School’s out for summer…at least in our county. When I was a kid we stayed up late (11:00 PM) on the last day of school and slept in the next day. Of course, we didn’t sleep too late as there was so much to do: kick ball, dodge ball, hopscotch, Red Rover, swing on swings, ride bikes, roller skate, go to the pool, and stay out until the street lights came on. Yes, there was a lot to do in the summer.
Yesterday was the first day of summer vacation and it started out great – sun was shining, warm but not hot, then the clouds moving in and it rained the rest of the day. So much for getting outside and playing. I did see two 6-7 year old boys playing in their yard with little toy construction trucks, roads made of old wooden boards, and just messing around in the dirt. Lots of dirt. Good for Mom and Dad for encouraging outdoor play!
On to this week’s four things…
what I’m reading
I was between books for one day. I got a digital library book Saturday afternoon: My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier. I’m about halfway through and it certainly is as mysterious, romantic (though not sappy romantic), and full of intrigue as her novel, Rebecca.
what I’m watching
Rain Man with Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. Another great movie. I can only imagine the outtakes. Have you seen it?
what I’m loving
what I saw on my walk
This row of honeysuckles just filled the air with sweetness.
I can’t believe it’s the end of the week already. Time certainly flies whether you’re having fun or not!
It’s been unusually cool here this week. Rainy, cool, and breezy. I think Mother Nature is messing with us. I even wore my “bed socks” to bed the other night. These are thick and heavy and I can’t wear them with any of the shoes or boots I own. They are perfect for keeping my feet warm in bed.
what I’m reading
Book Club was last Monday so I’m between books right now. I have several digital books “on hold” through my library so whatever becomes available first will be my next read.
what I’m watching
Mr. Aitch and I watched What About Bob? Thursday evening. Perfect casting and perfect acting. As usual, we could only remember bits and pieces from when the movie was first shown in 1991 but still thought it was funny.
what I’m loving
I just happened to look of the door to our deck when I spotted this hummingbird flitting from flower to flower. By the time I got my phone out to snap a picture of him, he perched on top of the Tiki torch holder.
what I saw on my walk
I had to text my BFF to find out what kind of bloom this was. It looked like a peony but I wasn’t sure as I’ve never seen one quite like this. She confirmed that it was indeed a peony. That iris was jealous and just had to bend into the frame.
I hope your week was good event-wise and weather-wise.
We did finally get the garage door repaired. We originally went with a nationally known company but when they ignored us for two weeks, Mr. Aitch fired them. He called a local company on Tuesday and the repairman showed up on Thursday. The job was completed in less than an hour and a half.
Our area had some weather excitement and not the good kind. We got rain Monday night and all day Tuesday and were under a flash flood warning. The ground wasn’t bone dry so some of the rain soaked in. And then it didn’t.
We live in the Allegheny Mountain portion of the Appalachian Mountains and water has the tendency to flow downhill, or down-mountain. With the windstorms we’ve had this year lots of trees fell in the rural places. Add rain soaked soil, more heavy rains, those downed trees and a disaster can happen. The trees and branches end up in the creeks, streams, and rivers. Flash flooding happens.
You may have heard about the rescue of students and teachers from a Westernport school in Maryland. That’s not too far from us. Schools in my county closed early on Tuesday and remained closed until Friday. Mr. Aitch and I are very fortunate to not have suffered any damage.
I had to go out Wednesday and took a few pictures of a stream that overflowed its banks on Tuesday.
Fortunately the water has really receded less than 24-hours later. It was over the stone walls. You can see the log jam at the bridge that crosses the stream and how the road got covered with water and mud. That bridge and the one below were under water. Several businesses had heavy equipment clearing the mud and debris from parking lots.
I was standing on this bridge for those pictures and this bridge is definitely compromised.
what I’m reading
Well, actually I’m listening to the book ArtCurious by Jennifer Dasal. She talks about some of the strange and odd tidbits of artists and their paintings. One chapter is about the curious theft and return of the Mona Lisa, one of the world’s most famous paintings. Her style reminds me of my Art History professor at WVU. He often included little known details about the artists and their works during class.
what I’m loving
source: Country Living
what I’m working on
I’m still plugging away on my socks. I turned the heel and got all discombobulated. My stitch count is off when I began the gusset. My plan is to unknit the last row I did and see if that helps. I’ll also do that when Pepper is either asleep or not jumping on me when she comes into the room to find me. It’s nice to be so loved.
what I saw on my walk
I only got a walk in on Monday and Friday due to the rain Tuesday-Wednesday. It was just too wet to walk and then the garage door repair on Thursday kept us home. It was very warm and muggy yesterday. In fact Pepper stopped and laid down under a tree less than halfway on our usual route. We turned around and went home sooner than I wanted to but was grateful to get some exercise.
Two gorgeous flowers to share today.
These colorful calla lilies are so bright and intense. I don’t know if they will dig up the rhizomes in the fall to replant next year or if they are treating them like an annual flower.
None of these peonies were blooming on Monday when I saw them but several burst out sometime within the past couple of days. Looks like more will follow from the multitude of buds still unopened.
This week was better than last week though my garage door is still not fixed. We decided to have both doors reinforced so maybe they are waiting for the parts…. It’s amazing how one gets used to a luxury then when it’s out of commission, we think we “suffer”. It’s just a nuisance.
I managed to go for a walk everyday this week except for Wednesday (I always skip Sundays). I did get my steps in since I went to two grocery stores and managed to backtrack several times at both.
We had a rather cool day yesterday in the low 60’s so I made veggie beef soup from the leftover roast beef we had earlier in the week. What we don’t finish today will go in the freezer and my future self will be happy for some homemade soup.
Onto this week’s four things…
what I’m watching
I bought some flowers for the front porch and deck plus two tomato plants and a lonely dill plant. It’s been nice weather, not too hot, not too cold, a few showers and plenty of sunshine. I’ll be watching to make sure they have enough water and don’t get too hot later on.
Pepper is checking out the dianthus on the front porch.
From left to right: Calibrachoa, Celosia with Creeping Jenny and Petunias, Lavender with Celosia.
I love lavender and hope to plant them in the ground. I’m just not sure where so for now, large planters are their temporary home.
Yay!!! My knitting mojo has returned. I have no idea where it went but I’m so overjoyed it’s back!
I’m working on the Trailblazer socks I started at the end of January and then just stopped in February. Maybe it was the dark charcoal grey yarn. Who knows? Fortunately I keep good notes and was able to pick right up where I left off. I’m on the second sock and am halfway through the heel flap. I hope I don’t hit another mental roadblock as I really want to knit something else.
what I saw on my walk
These metal sunflowers replaced the racing bunnies in carrot cars at the mailbox. Once it warms up and stays warm at night, one of our neighbors adds plants at the mailboxes and street signs so these flowers are a placeholder for those.
I posted a picture of this before but I thought I’d show both sides of the birdhouse while those irises are in bloom.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, caregivers, and all the motherly people out there. I hope you enjoy your day!
Knitting In Flashes 