Good Morning Everyone!!!! June 30th. Guys here to do the lawn mowing. 74 degrees and sunshine.

 Cherry Lime Ice Pop.

Do not have any of these in the freezer.   I was never a "great" home made ice pop person.

Soccer is going well...I was sad to see Germany have to move to penalty kicks...never a great thing.

Desk Calendar is full so July will be a fresh page here.  Tomorrow.

I am reading The Little Beach Street Bakery...getting towards the part of the book I don't really enjoy reading.   I might stop.   Start in on one of the other books.

My neck muscles are tense and stiff.  I need to relax and perhaps have some Tylenol......later,,,,, I already had my breakfast Tylenol.   Son says we are buying new window AC units....he better get on it... 75 already and not even 10am.  I have NOT opened any windows....so it's pretty decent in the house and I am....as an old person...running cold these days, so am doing just fine.  This is the one positive side of old age- running cold....other than in the winter.... when I watch the oil tank like a hawk.

Well, I have the last quarter of the Bakery Book to work thru.. then start in on one of the other books. I also plan to watch soccer....and that usually fills the day for me.  Hallmark has been a disappointment and I just can't force myself to watch Law and Order....  So World Cup Soccer for the win, I guess.

New desk calendar sheet tomorrow.... I think,

Daily Notes for a Sunny Monday in Maine.....June 29th.

 Cherry Pie

Well, I didn't make a pie.   I didn't make much of anything.  Yesterday.

Son walked in yesterday and pointed to the front window in the room where I spend my days...outside was a Deer eating my weeds.  Wild Life.  Ticks etc.  Deer wandered off to the next yard and some oak leaves..

The image up top was from a recent search for fresh cherry recipes.  To use up my bag of cherries...I will most likely just eat them cold out of the fridge...as usual.   Soccer is still happening but players look exhausted.

I have started in on an old favorite from the Library .....Little Beach Street Bakery.....she's just moved in....author is Jenny Colgan....the library is tossing old stuff so I might need to try and buy a copy for myself.....first edition 2014.   Might be "out of print" as they say. I may be the only person reading this book.  Once a year or once every two years.

Reading old favorites is very much like a nice visit with an old friend....and most of my old friends are dead. (one moved to Canada).   So...a book.

A renewal notice for my Driver's License.  Last time I had to send away for a NEW copy of my birth certificate... It's always "something" at the DMV. I can't imagine what it's like to work there and drag one's self out of bed, dress, have breakfast and then drive to the DMV...for a full day of whatever comes your way.  And the waiting area is always PACKED.  I don't intend to EVER drive a car again...but do need an ID. I think I have given up on a Passport....lots of places I would like to go but let's be honest here...would I go?????

Amsterdam and the Van Gogh museum.  Paris and the Louvre.  That's about it. Perhaps a British art museum????  Cup of tea.  Scone.

Well, my desk calendar has only a few stamp sized spaces of white... for me to draw and color in. And then a brand NEW sheet of white paper under this keyboard.  My colored pencils are sharpened...ready to roll.  

Daily Notes- Sunday June 28th. Sunshine and Maine is starting to heat up.

 These are actually growing in the garden of one of the Bloggers I read every day.  I look forward t a post image of the buds all open and wonderful.......yes??????

World Cup Soccer is getting very INTENSE.  But the stadiums are still packed with the happiest audiences I have ever seen.  Families.....babies........it's all there-... big smiles.

I have ordered books...from other libraries...  lots of books for August and September... They all have reserves on them so it will be quite a while before ANY of them show up.  But "awhile" will be closer to my birthday...and that's a good thing.  Also closer to October, I fear.

The book I thought was a reprint is actually NEW.  The two cross the street neighbors (all thru school) who are now grown ups......are on a cruise ship with ALL the other neighbors...I don't understand it either. but it must be a destination wedding??????   She's already wearing his clothes.

I am planning on moving a chair over to my bookcase (permanently) and finding another  Romance... which I recall enjoying many many times..... AFTER I read Anyone But You.  And it's my favorite book for 2026.  So far... and it's quite old.  Daughter hasn't found me a copy as yet for the bookcase.

Well I am going looking for a recipe for the cherries I have in the fridge....or else take them out of the fridge and warm them up in hot water.....at 79. (Son says I am NOT 80) cold cherries aren't doing it for me.  But I do like eating them during Soccer Playoff Season. I

I tried once already to get this post to publish but...we will try again.....

Daily Notes- More Sunshine here in Maine....75 degrees but it isn't 12 noon as yet.

You get Vincent today.  One of my favorite paintings.  The Cosmos overhead-- something in Vincent's time we hadn't seen as yet... thru a telescope.  Today's paper had three air (or gas) filled bubble planets.....

My neck bones are cracking.  A very noisy situation.

I stopped watching the Soccer yesterday as it got into the sort of "bad spirited injuries" thing.  Players got removed from the game.  I watched a Hallmark Christmas Movie instead.  It was boring. I might have to try Lifetime Movies again...same actors but SPICY & DARK.  I believe Hallmark and Lifetime use the same sets and actors in Toronto, Canada.  I don't feel comfortable with "people locked in the basement" sort of movies.....So...Soccer.

My new to me book- Shippers by Katherine Center.....first 10 pages in and well, this book is NEW....I checked the print date....but I've read it before. (NO I HAVE"NT)...the wedding dress etc. All very very familiar.  I had really anticipated a new Katherine Center book.  I checked the books in the cupboard....to see if a "coming soon blurb of text" had been given out early...no.  Great heave of disappointment here.

I'll keep reading....got nothing else to read.   Everything is New it was the wedding dress that threw me off.

That's it for today....heating pad, Arnica under my tongue etc etc....  Saturday Cooking Shows...PBS unless they are Fund Raising and then- I move to FOX and Soccer.  Or just turn the tv off and cover my head and try for a nap.  Which we both know is pretty much never going to happen.

 

Daily Notes- Friday, June 26th.. Returned two full heavy bags of Library books- brought home one.

 I got hot and droopy while at the Library- sat down as I was afraid of falling down.  I had eaten. but that must not have been what was wrong....

I have a bag full of Favorite Reads.   It happened serendip--ishly.  I was wandering quite aimlessly (as usual) and found one and then two and then three and then four etc......Like a GIFT.

Thank you to whatever Spirit Guided Me.

We shopped late so Son has gone to eat instead of finding food at the Hot Bar in the grocery store.  I have last week's pot stickers to fry and eat later.

I have Soccer to watch.

I was going to type something more but...I deleted  it.   No image today as I started typing before entering it.  Perhaps tomorrow.  No Romaine lettuce today so they must have watered with poop yet again.

I did get mouthwash.   

Well, Son has left me with  two butt ends of his bread and I will be adding crunchy peanut butter and eating that while finding today's Soccer Match.  My body temp has leveled out.

I was told we are buying NEW Air Conditioners.... right now with ALL windows and doors shut tight and two ceiling fans rotating the air......I am quite comfortable.  I need an additional 8 ounces of cool water and then the couch..and the soccer.  We couldn't find the Arnica tablets.  Sigh.  For the crackling bones in my neck.  That's it for today...  old bones make so MUCH noise if close to the ears.

Again, thank you to the Book Angel watching over me....directing my eyes to the books...

Daily Notes for Thursday, June 25th. Sunshine out the windows...here in Maine- 80 degrees.

My son has noticed I am not in "good condition" today....My neck bones hurt and they are making a clicking noise., I am sort of dizzy and tired. Street work had begun- guys are digging a hole...has to do with the blue paint they sprayed  a few weeks ago on my side of the street.  I am thinking the "new People" across the street from me want something they don't have..?  I don't think these newcomers talk to anyone on the street so we have zero info on them.   

