A short post today.

I finished the book I was reading just in time as it’s due today. Did a whole lot of weed whacking that I hadn’t been able to get to during the heat wave. Don had a gig last night. Mama Catbird is still sitting on the nest. The groundhog ate some of my zinnias.

It’s incredibly beautiful out there this morning.

The phlox is in bloom. The phlox that was chomped on by the deer is also blooming or just about ready to bloom. The scent is heavenly. This is always the best time in the garden: phlox, coneflowers, bee balm, day lilies, rose of sharon, balloon flowers, brown-eyed susans – all in bloom. I’m going to take all of that in today.

Chloe trying out the chair.

Time for me to make our second cup of coffee. Enjoy your weekend, my friends.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Friday morning. The heat and humidity are gone – at least, for a while. There is a cool breeze coming through the windows.

Thank heavens. This kind of weather makes me feel ill (allergies to mold and mildew.) I haven’t felt well for about two weeks. I can’t wait to do some work outside later this morning. It’s a truly lovely day.

From the garden bed outside the living room windows. These guys are gorgeous this year!

I want you to know I went outside in a heat index of 95° to get these photos – yes, I know, I’m a saint.

The brown-eyed susans are opening up; always a sign that we’re headed into the second half of summer. It all passes so quickly, doesn’t it?

Bees LOVE coneflowers. And I love seeing them everywhere.

You know how I feel about every vile thing going on right now. I am quite vocal about all of it on my main IG account and on Threads. I know some of you follow me there. That doesn’t mean I won’t address it here at some point, but I do get sick of having to block ignorant cult members, so I’m keeping this little place on the Web a relatively happy place.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

The humidity and heat continue and we have a heat advisory today and tomorrow. I mowed yesterday morning – did too much, of course – but I was so aware that there will be no break in this weather in the foreseeable future and the grass was long. Today will be a recovery day. I’ll be watering the plants outside, but mostly staying inside in the a/c.

We mistakenly got a package for our next-door neighbors and Don tried to deliver it next door but there was no answer when he knocked. He left it in the mailbox. He called the next day to make sure they had received it. Only then did we learn that their son, who is probably about 24 now, was in an terrible accident on his motorcycle and is in the hospital in Albany and has been there for a month. Don came back from that initial visit saying the grass was overgrown and the house looked deserted and I had noticed it had been quiet over there – they usually get at least one delivery a day. But this is the kind of neighborhood – semi-rural – where you don’t hang out on the sidewalk and catch up with each other (we have no sidewalk.) If you happen to be outside when a neighbor is coming or going, you might have the chance to talk, but usually not. Anyway, we were shocked. He’s such a nice kid. The father is elderly and staying at home and the mom is staying up in Albany with the son who is in ICU. We still don’t know details as to the extent of the injuries, but when we spoke to the father yesterday, he said, “It looks like he may pull through.”

That sentence stopped us in our tracks.

I can’t imagine what they’re going through. We’re praying for Emile and for his family.

_____________________________________________

In a bizarre change of topic, I did a story on my Blythe IG. This is how I set it up:

“Whatever can be under that cover? Everyone seems fascinated by it.”

“Wren says it’s a CHAIR!”

“Our first piece of furniture for the house! I wonder who will be the first to sit in it? Lucy? Lily? Wren? Dexter?”

“Well look who snuck in – Ruby! Well done!”

Silly, but I had fun doing it. I can’t get over the difference between 1/6 scale (which this is) and 1/12 scale, which is what is used in all of the dollhouses.

I’d like to get a sofa – or another chair – so I can set up more shots. That would be especially useful in winter, when I can’t get outdoor pics.

This is a Lori Loft dollhouse that I got at Target about 11 or 12 years ago. It’s made of thick cardboard. It had a loft and stairs, but I never fully got into doing something with it. Plus, I got the modern dollhouse, which gave me more possibilities, so this stayed in a corner of the bedroom and I used it for storage. Eventually, when I got into Blythes, I removed the loft and the stairs, thinking it might function as a room box for the girls. I think it will. And I’ll know more about what I want to do with it when I get a sofa and a rug.

Hey, I have to keep busy and creative or I’ll go mad.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.