What to Write About?

I seem to have run out of things to blog about, so today I am reduced to writing about that. Summer doldrums have hit before, usually in August when it's desperately hot and dry. This is just the beginning of July, but I think I have arrived in the doldrums. 

NOAA's picture of the doldrums. I thought it was kind of pretty

 

 

 

• I only know one definition of doldrums- a period of inactivity or stagnation, but did you know that the "doldrums" is also a nautical term? It refers to the belt around the Earth near the equator where sailing ships sometimes get stuck in windless waters. NOAA has a page about it if you're interested. It says sailing ships can be becalmed for several weeks, but I hope my period of doldrums is shorter. I am fairly sure that I will feel more like doing something when the heat and humidity abate (so maybe in September).

• Be careful how much you earn if you are receiving Social Security. John knew there was a limit as to how much he could earn as a consultant without a penalty, but someone's math was off and he made $144 too much last year. We just paid back Social Security over $6000 in overpayments, and this was an expense I hadn't budgeted for. I'd like to assure Elon that we are not responsible for any waste or fraud. 

• I've told you about two slightly negative things, so it's time for something more positive. John and Justin went to Alaska on a fishing trip and brought back 50 lbs. of salmon and halibut. I rarely make fish, but I have been enjoying it a lot. It's easy to do a few filets in the air fryer after seasoning them with salt, pepper, garlic, and paprika, and I'll probably like them even better once I get motivated enough to go to the grocery store and get some lemons. Fish and lots of garden vegetables make a dinner that I can prepare even if I'm stuck in the doldrums.  

• I am becoming impatient with Patience, a British show on PBS Masterpiece. I really enjoy the show, but only one episode is released each week. There are two more episodes to go, and I'm sure I'll be sad after I've watched them and there aren't any more. But I have also enjoyed Magpie Murders, Moonflower Murders, and Maryland while I wait for more episodes. What I'd really like is another season of Unforgotten, but maybe I'll just have to rewatch the first five seasons while I wait for the sixth season. I'd be glad for any suggestions you might have, and they can be about other things besides murder!

• It's amazing how quickly I can knit in my mind! I haven't yet reached the heel on the second rainbow sock and after I finish that pair I still have to knit the second sock of the blue and green striped pair. And yet, I've found myself wondering what other self-striping yarn I have in my stash. I just checked Ravelry and it looks like there are two skeins of watermelon yarn in my stash. All I have to do is leave the doldrums and go upstairs to my yarn closet and find them. It's certainly a relief to know that I'll be able to continue my sock knitting kick. 

• Here is a great summer salad recipe that I made for the first time this week. I made it pretty much according to the recipe, but I didn't have any hoisin sauce for dressing and I only added chicken to John's portion (because he has to have meat to call it dinner!) but I thought it was delicious. I like how the ramen noodles soak up the dressing and the mandarin oranges taste like a treat when all you want is a nice cold salad. 

It seems that I found a few things to write about even if none of it was of any real consequence. I wish you a lovely weekend and I'll leave you with a quote that I like:

There is no panacea, or utopia, there is just love and kindness and trying, amid the chaos, to make things better where we can. And to keep our minds wide, wide open in a world that often wants to close them.

 ~ Matt Haig, from Notes on a Nervous Planet ~