My Lunch buddy at number one says she believes her chimney is capped. but no idea who capped it. So I am back to square one on getting anyone out here to do the WORK.

The text wants to start in the middle yet again...I'm exhausted my neck bones ache and I give up.

Let the damned computer win and I will go sit on the couch and use the heating pad etc...I have melted two Arnica under my tongue and will wait to see if they work.  Son has gone out for lunch... says I look "scattered".....well, I guess I would at my age with no human contact for days at a time.

My only entertainment this Week has been Soccer. All my Library books were bad choices.

My Lunch Buddy has Skunk Scent under her back deck... SO things could be worse.

 

Daily Notes June 24th.-- Missed yesterday....I was trying to print out a bill and ended up with 7 or 8 copies....sigh.

 14 Million Dollars.  Wasted...think of the food that money could have bought for Food Banks around the country... and one man arrested for touching the floating scrap of liner...... You know, Donald....you could have "hot glued" the liner like you did all the fake gold stuff you got at the Dollar Store for the fireplace. At the White (Tacky) House.  Anyone have a countdown app we could use for how many days this guy has left??????  In office. 

My neck bones are snapping....I will be moving to the couch and the heating pad as soon as I hit publish. Stress.

The Soccer is still moving forward....Ronaldo yesterday.......Messi a day or so earlier.....It's a Wonderful Thing.   I have two FULL Library bags to return to the Library.  Some things that I read-- MORE things I refused to read....One had a new sticker on the cover- I'd read it a few years ago (feels like)....still terrible.  A second book was also on the new shelf and I had read it awhile ago- also terrible.   My At Home Bookcase is calling to me-- to re-read some Golden Oldies. Or just close my eyes and sleep.

I won't......I'm interested in the sudden info that Mrs Guthry died the night she was abducted. Possibly after smacking her head on that piece of medical equipment for her pacemaker?????  They did find blood on the machine. On the floor.  Outside the door.  Etc etc etc......  Should have had the ginger haired guy in Miami (TV detective) solve the case.

Well, that's me for today- the pain is getting to me so I will move on to the couch, close my eyes and hope the heating pad relieves some of the bone pain in my neck and shoulder.  Stress....  and later some more soccer.... the games are very good- few goals....no one is getting an easy win.

Daily Notes for Monday June 22nd... Sunshine here in Maine. World Cup Soccer...

 Soccer Spritzers would be welcome today.   Don't they look delicious????? And the straws!!!!!

Found an invoice for the grass cutting in my email.   Twice in May for $170.  My grass looks really really nice.  Zero fertilizer and plenty of rain.....a wellness routine.

I cannot...and I have tried....to get the email invoice to PRINT....the machine does nothing... I will make my own invoice on an index card and mail off a check.

Watching Storage Wars....until Soccer starts.   I think the mess in my attic might equal the mess in one of those lockers.

Well, I'd best get on with things and drink my extra glasses of water.  HYDRATION is my life right now. And World Cup Soccer.......I asked Son to explain "off sides"......who what where and when....... now I have to experience it in live action during a game to see if I really understand it.

I watched some Hallmark yesterday...I'm definitely OVER it.

Daily Notes on another Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Sunday June 21st

 I wish the image was larger....

Well, today is yet another fine Sunday......I slept well and had about an hour before getting out of bed to "Consider Life".....  My mind usually goes to mistakes I've made.. So Many...but that is all water under the bridge as they say......nothing I can ever do to change any of it...the past is rock solid...so instead I sort of wrote a book report on a favorite book...I always felt it was a funny romance  but now at Eighty.....I can see it is a very very difficult book.  The lead character was "othered" by her family.  Left out of the Weekly Sunday Brunch...on purpose.

Well, I won't be reading that book out of bookcase this week.

I have been doing major coloring work on this month's desk calendar...way more than usual.

I was also snacking quite a bit yesterday until I realized I hadn't eaten since breakfast.  Today I will try for an actual meal at lunchtime and then Sunday Pizza.   The Soccer has been quite something.  I have my favorites but that changes over time.....I had set all the remaining games to record but I decided to just "wing" it....as the days go by.  There were too many and it seemed more like a Work Assignment than FUN.

The back yard looks quite lovely and the many different peony flowers make it look even nicer. I don't cut the flowers for the house as they usually have lots of black ants down in the petals.  The Grape Arbor is loaded as is the back fence.  I was down there but failed to check to see if there were grapes.  The Blueberry bushes keep growing and making leaves but their ability to make berries ended decades ago. I keep everything because memories are down there even if the fruit is not.

I have noticed an abundance of Lily of the Valley in the back garden...so daughter has no need to bring me more plants... we can dig them right here at home.  I'd prefer them by the front steps not back in the garden where I hardly ever go anymore.   It WAS such a lovely vegetable garden... WAS.   I can no longer bend and weed...I am old.  I tend a few pots here in the house...flowers not vegetables.

I was tempted by a bouquet last week at the grocery store..... ant free????

Daily Notes for Saturday, June 20th. Breakfast was good...newspaper was thin on interesting things to read.

 Rhubarb Pie....Still haven't made one.  Or found one to BUY.

Shower this morning...I felt stable enough to give it a go.  Some (most) mornings I just look for somewhere to sit down.  Until the blood pressure stabilizes.  Today I took a shower, washed my hair with the good stuff Connie sent me......hair is shiny and fluffy........ I wrapped a towel around the leaking shower head....seemed to work- I didn't see water shooting towards the ceiling. I don't see anyone fixing it either.  I should have spent more time recruiting a Helpful Handy Man......or Woman.

Yesterday I did two loads of laundry..changed the sheets on my bed.  Folded up the down comforter and stored it in the sewing room.  I have a nice king sized quilt on the bed.  Purchased not made... by me.

I do have a king sized quilt, made my me, in the closet.  I am not sure what it still needs but perhaps binding.  I think I machine sewed the binding but now it needs to be turned and folded and hand stitched.  That's the way I roll.  I was working at the Library decades ago when I made that quilt.  Twenty Plus years ago.  Heavy on the Plus.

The Soccer is getting dangerous...wanting to Win makes for dangerous decisions.  Watching makes me get up off the couch looking for snack food.  Which is why having some cloth thing in my hands keeps me out of the snacks.   Though a chopped vegetable salad from the deli is hardly an "snack food"....... even with raisins and seeds.  The cashews...snack. 

Well, I have nothing to do but will see what's going on in Soccer World...then try to see what's what on the Hallmark Channel.  But perhaps I'll skip both and just settle into my BOOK.  And read words.

DailyNotes for Friday, June 19th. Sunshine here in Maine and 74 degrees......It will get warmer as the day goes on.

 Scabiosis.   Pretty in Purple.

Well, I didn't sew anything but I did read quite a few pages in my book and haven't reached half way as yet. I found a rubber band and some bobby pins and got my hair up off my neck...all this while waiting for the "promised" TORNADO to hit Maine...  It did NOT.

Watching Soccer has always gotten me interested in pulling my hair into a top knot.  And it's long enough now to almost STAY in the top knot.  I searched the drawers looking for more hair pins...Grocery will have some.

We have 74 degrees and Sunshine today.  Grocery Shopping in 30 minutes...Son waits for my oatmeal to enter my blood stream and level out.  There is no where to sit down in the grocery store if my blood pressure tanks......... we found that out the hard way. In the first year he was living with me. They have chairs in the Pharmacy...and a doctor.

