We mowed the front lawn and the back forty yesterday. Even though it was relatively early in the morning, it was so hot and humid that we were drenched by the time we finished. But we knew we had to get it done before the weekend, which is going to involve a lot of rain and thunderstorms.
I always love looking at the lawn after it’s just been mowed. Everything that wasn’t an early bloomer is blooming in the garden now. The brown-eyed susans just started opening. July in the garden is the best. By August, things will start winding down, but let’s not go there yet.
Anyway, we worked very hard and we were pooped for the rest of the day. I also yanked some weeds while I was at it.
This morning as I was sitting in the den, I heard a little noise on the porch. Couldn’t see anything. But I got up to investigate and sure enough, our little groundhog had been exploring. And by little, I do mean little, this one is on the petite side. He apparently felt rather scampish this morning because he was soon heading toward the edge of the big flower bed, where he munched on some weeds. When he got up on his hind legs and started to investigate a coneflower, I opened the door and told him to move on. At one point this morning, I heard Don say “What is he doing?” Apparently our unnamed groundhog had climbed up on the bench on the funky patio, where I have two pots of lavender and a brush that I use to clean out the birdbath. Don told me the groundhog actually put the brush in his paws and held it up! Boy, I wish I’d been able to get a photo of that!
We actually don’t see him very often and we’ve remarked on that. So this morning’s frolics were unexpected and amusing.
Because of all that activity, I had to go outside a couple of times, so I gave in and yanked some more weeds. In this unbearably humid weather, early morning is the best time to do that kind of thing and I often forget to.
Still haven’t begun a new painting. See: exhausted from mowing.
Hey, I have a favor to ask of you. We’ve noticed that when we google Don’s name, that box that appears on to the right of all the search results sometimes shows something from Rotten Tomatoes, which is a film site. And it says, “Don Sparks was…” We’ve written them several times about that and I finally got a response from a guy who said that their data provider always uses the passive tense. And that, despite Rotten Tomatoes challenging that, they won’t change. I investigated the passages on Meryl Streep and Harrison Ford, and sure enough, they are also in the passive tense. The problem on Don’s is that the third word is ‘was’ which most people would assume means that he is no longer with us.
So, we are wondering if clicking on Don’s IMDB site a few times would, in Google’s “mind,” make that a more active result for Don and eventually eliminate the Rotten Tomatoes reference. I hope this makes sense. Anyway, if you’re willing, you could search “Don Sparks” or “Don Sparks, actor” and when the IMDB site comes up, click on it. I’m going to do that several times today.
We just don’t want anyone to think he’s left us.
Sigh.
Thanks in advance.
Today, some painting, finally, and a lot of rain.
Stay safe.
Happy Saturday.
Will do some clicking – anything to try making a different reference point than Rotten Tomatoes.
Really love your Instagram Post – wish I could add hundreds of ❤️s
Bay Area has returned to ‘normal’ temperatures for now and I’m loving it. Also, I have a cat visitor (cat-sitting) – so nice even though temporary.
Rest on your Laurels, you two.
XO
Thank you, Martha!
Stay safe.
Done and will continue clicking.
Thank you, Betsy!
Stay safe.
I will do some clicking for Don.
It seems very weird to me that they use ‘was’ for living actors.
I would have loved to see your groundhog holding the brush. He must have wondered if it was food. I think Scamp is a good name for him.
Stay safe
Thank you, Marilyn!
Stay safe.
Another clicker! lol Lovely pic of the house and yard. Can’t wait to get back to New England for good.
Thank you, Lynda!
Stay safe.
Hi Claudia, I googled Don then clicked on the IMDB site a bunch of times, hope that helps!
We are getting the rain and thunderstorms this weekend too. We could mow our lawn probably every five days. If the sun ever came out and dried it up!
Enjoy your painting, I love seeing the results.
❤️❤️❤️
Thank you, Robin!
Stay safe.
Will definitely do some clicking. It’s nice to be able to do something for you because I enjoy your writing so much!
Thank you, Cindy!
Stay safe.
weird and unsettling for them to say “was”. wonder who their data provider is and if we could campaign them to get it right … ? regardless, i will click and click, too.
“scamp” sounds like a great name for your neighbor. :)
hope you can stay inside after all that work outside. take it easy!
quiet, easy day here with members of my family … blessings.
keep cool and safe!
kathy in iowa
Thank you, Kathy!
Stay safe.
How odd of them. Have clicked and will carry on doing so. If you’re not in the States, it’s best to click Don Sparks actor as maybe because I’m in Europe it took me to Don Sparks Steel Supplies somewhere in Australia!!!😂
Happy Saturday
Thank you, Dee Dee!
Stay safe.
Will do of course
Thank you, Brenda!
Stay safe.
I clicked a bunch of times for Don…hope it helps! What a nervy groundhog you have, lol. Too bad you couldn’t get a pic of him with that brush! ;)
Thank you, Donna!
Stay safe!
Silly Scamp!!! He/she must be tired of the rain, also. Just needed to be out and about and do a bit of exploring.
I did a bunch of clicking. Let us know if/ when you notice if it helped. “Was” takes on a totally new and extreme meaning in those sentences.
Hope you had a good day. Take care.
Thank you, Chris!
Stay safe.
Easily done!Hopefully it helps!
Thank you, Grace!
Stay safe.
Going to go click now!
Thank you, Naomi!
Stay safe.
I’m with you on the weeds — and they are rampant at home. I didn’t really have a chance to weed much and I know when I get home again it will be completely out of control. The “good” thing about up north is that it is largely crap dirt and nothing grows much, including grass (since we refuse to plant, mow and fertilize — it’s a cottage, not like the next door BIG house and the bigger one next to that.
Happy to go to IMDB immediately!
The lake where my family had our cottage (it was the very first cottage built on the lake and it was built by my grandfather and my uncles) is no longer quaint, with charming wooden cottages. Instead, it’s full of huge homes. My cousin sold the cottage several years ago after my aunt (who really maintained the cottage and spent her summers there) died. I’m sure whoever bought it tore it down. Whenever I get back to Michigan, that’s one stop I won’t make. Too heartbreaking.
Stay safe, Jeanie!
I can relate. Next door they clear cut two beautiful lots and built a spot that looks like a doc’s office in a downstate strip mall with a three car garage and enough asphalt on the driveway to (literally) land a helicopter on. They should paint parking lines on it. The rest they grassed in. So much for living in the woods. The house on their other side (and where my aunt used to live, so I had a lot of time there) was torn down last summer and the people built and even BIGGER and very tall house with a four car garage. Not to be outdone in the driveway area, they, too, have paved Paradise and put up a parking lot. The only thing that saves it is that the people next door built a very tall fence so we don’t have to look that way anymore. I just don’t get it. I SUPPOSE I can see a tear down and building a bigger spot (they are both year-rounders) but I don’t see destroying the landscape by ripping down the trees and putting in lawn they will fertilize (by the lake) as something good. Sorry. My sore spot — and my rant!
It makes me so angry!
xo