the last minute.  She spelled it that way anyway, up until I started first grade, then figured she ought to spell it like it was on my birth certificate.  After I was grown, I had considered a few times going down and getting it legally changed to that spelling, but never got around to it.  I suppose I still could, but there just doesn't seem to be any point at this age. 

More bad news, that stray tom cat came into the yard and attacked the Incarnation of Evil again yesterday.  He mauled that same leg joint that she was still slightly limping on from the last time he got her.  This time, I was able to make it out into the yard in time to give him a good, hard kick, so maybe he'll think twice before coming back.  

There is no animal control out in the county, just in case you were wondering.  We have to take care of these things on our own.... 

And finally, I get the strangest earworms sometimes.  For instance, this was today's:

Don't ask.  Even I don't know. 

I've long since given up trying to find an explanation for such things. 

Accomplishment!

Yes, you read that right.  I actually accomplished something today.  And just what was it that I accomplished?  Well, I'll tell you. 

I finally, at long last, finished this book!

Yay me!  Next time I go into town, I'll put it back into the Little Free Library and see if they have something else I want to read, though I still haven't read the book my brother gave me for Christmas.  I might even take it in tomorrow, if I can get myself dressed and moving.  Then, once I've dropped the book off, I can run by Walmart and pick up some more bags of garden soil.

Which segues nicely into my next accomplishment.   Ever since I've lived in this house, I've collected up twigs and small limbs that fall, and over the years, I've built up quite the collection of them.  Even using them to start fires in my wood stove, I still had a lot.  So, what better use for them than to fill my new garden beds?  

The best part, after getting the majority of the twigs up, I found a nice, thick layer of compost underneath them!  Once I added that to my beds, it filled them up quite nicely.  

And there was enough to fill both beds about halfway up. 

I'm going to let it all settle a bit, and hopefully get rained on a few times, then start adding soil later on in the year.  I'm well aware that these probably won't be ready to be planted this spring, but they weren't really intended to be part of this year's planting anyway.  

Speaking of rain, we are nearly 5" below normal for this time of year.  It's so bad, we're under a burn ban and red flag warning.  In fact, there is a massive wildfire in the county just to the South of us, covering some 3000 acres.  I sat outside by my fire pit a bit, but didn't light a fire -- not even in my wood stove this morning.   It got down into the mid 40s last night, which would have made a fire feel good, but I didn't feel like fooling with one. 

But as I was saying,  I got this entire section of the old chicken coops cleaned out, ready to start re-filling with whatever I want to put into it. 

I don't yet know what that will be.  I do know it won't be chickens, though.  I might move my potting table here.  With this one being on the end, it will get more light than where I have the table now.  At least, I'll be able to see when I'm potting stuff.  

Moving right along, I'd brought all of my plants inside last night even though it wasn't supposed to frost, just in case.  As soon as the sun came up, I put everything back outside, including the zinnias.  

They do need thinning again, but I'm debating on whether to try to separate the seedlings instead of just snipping one off.  I've got some pots I can up pot them into, so I may try to do that.  Then again, in just two more weeks, I'll feel safe enough to plant them into their permanent homes, since it'll be past the danger of frost.  According to Grok, it's probably safe to plant now, but I think I'll wait anyway. 

I recently watched a YouTube video on pinching zinnias, which I'd never done in the past -- probably because I'd never started them from seeds before.  I think I'll pinch these when they get big enough.  The video says to wait until they have at least two, and preferably three, sets of true leaves before doing it.  As you can see, these have just started getting their second set, so it's too early to pinch these.  We have such a long growing season this far South, so I have plenty of time.  

I might go ahead and plant some of my bachelor's button seeds, and save some back, just in case.  Oh, and look at this!  As I was taking photos of my bluebonnets to force you to look at, 

look what I found!  It's a baby bluebonnet!  

It looks like some of the other seeds I'd planted might germinate after all.   I know it can take a few years and several freezing and thawing cycles sometimes.  

Now, if you'll excuse me, House Of David season 2 is up on Prime Video, and I think I'll go watch an episode or two.  

Laters...

Did I?

There I was at work, just a working away, when Group Leader Shark walked by and told the three of us who come in at 4:00 to leave at noon.  She didn't get any argument from me, nor did she when she told us to start coming in at 5:00 in the morning.   

You know how I'm always complaining that I never have enough time to do what needs to be done?  What with this extra couple of hours off, you'd think I'd have taken advantage of it and got something done, but did I?  Noooo...

Did I go work in the yard?  Noooo (other than watering my baby grass, that is)

Did I give the house a good cleaning?  Nooooo

Did I make any of the myriad phone calls I need to make?  Of course not!  Don't be ridiculous!

No, I didn't do any of that.  Instead, I came home and sat in the chair in front of the TV.  Oh, but I did cast on a new hat for the Seaman's Church Institute, so there is that. 

