Another beautiful morning here in the Hudson Valley. No rain on the horizon until Friday. I sprayed some deer repellent on the hostas late yesterday afternoon. So far, so good. But I’ll be doing it again after it rains. Every year, I forget about the deer until I see some damage. Then it’s, “Oh, right! I have to spray some stuff on the plants!” Duh. My brain seems to be a sieve lately anyway. Anyone else experiencing foggy brain during lockdown?
C’est fini!
I worked on this a lot yesterday and then, as the end came in sight, I kept going even though I was tired. As always seems to happen, the final pieces – which looked like nothing specific and were therefore maddening – made absolute sense when I figured out where they belonged. But I could only do that when it came down to just a few missing pieces.
This is Don’s favorite so far. He actually suggested framing it and hanging it at the bottom of the stairs. Hmmmm….I guess I’d better slide it onto some foam board while we ponder this. Terri, thank you again for the puzzle; it was a real challenge and so satisfying at the same time.
We just put in a grocery order and will pick it up at 3:30 today. It used to be impossible to pick up the same day. We’re happy campers.
Governor Cuomo has threatened to add restrictions again in NYC due to thousands of complaints about people drinking and congregating on the street sans masks. See? It’s happening here as well. What fools. I hope he comes down hard on them. He said that local governments need to enforce the rules. Mayor de Blasio (not a fan) got defensive. And so it goes.
A new puzzle on the horizon. I’m not sure which one. I received two this past week but I’m also looking at some of the other puzzles Terri sent. A happy quandary.
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
What is in your deer repellent? We have a mom and two fawns on our road. As much as I love to see them I would like to see my hostas too. We also have a bunny family under the neighbors house and they chew things down to the ground. Last night we had an opossum stare at us through the bedroom screen. Love all the wildlife but would also like to see a plant or two.
Enjoy your day,
Eileen
I’ll post the link. It’s from a fellow blogger who lives in California. All natural – no chemicals. It has worked for me.
https://turkeyfeathers.typepad.com/turkey_feathers/2007/05/all_or_nothing.html
Hi Claudia,
Would you be willing to give your deer repellant recipe?
I’ve tried Irish Spring soap bars tucked in around the hostas in the past. But I’m not sure how effective that is.
I have noticed that mask compliance has dropped considerably here.
Also, seem to be quite a few people going into restaurants and bars. I am appalled at the number of people who just don’t take this virus seriously, or don’t even believe it at all.
I have come to the conclusion that all we can do is take care of ourselves. No crowds for me, I will continue to wear a mask, wash hands etc.
That puzzle would look great framed.
Take care
I just saw the link to the deer repellant. Thank you
Glad you saw it, Marilyn. It isn’t my recipe, it’s another blogger’s recipe. xo
That’s all we can do, Marilyn – keep doing what we’re doing! Stay safe.
A beautiful day here in the midwest, too, and my first day dressed and outside to water the plants and flowers. Felt so good to get outside and feel the sun and cool breeze. I love your puzzles and am amazed at how quickly you put them together! You have found (or been gifted) a great variety of beautiful and fun pictures to work with. I can feel how much you are enjoying this stay at home hobby of yours! Thanks for sharing, Claudia!
I really am. I don’t think of myself as a patient person but I am with crossword puzzles, dollhouses, gardening, and jigsaw puzzles. Otherwise, not so patient! Thanks, Ellen. Stay safe.
That puzzle really is beautiful! I agree with Don. Oh, the colors!!
The amount of cases spiking is crazy. Guess we can’t be intelligent on our own. We need orders. And those who hate orders don’t listen anyhow. It is one giant freaking mess. We continue to stay home within our little bubble. Being able to go outside, work in the yard, see the flowers and veggies growing, has made our bubble seem quite the right size for me. March and April were a lot more difficult.
A small iota of faith in the Supreme Court was restored for me this morning. I’m sure by afternoon some other mess will be Breaking News, so I don’t hold much store in being happy for too long. Hope you have a good Monday. We have another lovely day, too, before the heat starts building in. Stay safe. Stay home!
