Midsummer

Hello, hello, hope everyone is staying cool. Mo and I are set up indoors today, waiting for the air conditioner man to come fix our main AC. But nooooo...he has pronounced it dead!~ Steve the Repair Guy says I need a new AC as sand and rust has clogged mine and killed it. Maybe a new one next week. The bedroom acs work fine so far, so that is where we are staying. And today I have random miscellany to share.

Mo is mad that we aren't out on the hot sunny deck. I told him maybe later when the sun moves away.

He again has ear infections plus annual checkup tomorrow. The chronic ear probs are upsetting. I am hoping the vet has some better treatment to offer us.

This is my little TQC hand sewing project so far. I put it on IG: Which borders should I choose? Which do you prefer? I decided, and will finish the little top soon. Just to mention, I did fix some of the really lumpy poor stitching after photo was taken late one night.

And last post I forgot to show my progress on Winter Marsh. I thought I made more of the smaller stars than I am finding. Usually I'd put aside this machine sewing but if it's really hot I may have to work inside, so I will leave it on the to do pile for now. I need 8 or 11, my notes are unclear. 

                                        

I may hand applique the BIG STARs just to have them in work and done. And maybe I can plan the words I want for the borders, bec I am not embroidering a bunch of song lyrics, eeeew. ''...it's been a long cold lonely winter. Here comes the sun, blah blah blah, here come the sun! And I say, it's all right. lahdi di dah dah.'''

Nancy asked about my little scissors keeper: it is a large antique carved pearl button with actually two magnets glued to the back. One can open the magnet pairs and attach to fabric stretched in an embroidery or quilt hoop. I just stick it on the umbrella pole. Idea from Notforgotten Farm.

My deck pots are doing well. I water twice a day, three gallons of water for three big pots and a few smaller pots. I can expect no rain til late September now. The sun and wind dry everything quickly. The Amazon Potting soil that was supposed to hold moisture has no effect, though the general quality was good. Miracle Grow Blue label. [yes, I know there is a different MG soil that is moisture retaining but it doesn't work for my deck pots, so I tried this one.]

Only the Dollar Store seeds and some random volunteers have grown. Not the fancy Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, nor the saved and swapped seeds. The Costco cannas are growing okay too. Lori [Humble Quilts] says the Mexican Hats bloom late so I am still hoping. We have tried three times now. The beautiful rose campion did not rebloom either.

Nature sketches, lol.

I can see my next week should include some more carefully observed insects! Isn't this the meanest bumblebee you have ever seen! And weighty butterfly!

And silly wasp.

Some cooking! I read on a blog that gets a lot of comments that readers love to hear what bloggers are eating. [is that even true?] So this is something I make when I want a hot meal but it's too hot or too windy to grill.

A stirfry using what was in the fridge: leftover-on-purpose pork loin, leftover corn, aged brussel sprouts sliced thin, scallions, garlic. 

Very quick stir in sesame oil, then I added the Campbell's sauce. You know how I love kits and mixes. 

The sauce was on suggested specials when I shopped online a few weeks ago and I do really like it, uncool, un-'influencer chic' as it is to admit that. The Ingredients are surprisingly inoffensive, the calorie count is rather low, but the sodium is high. Probably not worse than when I make the soy sauce/ cornstarch/ orange juice/ etc sauce myself and much tastier. I found some lovely jasmine rice to go with too.

Yesterday I got my fourth Covid booster, another reason to stay in. No side effects at all, so all the scary ''flu-like symptoms and fever'' stories were just a needless worry. My hip hurts a lot though so I may forgo my evening walk and swim. Tomorrow is another day. 

And a midweek smile: zinnias and bumblebee pugs by IG artist sosunammy.  So precious.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...