The grass on the front lawn was so long that mowing was a real slog. Don, in an inspired moment, grabbed the other lawnmower. He went at it from one end, and I went at it from the other. Even so, we had to take a break halfway through. When you have lots of dangerously hot days followed by a few days of rain – including torrential tropical storm rain – the grass and the weeds in the garden get out of control.

I did do a bit a weed trimming as well, but there’s much more to be done out there. Lots and lots of cleanup. The trouble is: this is the time I stop caring as much about the gardens. So I have to work against that and force myself to pull weeds.

I sat on the glider later in the day – it was such a lovely day – and listened to the bullfrog, who has been very vocal the last couple of days, Today is beautiful, as well. Don and I are going to resume our library walks, so later on this morning, we will head on over.

I started a book the other day that I had ordered from a library. A mystery. I know of the author, who is quite prolific. Boy, within the first three pages, I knew I did not like her writing. Not one bit. I don’t know how to describe it, but it’s too glib, too trendy…all style. Formulaic. It’s the kind of writing that has proliferated since Gone Girl  and, if you remember, I threw that book across the room because it was manipulation for the sake of manipulation. I’ll return it today. Unfortunately, I have another one by the same author coming. Maybe I can cancel it.

So that was disappointing.

I’m still reading The Mirror and the Light, so I’m good. But because it’s historical fiction and pretty dense, I like to have another book going at the same time.

Loved the closing ceremony of the Olympics. Though, if I never see Snoop Dogg again, I’ll be fine. We felt there was way too much emphasis on celebrities. I’m relieved we can get back to our normal rhythms around here, but I will miss the Olympics. It’s always so inspiring.

Okay. Have to finish my coffee so we can take that walk.

By the way, I walked outside to take the above photo and the temperature was quite cool. Heaven!

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

What a day yesterday!

It rained a lot. A real lot. By the early afternoon we were under a tornado watch as tropical storm Debby started to blow through the Hudson Valley. The rain was torrential, scarily so, and it went on for hours. My phone went off once with a flash flood warning and then, about a half hour later, another alert: Tornado Warning. Oh boy. It was for the next twenty minutes and after some searching, I found it was for the county just south of us and we were included in the warning, because we’re just over the border.

All is well, obviously. We passed the deadline for the warning. The rain continued until about 7 pm.

We very seldom get tornado watches or warnings. The last time I can remember was about 3 or 4 years ago.

Did I say we needed rain?

Well, we got it.

Thanks, Mother Nature.

A very intense day. Today is beautiful and sunny, like nothing ever happened.

We’re lucky. We never lost power. I know there’s a lot of damage in the Hudson Valley and CT and further north. No damage here. The trees are fine. The sump pump kept working – for a while there it was going on and off every minute.

I have so much catch up work to do outside. Weeds to trim, pull. Grass to be mowed. But today is just too darned wet, so I’ll wait a day.

I have a feeling little Wren’s arrival will be delayed. There is no update on the tracking number. I imagine lots of flights were delayed/cancelled yesterday.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Currently juggling all of these. Oh wait, the one in the middle is a journal that I hardly ever write in. The rest are books I am indeed reading.

The new Daniel Silva arrived at the library on Wednesday and, of course, I had to drop everything. It’s early days but I know it will be fabulous because Silva’s books always are.

Most of this morning has been spent reading about the release of Americans being held in Russia and the incredibly complex plan to secure their release – a plan that originally included Alexei Navalny. This plan was successful because of Joe Biden. His positive relationship with our allies, his statecraft, his years spent on foreign relations, and his pure goodness lead to this. I do not mean to exclude our State Department, Vice President Kamala Harris, or any of the players in this detailed plan – I thank them. But it was just – how many weeks ago? – that the media and some Democrats and big money Dem donors were relentlessly questioning Biden’s fitness for office – including the Wall Street Journal, where Evan Gershkovich worked. And, true to form, they have not thanked the President, because that would upset their narrative.

Gee, he seems pretty fit to me. In fact, I’d say he was a master at being President.

The hypocrisy just plain stinks.

Seeing the video of their arrival in the United States brought tears to my eyes. May they find peace with their loved ones.

And bravo to our amazing gymnasts. Each of them – two from the USA, one from Brazil – had to overcome tremendous obstacles to get where they are today. And they did it with determination, grace, and integrity.

Other news: It was an unbelievably humid and dangerously hot day yesterday (and will be today, as well.) I watered twice. We might have storms today and I say, bring them on! Let’s send this front, or whatever you call it, out to sea.

Of course, as per usual on the first Friday of the month so far this summer, there is the threat of bad weather and impossible humidty and Don has another outdoor concert tonight. He’s not playing; he hired the performers. But he has to be there. I hope they move it to an indoor venue because the weather forecast is too dicey. Fingers crossed.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.