At least it's something...  This is Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn in blue camo stripe colorway.  

Since we'd gotten off early, I decided before I went home to run into town and put the book I'd just finished reading back into the Little Free Library on the square.  I thought briefly about running into Walmart and doing my weekly shopping, but I decided against that.  I've still got a couple days worth of milk and oatmeal left, so I'll go when those run out. 

Anyway, back in June I'd gone to the Farmer's Market one Saturday and checked to see what books were available, and I noticed that the door had broken off.  

I posted that photo in one of the local groups and asked if anyone knew who was in charge of maintenance, saying that I'd noticed the door was broken.  Very quickly, several people responded, including one man who volunteered to build and install a new door for free.  He'd even supply the materials.  

Well, today was the first time I've been to the square since then, and finally got to see the shiny new door.  

 Look!  You can see the book I put back on the far right.  

Next up, I'm going to be reading In The Hurricane's Eye, by Nathaniel Philbrick, which I also got from the Little Free Library some time back.  I figure it's about time I read it.  

I don't know if I'm going to put this one back or to keep it.  I'll decide after I've read it, but I've put many books into the LFL, so I figure I can keep one.

And finally, tomorrow is supposed to be the hottest day of the year, and they're saying it'll likely being the last really hot day.  They're saying we'll get a cool down the last week of August.  Oh, it'll still be hot.  Just not triple digit hot.

Me, I can't wait until it's cool enough to sit out in my chair by my fire pit and read my books out in the fresh air and sunshine.  

Soon...

All God's Creatures

There I was, sitting in my chair, minding my own business when I heard a commotion in the kitchen.  I went in to see what was going on, and found the cat was very interested in something hiding behind a cardboard box.  

"You didn't bring something into this house again, did you?" I asked as I moved the box to see what it was.  Much to my surprise, instead of a mouse or a vole, I found a little frog tangled up in what can only be described as a dust bunny.

Not sure what that says about the state of my house, but there it is.  Hey, when you work 11 hour shifts, some things just aren't that important. 

Back to the frog, I thought the little thing was dead because it looked so dried out, but still I picked him up, untangled him from the dust and hair, then took him outside and put him into the frog pond.  

I ran back into the house to get my phone, and by the time I got back outside, the little froggy was much perked up.  They don't drink, you know.  They absorb water through their skin.   In just that short amount of time, he had plumped back up and regained some of his strength. 

I went back inside for about 15 minutes, then checked again and he was gone, so I assume he went back to wherever he came from.  I hope he'll be OK.  We are all God's creatures, you know. 

Anyway, while I was out there, I went ahead and cleared most of the dirt away from the rest of the fence around the garden spot, until I ran into some fire ants and began seriously rethinking that all God's creatures thing... 

If fire ants don't exist in your world, get down on your knees right now and thank God above that you don't have to deal with them.  These things will latch on to you and literally curl their tiny bodies up with the effort of injecting their fiery venom into you.  God's creatures?  No!  More like spawn of Satan.  

Several bites and a good thick layer of Ivarest* later, I was back at it, and got the three sections on the west fence cleared. 

 I still need to wash that side, but the hard part is done, and maybe next weekend I can paint.  I know I keep saying it.  I'm just hoping that by saying it over and over, I'll be motivated to actually do it.  You'll all have to hold me accountable in any case. 

In other news, the house next door has finally sold after being on the market for over a year.  I haven't met the new neighbors, though I've heard it's a young couple.  There was an older man -- assume one of their dads -- mowing this morning when I was watering my baby grass.  He waved at me, and I waved back, but neither of us introduced ourselves. 

By the time I had finished clearing the dirt away, the heat advisory had been issued, so I came inside and spent the rest of the day watching movies.  I watched A Knight's Tale -- the one with Heath Leger and Rufus Sewel.  I hadn't seen it in ages, and had forgotten how good it is.   Then I watched the live action Beauty And The Beast.  That's always been one of my favorite fairy tales, even though the Disney version is quite different from the original story.  

Ah well, that's Disney for you. 

Oh, and I finally finished reading The Ship Of Brides, by JoJo Moyes.  It ended up being pretty good -- at least the last few chapters or so.  But I should say the ending made it all worth it.  Next time I go into town, I'll put it back into the Little Free Library, probably the one on the square.   We have more than one here in this small town, but the one on the square is the one I usually go to.  I suppose I should probably visit some of the others, just to see what they have. 

By the way, I've decided to try something different.  Instead of going into town every Friday like I have been for years, I'm going to wait until I run out of something, then go do my weekly shopping.  I'm hoping doing it this way will cut down on the impulse buys.  

Now, if I could just stay off of Amazon...

*Ivarest -- a mixture of calamine and Benadryl.  I get it at Walmart, but it's probably available pretty much anywhere.