Weekending

This weekend had a little bit of everything, ranging from the completely mundane (laundry and picking string beans in the garden),

to finally visiting the local English brew pub for fish and chips,

to some adventures on the roof clearing a clogged gutter before it started leaking down the inside of the kitchen wall. Some of you have seen this, but here are my steps to clear a clogged gutter:

1. Grab your phone in case you survive the fall and need to call somebody.
2. Go out on the roof and survey the situation. 
3. Stick your hand in the drain pipe opening to clear it. Do not get it stuck as it will hurt and bleed when you finally get it out.
4. When your hand doesn't work, make your own clog-clearing tool (patent pending, not for use during thunderstorms).
5. Go back on the roof, use your clog-clearing tool and rejoice as the gutter drains.
6. Congratulate yourself on a job well done.
7. Sit and knit for the rest of the afternoon.
8. Pour your self a stiff beverage to cheer your success. (courtesy of Kat!)

Sunday evening was was nice and quiet, spent with Grantchester and knitting. I hope your weekend had a full range of fun, enjoyment, relaxation, and productivity!

Random Bits and Pieces

A random bits and pieces post worked well last week, so I thought I'd try it again (maybe even as a regular thing?). It seems like a good way to share those little things I've collected, run across, or photographed throughout the week. I might have some real winners!

The week started with a spectacularly frustrating and aggravating situation that had been brewing for almost six weeks, but I was finally made aware of it on Monday. You probably wouldn't believe it if I recounted the whole convoluted story, so let's just say it was a perfect storm of incredible overreach, incompetence, and bureaucracy between the USPS, DMV, and an insurance company. The form above is called a change of change form (at least the name made me laugh) which is what you'll need if someone changes your address without notifying you. Check the Invalid Request box, submit the form to the USPS, cross your fingers and hope for the best ...

On a much better note, I'm usually paying attention to the floral show outdoors at this time of year, but the orchid blooming inside on my kitchen windowsill is looking quite beautiful. It's a pleasure to do dishes while appreciating the lovely purple orchids right in front of me.

We had a tradition when the boys were young that if the temperature reached 100° , we would have ice cream for dinner. It hasn't been quite that hot here lately, but the heat indices have been over the 100°  mark this week. I haven't yet resorted to ice cream for dinner, but there is still plenty of time left in the summer.

But this morning we're getting some much-needed rain and it's much cooler. So, at least for now, I'm not quite as cranky from the heat, hoping my change of change form goes into effect, and life is just a bowl of cherries (for breakfast). Hope your weekend is a good one!

Think Write Thursday

The Think Write Thursday topic for today is to write about 3 good things that happened this week. We all know that focus on the GOOD is GOOD for us so let's do it!

I see the fawns (it turns out there are two of them!) almost every evening.

I stumbled upon a wonderful PBS program about Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The Lindberghs are a big deal here in Flemington, NJ. The house that they lived in when their son was kidnapped is about five miles from here, and I live a block away from the courthouse where Bruno Hauptmann was tried. The beauty of this program is that it focuses on Anne herself, as an accomplished aviator, mother, and extraordinary writer.  You can watch You'll Have the Sky: The Life and Work of Anne Morrow Lindbergh here. 

I entered the 21st century and finally bought a Kindle Fire. I've been using an eight-year-old Kindle keyboard, and while it still works, it has been slowing down and not charging well. I rarely buy something new if the old one still functions, but I couldn't resist 40% off on Prime Day. It's making reading even more pleasurable!

Three pretty great things and it's only Thursday! What's good in your world?

Read other Think ... Write ... Thursday! posts here, and sign up for Carole and Kat's great idea here.

Unraveled Wednesday

Joining Kat and friends for Unraveled Wednesday.

My knitting looks pretty much the same as last week (and the week before that), which is why it's just bunched up in a pile. Imagine a few more points on the never-ending hitchhiker and you'll have a clear picture.

I have finished several books for Book Bingo over the last week, A Full Life and I Contain Multitudes, and am excited to be starting several new ones. I picked up Invisible Emmie from the library for my graphic novel square. Graphic novels have not been my favorites in the past, but I was pleased to page through this one and see that it has a "semi-graphic" format. I think there is enough text to keep me happy and enough drawings to still make it graphic. 

I'm also excited to start The Hate U Give. I've been making a concerted effort to get the books I'm reading for Book Bingo from my local library, Overdrive, or listen to ones I've already got in my Audible library. So far, I've only purchased two books (Bambi and Bambi's Children), and they were inexpensive paperbacks.

So, in between mountains of laundry, knitting, reading, and work today, I'm going to be ripping these CDs into itunes so I can listen on my ipod. With these additions, my Book Bingo card is coming along nicely.

What are you knitting and reading this week?

Safe!

One lily burst into blossom yesterday before the deer could nibble it ...

Four more buds to go!

Weekending

It was a low key weekend around here, but filled with lots of things that I enjoy.

I made some snickerdoodles in case Justin came home for a quick visit to the DMV since Chris Christie closed New Jersey last weekend.

Things didn't work out for a visit, but I have cookies safely tucked away in the freezer, ready for next time Justin is here.

My Stargazer lily buds made it safely through the weekend, uneaten by deer. (I'm knocking on wood as I type this).

My sister-in-law gave me a gift of five bulbs years ago, and I planted them under my kitchen windows where I can enjoy their beauty and heavenly scent. Deer have nipped off the ready-to-bloom bulbs the past couple of years, so I'm keeping fingers crossed this year.

We had some rain and thundershowers, some that managed to soak me during a walk on Saturday, but thankfully I didn't melt. :-) It was well worth it because they also produced a stunning rainbow in the east and a beautiful sky in the west as the showers cleared.

I'm taking these as auspicious signs for the coming week!

Random Bits and Pieces

I've been wracking my brain to try and come up with something interesting to write about, but all I've got is a slightly related collection of small things, so random bits and pieces it is.

I found a dead garter snake in the lawn when I was mowing, and because it was relatively long and its skin looked pretty in the sunlight, I thought Justin would appreciate the picture I sent him. He replied with the photo below, which I did not like very much.

I worried about rattlesnakes when he was in Texas, but New York state is home to plenty of timber rattlesnakes. There are at least three dens identified by the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation on the ranch where he is working, and they are a threatened species so there are laws protecting them. It looks like my worry may continue.

My purple cone flower blooms have really exploded. John was complaining about my flowers taking over his garden, until I pointed out that the bevy of bees in my flowers can only be good for all of his nearby vegetable plants.

Snow peas are nearing their end, and I hope to have string beans, cucumbers, and some rain soon.

I saw an adult bird fly away from this house every time I was near the front porch, but never saw or heard any babies ...

until I paid attention to the spider plant hanging next to the bird house. There are three baby birds who haven't fledged yet, so they spend their days standing in the nest waiting for food to be delivered. I do hope they learn to fly soon so I can water the plant and clean up the porch underneath them. Let's just say that spider plant has been well-fertilized.

And that Japanese beetle trap blowing in the background? I have several of them for these detestable insects:

They are out in full force, eating my roses and clematis. These two were harmed after the taking of this photograph. There is something satisfying about knocking them into a jar of alcohol and watching them suffer a bit. I am still lucky enough to have some beautiful roses that I've gotten to before the beetles.

And they're not eating my hydrangeas, so I'm grateful for that.

I hope your weekend is full of beauty, blossoms, and very few beetles.