July Begins

Hello, back here trying to blog with the ''new'' [evil] Blogger.[edit: I didn't make myself clear...the photo issue, presumably a result of the New Blogger change, is on BOTH/ ALL versions. Reverting to old Blogger is no help. And I'm not opposed to learning new things and new skills, but I don't like changes that are counter productive and tedious.]
 For now I'll try shorter, or more wordy? posts, possibly more often because uploading photos is a horrible tedious task, one slow pic at a time. Bear with me, ''it isn't my fault"!

Today I went to a large clinic for Xrays. My friend L went with me, the first time we have seen each other since  March 11. Her quarantine is over and I have isolated rigorously  so we deemed it safe.
What a joy to spend a brief time with my best friend! We plan to meet up later in the week, or soon, to sit at an outdoor cafe and enjoy a summer ice tea together. We may even scope out the church flea. Imagine my excitement to see the billboard up by the grocery store. Can it be true? And is it safe?

Today's thing was my third or fourth venture out since early March, solely for medical so called necessities. We waited my turn in the car, they text when it is okay to come in---this place actually has a parking lot, a rarity here. The lobby had only maybe 3 people instead of the usual heaving throng and 2 hour wait. I notice these covid protocols are really changing how doctors manage their offices, no more many hour waits---in and out in minutes. That's a huge improvement, for the patients anyway. I suppose it's hard on the medical professionals' bottom line though.

Doctors practices are money making businesses like any other, you know. They are selling a service, we are buying; don't be gullible.I always talk about the satirical cartoon I saw in a medical journal: the motivational speaker at an MDs' convention was saying, "Managed care means repeat customers!"

Fourth of July was quiet but nice. I was invited to a small BBQ, very socially distanced, just a few guests. But oh what a pleasure, like old good times, to sit outside on a hot summer evening and have burgers and potato salad and hand dipped Italian ice.

My other best friend is very proud of his gardening at his new home. [Imagine having to move at the height of the virus here! Stressful!]. He finally has the blue hydrangeas he has always wanted and he finally got his vegetable crop going, late but we have a very late frost here.

He even gave me a few pumpkin seeds to try in my elephant ears pot. The big bulb rotted, but I do have babies.

Maybe they'll continue and get big next year? The other plant is the red amaryllis, doing well in its summer place.

This is my sad pot of lilies. We had a wind storm and poof, all gone. And what a mess those red petals make, ugh.

I replanted with the finally arriving seeds from an etsy seller. Supposedly heirloom varieties.

This is the wildflower pot.

Gallardia?

Borage. The blue gilia is gone as is the spiky yellow weed; this week I have blue borage, so delicate, so blue!

I don't know what this is, broom?

I sowed more mixed wildflower seeds and wildflower "Mexican Hats" seeds . They will,  I hope, fill in for later summer blooms.

Another odd virus diary note: I hadn't worn earrings for almost 5 months. Going to the BBQ I dug out a red t-shirt and my best twill LL Bean tailored shorts; could not find my good white dressy sneakers. And I decided I would wear the cute beachy earrings I bought back in January at Target.

Oh no. Who knew one's earholes close up so quickly. Couldn't get them in/on, but the following day I tried again and was successful. Not that anyone but Mo will see them, I grumbled. So I go to walk Mo, and put on my mask. Oh. Now I know why I haven't worn earrings all spring--masks loops and  earrings do not do well together. Another personal little favorite thing bites the virus dust. sigh.

Isn't this cool? I love the skywriter planes, was happy they are back. It says HOT SUMMER something, lol, I think rentals?

Book series binge this past week has been mysteries starring forensic Genealogist Morton Farrier [apparently it's a real job!], by Nathan Dylan Goodwin HERE  Some of the history-dense stories are interesting; the WW 2 RAF setting was an eye opener---500 German bombers in the sky over England!? But some jump around too much, impossible to follow or care; others are subjects of little interest to me, like the horrors inflicted on female suffragettes. If you're interested in history or genealogy, you might enjoy the series; my family has been researched to tedium, but the history, is, again, interesting.  Free in Kindle Unlimited/ Prime.

And last, no picture maybe but this recipe sounds delish! A quinoa salad; here
I will add feta and red peppers, skip the beans. I feel more inspired to try new recipes when I can do my own shopping, how about you?




Quilt projects update later in the week.

Mo says Hi!

love


lizzy 


gone to the beach....

PS For those of you who expressed concern that Mo does not like dressing up and / or wearing his decorative head bands- AKA ''holiday crowns''--1- He wears them only for a few seconds for the photo 2- he is amply rewarded with treats 3- he is a pug and pugs love attention and learning/doing tricks and being the center of attention; 4- I would NEVER force Mo to do anything he didn't want to do or that hurt or distressed him, though he wasn't thrilled to have to go alone into the vet for his check up.