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.
Hamnet is waiting at the library for me…my grand works there when not at college…she left today…not sure how long she will be there…the other grand attends a college closer…we will see what happens with Covid…a senior and a sophomore…and then the other grands…I am blessed. Thanks for your book reservations. My grand put aside The Yellow House for me…powerful book…brenda b
Oh good! I’m glad you’re going to read Hamnet, Brenda.
Good luck to your granddaughters – the way things are going at colleges and universities, they might be sent home again.
Stay safe!
Always feels good to get that pesky put-off tasks accomplished. Congrats! Those orb spiders are beautiful! What a find. Sorry about the Q-Anon crud….how can there be so many rocks for these ee-jits (as my mom used to call them) to crawl out of? Have a great Sunday!
I know! In Spanish, no less. Thanks, Nora.
Stay safe.
DH suddenly in a panic about packing for evacuation in case of fire. How many years I have said something like ‘could we make a list of what to take in case of earthquake??’ Met with silence. Now the fires are closer than they have ever been since living here for over 30 years.
What times we live in! My cousin and her children are teachers in Sonoma County – back to work, some virtually and some on campus. Such stress. Fire, Covid, smoke, heat, and my swiftly-aging cat, who wants nothing more than to hang out in the back yard, unhealthy air or not.
Praying for the firefighters every other minute. Best to all to staying safe and continuing well.
Oh my go, Martha. Stay safe!
This is so frightening. I have a childhood friend who had to evacuate 3 days ago; right now their house is safe, but they are very worried.
Praying for you, for everyone, and for the firefighters and animals.
So sorry for your friends’ evacuation. Hope all goes well and they can return home soon.
Thanks, Martha.
congratulations on the re-organizing. i did a bit last night (putting like things together in a better way) and i kept walking by and smiling at it, at figuring out another piece of this 500 square foot puzzle.
anyway, it feels good to get stuff done, doesn’t it?
and it feels good to take it easy … that’s what i’m doing now. hope you are doing the same.
i know they serve a purpose, but i want spiders and all insects, etc. outside and far away from my family and me! thanks for the photo, though. i think the back of the spider on the left looks rather like a black-eyed susan (black center, golden petals …).
grocery shopping done, deliveries made. visits and lunch with some family members shared and enjoyed (though obviously from a distance). corn on the cob … delicious. home now, showered. need to find something easy and quick for dinner … i have no ideas about that and not a lot of energy, either. so maybe dinner will wait a bit and i’ll read more of that agatha christie book (i’ve read a bit almost every day this past week … hooray!).
what you wrote about holding onto hamnet (for example) before starting another book? not that i’m reading much, but i do that, too … another reason why i don’t understand how some people can read two or more books at the same time! if i’m reading, i need to start and finish one before starting another.
good that you can block e-mailers. sorry there’s a need to do so.
hope you are having a good, safe weekend!
kathy in iowa
I rarely read two books at once and when it happens, it has to be fiction and nonfiction, not two of the same.
We love spiders and most insects and we tend to let them be. A wasp or a hornet? We capture them and release them outside. We tend to get along with each other quite well.
Glad you had a good day and now you can sit back and relax!
Stay safe.
i try to do the same … they are God’s creatures and just trying to live their lives, too. unless it’s very late at night or there’s too many of them … sorry.
have a nice night!
kathy in iowa
xo
Done panicking – I love your spiders, too.
I hope all is well, Martha!