Day 243 of 2023

I've made a little mitten repair today. 

It's a little rough but it will do.

 I'm hoping I can improve on the second mitten tomorrow.

 

Day 242 of 2023

This is the second time I've been here this week. 

Where am I?

 

Day 241 of 2023

I was able to get a quick appointment at the eye doctor. 

This reminded me of one of the first blog pictures I ever took. 

Take a look.

 

Day 240 of 2023

I'm still enjoying the snapdragons I received from T-bone on Mother's Day. 

I walk by them every day to the car or mail box.

 

Day 239 of 2023

T-bone took GB#2 and GB#4 to see the Barbie movie today. 

I think they liked it. 

Sidewalk artwork by GB#2.

 

Day 238 of 2023

GB#2 asked me if I would braid her hair tonight.

 Of course, I said yes and did the best I could. 

I lost track of her part at the bottom, but otherwise it didn't turn out too bad 

considering the length of time it has been since I've done French braids 

on someone other than myself. 

It's really a whole different thing.

 

Day 237 of 2023

When putting in a new bed, it's usually a good idea to vacuum the floor

 where the old bed once stood. 

I was doing just that today when I made the move to work on the next side

 and smacked my face into this leg that was sticking out. 

Luckily (?) my glasses took the brunt of the smack. 

My face is fine but my glasses are now taped,

 and I will have to call next week

 to get an appointment with the optometrist.

 

Day 236 of 2023

My one job for the day - disassemble this daybed. 

Done.

 

Day 235 of 2023

I have more than a couple striped shirts. 

A few of them are getting pretty ratty and need to be replaced. 

The other day while thrifting, I found a "new to me" striped shirt. 

As always it went directly into the wash. 

Today I decided to wear that shirt but couldn't find it. 

It was not hanging up to dry 

and I couldn't find it in my drawer of folded shirts. 

I went upstairs and downstairs more times than I can count 

checking and rechecking all the usual and not so usual places for the shirt, 

but the shirt was not to be found. 

Finally, I found the shirt on the left, not the one I was looking for, 

in one of the unusual places and realized it was not in the drawer

 as I had originally thought. 

The folded shirt on the right is the one I thought was the one on the left, 

but was actually the one I was looking for all along. 

It was right there in the drawer, folded, where it belongs.

 

Day 234 of 2023

This can only mean one thing. 

We hired someone to cut up the rest of the tree that fell in April 2020. 

We had some other trees trimmed while he was here also. 

What a difference it has made to the yard.

 

Day 233 of 2023

I'm going to try this dresser from the Old House in the guest room, 

replacing the desk and hutch that are currently between the two beds. 

I hope it works.

 

Day 232 of 2023

RH Indianapolis: High-end home furnishings retailer 

(formerly Restoration Hardware)

I don't get out much and I just realized that Restoration Hardware 

has moved from inside the upscale mall

 to the former location of Bed Bath and Beyond, 

which is in a strip shopping center right across the street. 

This is the second store with the same description

 to have done or will be doing this. 

In another nearby shopping center a new West Elm is being built. 

I imagine the current one, which is in the same mall that RH vacated,

 will be moving when its new location is ready. 

I wonder if this is a trend with this type of store.

 

Day 231 of 2023

Today was the first day back downtown for a football game since last season. 

The view out the open window was gorgeous.

 

Day 230 of 2023

Another bargain makes its debut today. 

The placement of this tiny basket may change, 

but for now it will live on the hook on the chalk board.

 

Day 229 of 2023

This evening I'm wearing a pair of super soft pajama pants 

and doing the daily word search puzzle. 

I know it's only August but I am really ready for summer to be over. 

It's not my favorite season as I am too sensitive to heat, sunburn 

and mosquito bites, 

all three of which make me miserable. 

Bring on sweater weather.

 

Day 228 of 2023

After my semi-annual dentist appointments I usually stop at the Goodwill store 

that sits just a couple blocks away. 

I found a few goodies today but this is one of my favorites. 

Well, they are all my favorites, but this is the one I'm showing you today. 

