four things | twenty-four

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.

Patti

four things | twenty-three

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.

Patti nona

four things | twenty-two

Sunday, June 15th is Father’s Day in the US. To all you fathers, step-fathers, father figures, future fathers, honorary fathers, brothers, uncles, cousins, and those who identify as fathers: Have a Great Day! Happy Father’s Day, Dad. I miss you. 🥰 😇

I dropped the ball and forgot missed writing a post for this morning so here I am a few hours late.

I also dropped the ball last week when I said it was Knit in Public Day. That’s today. So get out there and show the world your knitting super power!

It’s a dreary day and our community yard sale is supposed to be happening today. I’m glad I didn’t decide to participate as rain and yard sales don’t go too well together. I only had a few things to get rid of and I doubted people would want to walk up our driveway to the garage to see what little I had to offer. We don’t have a long driveway, it’s just on an incline and I don’t even like to walk up it!

what I’m reading

Our book club book for this month, Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman, is a true story about a young girl in the early 1900’s who goes from Boston to Calgary to live with her uncle due to her health issues with pleurisy. She meets a RCMP, they marry and she goes with him to the Northwest territory, where he is stationed. Though the book was written in 1947, the struggles of a young married couple are still relevant today.

what I’m watching

William Hopper (aka Paul Drake from Perry Mason) was in the 1956 episode of Gunsmoke, Unmarked Grave (S1, Ep 38) playing a bad guy. Mr. Aitch and I love watching old TV shows to see actors and actresses in their early days. Mr. Hopper’s face was obscured by his hat but his voice was easy to recognize.

what I’m loving

what I’m working on

Two front porch pillows I got a few years ago were starting to tear. So I finished a new cover for one this week. One down, one to go.

Have a gobsmakin’ week!

four things | twenty-one

The hot, muggy days of summer arrived this week. Mr. Aitch and I are getting the outside of the house ready for summer living: grilling, dining al fresco, and relaxing. It’s been a busy week outside.

Today is Worldwide Knit in Public Day! I’ve still got my sock project so maybe I’ll make some progress today. What a great opportunity to knit at the local Celtic Festival!

what I’m reading

I finished My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier and thoroughly enjoyed it. I figured out the ending three pages from the very end. The description classified the book as a gothic novel but I viewed it as historical psychological thriller. Whatever.

what I’m watching

We heard great things about Bonfires of the Vanities so we watched the movie starring Bruce Willis, Tom Hanks, and Melanie Griffith. The book got rave reviews so I can only assume that the book is much better than the movie.

what I’m working on

Mr. Aitch got a new battery operated power washer a couple of weeks ago. The weather hasn’t cooperated much until this week so he/we finally got to try it out. The deck isn’t huge but it took us two days to clean it. He has two sets of batteries but the downtime between recharging killed the momentum.

After the deck was clean, Mr. Aitch washed the outside concrete stairs to the basement. It’s a one person job so I puttered around with other things: watered the pots of flowers, moved/rearranged the deck furniture, did a load of laundry, brought all the outdoor cushions upstairs for easy access, hung the solar mini lights around a part of the deck railing, and took a much needed shower. I still need to put the other electric lights around the deck but it was just too freaking hot with the sweat running down my face burning my eyes and practically blinding me. Note to self: wrap a bandana/headband around forehead to catch the sweat.

what I saw on my walk

I only walked two days this week due to the outside chores but I spotted this little guy in my neighbor’s yard.

Have a stupendous weekend!

Patti nona