Oh yes…gardening has been my salvation, too! We have a relatively small bubble that we operate in…it allows family visits, because we are all super vigilant. But, our yard has been a big mood booster around here for both of us. And a big bonus is, it’s never looked better! Stay safe Chris! ;)
I agree!! We, too, feel confident in our little family circle as everyone is diligent because of us, the two old parents :-) AND the sweetest little baby girl. And you are right, the yard does look awfully good this year!! My Impatience are being naughty right now. They look very strong and healthy, but they are not flowering. Otherwise, everything looks fantastic. We sure have had some lovely days, but I hear the heat is heading our way. Glad you, too, are enjoying your own little bubble!!
We will stay in our bubble as well and you’re so right, much better now that we can get out in the garden and do some work on the property. After having lived in apartments for so many years, I have never been more appreciative of having this property!
Yes, bravo SCOTUS! I have to read more to find out who the dissenters were. I have a pretty good idea…
Stay safe.
Oh my, I nearly drooled looking at the puzzle. Just fantastic,
How many pieces are in this puzzle?
It has 1000 pieces, JJ. Stay safe!
Oh, yes, that one is definitely worth framing.
It is, isn’t it? Stay safe, Janice.
May I ask the name of the manufacturer of that puzzle?
It was a gift from a reader, but it looks like the New York Puzzle Company, Carolyn. I hope they still make it!
Stay safe.
I love the puzzle!!!
I am also foggy and forgot about the deer until they ate all the hostas and nibbled on the rose buds. That’s how it goes when you share the woods. :)
Exactly. We do share the woods. Meanwhile, the groundhog has been chomping on some plants as well! Stay safe, Betsy.
Yes…that puzzle deserves to be framed. It’s perfect for the two of you.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if things were shut down again. If only people would be smart about this, wearing masks and social distancing, I do believe we could reduce our case numbers. But. Some people just can’t seem to understand that simple truth.
Enjoy your beautiful weather..,ours is going to return to hot and humid. Stay safe! ;)
I agree – I wouldn’t be surprised, either. I’ll tell you a story about a friend of ours tomorrow and the fools he’s working with.
Stay safe. Our temps are rising as well and I’m pretty sure the humidity is going to kick back in.
Claudia. We’ve had the same absolutely perfect weather here in Mich for over a week. Then comes Friday, heat and the rains. Okay it’s summer. Gardens are fantastic. We spray a fox urine mixture to keep deer away from hostas. Saw a mama and her baby in front of the house today.
Blessed. These people who won’t wear masks are prolonging this monster that is killing people.
We took our pup to local state park (with our masks) and had lunch at a picnic table far away from anyone. Then here come the “young people”, NO masks, all sharing whatever they brought.
No sense. Not just young people either. I see many men around the 25 to 50 range just sauntering around and in stores without any thought to anyone but themselves and their comfort. It will get worse after July 4th I’m afraid. Why are there stupid people among us?
Take care.
No sense at all and clearly only interested in themselves. It makes me crazy! I don’t know the answer to your question, but I will agree that there are lots of people who do stupid things among us. Stay safe, Penny!
What a beautiful morning here today! Clear blue sky, warm sun, and a gentle breeze. Maybe the best day of the summer! I’m so glad I took myself outside, first time in a week or so. That puzzle is darling and I can see how daunting it must have been. I love how Don is always supportive of your projects. Hope you continue to be well.
Don is the best. He doesn’t mind the kitchen table being taken up by an ongoing puzzle! Stay safe, Nora.
Nice job on the puzzle! That isn’t an easy one but it’s a nice image.
I have you to thank for it, Terri. It was a challenge but lots of fun! Stay safe.
That’s a terrific puzzle! Well done — I bet not all that easy, too — there’s lots going on there.
I heard about NY. I hope Michigan stays loose. To be honest, I wouldn’t mind a more strict order but I’m not sure our gov could handle it!