I have the sheets off my bed and ready for the washing machine...which takes forever so I will be doing that AFTER we get home with groceries.  I rotated the king mattress...meaning I spun it around a half turn to the right.  Top is now bottom...  I used to be able to "flip" the mattress but this new one has only one usable SIDE...so it gets SPUN. Fresh Sheet Day is always a Special Day...for me.

I waited all afternoon for the TORNADO...there was some spotty high wind.  No Tornado. Rain watered the lawn...thank you!!!!  Someday the Lawn Guys will cut the grass........

I have a line up of World Cup Soccer to choose from today...and the last two hot dogs for Luncheon. I need to think about what to buy for next week's lunches.  I can always "fall back" to Grilled Cheese with Pickles".... and cold chicken nuggets.

I may have already written this but yesterday I was thinking about two Hallmark movies I actually wanted to see again...imagine my SURPRISE when they were on the Hallmark channel right then...back to back. I watched them while getting Tornado Alerts.  I then checked  the listings for today and found two more. Back to Back.  And set them to record... It's usually the actors that I like...all the Hallmark Movies are the SAME.  But the actors can turn something Ick into something Okay.  There is one more I like and it has, so far, NOT EVER been on a second time....

Daily Notes- June 18th. Clouds and Rain here in Maine.. Can hear the Rain Pounding down on the roof. We have a Tornado Watch from now until 7 pm.

Oddly enough this one came without a name.

 Well, I was up late reading and then up late getting out of bed...just now at 1:20 finishing up washing my breakfast dishes.  Oatmeal and Coffee.

And yes to Marianne in Germany....I did watch that game...I usually watch two and sometimes three matches.  I love seeing the happy families in the audience...men holding babies etc.  

My neck bones are snapping and crackling as usual...quite noisy.

I had some fabric scraps that went together so I sewed them into rectangles and squares while watching the Soccer.  I even tried out a few soccer hairstyles with my now almost touching my shoulders white puffy hair.  I need to find one of those black bands the guys wear to hold their hair back.

The Guys Who Cut the Grass will not be coming today...but we need the rain.

Tomorrow is Grocery Day.  I can put finished books in the return slot but the Library will be closed. Juneteenth.

The Rain is really coming DOWN now.... I think I will go look for something with long sleeves ....and then settle in to read a very unexpected book.  The author has surprised me.  Booked For The Summer. It reminds me of another book... which I will search for....I hope the Soccer doesn't get rained out.

I also am looking forward to hot dogs for lunch,,,,,  

Daily Notes- Wednesday, June 17th. Some Sunshine and cool temps this morning. No reason to be awake.

 Rothko.  Number Five

I found  some ART so we'll be having that as the week closes on us.  I can see this in cloth....as something I could have around here to bring me JOY.  Visually.

I "noticed" Rothko later in Life but wish I had paid some attention to his work in college- but perhaps he wasn't well known then??? I could do research but actually am not that interested.  I might be interested in making this out of cloth..... just for my own entertainment.

Pollack is also of interest to me... throwing paint at the canvas...or pouring it....

I am up very very early and will regret it as the day goes on and on and on.  I don't have much to occupy myself so will run out of things to do early in the day...... I do have Soccer. And the heating pad for my poor stiff neck muscles.  I can hear the bones...when I move my head.

My neck bones are already painful so I will stop typing and sit with the heating pad and hopefully fall asleep.  The Sun is creeping slowly (on cat paws) into Maine.  The day begins.

Daily Notes for a Cloudy Damp Morning in Maine. June 17th. Awake at 6 am.

 Rhubarb Pie.

I am considering making one.  It's been awhile since I tried baking.  I have rhubarb in the freezer.

Dampness outside.  But the Sun is shining in its mild morning way.  A few streaks of light across the back lawn.  Some shine on the mailbox out front.  Everything is GREEN.

Soccer is all I think about...When will it be on TV....who is playing........Messi yesterday- a Hat Trick. Three goals.

Well, I have breakfast to find and eat....then some meds for the tight muscles in my neck.  Then perhaps resting while looking at the ceiling..... there was no walk to the end of the street yesterday....I doubt there will be one today...

I haven't a clue why I am awake so early....but perhaps because I am hungry?????

Daily Notes for Tuesday, June 16th.....Mix of Sunshine and Dark Clouds here in Maine.

 Strawberry Pretzel Pie.  Not making or eating a slice. But do have frozen berries in the freezer.

The SUN comes and goes as I am typing....My Peonies are in bloom...pink, white and magenta.

I have so MUCH MORE SOCCER to watch today....And additional hot dogs for luncheon. Would be perfect with chips but I didn't buy any. And don't need extra salt holding water in my huge ankles.

I've run out of Tiny Toddler Ice Cream Cups.

My book yesterday was a four out of five- perhaps if I am brutally honest.... a three out of five stars. Either I have matured (gasp) or the author has slacked off.......but I really do appreciate a more robust EDIT.  And why did we need all the cats??????? And FIVE WHOLE MINUTES of Paint Ball???? I wish I recalled the title of book with the Real  Company Outing Paint Ball Fight..... people did visit the ER.

I think a bird just flew into the front windows.... or I suppose it could be the back windows.

Well, World Cup Soccer can't watch itself so I guess I need to get back to it.  Son has just driven off for a nice drive and lunch.    In the low slung sports car****........top down.

***a can get into the car but I can't get OUT of the car.....it's okay to laugh..

Daily Notes on A very nice Monday Morning in Maine. June 15th.

 Zinnias..again.

I have ceiling fans going in dining room and here in the tv side of the living room.  Moving air around. I have more World Cup Soccer recorded...so will watch that and perhaps sew small bits of cloth to other small bits of cloth........ I got up in the middle of the night to search my bookcase for a book I recalled. I used the flash light to find it... then I could go back to sleep.

I was looking for Summer Things in my closet this morning....short sleeved linen shirts.  The camp shirts LLBean made for old time summer campers.  Summer Camps were a good source of income for Mainers Now the shirts are tapered and not SQUARE and I don't find them comfortable in the least.  Even in extra large.  So I wear the old old old ones I found at Goodwill.. But not out of the house.

It might rain today...or has already rained this morning.  The guys will NOT be mowing the grass???? Ah a bit of sunshine breaking thru...things will heat up as there is zero breeze out there.

I was going to check the garage and see if we still owned the lawn mower....but I recall selling it... I recall trying to sell everything run on gasoline so my husband couldn't set himself on fire.

We are getting into the monthly family birthdays.  The family still alive. 

Ah, the Sun is Breaking Thru.... and I need to make oatmeal and eat it....no newspaper as it's Monday. I have to collect the recycling and garbage for tomorrow morning's collection.  Perhaps shred more paper.

If it's not too warm I will try to walk up to the DEAD END SIGN ( entrance to our street) and back.  Once. My Summer Exercise Program.  I feel free to turn back toward home at any point...even if it's only to the end of the driveway.  I know my limits......

Daily Notes from a Sunny Sunday in Maine. June 14th.World Cup Soccer.

 Hockney painting.  Never too late for me to begin.  Painting.

I am submerged in World Cup Soccer.  Son gets the TV going for me and I sit and watch....I have noticed an increasingly amount of bad behavior.  Uncalled for.  Germany is playing today.

Neck Bones making the usual cracking sounds....... they are shouting "we are old bones"

A Surprise Jelly Donut yesterday....the bakery was open when Son walked by and they had two doughnuts. They really are the very most delicious pastries in the World.  Today in Pizza Day.  If it wasn't I'd have Hot Dogs (because it's Hot Dog Week).

Well, I don't have much else to share with you today...

I read ZERO pages in my book yesterday...yes...ZERO Pages.

