I temporarily stashed the mini fridge from Barbara on the porch the other day and there it remains. This morning, I noticed that it was still there. It looks like Caroline is either waiting for someone to pick it up or waiting for the delivery guys to bring it inside the house. I guess all that will be decided when I figure out where it should reside and I haven’t done that yet.
It’s quite cool this morning, a real autumn-like beginning to the day. I know it will get hot again, that’s a given, but I can really feel and see the season shifting. Not sure I’m ready for that, but I’m adjusting to that reality. I am ready for flannel shirts, sweaters, our ever-present thermal pullovers (we love them; they stretch and adapt to our not-so-thin-nowadays bodies.) I somehow think a seasonal change is even more welcome in this time of isolation and COVID. It’s something different in the midst of day after day after day of ‘same.’
Hopefully, the tree guys will get here this week sometime. The only day we can’t have them here is tomorrow, when I have to drive Don to his appointment with the eye doctor. I don’t want them here when we are away.
Don did some work yesterday on the area surrounding the little park he made for me in the woods. I weed whacked, pulled weeds, trimmed bushes and did some general cleanup work as well as the traditional Sunday washing of sheets and I threw in some vacuuming, as well. Since it was coolish, it was the perfect day to do outdoor work. Maybe some mowing today – not sure about that yet.
I’m quite enjoying The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. She creates other worlds that are incredibly detailed and magical, all the while grounding those worlds with deeply felt emotions – I don’t know how she does it. I loved The Night Circus and I can already tell I’ll love The Starless Sea.
That’s about it. Reading, working outside, working inside, watering plants, eating, watching Frasier and movies like On the Waterfront – one of my favorites. Don continues to prepare great meals, while I step in occasionally and make my famous grilled cheese sandwiches (a couple of days ago) or french toast or, if I may say so myself, the fluffiest of scrambled eggs. When I was older but still living at home, I kept late hours (a theater lifestyle) and I loved nothing more than making french toast or scrambled eggs late at night when I finally had the house to myself. In a very small house (do you see a pattern here?) filled with 5 or 6 family members at any given time, alone time was rare. So I created little rituals for myself. That was one of them.
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
That fridge is just like the one at the cottage minus dents and scrapes. Brings back memories of it in the house then on the porch.
Love to you,
Eileen
I remember that fridge! Such great memories.
Love to you and Woody, Eileen! (Eric has followed me on Instagram and I love seeing his photos.)
Not bad is it? Working outside…reading…some fun shows…things move on…life goes on…my five grands are in such different stages this week…one in second week on campus university…one first week commuting to university…one fourth week home school tenth grade…one third grade gifted E learning…one kindergarten Virtual…Variety of learning…I work with them, of course…and love that…thank you for this beautiful blog…brenda b
Thank you for being such a help to your grandchildren, Brenda.
I wish them all well in this ‘new normal.’
Stay safe.
I wish I had the freedom that you have to choose what to do each day. We have a handicapped daughter who has to be watched. She even calls us for things she needs in the middle of the night. One of our relatives said recently she could not do it. Don’t people know that you just step up when it is needed? Just my 2 cents worth!
Hi Jan, there is very little that we can not do for those we love. I have a son with limited abilities and absolutely know how you feel about the lack of freedom that others can take forgranted. But, oh the blessings that we can take forgranted. I wish you a wonderful week!
Kelly
Of course you step up. I would if I was in your position.
It’s all relative. We are unable to work because of COVID-19 and it’s a strain on our finances – we’ve lost an important part of our income. I worry about it a great deal, though I don’t mention it very often – at least I try not to! So we have to find things to fill our days or we would go mad.
Life is stressful for everyone at the moment and each of us has to face loss; whether it’s of freedom or income or family and friends to this horrific virus, or not being able to pay rent and losing one’s home (I have many friends in this position right now.) I’m sure there’s more that I’m forgetting to list. Some stresses are bigger than others, of course.
I hope you find some peace in your days, Jan. Bless you and your family.xo
Stay safe.
such a lovely post. I’m glad it was cooler weather there.
ours is still oven-like and relentless. but at least it’s cloudy today which is wonderful!
just anything to make it SEEM cooler! it’s actually like pea soup because of humidity.
but then… tomorrow is SEPTEMBER! even if it’s still hot…
just the word alone makes me always feel better!
and the exterior of that beautiful little house.. oh my! it’s beautiful!
I’m happy that it’s almost September. I’m ready for a change.
Thanks so much, Tammy.
Stay safe.
Claudia, the house looks beautiful! Brand new!
Since quarantine, Vincent and I do alternate night cooking or clean up. Tonight is his specialty, home made pizza. I get custom made whole wheat crust (delicious) fresh sautéed spinach with garlic, feta, kalamata olives, pignolia nuts…oh boy!
Oh, that pizza sounds so good! Enjoy it, Leslie!
Stay safe.
I really like the fridge that you made for Hummingbird Cottage. Maybe the white fridge could be a cold drinks fridge outside? The weather here has suddenly become very autumn-like. Our day starts at 5:30 a.m. and it seems very odd to all of a sudden not be getting up with the sun.
I’m not sure where I will use it; it’s too big for the limited amount of space I have in the English Cottage. It may go in the modern dollhouse, which could have a cool retro kitchen.
I think the thing I like least about this change is the lack of light early in the morning. I feel for you.