Enjoy this glorious weather!
Cuomo and de Blasio don’t get along, so that doesn’t help things. But I’m with the Governor on this one. Slap ’em down if necessary. Stay safe, Jeanie.
Great puzzle!
Love,
Susan and Oliver
Thank you Susan! Give Oliver a kiss from me! Stay safe.
Claudia, that puzzle is THE BOMB. Of course you can’t frame EVERY wonderful puzzle you’re working on, but I agree this one really speaks to what we know of your and Don’s aesthetic; oh, and the COLORS; just terrific.
Do you think the repellent would work for ants? We’re really having a battle already, so early into summer; worse year yet, being in this house. In the past few weeks, in the living room, in the kitchen, in the hallway, in the garage office, in the bathroom, on the dog herself. Last night they got into what we thought were well-sealed bags of the dog’s dry food. We did discover that the primary trails are coming from NOT our hillside out back but instead from our next-door neighbor who won’t do anything about termites, so clearly that also applies to ants. We just have to keep at it (daily vigilance, indoors and outdoors) but I wondered about the deer repellent, like maybe we could spray it against the foundation of our house or direct it at that neighbor’s infestation (at least the part we can see and which intrudes on our property).
The thing about Terro is that you have to know it takes a couple of weeks. They eat it, go back to the nest and eventually those in the nest die. But it doesn’t happen right away. I would put the baits outside your house and near your neighbor’s fence. No, I don’t think the deer repellent will work. It has clove oil in it and I’ve never seen that listed as an ant deterrent. Stay safe, Vicki!
Hi Vicki, I have had some success with a mixture of vinegar and orange peel. I soak the orange peel in white vinegar for at least a week, though if you are making up different batches, you can leave it longer. I decant the vinegar mixture into a spray bottle and use it on bench tops and cupboards. I wipe it afterwards with a clean cloth. The more I use it the fewer ants I get. It doesn’t kill them, it seems to repell them. Good luck Miche
Thought you may like this jigsaw puzzle site–there is jigsaw puzzle of Mona Lisa
https://www.pufferbelliestoys.com/shop/445/adult-jigsaw-puzzles-500-pieces
Thank you, Trina. Stay safe!
what a fun and fitting puzzle … i can see why don suggested framing it for your stairwell! and i can see why it was challenging. i am used to jigsaw puzzles with very similar pieces that fit together in basically horizontal and vertical lines, but this one seems to have lots of angled lines from not-very-rectangular pieces (like those in the lower right corner and above the “o” in the title). but you did it and it looks great! :)
raising my hand here to your question about having a “foggy brain” right now. i think for me it’s a combination of depression and my brain being exhausted for being on “high alert” when around other people and when searching for bleach wipes and lysol. i’ve always tried to be careful about my sleep and rest/relaxation … guess i need to be super-protective about it all now.
and, like you, i am angry that so many people cannot be bothered to wear a mask and keep at least six feet away from other people when in public … it’s simple and benefits them as much as anyone else! and it’s kind and wise. what a world …
i have no news from here … just a wish and prayers that you all are well, safe and taking it easy.
kathy in iowa
Yes, all of that is exhausting! I agree. Stay safe, Kathy!
Nice puzzle. It would make a nice adornment for the walls I think. Like you I have had a few things finished. Have almost completed a cardigan I started 15 years ago. Just have the basque to finish it off. Made a beanie (hat) and a scarf to match the cardigan. Had my stitches taken out of my finger last week. Healing is progressing well. Have been busy each day and when I go to shop once a week I feel as though I am the exception to the normal. I wear masks and others don’t wear them. When I had the operation on my hand in hospital a few weeks ago, I was able to wear my own mask into theatre, even though they dressed me into a hospital gown and socks. I was given local injections into my hand and did not undergo anaesethetic for the operation.
I’m so happy to hear you are healing nicely, Robyn.
I’m going to keep on wearing a mask. It’s the smart and sane thing to do. Stay safe!