Take care, let me know how you plan to spend this nice Sunday in June.   

Daily Notes for Saturday, June 13th. Intermittent sunshine. 64 degrees

 Zinnias.

My neck bones are making that clicking sound as I rotate my head.

Watched World Cup yesterday USA won....it was quite exciting.  Stadium was Packed. I got to see Tom Cruise and Beckham several times in the audience.....such a nice difference from all the Politics.

Well, my neck muscles and bones are aching and clicking and want me to be quite on the couch today.   Perhaps with the heating pad like yesterday.   Stored Tension??????

I have nothing more to type so that will be it for the day.   And I am hungry and want to make my daily bowl of oatmeal and read the newspaper headlines.  Have that first glass of water.  Then coffee.

If you are reading this perhaps make a comment to say hello and mention your location. You don't have to give a name etc.   

Daily Notes- Just out of bed and dressed- tendons in my neck are tight and aching... Tension.

 This image has been wanting to be here....the tiny shed out back-- my black lab to the far right.

I hardly see it these days for the trees...I hardly see anything anymore...but I don't feel depressed...I just feel tired. Very very tired.   

After the Wildlife guy was done I walked out to look and saw a singular squirrel sitting on the roof. Looking very sad.  Must have been out on an errand and missed the family being hauled away. I imagined what that must have felt like....for the squirrel.

I miss the person I was when I painted the shed and planted this wonderful garden out front.   You can see the wheelbarrow etc behind the shed.  And, bringing tears to my eyes, Riley and the bed in front, nicely WEEDED. Nothing is weeded now....it's all gone back to wild and weedy.

Today is Library and Grocery Store....I am looking forward to both as last week I didn't go to either...I stayed home....tired.  I haven't ordered any books. But I am sure one or two will be on the hold shelf.    I'll look at the new book shelf.  See what's there.

I watched a World Cup game yesterday.  I watched CSI.  I read my book.  I cut images (for the desk calendar) from a few old magazines.......I did all these things- my usual, and yet it felt like "not enough".

It looks cloudy and damp outside.....I'm going to have my oatmeal and coffee.....read the news...which is totally depressing...put on my socks.  Stand up straight, shoulders back, and get on with things.....not ready to give up yet.  I saw an image of the totally "monster cage fighting" thing in front of the White House. 

I have no words for what that image says about our President.

Daily Notes- Thursday June 11th. Damp, wet Thursday. 69 degrees and 91 % humidity.

 My back yard does NOT look like this.

Well, the Wildlife Specialists arrived this morning and  adult squirrels and infant squirrels were removed from the chimney.  I went out to the street to look at the temporary cap and saw a squirrel sitting on the roof looking at the temporary wire cap.  I called the Chimney Doctor and told him about the clean out and the need for a permanent cap.   He's VERY busy, he says.

Maine....  Love it or leave it.

I tend to love it as it's the craziest, looney place I have ever lived.... I fit here.

Now to secure a permanent chimney CAP!!!!!

Some Generator stuff going on across the street.  

I'm trying to get resettled here as I thought today was Friday...now I have to think about it being Thursday. we are getting rather sort on Lunch supplies....I have only ONE slice of bread so...not a real sandwich. I ate the last banana yesterday so no "daily fruit".

Just finished reading Ten Big Ones.   Seven Foot Tall "Sally" ran over a bunch of real bad guys with the school bus he drives....in a silky red dress and red stilettos.  Our Girl wasn't surprised at all...Morelli and Ranger were stunned and speechless.  Super fun end to the book.  This paragraph doesn't in any way ruin the book or the plot lines of that book for any Readers....trust me...has nothing to do with anything. It's like the surprise little tiny dessert some fancy restaurants bring out after you've paid. Chef's Kiss.  Which I am reading next (today).......

Daily Notes for Wednesday, June 10th. Sunshine and 72 degrees.

 Having some tight neck muscle pain past few days...TENSION.

I have a guy coming to add a screen to the top of the chimney to keep the squirrels out... he's from the Wildlife Specialist Group....so if the squirrels are around he'll collect them.  They were gone yesterday. They don't have a "datebook planner" for visits.

Planter got lots of coverage yesterday on MSNBC.. I was actually left speechless with the coverage Maine was getting yesterday...with ONLY 1.25m in population??????  Of course Susan had so MUCH to do with the present justices sitting on the Court for the rest of their LIVES.  Is it Three Spineless Stooges??????  And counting.  Larry, Moe and Curley.......

Well, I had better things to do....Son has promised to make SURE I vote next time.  I didn't even know we were voting...in June.

My neck is hurting so I am checking out here and moving to the couch, heating pad and my book. Stephanie is staying in Ranger's apartment, using his shower, soap and his shampoo.  Driving his truck.  His guns.  Ten Big Ones.   I've read all these books before and occasionally I recall some plot moves.....not always though. I did want some of the Medicinal Jelly Doughnuts Stephany and Lula were eating. Those two pack away an entire Seven Eleven each book.   

Daily Notes- Tuesday June 9th....Sunshine and 78 degrees here in Maine.

 American Bumble Bee.  (and clover)

Well, I have made a call into Midcoast Wildlife Specialists.  In regard to the squirrels in the chimney. 

I have had ENOUGH.

I left a message...I expect, here in Maine that they are kept very very busy.... we have an abundance of Wild Life.  Some of it scratching around in my chimney. Or even WORSE- behind the drywall. Son pointed that out.  I wish he had NOT done that.

Until they call me back, I will stay calm, finish reading Evanovich's Ten Big Ones. I just got started in this book  (49 pages) yesterday after finishing To The Nines.  I am approaching a tipping point in the books....will I continue reading or give up.... Steph is on her 5th or 10th car.... I never started counting them...They get wrecked, blown up, set on fire, stolen etc etc.  The whole Trenton Police Department shows up when she calls it in. As the cops say to Steph "you never disappoint".......

Brings back solidly GREAT memories of working at the greenhouse...and the wrecks out front on the Bath Road...and the interesting people I met and spoke to while watching the Police and Fire Department clear the wreckage.... No one ever got hurt... couldn't say the same for the vehicles.

CSI has started to seriously BORE me....I think I am going to have to move on to Law and Order.

Seems like an invoice for Oil Delivery has hit my mailbox.....  at this time of year- most of the oil is being used to heat water...for showers.

Well, I have emails...gonna go read them see what's happening.

Daily Notes- Monday June 8th....Sunshine...Lawn Mowers were here and so is the Septic Tank Guy....Busy Day.

 The Rain was welcome.. Now we have Sunshine.

Son found some one who might weed....I sent a query but got no response.  The weeds here are in the early stages of a "Take Over"...I'd do the work but zero cartilage in the knees...  Weeding isn't a stand up job.

I was not even close to where the opening to the septic tank was/is.  The $60 Shovel Fee was actually needed.  To find the opening.  Son has gone out to have a chat regarding our Current Septic Situation.. which he reports was "great".  No problems.

CSI has very old episodes....ones I have forgotten.  So that is interesting...the not knowing who done it. When that source is used up I will move on to Law and Order.   Settle in to the Standard Retired Person Habits. Couch, Hand Sewing and Law and Order...minus the Big Black Lab.  Who covered his eyes with his paws when it got to be "too much" for him.  I told him it was all make believe but .......still scary.

The tendons in my neck are aching.... the bones making cracking sounds when I turn my head.  The couch and the heating pad will be my best friends again today...I have also been using Arnica. To ease the muscle tension.

