King of the... Patio Umbrella?

Squirrels climb up inside the patio umbrella. They climb up and down the outside. But this squirrel spent a good amount of time perched on top of the patio umbrella. It looks like a young squirrel to me. It's tail is thin and not so bushy and the whole critter is smaller. I always wonder what they're looking for when they climb around on the umbrella. I hope they find it.

The French irises are still blooming but I know they won't last too much longer. Irises are a fleeting pleasure. They're around for a week or so, maybe two, and then all that's left is their spiky leaves.

 

I saw that this one Stella d'Oro lily has thrown up a zillion buds. I can't wait until it starts blooming. It'll bloom for a long time since only one or two will open at once.

Tonight at Friday Night Knitting I took the bull by the horns and knitted the first two rounds of two-color knitting on the Monterey Sea Life beanie. It took all of my concentration and nearly two hours to complete the two rounds. It's going to take me a long time at this rate.

Once I had that done I pulled out a skein of dishcloth cotton and cast on this Beachy dishcloth. I can sit and knit on it and not have to think so much or concentrate so hard. I do love this colorway, especially the yellow. It's so bright and cheerful.

I had a few things to be grateful for today. It was bright and sunny all day but windy. I got a haircut this morning. And today is DIL1's 39th birthday. Happy Birthday! I'm glad that DS found her and married her and had my fabulous grandchildren with her.

Yesterday when I was at Meijer getting groceries I walked around the store to the toothpaste aisle and passed the shoe department where I saw that they had Sketchers Slip-Ins on sale. I found a pair of gray/taupe ones in my size, tried them on, and brought them home. I wore them today and they are easy to step into and they have a cushy insole. Three of my knitting friends swear by them so I had to try them.

I got the first samples of the cover for Open for Business, the sequel to The Seaview this morning. They were a good starting point. I had quite a few changes that need to be made, not least of which is not to tack The Seaview onto Open for Business. It didn't look right so I asked them to change it. They also put the same photo on the cover and back cover. That wasn't right either. Can't wait to see the next sample.

I spent some time starting over reading the manuscript now that it's on Kindle Create more in "book form" so it reads like a book instead of a manuscript. I'm also considering adding a few recipes at the back of the book at the suggestion of several of my Novel critique group friends. There's a lot of food and food prep in this sequel so maybe adding recipes is a good idea. Like I said, it's worth consideration.

Still didn't paint. That's two days in a row. *gasp* I'll be sure to whip out the paints and brushes tomorrow.

There are two more nights that I have to apply the prescription cream to the pre-cancerous spots on my face. Twelve nights of it have made me look like I have the measles or the chicken pox and now they're starting to itch. I tell myself that itchiness means they're healing. The cream is supposed to encourage the growth of clear skin. Man, I hope so because I look contagious right now.

--Barbara

Trying Again

I didn't have any luck attracting and keeping Hummingbirds coming back with the plastic feeder leftover from last year. It got mold spots inside it. I tried cleaning it but they came right back. I saw one Hummingbird visit, shy away, and speed off. So I tossed that feeder and bought a new glass one. I figure that glass will be easier to keep clean. I had some birdie juice in the fridge so I poured that into the feeder and hung it up this morning.

While I was out there I filled all the other feeders and the House Finches really got the message. There are four House Finches in this picture--one male on the crook and two females and a male on the platform feeder. I was surprised that the male in the feeder didn't shoo away one of the females but he didn't.

The scraggly old day lilies in the bed behind the house have thrown up some buds. Like the peonies, these day lilies don't get much sun and have to fight their way through the fern fronds, so they're kind of the red-headed stepchildren of the garden, but they're trying.

The blue star flowers are really blooming now. This one is right across from the patio door so I can see it adding star flowers every day.

And these are the buds of some weeds next to the star flowers. I don't know what plant this is but it isn't ugly and it has these small red violet flowers on it. There's a bunch of these plants all down the retaining wall and I hate to yank them out because they're kind of pretty. Maybe if I knew their name I'd feel better about them. If anybody knows what it is, sing out. Thanks.

