FOR TODAY, August 19, 2025
OUTSIDE MY WINDOW ...
Aerial battles continue as the hummingbirds all vie for individual control of the feeder. I really enjoy watching them. There is no smell of smoke in the air from what I can tell this morning, and yet there is an air quality advisory in effect. It is quite chilly as well. It's garbage day and so the street is lined with bin bags. When will they be picked up? Who knows, some weeks they are there by 7 a.m. and others it is mid-afternoon before they show up. You just never can tell!
I AM THINKING ...
About the wildfires. They are on everyone's mind, I am sure. They are not too far from where I live. Just over the mountain. Right now they are still designated as being out of control. We had some rain the other night, but it was a mere drop in the bucket. They have I don't know how many water bombers working on it, fire departments from all through the valley working on it, etc. I keep praying that they will be able to bring it under control and that we will get some appreciable rain.
I AM ALSO THINKING ...
Did you know there was such a thing as Holdover Fires, or Zombie fires. Fires that lay burning underground from previous fires, just waiting to erupt. You think they are dead and then in the spring when the ground dries out, they erupt. This is a scary thing to think about.
IN THE KITCHEN ...
Butterscotch Bars. Delicious finger sized cakes, teeming with rich butterscotch flavor. Dense and delicious. Topped with a rich fudge-like butterscotch topping. Perfect to enjoy with a hot drink, or to wrap up and put into a lunch box.
ON MY "TO COOK" LIST ...
This Toasted Cornmeal Shortbread is ticking all my boxes. From Real Simple Food.
SOMETHING THAT IS NICE ...
Toast and jam. I do not spread it quite that thick, but hot crisp buttered toast with a schmear of strawberry jam on it is a real pleasure of mine.
SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS NICE ...
The smell of fresh picked apples. When you go into the farm market that is all you can smell. Its beautifully intoxicating.
I WOULD LIKE TO CREATE ...
Tiny knitted cats in hats . . . a bowl of these would be lovely.
A bowl full of lambs . . .
Knitted turnips . . .
Knitted angels . . .
Knitted Acorn People . . .
SOMETHING I ENJOY ...
Homemade jam. Any kind. Love it.
SOMETHING ELSE I ENJOY ...
Dishes with words on them. Especially white dishes with black words . . .
OH MY GOODNESS ...
Is there anything cuter than a puppy (or a kitten)? I think not!
I AM READING ...
WILDERNESS WIFE, by Delores Topliff
How do you continue living when life collapses around you in a single day?
Marguerite Wadin MacKay believes her 17-year marriage to explorer Alex MacKay is strong—until his sudden fame destroys it. When he returns from a cross-Canada expedition, he announces their frontier marriage is void in Montréal where he plans to find a society wife—not one with native blood.
Taking their son, MacKay sends Marguerite and their three daughters to a trading post where she lived as a child. Deeply shamed, she arrives in time to assist young Doctor John McLoughlin with a medical emergency. Marguerite now lives only for her girls.
When Fort William on Lake Superior opens a school, Marguerite moves there for her daughters’ sake and rekindles her friendship with Doctor McLoughlin. When he declares his love, she dissuades him from a match harmful to his career. She’s mixed blood and nine years older. But he will have no one else. After abandonment, can a woman love again and fulfill a key role in North American History?
History with a fresh perspective, this book captured me with the first two pages.
THINGS THAT CATCH MY FANCY ...
Laundry on the Line . . .
A field full of sunflowers . . .
Simplicity . . .
Wildflowers . . .
Dappled sunlight . . .
I AM GRATEFUL FOR ...
Relative safety. For the time being. I hope and pray it stays that way. I am not good with change.
MAKES ME SMILE ...
Polka music. I cannot dance the Polka, but I love to watch it and to listen to the music.
SOMETHING TO WATCH ...
Blood of my Blood on Starz on Crave. You kind of need to be a fan of Outlander to "get" it and understand what it is though, and I have always loved Outlander.
I'm hooked, lined, and sinkered.
A THOUGHT TO CARRY WITH YOU ...
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
is relished by the wisest men.
~Roald Dahl ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
I have heard of those wildfires under the ground, can be scary. Lots of nice lovelies this morning, I did see a toilet roll holder on the facebook site for All Creatures, the bottom was a black piece, curved to hold the toilet roll and it had black legs, and the sheep face was a black bit that went in the hole of the toilet roll. They were listed on Temu for sale if you want to look them up. Did you ever solve the issue of all the Temu emails? Much nicer out today, and getting cloudy, so fingers crossed it will rain later on as predicted.
ReplyDeleteYeh, you think you are too old to learn anything new and then you learn of Holdover Fires. It is scary. That sheep toilet roll holder sounds really cute! I found out where to unsubscribe from the Temy emails and they have stopped! I hope you get the rain you have been predicted. It is not predicted to rain here until next week. Sigh . . . xoxo
DeleteLovely day book! Those bowls of sweet things…I have a bowl of strawberries like them…and the sunflowers!…what a sight !!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendations and as always, best wishes.
xox, Virginia
Thanks Virginia. Those strawberries and the sunflowers sound really nice! What a super idea! xoxo
DeleteAfternoon, Marie. Love the knitted kitties and lambs. I made your Jam Bars last night using my homemade peach jam. Delicious. Hope the forest fires settle down. We all need to do a rain dance. And don’t forget your umbrella. We have to think positive! Love and hugs, Elaine
ReplyDeleteThat makes me so happy Elaine! I love it when my recipes are enjoyed! I think we are all doing rain dances here. This is scary stuff! Love and hugs, and yes, positive thinking! xoxo
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