Rather than run through a litany of excuses for my absence here of late, I'd rather jump right in and go for it.
1. Random Photos--Signs:
I ran across this first one on my way to pick up my mother for a doctor's appointment. Unlike the hostas, the cannas must be there of their own free will.
This is a front porch I pass on my daily walk. I keep imagining someone standing in front of their door, deciding whether or not to knock.
2. Random Photo--Grocery Store Find: My funny grocery store has this on offer, and it's awful. 
Obviously, the reason this ended up in the Closeouts section of my grocery store is because it's supposed to read MOM IS WAY MORE FUN NOW THAT SHE CAN DRINK AGAIN. Because of the typo, it sounds really inebriated and illiterate, and no one is buying it. (I don't buy stemless wine glasses, period, but that's beside the point here.)
3. Speaking of Wine: We had a jaunt up to Canada earlier this month and enjoyed another lovely long weekend and a new release party at our favourite winery. Our cellar is restocked and so is our Good Humour. The trip came at a very good time for us both, and we were so glad to reconnect with friends and places we love.
4. Places We Love: Lake season is in full swing, and we had a terrific Memorial Day weekend with the whole family, enjoying the boat, the house, fishing, and a fire. On Sunday we all went to dinner to celebrate the Springtime Birthdays at our favourite restaurant, which was a longtime desire of mine. It was such a Joy to see everyone around the table, having such a great time.
5. Good Times: The Asian Tree Lilacs are in bloom all along my walking route, and their scent is heavenly. Several years ago, our neighborhood streets were completely torn up with a major water/sewer project. So many mature silver maples were destroyed. But they were replaced with oaks and Asian Tree Lilacs, and I am grateful. The blue jays continue to patronize my breakfast buffet, holding my cats in thrall every morning. I put a few peanuts on the window sashes and even on the welcome mat so that the jays come very close.
6. Knitting Stuff: For my Knitting Friends--I finally got all those damn ends woven in on my mitred square blanket, and I knitted the last two squares. Hooray! It's kind of a skinny-looking blanket, and it could really use at least one or two more rows, but not anytime soon. I'm now knitting a baby blanket. The pattern instructed me to do a long-tail cast on, but I hate those and avoid them at all costs. (123 stitches--nope.) Instead, I did a knitted cast on. Will it matter? I'm thinking no, just for a baby blanket.
7. Things That Matter: Years ago, this was a far more Political blog. I am still very politically aware and active; make no mistake about that. My Politics have not changed in the least. I did, however, have to make a conscious decision to draw a bright line, keeping certain parts of my life free from politics so that I have more stress-free zones. Don't mistake that for tolerance or acceptance. I'm sure so many of you are the same.
At this point in June, way back when I was teaching, Summer still felt so young and new to me. Vacation was just starting, and I was energized by the possibilities of the weeks ahead: so many books to read! so much time unpunctuated by bells and demands! so many evenings unencumbred by papers to grade and lessons to prepare and phone calls to make! Summertime felt brilliant and potent; each day was like a gift to be unwrapped.
I hope your Summertime (one of my favourite words ever) feels like that, even a little bit, every now and then.
Thanks for being here and waiting for me (like Walt Whitman). Chat me up in Comments.
Love the bi-polar doorway. Depending on the day, either of those signs would fit at my front door. They could be there along with my hostage plants. Thanks for the laughs today.
ReplyDeleteDee--You're welcome. It really is a bipolar door! FREE THE HOSTAGES!
DeleteHostage plants!! LOL!
ReplyDeleteGigi--Too funny, right? The gentleman there always sells his hostas and cannas, but this was the first time he'd made that spelling error. Maybe he's been watching a lot of CrimeTV lately!
DeleteWelcome back. I laughed out loud about the hostage plants. That's a good one.
ReplyDeleteI've been knitting all my adult life---well, even before that now that I think about it and I've never heard of a long-tailed cast on. Just saw it on YouTube and I wouldn't do it that way either.
Jean--Thank you. That hostage plant sign is a laugher. It's also a mystery. The gentleman who sells his hostas and cannas does so every year, and this is the first time he's made that blunder on his sign. Makes me wonder what was on his mind whilst he was doing so.