I found the pencil sharper and sharpened a few pencils.  It's in a "Handy Spot" where I can find it now. It was not where I thought it was going to be....I'm 2/3rds into High Five and then will choose another book. I have two new books on the shelf as well and will read those first.  Lynn Painter and TJ Alexander.. one new and one an oldie I enjoy reading but daughter has not been able to buy for me.

that's all...10am and already so much has happened......

Daily Notes Sunday June 7th. Rainy Wet Day in Maine. 66 degrees. Humidity close to 100%

 Sign me up for Pie and Ice Cream.. (an excellent Southern Breakfast)...  Serious lack of such things here....

Well, I have a Crink in my neck this morning- right side.  Even a few neck bones feeling the pinch. Old Age is a Trial and a Pain in the you know what.

I now have a stack of 7 different packages of printer paper by the printer...  I decided, while sitting here at the desk to clean out the mess in the little rolling side table...the old old printer used to sit on top of this table..rocking the table side to side as it printed something..  and I sat watching and waiting for the damned printer to screw up... never failed to do so....especially on Income Tax Paperwork....   

The bottom shelf is now FULL Of Notebooks....  minus pages I wrote things on...those pages got shredded.

Notebooks I write in. Draw in..Color in.  Paste images in........ Stay busy...  the top side of this rolling cart (where the printer was) now holds every container of colored pencils and pens that I know of...there might be more.  Husband's stash..  all I need now is to find and install my pencil sharpener.  Be Open For Penciled Art Business.......

I haven't turned on any lights...let me go do that....

Puddles everywhere,  Grass looks happy and so do the Perennials.  Weeds look Triumphant. Old Peonies have stems of flower buds way up over the leaves....so many.. Daughter  was right- they are all ALIVE.

I have High Five here on the ottoman waiting for me...out of order...but that's how it goes when ordering books from far away libraries.....Read Eight and then got back in time and Read Five.  I also have the heating pad for my neck muscles....

Send Pie......really...Send pie. And don't forget Ice cream.

Saturday June 6th. Cloudy right now and 69 degrees.

 You  get a garden bench today.  I don't have a bench...I do have a pitchfork.

I woke up with a "Krink" in my neck and right shoulder....usually caused by TENSION.  Getting everything on this desktop to work this morning...could be the cause....I also had a bill to pay and some desk- actual desk----top things to straighten out...the morning Suduko was above my pay grade.

I may snap a photo of one of my favorite plants...now blooming...by the back windows.  False Indigo. Such a surprise each summer when it flowers...

The Lawn Guys have not come to mow..  we'll see what Monday brings????  Perhaps Lawn and Septic at the same time.

There was (is) an animal- squirrel- in the chimney but the glass door that closes in the fireplace kept  him or her out of the house.  I guess that's an Animal Control; Issue?????  I went into the garage and made a bunch of loud noises near the chimney and that seemed to do the trick...for now.  But  I hear them tapping.

I called the Chimney Doctor but they never actually came to the house (the squirrel issue didn't set well with them)....last year. Business as usual in Maine.   Just knocked on the glass fireplace door- See how long they stay away.

Son found me an email address for someone to weed my garden....I tried but had no luck with address. I will need technical support.

The tendons in my neck are really tight right now and ache...  I'm going to sit on the couch and watch the Saturday Cooking Shows....then some British Soccer....I have good books to read...and the squirrels in the chimney to keep me busy.   I never thought I would say this but I miss having a JOB.

Daily Notes for a Sunny Friday June Fifth.

 A very dizzy start to my day....I am foregoing the Library and the Grocery Store.

I am going to sit, hydrate and be calm.  Son has the shopping list.  

N and I are wondering about the guys who cut the grass..... she is wondering more than I am.

My border gardens do not look anything like the photo up top.... my borders are filled with a variety of tall, medium and short WEEDS.   The Guy who weeded for me is weeding in Heaven these days.

And That's about all.  I am going to follow my Son's directions and sit on the couch and rest up and drink liquids until he returns home.  To The Nines is not as exciting as the cover comments suggested. And I have read it before....I might have already read all of them..... but there is the occasional good laugh out loud... which is beneficial to my well being.

I wandered around in the sewing room...looking for something I did not find.  I watched an episode of Life on the Streets....I was huge fan back when it was first on tv..... well see how it goes in the weeks to come.

I also discovered the 1400"s on my cable channels...  new stuff.  Who knows...??????

Anything is better than the news....As a Mainer...interesting we have a rogue candidate.  He came out of no where.....But anyone who might have a chance to get rid of Susan Collins has my vote.

Daily Notes for Thursday, June 4th. Sunshine here in Maine. Lots of it and 72 degrees.

 Sea Holly.

I watched quite a few things on tv yesterday...can't recall any of it....I did change the sheets on my bed and washed them....dried them and put them back on the bed.....easier than trying to find sheets in the linen closet.  A Nightmare.

I slept well.  No horrible dreams.  No waking up crying....well, a bit of crying AFTER I woke up.

I haven't started reading To The Nines as yet.   Fatigue has come to visit...and has extended its stay into a second day.....I haven't had breakfast as yet...blood sugar is down and so am I.

Well. if things perk up as the day goes on and on and on...I'll return and have some chatty things to report. I believe I have some bills on the table- need to write checks, find stamps etc....  Always fun.

I think the couch and I will be good friends again today...I will NOT watch ANY news.  I have been cautioned to keep my views to myself... on certain subjects.....I get carried away...say things that are not politically correct.  

That's all for today....I did NOT have the Pot Stickers yesterday but will be having them today... Frying pan is ready to go....right now I am considering oatmeal or shredded wheat for breakfast.  Hot or Cold. Either is very very nice....wishing you all a very happy day........

I thought of a book I like reading this morning.....searched the bookcase for it...not recalling the title.  Found it.  Now the newspaper and the impossible Suduko puzzle.

Daily Notes for Wednesday June 3rd. Sunshine today...

I had every single ingredient in the fridge to make these....mine were darker and crispier.  Vegan because there was no egg binding all the parts together.  And no cheese.  A mashed baked potato (sitting in the fridge) did the binding.  If I had had some bacon in the house I would have added that to the cakes. Also some cheese.  I'm not Vegan.

So there we are- I might label yesterday as "Do Something New And Different Tuesday"

Finished reading Hard Eight (whoa) and Today----To The Nines... supposedly the "sharpest, funniest and sexiest" one of the series ....since the early days".  There was quite a bit of shooting etc in Eight.  I lost count of the number of cars Steph crashed or blew up.  She still has car insurance...wow. Steph has lost count of the number of handcuffs she has also lost or misplaced.  I say five pairs of cuffs.

I was three days late in changing over the desk calendar to JUNE.    But yesterday I had to charge up all the things attached to the desk top...mouse, that little rolling thing you click on.....keyboard...all of it dead...  Now they are all working again...And I have to coil up a few of the wires....just did that.  The iPhone is still charging........even though I nevernevernever use it....as a phone.. I use it as a camera.  And even that is very rare.  These days, 

I sprayed the house with Febreze (smelled like Fritters)....I also had a shower and washed my hair...I need to do a load of wash today as well.  Change the sheets on my bed- always a workout with MANY rest periods.. BREATHING is what bothers me the most health wise.  It actually might be my ONLY health issue...oh, kidneys...not in top shape...  yep- the 80's not gonna be my best decade.   We need lungs and kidneys...like 24/7/365....

... I watched about 5 minutes of news yesterday and started gagging.....so went back to CSI and when that failed to entertain me- back to the book and another car blowing up..... I think Steph found something (someone) dead on her couch or in her shower in book eight.. more than once. We all thought Ranger was gonna kiss her...nope.  He always checks on her status with Morelli......first.