I didn't paint and I didn't draw today but I did work on the manuscript that I've uploaded to Kindle Create. The good thing about that program is I can make edits in it so I'm not locked in just yet. Somehow seeing it in "book form" makes it easier to read and see where it needs a bit of attention.

It's late. I'm tired. Talk to you tomorrow.

--Barbara

What's Blooming?

Well, another rosebud popped open so there are now two Dad's roses out there with their deep red color and fantastic fragrance. I could stand there and sniff until I sniff up all of the good smell.

The last remaining poppy plants are blooming. I miss the big clump of them that used to be in the corner of the garden along with the daisies and bee balm but I couldn't keep the flowers and get ride of the rest of the garden so the flowers are gone. These little plants on the side of the house are all that's left.

There is a peek of blue violet on the spiderwort on the side of the house. It looks like it's just about ready to bloom. Maybe in a couple days.

And here's one of two peony buds that have battled their way through the fern fronds to get a little bit of sunshine. I'm amazed that they grow at all much less bloom. They're on the shady side of the privacy fence and get very little sunshine, maybe a bit at the end of the day in the late spring and summer. But they're keeping on keeping on.

I took the next step toward publication today. I ordered the cover, well, I paid for it and described what I want it to look like so they'll start working on it and I uploaded the manuscript to Kindle Create which is the first step toward getting an eBook published and then a paperback. I'm twelve chapters in to what I hope is the final edit. I'm trying to remain calm but it's hard. I want to dance around but I'm restraining myself.

Today's watercolor is a foxglove. I was very leery of it because she had me just jump in with paint and paintbrush. No sketching, no ink drawing first, just load up the brush with paint and start. It turned out okay, I think.

 

This afternoon I finally made a batch of Protein Packed Sausage Balls. Naturally I didn't take a picture before I bagged them. Oh well. It's a WW recipe that calls for turkey Italian sausage, milk, shredded cheese, and pancake mix of all things. I've had the recipe for a while and the pancake mix too but I had trouble finding bulk turkey Italian sausage. I finally bought links and stripped off the casings, which was a rather disgusting process. Anyway, the balls turned out pretty well but they need to be dipped in something. I'll stop at the grocery for a jar of marinara sauce, heat some up, and try that. Should be interesting.

I got an email from ACX that the 15-minute sample of The Seaview audiobook was ready to be listened to. So I poked some earbuds in so I could listen closely and gave it a listen. I like it. I'm going to listen again before I approve it but it's happening.

Late this afternoon I went across town to a park tucked into a neighborhood (thank god for GPS) to watch OJ's soccer game. This is his first season playing and he really doesn't know the rules yet but then few of his teammates do either. It's mostly a scrum of boys running around the field kicking a ball this way and that and every once in a while someone scores a goal. They don't keep score, not really, but OJ's team won tonight 3-2. It was fun to watch. I'll go again.

--Barbara

First Rose of the Season

The first Dad's rose has bloomed. I took a picture of the bud last week and noticed when I came home from Zambaldi this morning that the rose was out there in full bloom. Naturally I had to take its picture and have a little chat with Dad thanking him for planting the rose bush all those years ago. There's another bud just about ready to bloom too.

DS was brewing today so he invited me to come down and visit. Man, it was hot and humid in there today. It was 80-ish and humid outside and was probably 10 degrees warmer and more humid in the brewhouse but there he was, up on a ladder, sanitizing a tank so he could pump the new beer into it when it was done cooking. He had a mind-boggling list of things to do today--brew a batch of beer, transfer a different beer from one tank to another, carbonate it then keg off some of that beer and get it on the line, get ready for Saturday's early open and later Brewer for a Day. Made me tired just listening to his to-do list. They open at 7am on Saturday because there's a marathon that passes in front of Zambaldi which means the street is closed for a couple hours so they open early and sell breakfast burritos, mimosas, and bloody marys first to the people cheering on the runners, then to the runners, then to the people who work the race. Three waves of hungry and thirsty people make it worthwhile to open so early.

