Petite rose. Such a beautiful color.
We’ve already been outside mowing this morning. We mowed the biggest part of the front yard. I got so into weed pulling and mowing that I almost forgot to write this post! Thank goodness I was so hungry that I came back in the house and realized that I hadn’t blogged yet.
I stopped and watched a fat bumblebee enjoying the catmint, which is in bloom. Every time I saw a bumblebee in previous weeks, he/she was looking in vain for a suitable blossom. The catmint did the trick.
Let’s see, what else is new? I finished Laughter on the Stairs this morning and have just started Sunlight on the Lawn. I love all Nichols’ books, but the Merry Hall trilogy is my favorite, I think. Beautifully written.
Don is off to take some portraits. This weekend – take a deep breath – is going to be sunny and warm. Friday through Sunday. Yes, you read that right. After weeks and weeks of rain and gray skies and cold temperatures and swamp-like areas of the lawn, we may just get a chance to dry out. Anyway, he’ll work all weekend and Sunday will be his first Sunday at our local farmers market.
This clematis was not quite in the mood to open. I sort of love that – it gives the blossom a sculptural quality.
A random tip: a couple of the used Beverly Nichols books had a musty smell when they arrived. They’re not really old and I ordered them through Abe Books, which is a clearinghouse for independent used book sellers. I can only assume they absorbed the musty smell of other older books in the shops. I did some research online and the tip that worked for me was to put the book, along with a dish of baking soda, in a plastic container with a tight lid. I did. Left it there for several days and when I checked it, the odor was all but gone. So I’m doing it with another title that arrived the other day. It makes sense, doesn’t it? Baking soda is a wonder.
Happy Friday.
never would have thought of that tip, but baking soda is as you say … a wonder, helpful in many ways! thank you for sharing that idea and more pretty photos.
glad you and don will have a longer stretch of nice weather to enjoy! hope don gets lots of customers at the farmers’ market and you get enough rest and both have a nice weekend!
we have an antique market held outside twice each year, summer and fall. one will be held this sunday and i might go before church. i’m not really needing anything, but it’s kind of a tradition and fun to look at what’s being sold (including so many things from my childhood … makes me feel old) and at what prices. plus i want to show support for having such activities here in town. our biggest farmers’ market is held on saturday mornings; several smaller ones are held mid-week around town. the saturday one works best in my schedule, but is soooo crowded. not fun in the heat (90+) we have already, but love the fresh vegetables and buying local produce!
hope everyone has a good weekend!
kathy in iowa
Enjoy the markets, Kathy. It’s fun to have a tradition – and fun to see what’s for sale!
Thanks for the tip — I think we all have books like that! It’s good to know what to do.
MSU’s free summer theatre season starts this weekend and with sunny and 70, it should be a great night for One Man, Two Gov’nors. Best time of year!
Have a great time, Jeanie!
Those pics are so beautiful. Enjoy your garden.
HUGS
Thank you, Kim!
We are suppose to get rain today. I remember using baking soda for bee stings growing up. And I think it was in a Nancy Drew bookl I learned that mud is good for wasp stings. Isn’t interesting that natural items that can be used for so many things. Apple cider vinegar for acid reflux and inflamation. Aloe plant for minor kitchen burns. Witch hazel for bruises. Lavender to help with sleep. The book “Merry Hall” came in from the library. I am looking forward to reading it. Right now I am reading “Pardonable Lies” by Jacqueline Winspear. Clematis is one of my favorite flowers. They look like ballerinas dancing. Thank you for the tip concerning the baking soda.
With the rain coming, I wish we had a porch. I would love to sit outside, read and watch the rain come down.
I used to love to do that as a kid! There was something great about the smell of the rain in the area and the darkening skies – all of it while sitting on the porch.
I use it to clean my stainless steel sink and to absorb orders in closets. It’s awfully handy!
An actual lovely weekend anticipated here, as well. Amazing!!
Hope you get some fun reading and a bit of rest in this weekend. It does help. Just looking out the window at sunshine makes my spirit soar!
Doesn’t it just? I know exactly what you mean!
Love the tip about de-smelling books. Thank You!
You’re very welcome!