DeleteThe big reason given for a long-tail cast on is always Stability. I think a knitted cast on provides plenty of Stability and it looks nice, too. With my hand arthritis, all that falderal for a long-tail is sometimes irksome for a lot of stitches, and I really just never got the hang of it, to be completely honest.
I am a huge fan of summer. I'm not a teacher, but I close up daycare shop for the summer and I love to relax, well - I love the idea of relaxing. I'm not really there at the moment. Lots going on, which I will share at some point. I love reading more books and hanging by the pool. I love having my kids home from school/college. Summertime is a great word. Glad to hear you are enjoying your summer. I love that your trip to Canada worked out at just the right time for you both.
ReplyDeleteHostage plants . . . ba, ha, ha. I wouldn't mind a copy of that GO AWAY sign.
Ernie--The GO AWAY sign is a gutsy move for a front porch. I'm sure a lot of people wish they had the same sign now that they've seen it. We have a front door mat that says IF YOU FORGOT THE WINE, GO HOME. (Hint: It really doesn't work.)
DeleteYou certainly have a lot of the same feelings that I did every summer if you close up your daycare. I bet your neighbors could hear your sigh of relief!
When we moved into this house, I planted thirteen hostas. The deer ate twelve and left the only one I did not like. Hostage-taking for sure.
ReplyDeleteI love it that you find this stuff; I love it that you are so observant and interested. Up here it is not a much fun - what I mostly see are misspellings and far too many apostrophes in places they do not belong.
Yeah, summer. Blackfly season. Deerfly season. Over 30 degree heat season. My love is autumn, with its colour and scent. Although it still, after so many school-free years, feels like the start of the year, not its penultimate offering.
And I absolutely refuse to do long tail cast ons. Too bad, meticulous knitters. I have this book that shows me how to do all of the really perfect ways of starting and finishing knits. I read it, from time to time. And go back to what I know.
We just had two of JG's nieces and families here. All the leaves in the dining room table. All the latest news, including one new great grand nephew. And one of the grand nieces, who has a doctorate in biochemistry, has just finished her first year of medical school, following her passion. A lovely and impressive woman. I love them all.
Mary--I was driving home from the grocery store yesterday and had to stop suddenly--a doe wandered across the road! It was 12:30, and she had not a care in the world. Last week, at 9AM, another sudden stop on the same road, but further north, for a mama and her spindly-legged, spotted fawn. All of that to say I am still enamored of deer in my suburbian area because they are not in my yard eating my plants.
DeleteMy notice of these things is like a curse sometimes. I was reading yesterday and found a spelling error and at least three places where I would have put a comma. Just once I'd like to read without being an English/Writing teacher.
I'm so glad to have so many other knitters' support in eschewing the long-tail cast on. I suspected as much. It is undeniably worky. I'm not about that life.
You have a family of great achievers. I am always impressed by hearing about them. Isn't it so gratifying to have good family around the table? It brings Joy and Love and such a feeling of Contentment. And those feelings linger, which is often another Happiness itself.
Wow! I kind of want a doormat that says GO AWAY, but I'm not sure I'd have the guts to put out a sign that said it!
ReplyDeleteI don't usually explicitly talk about politics on my blog, but occasionally I'll say something and inevitably a commenter will say something about how I don't sugarcoat things and they'll make it sound like saying Trump is a bad person is somehow controversial. *sigh* I don't know how we've come so far that saying things that are provable become hot-button topics.
NGS--I think the day that we heard one of his staff say she was presenting Alternative Facts was the End Of Truth as we knew it.
DeleteI also love the 'welcome' 'go away' signs. Perhaps it is a couple, and one is welcoming while the other wants to be left alone?
ReplyDeleteJ--Recently, a few other pieces of decor went up at the home that indicate support for Autism. That could perhaps explain the strange doorway signage.
DeleteA few years ago, I saw a door sign that said, "Knock at your own risk." I kinda wish I had one, to be honest. We planted hosta plants when we first moved into our house, and they never "took." Maybe they were too traumatized since previously they had been held hostage?
ReplyDeleteI try not to be overly political on my blog all the time because it just gets me going all over again. But sometimes I just need to say something. Then there is always someone who posts a stupid comment, and I go out of my way to answer with something like, "Thanks for commenting, have a great day!" because that amuses me and hopefully irritates them. Win-win.
Bridget--I like Knock At Your Own Risk. It's edgy and ominous.
