four things | thirty-one

As you probably noticed I didn’t post last Saturday. I was on vacation with my BFF in Hocking Hills, Ohio. I’ll talk about that another time.

This past week has been so comfortable with lower temperatures and less humidity. Mr. Aitch and I could actually work outside without melting into a puddle.

The tomato harvest is slowing down. I think we got over 500 Super Sweet 100 tomatoes this year on the two plants I grew in pots. I’m going to find bigger, heavier pots for next year so they don’t tip over in the windy rain storms we had this summer. Our soil, or lack of it, is the reason I use pots for my veggies. Our property is mostly shale and we are lucky to have grass growing let alone anything that has a deep root system.

My latest harvest — —- —- —- — —- — — — —>

This week is about book club, sewing video, awesomeness, and a finished object!

what I’m reading

Our August book club book was The All Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg. I read the book a few years ago but reread it or rather listen to it while traveling. It’s a fun read with the story line going back and forth between two different times but coming together in the end.

At age 59 Sarah Jane aka Sookie Poole discovers she was adopted. Her mother is a very strong-will, domineering woman and has ruled Sookie’s life as much as possible. Sookie has always felt she was a disappointment to her mother, Lenore. We learn about Sookie’s birth mother and her family and how that helps Sookie grow as a person.

“Here is Solvang, she wasn’t Lenore Simmons’s daughter. For the first time, she was just herself.’

“She learned that being a successful person in not necessarily defined by what you achieved, but by what you have overcome.”

what I’m watching

I’ve spent more time sewing than knitting this year and finished a Catch-All Caddy by Patterns by Annie. I want to make one out of canvas, denim, or other heavy fabric to use a a tool bag. I bought a cordless hammer drill and need a way to carry the drill, bits, battery, gloves, etc. when drilling into some of the tree stumps in our back yard. I’m “helping” the stump disintegrate by drilling large, deep holes and filling them with Epsom salts to speed up the decay.

I’ll use this one for some sewing or knitting supplies. I followed the pattern as written so I can make the necessary changes to fit my needs. Annie has Add-on videos for lots of her patterns and since I’m more of a visual learner, her videos have really helped with the tricky parts.

Check out her website if you find yourself needing a sewing project.

what I’m working on

I finally finished my Trailblazer Socks!!!

I lost my knitting mojo (how many times have I lost it?!) but needed to get these socks off my WIP list.

I played yarn chicken, meaning I didn’t know if I would have enough yarn to complete the project. And I didn’t. Of course, I didn’t realize that until I looked at the dwindling yarn ball the eighteen unfinished rows of the pattern. Enter yarn #2. Click here for more details.

I alternated about 3-4 rows of the original yarn and the new yarn so it would blend in better. If you look for the difference, you should see it*.

*It’s the sock on the right. But it’s close enough. For my feet.

four things | twenty-nine

I don’t know where this week went but it went fast. We finally had dinner on the deck last Sunday. It was the first not-too-hot-and-humid day we’ve had all summer. Steak, foil packets of potatoes and onions, fresh tomatoes from my plants, and a bottle of cabernet sauvignon.

Quite the feast and quite a most delicious meal.

Onto this week’s reading, watching, loving, and doing…

what I’m reading

Actually I’m listening to Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver because the audiobook was available before the digital version. It’s quite a long listen – over 21 hours. I’m about 3/4 of the way through and it’s taken a dark but not totally unexpected turn.

There are lots of f-bombs, drugs, sex, and more so be aware.

what I’m watching

It’s August. I’ve been watching the days grew shorter and the evenings cooling down (thankfully).

I was outside one morning this week with Pepper and the angle of the sun, the sounds and smells in the air reminded me of my twelve-year-old self thinking of the end of summer and the beginning of school. It was a fleeting moment but so real all the same. School begins next week here and for my grandkids.

When I was a kid, the school year began the Wednesday after labor Day and ended the first week of June. We had days off during the school year but evidently not as many as they have now. I would not want to be in a classroom this early.

what I’m loving

Procraftinating: v. doing craft projects when you should be doing laundry, cleaning, or making dinner.

what I’m doing

When we had our deck flooring replaced a few years ago, the contractor snuck in a wooden piece of quarter round to finish off the seam between the house and floor.

It rotted.

I bought a piece of outdoor (a composite of some sort) to replace it. Voila! The hardest (and most time consuming) part was trying to figure out which way to cut it so the angles would be correct. The contractor should have used the right material in the first place. I detest shoddy workmanship.

I need to paint the screw heads white and add some caulking in the corners but at least it’s not rotted.

May your week ahead be filled with joy and happiness.

four things | twenty

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.

Enjoy the week.

Patti nona

four things | fifteen

Beautiful week here. Mr. Aitch and I ran errands on Monday. The first stop was to our local Joann’s. Our store is scheduled to close on Monday and I anted to see what was left. Nothing that I needed. It was a sad sight.

We also picked up some mulch for the flower (I use that term lightly) beds and shade garden.

We have a 75 gallon aquarium between our breakfast table and family room. It’s got lots of plants and catfish plus three other fish that like to hide. Mr. Aitch ordered some (six) new Rainbow Boesemani fish that will be quite showy. I can’t link to a photo but you can do a search if you want to see how colorful they are.

We pulled weeds and applied weed killer. I discovered that my leather glove had two holes when I went to pull a weed and the sap or whatever it was got ground into my thumb. Ouch but no rash or other damage. I bought new garden gloves yesterday.

what I’m reading

I read two books since our Book Club meeting: The Widower’s Tale by Julia Glass and The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.

The Widower’s Tale followed the story of a 72-year old widow and his family. The characters were interesting and the story was okay. No mystery (my favorite genre) but a good book to take on vacation.

The Thursday Murder Club was a mystery. The “Club” consists of four older people in a retirement village who solve, well, murders. They all have their special skills to get to the bottom of the cases. Thanks to Princess Susie for suggesting this book.

I just found out that the first book in this series was made into a film that premiers in August of this year on Netflix. I just might have to subscribe!

what I’m watching

Our tree cutters came back bright and early Thursday morning. They cut down thirteen trees a few weeks ago and were back to cut a few more. They only felled three trees this week but the pieces were big enough to fill the back of a dump truck.

I think all this wood will be enough to heat their homes this coming fall and winter

One of the guys said that he didn’t know how one of the trees was still standing as there was nothing inside to hold it together!

They’ll be back in a few weeks to get the other four trees.

what I’m not eating

I gave up candy for Lent. I’ve had a couple chocolates and some peanut M&Ms but I’m not going crazy for sweets. I see this as a good thing!

what I saw on my walk

It’s too bad daffodils and tulips only bloom for a short time. I suppose that’s what makes them special.

Have a fabulous week!