I feel my days squeezing shut.....cutting off any happy feelings I might have had in the past for Spring and early Summer... The Daily News is actually NOT something I can read, hear or watch these days. Even the Morning Paper Suduko brings little JOY to my Life...  but the SUN is Shining...That's huge here in Maine... I'll let That be enough..... and I have two leftover fritters for lunch.  And some ice cream...the tiny serving size. The cups you give to toddlers with the little wood spoon they don't know what to do with...  I might have one tiny cup left.... would be great.  If I did.

I need to add another bag of the tiny cups to the Shopping List for Friday. Perhaps a few yogurt cups as well.  Today I have Chicken Pot Stickers..  Oh Boy!!!!!   Everyone in the books says that...Oh Boy!!! and then something blows up.

 

Daily Notes for Tuesday June 2nd.....Sunshine and 67 degrees

 Another image from a long ago post of my own.   Most of my trees have dropped their flowers... the big Spring Show is just about done.

It's actually past time for the large planters to be out and filled... Patty and I would shop early...but we are no longer friends...it happens....and I will most likely not have the planters out on the front walkways this year,  change..is hard but sometimes change is necessary so you can move on.....to new things.

The grape vines are very full this Spring ...  Concord grapes.  I wanted to make jelly.  Years ago.   Grapes are not the easiest thing to grow.  The plants might only produce leaves. Last year that was all I got but the abundance of them covered the arch over the walkway.  And is doing that this Spring as well.

I have gotten to the very end of Seven Up.  Stephanie Plum and Ranger... on the last page..... Will be starting in on Book Eight today.   AS the book numbers get higher....the PLOTS get more ridiculous.   but the Plum activities are keeping me from watching any NEWS and that is a real help....because the news is terrible.   Talk about Hell in a Handbasket???????

I have every single ingredient needed to make No Egg Vegetable Fritters.  I mention this because I rarely have ALL the things needed for a recipe.  Son has driven off to have LUNCH...I just finished having breakfast.   Sleeping more these days....which is actually a good thing....

Hard Eight is next,   

Daily Notes- Monday June 1st. Sunshine here in Maine...for now...

 From the pictures on old blog posts.

I imagined lunches and dinner out in this old wood greenhouse......I didn't actually have an old greenhouse but thought one would be a very nice addition to my yard.

Well, here we are on June First.  I still have NOT gone out to buy annuals for my garden beds. I might not actually have flowers this year.....I haven't dragged the big planters out. either.  Can't do it myself.  Well, I could and have done it myself but I have no plants to plant in the containers....My Master Gardener Pal is no longer speaking to me....very very bad break up.  It was all her....all I said was "no".

This is what happens when the Friend (???) you always went plant shopping with...is not longer speaking to you. And when your Lunch Buddy has gone flower shopping with her husband... as usual.

Wu Peng has three more flower buds...a surprise.

Sigh.....I'm gonna read....no bills to pay...already got the morning Medicare phone call...hung up on them as usual.  I   usually have my two big planters filled with soil and flowers by now.....really SAD.

I hate being OLD..... I hate depending on someone else so I can have flowers out front.  Well, I am going to pull on my socks and settle into the couch and read....finish up my lukewarm coffee.

That's it- the mouse died so I have it charging up... and my coffee needs a reheat...

Daily notes- Sunday, May 31st... Cloudy and 67 outside and 64 inside the house.

 Market Flowers.  Not here in my house.....

And yes, the temps up top are correct- colder inside the house than out.

I don't think any of you reading this post will be surprised that I woke up tired this morning...I postponed my shower yesterday...wasn't feeling steady- thought it might be better to have breakfast first to even out the blood pressure.   Then I procrastinated.

I might also need to replace the short sleeved tee with the long sleeved thermal shirt... like right now.  I'm COLD.  I might shower later this afternoon if I feel like it would be a "good idea".

I added a few digits to the indoor temp..... we'll see when the furnace kicks in if that helps.  Son would recommend I add a thermal long sleeve shirt to my outfit.  That actually sounds good....I'll be right back..

Feeling warmer already... I started in on Book Seven-- titled Seven Up.  I also promised my Son I would NOT ask him to collect books at the library when he goes out for lunch.  Friday is Book Collection Day...period.    

I might need to add a sweater to my outfit.  Yep....went and got a sweater.  

I could pull weeds out by the Propane Tanks and Whole House Generator.  But it looks like it might rain.  I keep hoping the Weed Fairies will show up overnight and get the job done... I pulled the damned things out last year ...roots and all....thinking that would be it... It wasn't it.   I tried doing a Pep Talk on myself but ... it's a Hard Sell.   CSI has reverted back to season one episodes from the 60's or 70's...gag me.   FSN has old Soccer games....and they delete the boring parts when no one scores.... really.

Good Morning....Dressed and ready for breakfast at 10:30 am.... Been up a few hours ruminating on my LIFE.... wondering where that quilt went.

 Pink Dahlia.

The area behind the garage and up close to the new Generator needs weeding...looks like a jungle out there. I pulled all the weeds last year...roots and all...but...they are back.   

I had Past Plans for that area- a nice Herb Garden...  I could walk out on the stone paths with scissors and cut herbs for what ever I was cooking that day......now I have WEEDS and rarely if ever cook anything thought my son keeps reminding me of the SOUP I was going to make.... vegetables with beans.

I watch repeats of the Paris Soccer on FXS. Fox Sports. One of the four digit stations.. Messi. He's famous for a reason.

CSI: Miami was back in the 90's... yesterday......I didn't like the 90's very much.

Today...what will I do today....yesterday Son told me he is not  happy with being asked to go pick up Library Books (or forgotten groceries_) on any day other than Grocery/Library Day.   I understand......for decades Library Day was just that ONE day in the week......not a bunch of days in one week.....problem was books were coming for statewide Libraries....and I wanted to read them in "order".......that's coming to a close... Stephanie  Plum is now in the double digits..... and she's teaming up with Ranger.  My Library has those books...and I ordered a few others....something different.  

Weather here in Maine has been STRANGE..  It can be sunny, dry and warm and then ten minutes later cold, wet and dark.  Right now I need to be turning on lamps..  It's pretty dark in here. and it's been raining......but the sidewalks are bone dry.  Weird.

I got two Old Favorite Books at the Library yesterday.  One that my daughter has been looking to buy me but can't find anywhere..... Looks like a new Library copy....fresh. I also have a brand new Lynn Painter.. If it's not good I'll just revert to an older book of hers....but first- I'll make my oatmeal and put on my socks.   Try the Suduko.   Read the nasty newspaper headlines...cringe......

I slept a long time this morning....Late Start.

 When I used to sew and make things.  I don't believe\ this has ever been top stitched down as yet.. and I don't know where it is...certainly not here..in the house.

I slept till 2 pm.   No excuse for it...

When son thinks I am awake enough we will do Library and Grocery Store.  I changed into a more stylish shirt for the outing...surprised it fits....and my pants are loose also.  I am eating more...

Daily Notes for Thursday May 3rd. The Grass was Cut. The Clouds are rolling in...Rain??????

 I have neither the lawn chairs nor the twisted half dead tree but I do have newly, freshly mowed  green grass....lots of it.  I expect rain at any moment.  Looks like a golf course out there right now.

I am 2/3rds into Four to Score....someone fire bombed Stephanie's apartment and car. She's staying with Morrelli.  Having dinner with his mom and grandmother...  Yikes...

I had my grocery store potstickers for lunch yesterday....might have a grilled cheese with "so many" pickles today with remaining bread and cheese slices......considering the choices tomorrow for grocery shopping and my lunches.  I also have one banana left...for potassium.... 

