17*C at 7:17 this morning with a heat warning in effect. (That is 63*F) It's supposed to get very hot again today. Yesterday when I walked out to check my mail the air was very oppressive. It is supposed to be a bit cooler tomorrow, but not by much.
That is the one thing I really don't like about summer. The heat and the humidity. No fun at all. In the Winter you get stuck indoors because it is too cold and, in the summer, because it is too hot and humid.
The dog days of August are upon us with only two more days left of July, and then my favorite season of all will be within reach. Not to wish away the summer or anything . . .
For now, people walk without hurry, sweat on their brows. Cows seek the shade of trees in their pastures and chew their cud dreamily. The corn silk darkens in the corn fields . . .
Nutmeg, Mr. looking-all-innocent here, has taken to emptying the bottom shelf of my bookcase whenever he gets the chance. I don't see him doing it, but I catch the aftermath as he sits next to the books he has pulled out onto the floor looking all smug and proud of himself. He is like the child that says, "Hey ma, look what I can do!"
I put them back and a while later will look, and they are out again. He used to sit on top of the television stand/fireplace and reach under to the open shelf and try to pull things out from there as well.
He is just too smart for his britches. And probably more than a little bit bored. They have lots of toys, but have no interest in them. Not even the laser light. Life gets exciting when a fly gets in. They both have great fun chasing and hunting them down.
The hummingbirds are becoming much more active now. I see three or four coming to the feeder. It is hard to tell them apart. Sometimes they will feed together in harmony, but most of the time they chase, or at least try to chase, each other away. And while they partake in their silliness a fat bumblebee reaps the benefit of their absence. Oh, I do so love nature.
I bought these little toadstool lights from Temu a couple of months back now. They flash when it gets dark however, which is a bit annoying. I am sure there is something on the control panel that I can change. I noticed them flashing around 9PM two nights ago, but last night, I noticed that they were not on at all. I found myself wondering if the flashing had annoyed one of the neighbors and they had snuck over and turned them off. Stranger things have happened.
I have a Love/Hate relationship with Temu. They have lots of cute, cheap stuff, and Cindy has gotten some really cute clothes from them, but I hate that they email me a bazillion times a day. I have only ever placed one order with them, and they haven't left me alone since.
I love this look . . . the natural wood and the white paint on the chairs. White breezy curtains. All of that light. My friend Jacquie lives in a Senior's place one town over. She has tons of light in her place. Because there are only two units in each building, they have windows on the side as well. She pays more rent than I do, however, and her rent goes up each year.
I have seen other ones as well, near the mall, that have patio doors on the sides. They look very spacious. It is easy to look at these and to wish I had the same, but . . .
Then I remember what a blessing it was to find this place that I am in and who am I to overlook God's blessings given?? I must not and will not do that. I am living in a gift that He chose to give me and I am grateful for that.
It may not be filled with light, but I have great neighbors, and it is comfortable, and my rent will never go up for as long as I live here. That is indeed a great blessing.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
I admit to having a fascination with lighthouses. I don't know why or from where it comes, and I would not want one in my yard (as many do have) but I do like to look at them. (My yard is too small and in too weird a spot to house one.) I collect pictures of them, thinking that one day I will paint them.
This is a rather unique one, don't you think?
I have a fond memory of the lighthouse near here up in Margaretville. Mom and I drove up there one night to watch the sun set over the bay from the deck of the lighthouse. We had been told that it was a beautiful sight to behold. Mom got cold waiting however and ended up going back to where the car was parked. I stayed and watched one of the most beautiful sunsets ever, but . . . as soon as the sun disappeared beneath the horizon everything was plunged in total darkness. I don't believe the lights were even showing on the lighthouse, believe it or not. I had to feel my way back to the car in the dark. It makes me laugh now to think about it, but it wasn't very funny at the time.
Lesson: if you are going to the shore to watch the sun set, be prepared to see something spectacular, and yes, don't forget the flashlight.
I have taken to watching All Creatures Great and Small in bed nights. I just watch it on my iPad. I know, they tell you that you shouldn't be watching or reading things on any electronic device in bed, but it helps me to wind down at the end of the day and I always end up having to rewind and watch things over again, the next time I tune in, because I missed parts.
I was listening to a talk by Jeffrey R Holland yesterday, entitled, Place no More for the Enemy of my Soul. In it he speaks of the need to fill our souls with things that do not blunt our judgement or dull our spirituality. The things we watch, read, listen to, etc.
We are surrounded by negativity and messages which all-too-often invite us to partake of things which really are not good for our souls and minds.
I would rather fill my mind and eyes with joyful memories and hopeful thoughts. I am delighting in the love story of James and Helen as it develops. A quieter simpler time in a quiet and simpler place.
La La Land perhaps, but I would rather that than the alternative. I have had enough of the alternative shattering of my peace to last several lifetimes.
I took my art paper out yesterday afternoon and tried to sit quietly and sketch, but to no avail. Nothing would come to me. I sketched and erased and sketched and erased. Can it be my mojo is completely gone? I hope not, but you just never know . . . I need to find some inspiration.
It started to leave me on the day my mother passed away and then things just seemed to escalate from there and I have not been able to get it back. There has been a ribbon of sadness running through my life and whilst I appear happy enough on the surface, it is always there, just beneath . . . waiting for an excuse to bubble up. I feel it often. It is not that I do not have plenty to be happy about and grateful for, and I am . . . happy and grateful. But I am also sad at times, and sometimes the sadness is more than I can bear or squelch. That is when I turn to the power which helps to lift me up out of the mire.
Perhaps that is the place to start rediscovering my creative mojo and inspiration. Perhaps . . .
I was writing in my journal late yesterday afternoon and had just gotten finished what I had planned on writing (thank goodness) when Nutmeg sat himself right down on my page and started to groom himself. Clearly, he wanted my attention and was saying enough already with the writing. I took the hint and was grateful that I was already pretty much finished. Yes, he IS a real character.
I am not sure what I will get up to today. I think my son Anthony wants a Facetime this morning so that will be on the cards at some point. I will fill my day whatever happens. How blessed am I to have days that I can fill with one thing or another and the will to fill them.
A thought to carry with you . . .
° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★ *There are no rules of architecture
for a castle in the clouds.
~G.K. Chesterton ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
In the English Kitchen today, Crisp Skin-On Air-Fryer Chicken Legs. Simple and delicious with a crisp skin that is quite delectable. I know . . . skin bad, but it just tastes so good!
I hope you have a beautiful Wednesday. Whatever you get up to be happy, be blessed, don't forget!
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And I do too!