The container said "80 piece set" but being a donation, 

I knew it would not be a complete set. 

When I opened it up at home I found that it was missing all the train cars

 and motor vehicles (we have plenty of these already), 

one green shrub, half of the train station's roof, one person, two traffic signs 

and only two actual train tracks. 

I'm calling this a huge win and quite a bargain for only $5.

 

Day 227 of 2023

The late summer hostas have decided to join the  party.

 

Day 226 of 2023

My weekly planning page tells me 

it's almost that time.

 

Day 225 of 2023

I'm finally blocking the sweater Little E made for me

 during her visit in the spring.

 

Day 224 of 2023

GB#5 and I played with some flashcards today. 

This was her favorite one.

 

Day 223 of 2023

I went researching and looking for a particular bird bath today

 at the bird store. 

This was not it but I found it mesmerizing,

 like staring at the clouds or the moon. 

In it I first saw a shark and then a mushroom. 

Later after viewing it from different sides, 

I found a bird, a duck, a goose and an otter.

 Can you find things in this bird bath?

 

Day 222 of 2023

Weather permitted.

Outdoor work continued.

 

Day 221 of 2023

It was a busy day in my backyard today. 

I think all the critters knew it was going to be stormy later

 and came out to eat.

 

Day 220 of 2023

I've decided to work mostly on our outdoor projects

 for the rest of the month of August, weather permitting. 

I have listed and categorized the items that need tending to. 

I like this approach, like we did for the Old House, 

because even if I don't work on the thing I thought I was going to or should, 

as long as I work on something on the list, it's progress. 

It all has to get done anyway.

Today's project was edging the driveway and walk to the gate to the backyard. 

I'm not sure it has ever been done since we got the new driveway years ago. 

It's hard to tell when the grass grows right over the asphalt. 

In any case, I like it a lot. 

Well worth the time and effort. 

In progress picture above. I forgot to get the after picture.

 

Day 219 of 2023

Favorite things

 

Day 218 of 2023

We have an outdoor table which lost its glass in a storm several years ago. 

I have off and on had a plan to make a replacement top for it. 

Because the frame is and the glass was curved, 

the replacement comes with challenges. 

We probably should have put the table frame out by the street a long time ago, 

but I have been reluctant to do it 

because I am convinced I can make something work out. 

I measured the table frame again today and have a plan in mind. 

Look for progress pictures soon. 

My goal is to have it done by the end of the month.

 

Day 217 of 2023

We taught GB#3 how to play Rack-O today. 

He had seen his parents play but had never played himself. 

Here was the hand I was dealt one round. 

Believe it or not, I was still the one to yell "Rack-O!" 

(1961 copyright version)

 

Day 216 of 2023

GB#4, GB#2, GB#3

Children's imaginations are wondrous. 

They are always thinking up, choreographing, 

and rehearsing shows they will perform for us. 

 

Day 215 of 2023

I have felt unmotivated today. 

It's not that I didn't get anything done today, 

but I'm having a hard time getting started on the large tasks at hand. 

 

Day 214 of 2023

I've started something new. 

I started this project in New York in May with a different yarn, 

but I wasn't liking the feel of the completed knit fabric

 so I tore it out. 

I ordered this new yarn which I really like 

but have had a tough time getting gauge. 

I've worked out a solution (I think) and have begun the actual project. 

I haven't forgotten about my socks 

but they have come to a spot that requires quiet, daylight, 

and some serious thinking. 

I'll get some time on my calendar for that soon.

Day 213 of 2023

While working in the yard today I was greeted by this flying near me. 

As he is black and rather large, I thought it was a wasp 

which did not thrill me much. 

Once he lit I could tell he was not a wasp so I took a photo. 

Upon doing some research, I now know he is called a Tiger Bee Fly. 

The description I read says he is not a tiger or a bee, 

but just a large fly. 

He will not bite or sting. 

This is reassuring information. 

Day 212 of 2023

Yes, they are definitely a volunteer variety of sunflower.

(Picture taken 7-31-2023)