 

When I got home I went out and cut a bunch of rhubarb to make another batch of sauce. I'll have yogurt for breakfast tomorrow and would rather have rhubarb sauce on it instead of applesauce. I decided to take a picture when it just started cooking so it didn't look like the surface of the sun in the picture like the last pan full did. Tastes so good.

I turned to the next flower in Ink & Wash and found an Oxeye Daisy. I was a little intimidated because I've never had much luck drawing the foreshortened petals that face the viewer but I plunged in and gave it a try. It turned out okay. I followed the directions and drew almost all of it with a pen, then used a tiny bit of watercolor to paint the center, stem, and leaves. I like it.

And the male Oriole came back today. I was a little surprised that he ate some jelly because it was pretty soupy when I went out to check it this morning. I poured out the most liquid stuff and hoped that what was left was acceptable. It was. He also flew over to the birdbath. He perched on the edge looking at the water. I thought he was trying to decide whether to get a drink or take a bath. He did neither. He looked at his reflection (I surmise) and flew away.

It felt weird not to come back here and sit down to work on the manuscript. I got an email back from GetCovers asking what I had in mind for my cover so I had to figure that out so that they could understand what I was aiming for. We'll see what they come up with.

I got the replenishment order of books today so I spent a little time signing them and putting an "Autographed Copy" sticker on them. Now I have plenty of books to sell if there's a run on them. Ha.

--Barbara

Turned Out to be a Rainy Day

It was cloudy this morning but a big swath of rain moved in just after lunch and hung around most of the rest of the day. I went to lunch with the St. Agnes Class of '65 today and had a wrap and Tater Tots. I love tots and this monthly lunch is the only time I get them because if I made them at home I'd eat them until I was sick.

On my way home from lunch I stopped at Michaels and picked up a few basic frames that matched some I found downstairs that I could reuse. I sorted through my old watercolors and picked out five to frame and hang around the birches I framed yesterday. I got them hung up and I think they look pretty good. I keep being surprised that the big poster of coral reef isn't there anymore but I'll get used to the paintings pretty soon.

One of the House Finch females spent quite a bit of time on the grape jelly this morning. Good thing she did because all of the rain we've had will turn it into grape soup and none of the birds like that. Good thing that grape jelly isn't too expensive. I saw the female Oriole on the jelly too but she was gone before I could take her picture.

Last Friday I cast on the ribbing of a new, exciting, kinda scary knitting project. My friend KW sent me a link to this Monterey Sea Life Beanie pattern and I admired it and moved on because it's Fair Isle knitting, which means more than one color in a row, and I'm kinda afraid of it. But I couldn't stop thinking about it. I was thinking I'd try Fair Isle mittens but this beanie is only one thing (mittens are two things) and the designer had a kit that included the pattern and yarn so I went for it. So far I've only knitted a few rounds of ribbing but pretty soon I'll get to the hard part. Wish me luck.

Today's Gratitude Journal was another easy one. I enjoyed lunch. Another classmate came and there were Tots. I worked on the manuscript, hung my paintings, and did 4 loads of laundry. As of this moment all of my clothes are clean except the ones I'm standing in the middle of. Now they're not folded or even all out of the dryer but at least they're clean, dry, and ready to be dealt with. Eventually.

I finished the latest read-through of The Seaview: Open for Business this evening and I'm certain that I'm done. Finished. Finito. I emailed GetCovers to start the ticket to have a cover made and should hear from them in the next day or two. Then I'll polish up my blurb and I think I'll be set. Exciting! And a bit scary.

I got a phone call from an old neighbor, MK, who asked about watercolor class at The Clearing. She's interested in taking class from KA, whose class I just finished, so I told her about the September class that KA also teaches. She said that she has a conflict with those dates and is looking at taking next May's class. That means we'll be in the same class! Won't that be fun? I hope it works out.

