One of my little sunflowers just opened up. I remember grabbing some seeds during my first lockdown trip to the nursery – having no idea what size they might be. This is on the petite side and I love it.

Lots of morning glories this morning. The other batch that I sowed in the chicken wire fence garden? Lots of leaves, absolutely no flowers so far. I’ve had this happen in the past. I sure hope they’re simply waiting to bloom in September.

I didn’t do any dollhouse work yesterday as I attacked the main bathroom for a thorough cleaning. That took a few hours. You know I hate doing a deep clean of the bathroom. However, when I do tackle it, I feel very satisfied. Now the kitchen needs a deep clean, as well, but I’m going to wait a day or two to start in on that.

We had a late afternoon thunderstorm with lots of wind and rain. By that point in the day, I had given up hope, but then I heard some faint thunder off in the distance. Huzzah! Of course, I’d already hand watered all of the garden by that point, but what the heck.

I had a little epiphany last night. As I scanned twitter to see what happened on the second night of the RNC and promptly felt sickened at all the lies and propaganda, I realized that I can’t go forward like this – being anti-Orange Man. Of course, I am and I detest everything he stands for. BUT, fighting against is alway weaker than fighting for. So I’m going to do my best to block out as much of his fascist drivel as I can, knowing that it’s not possible to block all of it, and move ahead fighting for  Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. I am not going to give any more of my energy to him – he’ll suck it up, he’ll feast on it, he’ll want more. I refuse to give it to him. I’m going to give all my positive energy to Joe and Kamala, to all that is good, to everything they represent for our future.

I shared that thought with Don as we got ready for bed and he agreed.

So that’s where you’ll find me; doing whatever I can to help elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

I remember right after my father died, I had to deal with my estranged sister (she’s estranged from everyone in the family) who lives in a world where loved ones and neighbors are her enemies, where she is always a victim of something or other, who concocts fantasies that have no basis in reality. On the night of his death I had a conversation with her that was very upsetting and I spoke to Don about it on the phone. He said I should think of her as an annoying gnat that I could finally brush aside, the last connection to her having been my father. I never had to deal with her again. I could move on, knowing I did everything I could to repair the relationship; having no idea what made her pull away from us because she would not answer any phone calls or emails, yet willing to apologize for whatever she perceived to be the problem.

I took his advice. It took a while, but eventually I realized that I had been freed from all her negative energy and could move on. My choice was to be positive, not negative. I could let her go and move forward in peace.

That’s how I choose to look at this election. Of course, we have no guarantee that we won’t have to deal with OM again, but I believe a positive push FOR and the energy that creates is far more powerful than a push against. Plus, I simply cannot let him occupy my mind and heart for a moment longer.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

I uploaded a photo, edited it, and was ready to insert it in my post when I realized I just used it two days ago. Life is a blur, my friends, in these days of viruses and the insanity of the leadership of our country.

I didn’t watch the convention but I did do some reading this morning. It sounds horrific and I’m not at all surprised. They have no platform, they warn about what the country will become under Dems and the video they use is what is happening NOW under the Orange Man. Still using “Make America Great” when they’ve had four years in power in which to do that very thing. They’ve failed on every level, so they have nothing to tout, nothing of hope, nothing of compassion, nothing of good.

You know how I feel. I despise the current GOP and everything it stands for. We are witnessing the last gasps of a party that Lincoln, if he were alive, would have absolutely nothing to do with. As Rick Wilson says, Everything Trump Touches Dies; #ETTD

Okay. Enough of that.

It’s humid today and we’ve been told we might have rain and storms. I’ll believe it when I see it, of course, but we sure could use it. Right now, as I write this, the sun has come out, so I’m getting more doubtful about the forecast by the minute.

I did a little work on the the dollhouse yesterday, sanding some of the interior surfaces and adding trim to the roofline. Today, I’ll paint the downstairs ceiling. Then I’ll have to make a decision about wallpaper. For some reason, I’m having trouble making a decision this time around. So it’s back to the drawing board. In the meantime, when I’ve finished painting the ceiling, I’ll start in on the wood floor downstairs.

I follow a lot of miniaturists and dollhouse enthusiasts on Instagram. I love seeing everyone else’s imaginative work. Though there are a slew of dollhouses that look exactly like the current white interior, subway tile, wood and white sofa craze (I tune out, just as I do when I see yet another feature in a magazine showing the same thing) there are a lot of original and funky and wonderful designs. It’s inspiring to see the work that others do. It keeps me very, very humble, to be sure.

I’m reading James Lee Burke and Don, who just finished The Underground Railroad, was so intrigued by my description of Hamnet  that he’s now reading it. Don usually reads nonfiction but the last three books he’s read have been fiction (with a historical reference).

Other than that, my friends, we’re hanging in there, giving ourselves chores and errands to run and books to read and meals to prepare in order to provide some structure to each day.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Sunday.

Though really, one day melds into another and into another. I get points for knowing that it was Sunday when I woke up. Half the time, I’m not sure what day it is!

It’s another beautiful day though we’ve had high temps and humidity for the past few days. The mornings, on the other hand, are quite beautiful and to prove that point, I’m blogging from the porch this morning. I hear cicadas and birds and the sound of the creek that is just across the street. Now a crow has joined in and some crickets. I’m reminding myself that these morning sounds will fade away as winter draws near, so I want to imprint them on my memory.

I’ve started the new James Lee Burke. Heavens, he’s a gifted writer. Right from the start, I’m plunged into the world of Louisiana and bayous and fish and heavy, humid air. Burke has a language all his own and I’ve called him a poet from the very first time I read one of his novels. I don’t know what number this one is, but I am forever a devoted fan.

Lest you think it’s perfectly idyllic here, the sound of a motorcycle tricked out to make the loudest sound possible just assailed my ears while sitting on the glider. Motorcyclists love this road because it’s long and fairly straight with big stretches of open road between stop lights. They get going at the light down on the corner and rev it up as they drive by our cottage.

Not a fan. I’ve been known to make a gesture or two.

Today? I might force myself to clean the bathroom. I will definitely launder the sheets. I’ll read. I’ll look at my current miniature project and maybe do something. Or not. I will definitely make a list of all the minis I have marked as favorites on Etsy and eBay, along with the building materials and wallpaper I need and I will prioritize each item. I have to make a plan that fits my budget in order of what is needed first. I tend to want to buy the pretty decor items right away, but I can’t work that way this time out. Wallpaper, stain for the floors, window inserts and ceiling beams are first up.

My view.

Prayers for every living being, for homes, for firefighters, as wildfires rage in California and other states. My childhood friend had to evacuate several days ago and is still waiting out the fire. As of yesterday, his home was safe, but it’s still very much in danger. He was my first crush, by the way.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.