I love the picture of the flower that was only partially bloomed. I think I feel like that this morning too! Thanks for the baking powder advice. I wonder whether it will work with the 2 boxes of Kleenex that I brought in from the garage. There is nothing worse than smelling a musty smell when blowing your nose, yet I just can’t quite bring myself to throw away 2 boxes of Kleenex. ( I have changed where I store them now though!)
It might! Doesn’t hurt to try!
Have fun outside enjoying the sunshine and warmth this weekend, Claudia. I’ve use daily a bowl of baking soda to clear out the musty smells of an old desk and dresser I inherited. I also use a cup of baking soda in my washing machine for a full load of laundry along with the detergent, and plain white vinegar as the softener. I also use it to clean my sinks and tub, sprinkling a good amount on the cut side of half a lemon to use as a scrubber, and baking soda and lots of elbow grease to clean my greasy stove top. Yes, baking soda is a good cheap cleaning alternative.
I use it a lot of different ways, as well. Certainly to clean my sink and in the refrigerator. Thanks, Wendy!
That rose is beautiful. Tea roses are my favorite. Thank you for the tip concerning musty odors on books. Have a great week end.
Marilyn
You’re welcome, Marilyn!
Like you, I’ve recently/coincidentally rediscovered the excellence of baking soda.
The dog had gotten frightened in the freaky-wild SoCalif thunderstorm, had the ‘accident’ on the wall-to-wall carpet (a complete rarity for the old girl). Nothing on that ancient carpet (in this one room of the house that still HAS carpet) was working so, days later, we went to sprinkles of baking soda, vacuuming, repeat; sprinkle & repeat; it did the trick with odor. (I can’t wait til we remove that carpet entirely; it’s a nice wood floor underneath!)
Next, old house-old everything-old kitchen sink. WHERE is that rotten smell coming from in the drain? Tried EVERYTHING. Went back to eco-friendly baking soda with a great ‘cocktail’ involving hot water and vinegar; again, a lot of peat & repeat, but TOTALLY did the trick. I’m so happy.
Now, with your good tip on how to get books to smell better – – wow, have I been down THAT road to no success; I’m finding them STILL in my parents’ old house here and have had to simply throw out several books, which is sacrilege – – I feel like I could make up a book of helpful ways to use baking soda (of course, those books already exist, and I probably have one somewhere).
Thanks for sharing. Very helpful and handy to know these things!
By the way, I’ve loved seeing the photos of your new sofa; it’s just perfect. You always choose very well, Claudia! It’s good you and Don came to a mutual agreement on what would work best. I adore that cactus-green color, not sage, not too spring-y green; just right.
I’m enjoying reading you as always and wish you and Don a nice weekend! (We’re in what we call ‘June Gloom’ following ‘May Gray’ in my part of coastal SoCalif; overcast most days [and we fog in every night; I like it, it’s quiet, sounds are muted] but sometimes warmish-humid [and if the sun DOES come out late in the day, we steam like a sauna for a few hours]; I’ll take it, as the summer sun will be [too] hot and bright soon enough come July.)
Thanks, Vicki. I well remember June Gloom. When I lived in San Diego, my parents came to visit for the first time in June, and my dad kept asking me where the Southern California sunny weather was!
Thanks for the tip…never would’ve thought of that. We are going to have beautiful weather this weekend…then a slight cooling down next week. That’ll be a good week to weed.
Hope you enjoy your weekend! ;)
We are here, as well. Weeding is on my docket for the day!
I ordered a book several years ago on Etsy and it arrived smelling like cigarettes. UGH!! I did the same thing and it absorbed most of the order and the friend that I bought the book for was OK with the remaining smell. I didn’t think to ask about the book coming from a nonsmoking house. I never made that mistake again. We finally have rain which we need so badly. I’ll be enjoying family time on Sunday as I celebrate turning 69!
I’ve received things that came from the house of a smoker before. So maddening!
Happy Birthday, my friend! Sending lots of love your way!
Your flower photos have been fantastic!! I guess all the rain has been wonderful for some of the plants, the amazing peonies esp. and the tiny wild roses, so simple and humble and symbolic to me–enemy brambles as you put it during most of the time but then the fairy tale princess blooms. I’m pretty excited about a nice summer weekend hereabouts and I hope you and Don have a lovely time, maybe even a little iced tea in the secret garden. Enjoy!
Love that – the fairy tale princess! That’s exactly it, Nora.