--Barbara

No Longer a Swamp

I cleaned the birdbath today. It was disgusting, green and smelly, and I figured that no self-respecting bird would want to drink or bathe in it so I cleaned it. We'll see how long it lasts. I suspect that the dirty, rotten Starlings are the main grunge bringers. I have a bias against Starlings. They throw seed out of the feeders and chase off less aggressive birds. I just don't like them. It's probably wrong of me to say that, to think that but I'm just being honest. (Doesn't that little phrase do its best to excuse a multitude of sins?)

My not-so-small-anymore assistant and I made a few more cards this morning and used all the offcuts to make bookmarks for her to gift to her book reading pals. I had a hard time convincing her to take more than one bookmark and one card but I managed. We'll make more because we both had a blast doing it.

Both Orioles visited the grape jelly once I tipped out the liquified jelly from the dish and put the more solid stuff in. I realized that neither the males nor the females will sip the rain melted jelly so I try to pay attention and refill the dish. I only managed this rather blurry shot of the female Oriole. The male flew away just as I lifted the camera to my eye. Darn it.

I went over to Michaels and found a picture frame for my painting of birches and got it framed when I got home. Now I have to find some picture wire and then find a place to hang it. I think I'm going to take my cleaning lady's suggestion and take down the coral reef photo across from the kitchen table and hang a gallery of my watercolors. I can frame the smaller ones fairly cheaply, I think, and maybe I have some frames downstairs that will do. I'll have to go down and check this week.

Many more of the French irises are blooming. I went up on the hill by the retaining wall (and let me tell you, that's getting to be quite a climb for these old legs) to take some close up photos of them. They're very pretty but they sure don't last long.

The ferns in the bed next to the patio are filling in nicely. I don't know why the ones nearest the house went away but the ones in front of the bed seem to spread their fronds and take up the space. I love their bright green color.

While I was walking carefully back from taking pictures of the French irises I noticed that the Stella d'Oro lilies have shot up stalks with buds on them. They're nowhere near ready to bloom but I like seeing them starting.

I spent a couple hours this afternoon doing the critiques of the submissions I have for the Novel group. We're meeting a week early because one member has a conflict on the date of our last scheduled meeting. It's not ideal because we won't have as much time to devote to the critiques but I'm just as happy we'll be finished. And it isn't that I didn't enjoy the groups, I did, but I'm just ready to move on. The Seaview: Open for Business is moving closer and closer to being done and to be frank I'm getting a little tired of it. I think that's a sign that it's time to finish it and move on. This week I need to contact GetCovers and order a cover for the thing. Get that process started. I'm amazed that they're able to still do business. They're located in western Ukraine and I can't imagine doing business when your country's at war.

When I opened the garage door before going on errands I heard a tiny voice say, "Miss Baba's coming!" My neighbors were out in front with their 2-year-old and she was very glad to see me. She wants desperately to go into my house to "pay" with the toys that I have but she doesn't get to too often. Just often enough to whet her enthusiasm for it, I guess.

--Barbara

Watercolor Notes

I spent some time with a not-so-small-anymore person this afternoon and we cut up some of my old watercolors, embossed them, and made them into note cards. It was a lot of fun but we learned that we have to be very careful when we lift up the heavy book that we use to smush them down while the glue dries. If we aren't careful the artwork shifts on the card and glues itself askew. Therefore we had a couple oops-es and one abject failure. But mostly we had fun and got good results.

The male Oriole came back today a couple times. Hooray! The female came too but I didn't get her picture this time, I was busy making cards.

The only other thing I have to show for my day is my watercolor of a dandelion. I like it. A lot. It was surprisingly easy to paint and have it turn out. I was sure I'd screw it up but I didn't.

Today the digital issue of Creative Wisconsin Magazine came out and my short short story, Raccoon Sister, is in it. The magazine is through Wisconsin Writers Association so it isn't available for public consumption (at least I don't think it is) but it is emailed out to all of the WWA members for download. I'm very proud.

--Barbara