In and Out , Out and About....

Hi friends, catching up after a somewhat dire weekend. First of all, Blogger was losing comments, and/or nor sending them on to me. I'm trying to fix that and do replies for the Friday post, but if I miss anyone, my apologies.

The more dire aspect, on Sunday morning I went to put Mo's halter on him and suddenly was in incredible excruciating, ''almost pass out'' pain! A flare up of my hip inflammation. My dog walker was again awol, as was my doctor, but friends did what they could to rally around and walk poor Baby Mo. I am doing somewhat better now. So no worries.

the ''my way'' batch of burgers

The good news is my BBQ with friends did work out on Saturday and my burgers were delicious. My friend made slaw using Trader Joe's slaw dressing, simple and so good; and there were homemade pickles!

So now, back to my previously planned post:

I was somewhat misleading when I said people here are not wearing masks. In the limited stores I visit, indoors, yes people wear masks. BUT no one wears them outdoors at all, which makes beach walking and dogwalking uncomfortable for me. Mo loves the renewed attention and offers of friendly pats, and there I am cringing away from unmasked neighbors. The virus is still out there, thousands die every single day---be considerate, be safe.

My shopping has only been to grocery, pharmacy, hardware stores, but last week L and I decided we really MUST try to shop for new underwear in person. I keep trying to order bras and panties online, waste of money! Same with shoes and I really do need new ugly dog walking  shoes for Mo-walks.

Off we went to Kohl's, L giggling that if we failed we'd have to ''go commando", a new-to-her phrase. [very familiar to us readers of Stephanie Plum mysteries, lol]. Means no underwear and no, I have no idea why commandos do not wear their boxer briefs. You'd think they'd like the extra layer...?

Kohl's was uncrowded. A nice guy, not a teenager, a real adult, directed us to the hand sanitizer then cleaned a cart for each of us as we watched.

Lines seemed long; there were spacing markers---but went much faster than the usual lines that keep me from being a regular shopper at Kohl's.

I also bought some tee shirts, desperate for some new tees that aren't just faded rags. They didn't fit so good though, not like Old Navy's and were much more expensive. Too bad.

I was especially sad that this stripe and the pineapple sprig one didn't fit right.

And the undergarments we each got were not of use either.
                                                        ..........................
Back home on the deck---after TS Isaias I thought my garden pots were hopeless. The wind tore out almost everything.

But it was very hot so I just left the pots, no clean up.

 And now a month or so later, things are looking up.

 This one is just weeds; I plan to discard the entire pot contents except the red lily bulbs.

 I don't think I'll ever get a pumpkin.

Seed update: the heirloom seeds from etsy didn't grow. The wildflower seeds from Botanicals did grow, most ruined by the storm. Gallardia, sunflowers, and goldenrod survived and still blooming. I'd love to save some of the gallardia seeds. I have not seen a single pollinator, bees or butterflies, all summer, tho the dragonflies migrated through  on August 20 and 30th.

The Burpee marigolds and Lilliput zinnias are trying hard, though now I cannot water them because of being in pain.

The pumpkin seeds from my friend sprouted and even flowered but are tiny and anemic.

Hopefully next year won't be so stingy and hopeless.

What's next? A trip to Home Goods for a spatula, a fried eggs pan, and a glass pumpkin for my collection? Is the fun worth the risk?

have a good week!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach.....

 Local version of a beach crowd, Labor Day weekend.

Labor Day Weekend

Hi everyone~ Summer's last big celebration is this weekend, menu at the end. Masks, social distancing, outdoors, blah blah blah.

But wait! Look what the mail lady brought, quilts back from my quilter, Lori C.

Her work is beautiful as always.

Not thrilled with the Baby Pineapples' lack of contrast; this is a commissioned quilt and they asked for grey instead of my untended white.

I hope this doesn't get used as a dropcloth, but ya never know.

While I was waiting for these to return I started a tiny hand project. Here is Starry Eyed Jack.

For tomorrow's pre-holiday BBQ I was planning my special brisket burgers, recipe at the end. And I bought peach pie. But since the guest list has grown I imagine someone will bring gelato instead. I'll put the pie in the freezer, I think. And I very much doubt anyone one will want the burgers as planned..but maybe I can have mine?

have a good weekend!

I am not invited, mommy?

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

Special Summer Burgers

Gourmet patties made from Brisket and other steak cuts, cooked medium rare. 

Sprinkle freely with Montreal Steak [McCormack?] Hamburger seasoning on second side.

Meanwhile brush mini whole wheat pitas with olive oil or butter, sprinkle w garlic powder.

Layer on a thick slice of beefsteak tomato. 

Top the burgers with crumbled blue cheese and layer it on top. 

Serve with a crisp green salad and pickles.

Peach pie

[or gelato.]

Goodbye August ~ Summer's Best is yet to Come

"By all these lovely tokens

September days are here,

With summer's best of weather

And Autumn's best of cheer."

                                                                                Helen Hunt Jackson

Hello on a grey last day of August 2020 (yesterday now). It seems like summer could be over but the best summer months---September, October, lie before us here at the beach. Hopefully in all their golden silent splendor.

I ran errands this morning! Much hand sanitizing, though masks seem no longer worn here. I wear mine anyway. (edit: in the interest of keeping accurate history, masks are mandated by law and must be worn indoors in public places. People do comply. But outside now, dogwalkers, neighbors chatting, beach goers, mail persons, etc, no one wears a mask outside now, whereas thru mid August everyone did so.)
Here is the first colorful leaf of autumn.

When I got home I decided to make a quick trip to the beach entry, to check up on the seashell art installation after some windy rainy days. You may recall the shells were pretty much buried during H Isaias earlier this month.

I had my own rainbow shell in my pocket! Dare I leave it out there?

The outdoor sandy feet shower, not working due to Covid safety---Mo is so sad that he can't get a drink here. Yes he and I have walked as far as the beach bench twice now, on cooler less sunny days.  And yes, it is about half a block, but too hot for chubby boys. Mo is always very puzzled and unhappy with any changes in his world, however small. Today I'll bring bottled water for him and hope that helps.

The installation looks great! The roof line of the sheltering house says, "Leave a Shell for Kindness". I

It has been uncovered from the sand deposited by H Isaias, and moved further up the dune face.

I love all the painted shells.

I don't see my pastel scallop shells, but since no one was about, I slipped my Rainbow shell into the group where it seemed to fit just fine.

Will we find these shells in years to come, only remnants of their paint and wishes left to remind us of this terrible year? Who knows.

I moved on, enjoying the late summer dune foliage.

The bayberry crop looks very good. I always marvel that in colonial times, some enterprising pilgrim had the notion that these tiny berries could be morphed into fragrant pale green candles.

Roses and rose hip together---

No goldenrod yet, not even a hint [for the Monarch butterflies] but some dune spurge, a pretty pale yellow flower.

The beach beckoned gloomily grey---platinum sky, pewter waves--- but Baby Mo is in remedial training for his new separation issues so I headed home instead. Beach walk next week, it looks lovely.

the blue plastic walkway is an accessibility walk,
 making a smooth surface for carts, strollers, bikes, wheelchairs.
I don't know if our usual grey wood walkway will return,
I know workers were not available during the stay at home time in the spring.
Settling up and remaking the grey wood path is labor intensive and costly.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

Nature notes: dragonfly migration was August 26 and 27th, clear blustery days.

Full moon tonight, ''full corn'' moon. I hope the sky is is clear; photo is from another year....

*Quote at the beginning was borrowed from Sue in Suffolk's  informative blog.