Flowers and down time

Another hot and humid day, so I'm surrendering. Just reading and knotting and picking flowers. No plans. 

What you get when you plant wildflower seeds. Tiny individual sparks of color, a cornflower, a coreopsis, some baby's breath 

The zinnias are under way, tiny lovely flowers, with the daisies 

And I'm glad I left the sweet William alone, because they're having a second act 

Wandering dude is booming, to become a houseplant later

After the hibiscus finish flowering, there's more to see

 

Today's flowers, mainly daisies 

The wild thistle has been knocked around in the wind and rain, but it's blossoming all over, so I hope the goldfinches and butterflies find it 

Since I spend time in the kitchen why not have a few flowers there.

The new knotting is coming along, very pleased with my new skill. Working area on the left, the right is the leading threads, to be braided later. I'll learn a five thread braid to do that.

The wobbly part at the top, where I was getting the hang of it, can be unknotted later. Meanwhile isn't this cool?

Happy day everyone, off to change the bed, then make a veggie quiche, then start doing nothing. What luxury.

Cleaners, flowers, calligraphy and Othello

Bright morning with raindrops sparkling everywhere, and the sun shining through the honesty pods. Daisies and daylilies starting. That's the thistle that invited himself in. I was hoping for a flower, but maybe not.

The cleaners were scheduled this morning so I got a ride to buy vitamin D which I'm suddenly out of, wow, that's gone up in price. 

Then to the library, where my ride departed and I had lunch and a gallery view, Chinese calligraphy by a local trio of artists.

The library is also currently asking for input on better use of the space, new ideas. I put my stickers on like a good patron.

And a couple of men arrived and set up a board game, I think Othello.

It's a good community center, all kinds of activities going on every day. 

Home soon to a clean house. Good, because a friend is coming by tomorrow to pick an artwork and it's nice if it's clean. My house doesn't get very dusty, but I like it newly cleaned. Especially now the allergy season seems to have started and anything sets me sneezing and tearing and itching.

Happy day everyone, I clearly don't have much to complain about, if I'm down to allergies and the price of vitamins. I hope your day is as good.

Star wars, flowers and paperwork

 First, wishing you a good Star Wars Day. May the Fourth be with you

My day started with an hour and a half taking pictures and sending them of documents for the HOA. 

My phone often drops the Wi-Fi then I turn to mobile data which is very slow, then Wi-Fi comes back and confuses everything. But I eventually got it done and hope there aren't objections.

Walking today was all about flowers, and a golfer who was amazed when I tossed back his ball which he knocked way out of bounds. He was so grateful! But I always toss back golf balls on my path.  

You can smell the honeysuckle from a distance. I know it's an invasive but in spring it's lovely 

Here's a neighbor's clematis

Home again and the honesty is just booming

 

As you see, both sides of the gate

The sweet William is coming along, too.

My Japanese maple is doing a whole lot better now that Gary's butterfly bush is no more. It was crowding and shading the maple. Its color is much better this year.

Down the street a dogwood is getting heavy equipment attention 

They used to just prop up a ladder, but I suppose this is safer for the operator.

Happy day everyone, plow through the paperwork of life then get to the flowers.

Flower divas, Misfits box

 My $2 of flower seeds have developed into a seemingly endless lovely supply of cut flowers. Every time I cut the positively last bunch of the season, they're all not so fast, missy,  and there's more.

Here's today 

One maybe last daisy, zinnias, marigolds, forgetmenots. 

Long ago I made a New Year's resolution to have fresh flowers once a month in the house. The pandemic interrupted, then I continued,  but with homegrown flowers whenever available. I think improving your life is a good resolution, not just improving yourself. That's a pretty hopeless endeavor at this point with this fallible character.

Since there was a bit of time available, I did an unusual thing. I ironed. These are linen, thrift store buys long ago, altered to suit. 

I don't iron much, and then it's more fiberart projects than clothes, but every few launderings, linen really appreciates it. 

I've upcycled quite a few linen shirts, cutting off cuffs and making them into pockets, making cuffed sleeves into roll sleeves, cutting shirttails to make straight hems. Simple changes, but they work a treat. 

My theory is that almost new linen items end up being donated to the thriftie because someone didn't want the fuss of ironing. I've paid about $5 for name brand clothes going for at least ten times more at retail. Then I wear them for maybe twenty years. 

So Misfits arrived, along with my deciding what's for lunch.

Which turned out to be a green salad with dried cranberries, chunks of Cheddar and homemade mayo. Fresh plum for dessert.

 

And instead of slinging the chicken along with the shrimp into the freezer for future reference, I roasted it right away, why not, for instant use.

Here seen in progress.

The sugar pumpkin is on the step, that and the wooden cat forming the entirety of my Fall decor.

In a few days it will be soup, but right now it's a decorative item.

The mushrooms will do something cooperative with the chicken or maybe the shrimp, we'll see.  Or chickpeas. 

Happy day everyone, even if your formatting has gone funny as here. Happens to the best of us. Not to Harris and Walz. Wouldn't dare.