I need to order Statin's for pick up next Friday.  Count the number of vitamins I have left...might need a new jar.  Low on Tylenol as well.

I have more new images for the blog posts....  I found them back in the treasure trove of old posts...my own.  So many years of posts.  I doubt the photos are mine.

Well....what to do now....socks or no socks?????  House lights on or off?  Re-heat coffee a second time? Watch CSI- Vegas or New York....again?????  Finish reading my book.  The only character I am enjoying this time around is Ranger- Yo.  But that was always the way it went.   I am missing book Five. All the surrounding libraries are ALSO missing book Five.

Daily Notes for Wednesday, May 27th... Sunshine here in Coastal Maine. 76 degrees

 A repeat?   Short on images at the moment.  I deleted the image from the desktop so we won't see this one again.

Wu Peng has one flower this year.  A very nice one.   Almost the same color as the image up top but a bit darker.   For Readers who have been reading for over a decade or two or three- you know how long it took Wu Peng to actually make his first flower. (peony).    He arrived with that name printed on the instruction page.  Wo Peng always makes a lot of leaves.....so I know he is healthy. Just stubborn.

My neck bones are making a cracking sound when I turn my head or move my head up and down.

I imagined hearing the Lawn Guys.....I was wrong.  I think the noise I hear is the fridge doing things....

I don't have much more to type-   I have the remainder of the bag of paper to shred.   Yesterday it was sale contracts for houses I lived in decades ago.  Pretty soon I'll uncover my college quarterly grade reports. I already shredded the German House contracts.   Marianna and the office group in Frankfurt.....I missed you so much while doing that....tears came to my eyes......in waves,

It's going to be that sort of day....good memories...such good memories.  Christopher mentioned he missed Frau Loes...who came to clean every Wednesday.  And never moved any of HIS things even though she dusted under them.... both of us would love having her here in Maine.  We have dust. Lots of it.

Well, still no sign of the Lawn guys.... 

I'm working my way thru Three to Get Deadly---- Stephanie's Mom made Spice Cake.. (which means I NOW want spice cake) Mom..gave most of the cake to Joe to take home with him.... He was eating cake when Stephanie came home to find him in her apartment...well, after ALL the shooting in the parking lot. The Senior Citizens living there all have guns. Stephanie is wanted for murder and Ranger said helping her was a Hard NO..... Lula even said NO and she loves packing a gun..   Joe said Hell, No.   Get Deadly a good title.  I don't recall who is trying to shoot her......I was concentrating on the Spice Cake.

Daily notes for a warmish Maine Day. Tuesday the 26th. Where are the Lawn Guys?????

 Well, I have nothing to say.

I'm all out...  My neck is full of unresolved tension...I have no socks on so it must be warmer today than yesterday.  My Lunch Buddy is still completely booked with medical stuff for her husband. He's signed up for Cardiac Rehab...at lunchtime.  For a few weeks...or longer........ my husband did that.  I just shredded the paperwork.....

I am holding so much tension in my neck muscles I wonder why my head hasn't cracked off and fallen on the floor.  I can hear the bones when I move my head.   At least I am not crying while typing this... I got that over with while reading the morning paper.  The Suduko was above my pay grade as well.

That's it about it....I am going to grab some Tylenol...sit on the couch, rotate my neck muscles. Perhaps have a second cup of hot sweet tea.   Perhaps cry some more.

It happens....my Lunch Buddy is ALSO wondering when the Lawn Guys are going to show up... Grass is pretty high.  Yard looks terrible...  Green? yes, but like no one lives here. Like an abandoned house.

Son is back from Lunch.

Daily notes- It's raining here in Maine...puddles everywhere. We needed rain so...it's great.

 We might have had these already.. 

Well, ...today a rain day and the furnace going..... to warm us up a bit- or else because Son is taking a long hot shower...... I was going to ...but I have to first assess my balance and blood pressure. Make sure I am steady....I decided to have breakfast instead.  A good choice.

Book Three is waiting for me...  Three to Get Deadly.  I will miss the Big Blue Buick. (my grandfather had a huge Pontiac).. ..but happy to see Lula back and enjoying Filing....I enjoyed the heck out of filing as well.  It's a very Virgo Thing.

Right now- (but not every day....or even every week)....I enjoy shredding paper.  Shredding papers I have saved for years (decades) and now....who cares...I've looked them over and wonder the same thing again and again...WHY???? Did I save this???????  

My Banker said "not having a copy of something is often better than actually having the copy"..Ignorance is Bliss.  Would make a nice Sampler.

What to do today?.....I have some sorting to do in the Sewing Room...thread is finding a new home. At 80.5 I know I will never get around to using as much as I have in the closet.  I know at some point I will have to have son or daughter thread needles for me.  Sooner rather than later.  My red sweater needs mending yet again.  The sleeve ends on the dark grey sweater need patching again.  I need mending.

But first I need to dig around in my closet for the Donor Sweaters.  I cut them into patches. to reinforce the cuffs of the red sweater....which have become "see thru" thin.  CSI?  While I sew?  Law and Order? British Soccer?   Antique's Roadshow?????

My neck feels cold... I need to move to the couch and my down lap blanket and my tacky black shawl to wrap around my neck...    Have a nice day.

Attention Book Readers.....

 Two for the Dough was so so Great!!!!!!

Tomorrow I start Book Three.   This is going to be the BEST WEEK EVER!!!!!

Daily Notes for Sunday May 24th. Two British Soccer games being recorded. Cloudy and 60 degree in coastal Maine.

 I am not sure but this might be a South African flower of some sort. Has no title.

I'm cold...I have on a thermal long sleeved shirt snd a vintage cashmere sweater...I say vintage because it's thin- worn see thru thin and not very warm.  I woke up COLD and I haven't been able to shake it off.

I just walked back to the bedroom to gather up this old piece of rayon (a long rectangle)- black and slippery but warm "none the less"...it's patched etc and someone in the past poured bleach on it.  Randomly.  It isn't something I would ever wear in public.  Somehow it keeps me warm...

Today is Sunday Pizza.  

A long awaited new book by an author I like arrived at the library for me...I started reading it yesterday..it felt familiar. ... the Paris Match.  By an author I like very much.   I kept reading and it was all TOO familiar.   A fresh new cover and inside the date 2026.  And NOT a new book.  An old book I hadn't enjoyed reading the first time they printed it.  I looked in my bookcase to see if I had purchased the earlier copy...I had not..(thank goodness).  Clayborn.  

Love Lettering is my very favorite of her books. The only other book of hers I don't own is Georgie Girl...I didn't like it.  I read Paris Match years ago and it was just as awful as it is now in the fancy new cover.  They changed nothing but the cover and spent considerable cash advertising their NEW book.... Thank goodness I didn't buy it.  A re-print.

I'm warming up finally  The old rayon wrap does the trick.  It's chilly here in Maine- off shore winds.

Nothing more to say...it seems I am surrounded by disappointments lately...even Storage Wars last night was a disappointment.  Really hard for something so awful to disappoint.

I should have bought the corn chips....on Friday Grocery Day. We could have been "salty" together... 

Reading Two For the Dough....from a far away library... Three and Four arrived from my own Library. No Five as yet.... but do have Six, Seven and possibly Eight from other Libraries. I'm not getting up again to look.

Two is "flat and dull" so far...perhaps why I don't own ANY of the others.  Characters sliding in and out and Reader not given a reason to like any of them.  Even Ranger...

Well, I DID get excited about the chocolate covered donuts she buys to share with Morelli.. But..CHOCOLATE COVERED DONUTS?????  Who wouldn't get excited.

Joan I am waiting to read what you think of book two.

