Words cannot adequately convey the profound sorrow felt for all those affected by the flooding, devastation, upheaval, and loss of life over the past weekend and this week. Prayers go out to everyone suffering through these hardships.

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My week might seem inconsequential in comparison; nevertheless, the trivial matters remain for everyone.

what I’m watching

The summer the deck flooring was replaced, I wanted plant something colorful near the steps. That year being 2020 and all that went with that mess, plant selection in my area was very limited. I wanted perennials (lazy) and found a few orange coneflowers and something else (that didn’t survive that first year) that brightened up the steps. Orange is not a favorite color of mine but it was bright and what was available. The coneflowers expanded so I separated some of the root ball to plant in the front flower beds. Three of those transplants survived, one being huge!

The original plant is still blooming next to the deck but has changed from orange to a deep pinkish-purple. There are still a couple of orange blooms and even two white ones! Below left is the original and right the transplanted one. Is this a common phenomenon for coneflowers to change colors?

what I’m loving

Mr. Aitch and I power-washed the back deck several weeks ago…before it got so stinkin’ HOT. Our plan was to do the front porch the next day. Well, we finally got it cleaned on the “coolest” day of this past week.

Let me tell you, it was still hot! But the front porch is clean and we enjoy sitting out there in the evenings.

what I’m learning

I’m having a hard time accepting myself. My physical self. My body shape. I’ve gained a lot of weight in the past 20 years. And I just bought a new swim suit. Well, actually I bought four suits. One fits very nicely. The other three I’m sending back.

It was a rude awakening when I looked in the full-length mirror. I’m still recovering. My doctor told me that I should concentrate on eating healthy, staying hydrated, and getting exercise and not on the scales.

I’m learning but it’s a hard lesson.

what I’m working on

As I was closing the door to the deck from the outside, the door knob came off in my hand! That was exciting…not in a good way. The door frame/jamb swells in humid weather so we really have to tug on the door knob to close the door. Evidently I pulled too hard.

I took the entire knob off to figure out if it could be fixed. No clue but I did get it back to working order. I think we need to replace it.

Take care of yourself this week.

To all my American readers – I hope you had a spectacular Independence Day yesterday!

To everyone else – I hope you had a wonderful Friday!

Mr. Aitch and I enjoyed grilled chicken, corn on the cob (a special price of 10 ears for $2!!), my delicious macaroni salad, and a white zinfandel/Moscato blend for our inside picnic yesterday. It was just too hot to enjoy the outdoors. The wine blend was a mistake purchase. We asked for a case of white zin and received the blend by mistake. It’s good but sweeter than we expected when we sipped the first bottle. In fact, we didn’t realize the error until I looked at the bottle and saw that it was a blend. It won’t go to waste but we will be sure to check the bottles/case the next time we buy some.

This week brings things that I learned, ate, laughed at and finished/worked on.

what I learned

I remember about thirteen years ago I learned what a derecho was: a line of thunderstorms with straight line winds. We just called them straight line wind thunderstorms but evidently that term wasn’t descriptive enough.

This week’s new weather phenomenon is a “haboob.” According to AI, a haboob is an intense dust storm that occurs when strong winds from a collapsing thunderstorm lift dust and sand into the air, creating a large wall of dust.

I’m not diminishing the intensity or dangerousness of these weather events but it seems like every few years the terms get updated and scarier. Polar vortex anyone?

what I ate

Peyton came over the other night and was hungry (as usual). She mentioned that she didn’t have any regular peanut butter to make a sandwich, only chocolate peanut butter. I had never heard of chocolate peanut butter so when we looked it up online, we spotted a recipe for No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars.

This recipe only uses five ingredients, no oven or stovetop, and simply easy. So we came into the house and made a batch. These were unbelievable good, sweet, and rich. I sent her home with more than half. Mr. Aitch only ate a half bar but I’ve been sneaking a half cookie bar here and there. These are not gluten free but could easily be adapted by using a different graham cracker or cookie.

what made me laugh

I was actually in this situation, fortunately at home, but it was still scary…and funny…later.

what I’m working on

Last September our church asked parishioners to “spiritually adopt” an unborn baby that was in danger of being aborted. We prayed each day for them as well as their parents. We have no way of knowing who they were/are and if those babies were born. Our parish is having a baby shower tomorrow with all proceeds and gifts being sent to a local pregnancy center to help new mother’s and babies with basic items. I made three-dozen burp cloths and tied them in packs of six.