Stay safe, Barbara.
Hi Claudia, it feels odd knowing this is the last day of August! But, it currently is raining and 72° which is wonderful! I am grateful! Maybe now I will be motivated to work on my outdoor project, dividing daylilies and hostas. I also have a few rhododendron and azaleas in containers that I would like to put in the ground.
Enjoy your day and take care…
Kelly
Well, the cooler weather will certainly help motivate you, Kelly! I should do the same, but we’re waiting out the tree guys. I wanted to mow before they come because it will be easier for us to rake up debris with a shorter lawn. T
Stay safe, Kelly.
Love Hummingbird Cottage ! My first thought was “oh no, the frig can’t go thru the door !” Lol. Just perfect ! Can’t wait to see how you decorate the inside.
Maybe we need to revive the saying Peace along with Stay Safe.
I love your blog. I am impressed by your daily accomplishments and the routines you and Don have established. There is a certain calmness that comes from routine. I longed for the time to do projects , read, SLEEP…when I was working , raising a family, and a caregiver for my mom who suffered from dementia for a torture of 10 years. The last couple of years I was coming into my own…retired, in relatively good health and family doing well. Everything has been upended. Not complaining , I truly know that things could be worse…..So I look around at all my half finished projects, watercolor and canvases in the corner , stacks of photoboxes waiting to get sorted, a mini-rebounder (trampoline) set up by my husband for me to IMPROVE my balance…. and practice DVDs that I can only see wearing my glasses as I am jumping on the thing. Keep writing and photographing …I need your CALM.
Thank you, Maria. Though there are days I do not feel calm in the slightest! But I appreciate your kind words.
Stay safe!
Oh, that dollhouse has been finished for years. It’s already decorated! You can see photos of it under dollhouses/minis in the navigation bar. Thanks, Sandy.
Stay safe.
We are having the same weather shift as you described. It’s been much cooler, less humidity, and crispy, brown leaves are falling on the ground now. While the cooler weather feels nice, September is depressing for me, as I mourn the loss of summer (my favorite season) and my son (passed Sept 25th). I’m not looking forward to long sleeves or hoodies or long pants, etc. I could live in t-shirts and shorts and bare feet every day. Gee, I live in the wrong state, don’t I?!
Funny you should mention scrambled eggs. I rarely eat them, but today I had a craving for them. I made soft, fluffy ones too and for extra health benefits, I stirred in some organic baby spinach. I had them for a late lunch with roasted organic fingerling potatoes. Delish!
I started Sue Monk Kidd’s newest book (The Book of Longings) a couple of days ago and am really enjoying it.
Summer is my favorite and usually I don’t want it to end. For some reason, maybe the one I spoke of in the post, I feel differently this year.
I’ve never read any of Kidd’s books – I have no idea why! I’ll have to remedy that.
Stay safe, Melanie.
hope the chores are done for the day (you’ve had some extra-long lists lately) and you and don have your feet up and are relaxing right now.
also hope the tree work will be fast, done well and at a lower cost than expected/estimated. and go as easy as possible on you and don.
do you need to take photos of the damage for homeowners’ insurance, etc?
hummingbird cottage looks sweet.
i’d like a life-size one. :)
hooray for more good books!
i don’t like the daylight getting shorter and never want ice and sleet, but i do love cooler weather. i like wearing layers, moving around more comfortably and the feel of cool air on my face (so fall is my favorite season).
have you ever tried slices of dill pickles in grilled cheese sandwiches? a long time ago, when babysitting my two nieces, they asked me to make them that for lunch. they’d had it before, but i was doubtful, thought they might be playing a trick on me … but it was very good.
going to find something quick for dinner, then read a bit. :)
hope you are having a nice night and stay safe.
kathy in iowa
Homeowner’s insurance usually doesn’t cover fallen trees that don’t impact structures.
We always have pickles in our grilled cheese sandwiches, but we use bread and butter pickles. It is good, isn’t it?
I’d like a life-sized Hummingbird Cottage as well – though, as I get older, climbing two flights of steps every day doesn’t sound like a good idea!
Stay safe, Kathy.
When I saw the fridge on the front porch it reminded me of when we were driving through the back hills of Tennessee and Kentucky years ago — you saw a lot on porches there and I always wondered why!
I’m feeling a bit of a seasonal shift here up north, too. Part of it is weather — it’s cooler for longer in the day, even though it gets rather sunny and even warmish. That said, last night I was wearing a fleece jacket over my sweatshirt because we really didn’t want to build another fire! But it’s temperate enough I can work out here on the porch (total screens, ceiling to floor, almost) which gives Rick space to do his computer work without my painting videos or BBC news distracting him! I’m not minding the onset of fall too much — not ready yet, but I can work with it — but dreading a winter where it is harder to meet up with people outside from afar, yet still be safe. No long lunches, twelve feet apart with six inches of snow on the ground.
Today’s a good day for beach tending and clearing out one bed we didn’t bother with this year. Next year I’d like to plant there. Enjoy!
Normally, I would be fighting fall tooth and nail – just because I love my gardens and summer. But this year is a bit different (in every way.) I am not looking forward to winter, however. Though, after hundreds of motorcycles roared down our road on Sunday, I found myself longing for winter when motorcyclists disappear.
Stay safe, Jeanie.