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 Don usually reads nonfiction but the last three books he’s read have been fiction (with a historical reference).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.

The late summer wildflowers are everywhere; asters, goldenrod, Queen Anne’s Lace (more than I’ve ever seen before.) Most of them pop up down near our culvert which is right next to the street. They grow with abandon. I was down there yesterday taking some photos and I saw these guys:

Two garden spiders, also known as orb weavers. I’ve never seen two occupying the same web before. That in itself was fascinating. As you know, I love these spiders. Usually. they’re down near the culvert, but last year one of them had a web that stretched between the coneflowers right next to the porch. I always see one somewhere. And I’m strangely cheered by their appearance on the property.

I finally tackled a job I had on the schedule in my planner all week long. Somehow something else always came up to keep me from completing the task and I would write it in for the next day. And the next. Finally, I got to it yesterday. I cleaned out the closet in the office, clearing a couple of shelves for miniature supplies. I filled a big old trash bag with ‘stuff.’ I don’t mean to imply that everything I need or use in my miniature work is in one place. It isn’t. There’s stuff on the desk and work table, there are miniatures in the French cupboard, supplies in the drawers and cabinets, and on my rolling cart. But the stuff that was spread out all over the closet is now in one place. Everything looks better, and I can access it.

The office can move from neat to cluttered in a second. Both of us have desks there. Don’s guitars and equipment are there. There’s a big overstuffed chair and plants. I have a cupboard full of treasures. And we stash extra items like paper towels and toilet paper up there. We’re now used to this new normal and we’ve figured out how to shop safely, so we have less need of boxes of staples, thank goodness. Less clutter makes me happy.

Storage is always at a premium here.

I finished Hamnet  this morning. Stunningly powerful, moving beyond words. Don is going to read it next. For the rest of the day, I’ll hold it close to me. I have to do that before I can start another book. I need to think about it, let it simmer. I recommend it highly.

Oh, and the crazy Qanon-type trolls have appeared. I had a comment this morning (in Spanish) full of crazy conspiracy theories. It was deleted and the troll was blocked.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.