Peyton and I finished two “vacation activity books” for her upcoming beach vacation. I printed off “what I did today” sheets, pages of Mad Libs, travel scavenger hunts, mazes, license plate games, word searches, and other fun things to do.

This one is for Peyton…

…and this one for her 12-year old brother.

Wishing you a lovely week ahead.

Last week Mother Nature was reminding us how Noah felt during the Great Flood. This week we got a preview of Hell. Hoping that today is somewhere inbetween.

We finally got a break from the intense heat. Yesterday’s high was only 75 which was down 25 degrees from earlier in the week. The humidity was right up there, too, so it was a hot, muggy week. I stayed in the house most of the time except to water the plants. After spending about 20 minutes outside (80 degrees at 7:30 am) watering the plants, I was a dripping, sweaty mess. A big thanks to Willis Carrier who invented the first modern air conditioning unit.

Tomorrow is our anniversary (51 years!) and also our daughter’s anniversary. (18 years).

what I’m reading

We had our book club meeting last Monday. My pick for July is The Maid by Nita Prose. It’s not as heavy as Mrs. Mike but IMHO a good summer read. Denise hosted the meeting and prepared a wonderful, cool BLT salad that she served with chips, chicken nuggets, and TWO homemade cakes. One cake was banana with cream cheese icing and the other was a two layer cake, one white and one chocolate, with peanut butter icing between the layers and covered with buttercream icing.

I need to come up with something just as tasty when I host next month. I will not have any homemade baked goodies unless we have a cold snap as I don’t like to turn on the oven when it’s so hot outside.

Ok, onto what I’m currently reading. I borrowed a library book about my adopted state: West Virginia Curiosities by Richard Steelhammer. It’s funny and educational though I have found some inaccuracies with some of the facts. Regardless, I’m still enjoying it.

what I’m watching

We are on Season 5 of The Chosen on Amazon Prime. This season begins with Jesus entering Jerusalem at the beginning of Passover, Palm Sunday in our time. It’s been a wonderful production so far and we’re looking forward to seeing the final episode.

what I’m loving

what I’m working on

No walks this week but I’ve been busy. The nine-year-old (Peyton) across the street is going on vacation in a couple of weeks. She loves to come over to sit and talk with us on the front porch. It’s amazing what she shares about her family! She’s concerned about the 10-hour drive to the beach and asks us what she can do in the van for that trip.

I suggested she keep a journal, draw, do word search puzzles, color, and/or read. I’m compiling some Mad Libs, mazes, and other things she can do and will bind them in a book for her to take. I made a box bag for her pencils, markers, erasers, pencil sharpener, and such. Sorry no picture.

But…..

….Her mother liked it so much that she asked if I could make one for her to keep her BP cuff and a few other medical things she uses at her nursing job. Peyton picked out the fabric and she watched me make the bag for Mom. Mom said everything she needs fits inside and she loves it!

That’s it for this week. Stay cool, confident, and hydrated.

For the first time in a l-o-n-g time, we didn’t have any rain yesterday! Everything is so wet, sticky, humid, and generally yucky. I’m sure we will want some rain come July and August but we’ve had enough for awhile. Are you water-logged, or praying for rain?

what I’m reading

Nothing right now. My book club meets on Monday so I’m waiting to see what the next book will be. It shouldn’t be my turn to select the book but one of our members hasn’t been to the meetings for a few months due to some family issues and it’s her turn. I should have one ready just in case she doesn’t have one. I’m still up in the air as to which one I would select. Most of the members like historical mysteries.

what I’m watching

We’ve been watching the old Leave It To Beaver series from the early 1960’s and are on the final season: number 6. It’s fun to watch the cast grow up.

There was another series after this initial one staring the original cast minus Ward Cleaver (played by Hugh Beaumont) as he passed away before the filming began. I only watch a few episodes way back then but I do recall June ( played by Barbara Billingsly) going to the cemetery to talk things over with Ward. I checked the streaming sources and we don’t have (free) access to any of those episodes…yet.

what I’m loving

So true. So true.

what I saw on my walk

No walks this week. It was either raining, threatening rain, or too darn hot. Pepper did get a short hair cut this week. I’d sow a picture of her but Mr. Aitch is embarrassed. I had all but her face shaved. I hope she’s cooler but she’s not a pretty sight. I didn’t realize how skinny her legs are without all that typical schnauzer leg hair! I’m not going to worry about as her hair will grow back. And I will remember to NOT do this again next summer!

Stay cool and dry.