Plans, and nature laughs

Memorial Day weekend is the start of the summer season, pools open, shore passes re-up, at least that's the idea.

However here there's a three day rainy forecast, pools not yet open, shore not looking like fun. And here was my weekend plan, maybe not yet 

My seeds complete with squirrel deterrent doings.  But the squirrel is still getting his daily apple core

I did get a walk today, to make a pinch of it, and I love all the tree-lined walkways in this development. Like this one

Curved paths are interesting to walk.

I also have indoor plans anyway, here's my thinking about a narrow band pattern based on the sweet William I'm so excited about 

And my new loom is supposed to arrive tomorrow, so my plans there are to weave a cowl or two to send to the knitting ministry. Weaving is currently easier on my hands than knitting.  

This morning a friend came over to collect the cotton plants I started from seed she'd given me. Here's her two, repotted and wilting but they'll recover 

And here are their siblings, soon to go outside when the weather's warmer

She also had a great time studying the art on the walls and took two pieces, one gold work, one with stump work animals and dyed sections and two levels, cutouts showing another work underneath.

I'm happy to see work going into good hands, in this case to an area of her house where she has stitched work including her mother's lovely embroidery. I'll be in good company.  My art giveaway is going well. All the less for Handsome Son to deal with after I'm gone.

Happy day everyone, good things going on. Happy weekend, holiday or otherwise.

Flower filled walk and Misfits

Before I went walking I did a bit of finish work on my bands and here's the collection to date, most recent at the top

I alternated the places of the knots so they'd lie smoothly.

Little rabbit so young he didn't realize he should run, squirrel on the fence alerting him

And here's a natural gargoyle in a tree root.

Ramon is in charge of Misfits delivery today 

Usual cans to share with the food pantry, beautiful large brown eggs, for a quiche or two, with leafy greens already in the freezer, chocolate chips and bar because they're nutritious. Or something. 

Strawberries, cherries, apricots, for eating fresh or as jam, depending on how they taste. Bananaz maybe strawberry banana smoothie..

Spaghetti for when I can't think what to make, always easy with diced tomatoes in the house. I have plenty of cheese, too, to make a tomato-cheese-egg bake for the no-idea days. Spicy plant sausage likewise.

Meanwhile supper chez Boud on Misfits day 

Two egg two cheese omelette, with fruit.

Happy day everyone, the larder is filled chez Boud. I hope yours is too. And I'm sure you share, sez Ted and Big Ursy and Pony and Ursula.

Sunday, mindfulness and dragonflies

I got a walk Sunday morning, before the day got too hot. The dewpoint was high but there was shade and a wind. 

The people I met were largely absorbed in their thoughts and I wondered if their early morning walk is a meditation. 

I did see a biplane type of dragonfly 

We have many species of dragonflies, darners and demoiselles in this region. Sometimes in the early morning sun I see them everywhere lit up by sunrays, clouds of them. Since they tackle clouds of mosquitoes, I like them. 

The other day while I was reading on the deck, a tiny green metallic one landed on my shirt and rested a while. Maybe half an inch long, wings buzzing continually, until he lifted off and was gone. We also get tiny green metallic sweat bees but usually on sedums, not on people. 

Then, once home I did a yes2next exercise, this one ten minutes of mindfulness, a great change from doing things all the time.

About aging and friends and losing friends, as Barbara Rogers mentioned on her blog -- do you follow Boardwalk Barb? You should, it's full of thought and art and family, definitely worth the price of admission.

Anyway the subject of outliving people came up there. I've outlived all my sibs, and my agemate friends, including two (!) recorder playing quartets.

Since I've been active in various arts, I have friends in many age groups including twenty somethings. No hierarchy of age in art. And I'm often the oldest person in any group these days. Some of my friends are helping care for parents, younger than I, but whose health is poor.  

It does pay to be willing to find new friends, though lifelong ones are good, I wouldn't know. Emigration tends to make childhood friends fall away eventually,  despite all your efforts.  

Particularly when you've emigrated from the UK to the US rather than the colonies -- mostly the approved destinations are Canada, Australia and NZ. My own relatives never got over my going to the US. 

But the world is full of nice people to meet. So there's that. And there's innocent merriment to be had in the obituaries, which I read to check I'm not in there. 

One thing I love is the kind of doh expression such as William, known to his friends as Bill. Or Thomas,  whose family called him Tom! Like, what the heck else, this isn't exactly groundbreaking. But then obits may be written by family without much writing experience so I will refrain from criticizing further. But I won't refrain from being amused.

Happy day everyone, meet nice, play nice, don't tease your friends!

Freecycle rules

Early morning on the deck 

And home to check Freecycle. The tray went fast and here's the happy ending

Everybody's happy now.

And the orchid is going on and on

Today's bouquet is humble next to the high end fancy orchid

This morning's early walk was shortened because of stratospheric humidity, but back home I followed it with a free weight video from April and mom Aiko. This one 

Then I found I'd slept when I thought I was reading. Off to shower and the doorbell rang a couple of times. Then I heard Gary calling you okay? Liz? Liz? And when I was dressed, I found neighbors from both sides just checking!

But first, here's how I stop myself from getting into the shower with hearing aids in.

Leave the charger case on the stairs. The aids are imperceptible in use, so I need a reminder. I can't go upstairs without noticing the case, then I remember to put the #$#_$ hearing aids in the little slots.

Turns out we all three neighbors called the auto body shop this week. That guy must be feeling a bit under siege. But we all got the waiting-for-parts answer.

And both neighbors wanted to know about the contractor for the house. Gary wants to be there. The other neighbor is off on Tuesday for a month in India. Never a dull moment. Rapid plans about his plant care are now set up.

I have rides for my final surgeon appointment Monday and knitting group Tuesday. Then contractor comes Wednesday. Misfits Thursday. It's all go. These are the golden years, rocking on the porch?

But I did get a bit of drawing in 

Happy day everyone. Don't just do something, sit there! Never mind self improvement, we're all just fine already sez 

Ted and Big Ursy 

Today's bouquet, basket and afternoon visitor

The daylily fiber basket is growing gradually. Slow work. I like how the natural color changes work as the side is built up.

And today's bouquet 

The coreopsis you see, red and yellow flowers, appeared, probably seeded from what I strewed around last year. 

 And the morning glories, a bit bitten, are moving along undaunted 

Here's who stopped by, stayed for ages on this branch. I think he may have been sleeping for several minutes, unworried by my getting close.

Gary stopped by to talk exterminators and plant care. He's going to be away from Tuesday till late July, trying to do last minute things. He'll still take the calls about my car from the body shop and the family next door will retrieve my car, he thinks.

Happy day everyone. From here in the trenches, midst shot and shell.