Daily Notes for Saturday May 23 rd. Sunshine here in Maine but it doesn't feel WARM

A South African Flower.

 Well, it took some time but I got the margin all the way to the left.  It looks warm outside but there is a chill on the back of my neck here in the house.  63 in the house I think...I'm running colder than usual these days.  My neck muscles are also tight and that actually hurts today.  Turning my head makes strange cracking noises in my neck bones....getting old is SO awful.  And noisy.  Time is running out. 

I feel like I am worrying about something and there is tension etc.  Worry about what???? Lunch?

More books have come in from far away Libraries.- Stephanie Plum number two and four.  I have three on the shelf waiting.  I got number one at a used book store.   I am hoping my son will pick them up  but I don't think today is a day he goes out for lunch.  I think he went out yesterday.  But it's sunny so he might want to drive around with the top down???????  Get a cold brew coffee.

Otherwise I will read something else or watch CSI (until the books get picked up)...... the earliest episodes are being shown now...tacky 80's clothing and morals.  That was an ugly decade.

Well, I'd best get to whatever I am going to be doing today.....I polished off the chicken nuggets yesterday. Today will be grilled cheese with pickles.  Tomorrow is pizza with a big salad.  After that......anyones' guess.  Ah, the potstickers... yum.  Perhaps today instead of the sandwich?????

Looking at the dark and light leaves up top- would be a good practice painting with the watercolors.  I actually do enjoy painting.....I don't do it often but when I do...very very enjoyable.  I like drawing way better though...that was an interesting thing to discover in my 70's.......would have been useful in college- to know that I actually liked drawing....... Next Life- I hope I recall all this stuff.

Daily Notes- Friday May 22nd- Sunshine here in Maine.

 Summer Reading.  Image from online source on Summer Reading.  Pink Plastic Chair.

I am dressed and ready for my weekly visit to the Library.....I have Evanovich number 3 to pick up.  Number two hasn't arrived (so sad-very few libraries actually own a copy- most of them are "lost").....I will check other Evanovich books my Library might own.... possibly ones I never read.

I am also looking for a few Danielle Steele books.   I read one yesterday- it still has a"new" sticker on it. I'd read it before so still okay... Never Say Never...  People with money who whine less than usual.

Yesterday I made an appointment for the Septic Tank to be "pumped out".   June 8th.  

I actually followed thru...

Lawn Service and Septic Tank........ what's next???????  I stood out front looking at my roof shingles... and then looked at my neighbors' roof shingles......they are supposed to last a LONG time...and my roof is. BIG......

We got thru the first "heat wave " of a Maine Summer....windows shut...ceiling fan.  Good enough.

Daily Notes for Thursday May 21st.... Clouds...a bit cooler than yesterday. the Sun is starting to show up.

  A virtual bouquet for you all today.  Isn't it gorgeous?

My Vintage Romance yesterday was a delight.  Return to Summerhouse.  Traveling back in Time.  No plans as yet for today. Not a clue what I will decide to spend time doing..... could just sit and watch Law and Order.  But might Not be the day Law and Order is on BBC America.

The Septic Tank people sent a letter- it might be time to pump the tank out?...I replied "yes, please" and now we'll wait and see when they show up.  They also supply bark mulch... would be nice but beds would need weeding and cleanup before mulch could top them off.  Not my wheelhouse anymore.

I have a slight pain....left side of my head.... I might have breakfast and then retire to the couch. I'm past the mid point and heading  downhill (with speed) to my 81st birthday....things are going to start wearing out: acting up: No reading today but perhaps some Law and Order reruns????? I have recorded British Soccer games which might be a better choice. And I could just sit and stare at the walls.  Let my imagination run wild.  My old cat did that....stared at the walls.

Right now I am being reminded that I had no supper yesterday and it's TIME for BREAKFAST.

The newspaper headlines looked ominous.  Hope the Suduko is doable...  I keep hoping that there is someone out there reading the words I type....even if I am dull and quite boring.

Daily Notes on what, for Maine, Is going to be a HOT Sunny Day. May 20th.

 Not as HOT as this greenhouse would be.   I have ALL the windows closed.  Blinds closed. Ceiling fan going in the dining room/kitchen area.   Son never made a decision on the window AC units...was going to get new ones.  Didn't.   We could spend a fortune for whole house AC.   But that ship has sailed for 2026.

I ran out of milk this morning and the box of coffee cream is nearly empty as well... might be my last cup of coffee....Groceries wait until Friday.  (it's early on Wednesday)   I won't be having oatmeal tomorrow or the next day---with milk.  I also have no bread.  This has never happened before.  I am perplexed.....

Perhaps Son will go out for lunch and bring home a quart of milk????   Some bread??????   IF this IS a day he goes out for Lunch.  Could be a "stay at home" day.   Who knows..

It's seems like it's very very hot outside.....just the "look" of it.  I think a cloud just went over...nice

.Rain would be welcome......

I'm skipping the wool socks for today....heading for the couch....and my Jude Devereaux paperback. The small sized one...hell on the eyes but....why not.?????  I could always skip over to another author in the bookcase.......Daughter brought me some new (old) books the other day.... Or I can watch CSI and drift... I discovered I rarely pay attention to the plot or anything else... 

I've seen them all dozen's of times over the years.... over the winters when the Greenhouse didn't need me to "answer questions" in person...  calling me at home worked just fine.  And didn't have to pay me..... It's Maine... and I was wearing pajamas anyway.  And possibly forgot. to comb my hair.

Life in Maine is pretty easy (no rules)... no-one really pays much attention......I've seen people shop in their pajamas. Not me....I never did that. Really...I never did that...........I was never up that early or that late.   Might be something to add to a Bucket List??????

Daily Notes- Tuesday, May 19th. Sunshine and even more Sunshine here in Maine.

 Dahlias.   Almost all my ornamental trees have sent out flowers... daughter checked on the one I assumed was "dead" and she reported back that it had buds etc on it and was a "late" bloomer...  like me.

I now have my own copy of the Lost Husband.  

I'm reading Sarah Adams fourth book..In Your Dreams (library copy). The last of the four...I own the other three.   As the author says in her notes...we are taking our last trip to Rome, Kentucky.   All four sisters have now found their "true love".   I might find mine in a future Life?

I have to keep checking the date....I'm Lost in Time as they say and don't know what day of the week it is ... this happens because I have no set schedule of places to be and people to see... it's just me, the couch and the TV.  While on the couch....I read, I sew and look out the big windows...front and back.  I noticed a wild FOX running thru my yard this morning....they usually have rabies.

What will I do today?  Read? Yes.  Shred more paper? Yes.  Heat up the iron and give the small red fabric rectangle a press?  Yes. And most importantly...make something good to eat.  I bought more of those nice potstickers....and look forward to frying them till crispy...and eating them.  The Potstickers won the battle between them and Kraft Mac and Cheese. Well, right now....things could change in the next four hours.

Before any ironing can be done- I'll have to move all the stacks of "everything" off the ironing board.  And look for more red scrap fabric....."nothing new".   I'll be busy all day...that's for sure.

A Good Friend I have never met in person- Joan of California- had a car accident and lost her license... I mentioned a friend's older mom who had a taxi service on speed dial...  I've considered that option myself. My Lunch Buddy is no longer available for the occasional "lunch" as her husband has many many many doctor visits each week.   We haven't seen each other in such a long time.  All of 2026 so far and the last half of 2025.

I think the new neighbors across the street have come back from vacation... activity over there. And time for me to eat breakfast and read the paper...I saw some news on the computer screen......sigh......I might NOT read the news...... Humpty Dumpty Trumpty .......and go straight to the Suduko Puzzle.