Victory in Makariv, shrimp and ice cream futures

The good news this morning is the liberation of Makariv, Ukrainian flag raised again, Russian troops pushed out. 

Then more trivial items but big in my house, the shower is now fixed 

I think the  breakfast bars gave Gary a jolt of energy, because he showed up, made pictures of the necessary parts, shopped for the parts, fixed the shower, and got the kit required to fix the toilet. All done at warp speed.

He's coming back to do the rest of the fixing, had to run, basketball game in the city with daughter, season tickets..never a dull moment! He's a dear friend, and waiting isn't a problem. If it were urgent, he'd drop everything. I'm so much in his debt.

And, Mary, I did some shrimp yesterday, you'd have liked them. I just thawed them overnight in the fridge, dried them, saved the liquid that came off for a future sauce.

Then after studying recipes which were all a bit fussy, ended up just dousing them with Old Bay seasoning and a bit of salt. 

My mind just went everywhere trying to remember the name Old Bay -- offering me Fishermen's Friend, Mariner's Rest, some imaginative tries, but finally remembering the right name. 

This and minced garlic, quite a bit, seared just a couple of minutes. Served over Basmati rice. Really simple cooking, and it was so good. The shrimp are the size I like, and very good quality Misfits, cleaned and ready.

And there's another meal to warm up for today.

Out walking, clear skies, sunshine, and these natural sculptures

Then there's looking ahead to coming attractions

The current spiral tube socks are completed and I'm picking colors for the next, which will be toe up. I'm using all my sock styles as I go, variety being good.

Richard Rohr, ny daily spiritual guidance reading, is talking about nonduality at the moment, the existence of good and evil together, indivisible. No in group and outgroup. Just group. All belonging, for better or worse. 

He's really just describing the Shakuhachi effect. Something I've always believed in anyway. Bad things are not an interruption of life, just part of it. Rough threads and slubs in the fabric. Not preaching here, just musing.

Now for a cup of tea and a breakfast bar, or raisin thingie. They're very good after a day or two.

Life is good. 

What's more lovely than a day in June

Today was triple A. Weather sunny, low humidity, in the 70s.  Neighbor ran over early, toast in hand, to tell me he was in heaven with the plum jam. "I'm LOADING  it on the muffin, look!" Evidently he liked it. 

Then I listed on Freecycle an HP inkjet printer in its original box, my unused backup, worked last time I tried it. Complete with cables, installation instructions etc. 

Picked up by afternoon by a lady for her special needs students to use. Everybody happy. I fervently hope it works for them. 

Then off for  ice cream at the local hand dipped place, first in two years. Butter pecan. Single scoop. Sugar cone.

Served at the window, benches outside to sit and enjoy.

Off to the park

And a stroll by the lake, hundreds of darners ( brilliant blue slender dragonflies), mating joyfully in flight, attending to what I think is a nursery, clear jellylike material floating at the surface, they're prodding at it, l have to learn about this. Also beautiful ginger colored tiny dragonflies. We are blessed with many species.

Here's how it was today. The bench is where Handsome Partner and I used to come and sit while he could still manage a few steps, and where much later I came after making arrangements for his cremation, at the funeral home a short distance from here. 

I've also come here to draw and paint with an artist friend now gone. But it's not a sad place, just a quiet one, with good memories. I also did a couple of hilarious photo shoots with the Dollivers here modeling little black dresses while hugging trees. Speaking of trees

 if you love woodland fairy tales and fantasy, this might be a habitat for gnomes.

Home to chat with neighbors and read Persuasion. Waiting on a couple of library DVD productions of it. Yes, of course the Ciaran Hinds version is one of them. Obligatory.

In the middle of the reading and chatting, a hefty man with a ladder showed up asking if I would let him clear the gutters. Another big guy doing good work around here.

Evidently they're clear, good. I wasn't aware of a problem anyway. He put back my furniture and departed with the ladder, and I continued with the history of the Elliots and their impending move to Bath. 

Captain Wentworth (Ciaran Hinds in my mind, hush up) hasn't made an appearance yet but Anne's all of a doodah already about the prospect.

She might not be the only one..

Photo shoot at the Libe Gallery, then a fine aftermath

This being the time of the Plainsboro Artists' Annual Group Show, 2016, theme this year being Square One -- go here 

it meant I spent part of the afternoon taking pix of the show, admiring my friends' work, and blogging the results.  It being a blistering hot day, so much for the season abating, after the picturing and cropping and sending and generally virtuously doing a good job at the library, the next destination was obvious.

Over to Cranbury to Gil and Bert's for a scoop of butter pecan in a sugar cone, no pix, it went pretty fast,

sitting in the shade of this awning 

In the evening the lights are on and it's very festive.

Then home to visit with neighbors, get their medical updates (!) and do the actual blogwork, which sometimes involves colorful language in keeping with an art exhibit. Very good afternoon. I had planned on one additional art expedition, but bagged it when I realized how hot it was.  It can wait for a cooler Sunday.