DeleteWe used to have a ton of hostas--so many, in fact, that we split them often and gave them away. My brother, who used to be the Superintendant of Parks and Recreation in my hometown, took dozens and dozens of them and replanted them in all the parks. My hostas are still thriving all over Lorain, Ohio, in the city parks!
As far as discussing The Politics on our blogs, I completely understand what you mean--sometimes you feel like you need to make your position clear. Silence can be misinterpreted as tacit approval or, worse, being complicit. Like you, I hate getting all riled up again. It makes me feel like They've won, in a way. I can't revisit 2015-2020 all over again. It's a fine line.
I have a sign that says "Come in, we're closed" on one side and "Sorry, we're open" on the other, and it makes me laugh, but I have never put it up by my door!
ReplyDeleteI can't be bothered to do a long-tail cast-on either. Too many stories about it going wrong, and why ask for trouble? I used just the knit cast-on for years (that's what my grandma taught me), but these days I often use the cable cast-on instead. Has nothing to do with cables, very similar to the knit, but I find it has just enough more give to it.
ccr--Hello, and welcome to the Dept! If your sign makes you laugh, it probably will make others chuckle, too. I say go ahead and put it up. See what happens.
DeleteI used the cable cast-on for a long time, too, but I switched to the knit cast-on because I am such a tight knitter. And when I use cotton yarn, the cable cast-on is hellacious. I really do try not to cast on so tightly, but it seems I cannot help it.
Those signs are perfect for me! I want company, except I really don't. Ha!
ReplyDeleteI just started a baby blanket last night for Elliott! It's going to be adorable, if I can do it correctly (it's granny squares with woodland animal appliques on some of the squares - there's even a badger!). I've already made myself tear up today thinking about putting Nean on the fox square. That was my mom's "grandma" name, and her maiden name was Fox.
I like summer, even though it doesn't mean any more free time for me. And actually I get less sleep because it's light so late & I'm deceived by time.
Bug--I have always liked the name Elliott, no matter how it's spelled. Eliot, Elliot, whatever. I think the movie E.T. cinched that deal for me.
DeleteSummer is actually more worky for me since it means gardening and lake stuff. And tending to outdoor plants and outdoor living spaces. But the tradeoff is worth it. I know you appreciate having more outdoor time and all your flowers about.
Your blanket project sounds charming. I hope you show its progress on your blog. Speaking of badgers, did you ever read the Frances series of books by Russell Hoban when you were little? That was the first time I ever encountered a badger, I think.
First, I'm thrilled that you are enjoying a lovely summertime with all your favorite things and people. What could be better?
ReplyDeleteSecond, do you need me to call in my very own Crisis Negotiator (Lolo) to help with the Hostaged Hostas?
Third, what kind of person says Welcome and Go Away in the same breath? I'd avoid those people altogether.
I've never knitted anything, but I do hope you share the baby blanket when you're finished.
BB Suz--Thank you for sharing my joy.
DeleteI'll let you know if we need Lolo's expertise next time I drive out to my mother's. If the sign is still there, I'll forward the phone number to you. Poor hostas! You'd think the cannas would help in some way.
Perhaps I'll break longstanding precedent on this blog and share the baby blanket. I don't think I've ever shown any of my knitting here. Most of it is simple--I knit easy stuff for fun and therapy. We'll see.
The *Go Away* sign is delightful. Judge me harshly if you must. You said: "I did, however, have to make a conscious decision to draw a bright line, keeping certain parts of my life free from politics so that I have more stress-free zones. Don't mistake that for tolerance or acceptance. I'm sure so many of you are the same." Ditto.
ReplyDeleteAlly B--No judgment here. I've felt that way plenty myself.
DeleteI'm glad you get it about The Politics not showing up here the way that it used to. I'm sure my friends here understand, and I know so many of us are sick of the 24-hour accessibility of news and information. It almost feels like we're bombarded against our will (like those poor hostage plants, LOL).
That sign (hostages) - too, too funny. And, of course, the bipolar doorway is pretty amusing too. The rhubarb cordial was tested yesterday and it is wonderful! Thanks for the suggestion.
ReplyDeleteVera--I'm always surprised by what I find out in the wild.
DeleteOh, good! I'm so glad you made the cordial and that you enjoy it. I really like it over ice. If I had a blender or a margaritia machine, I might make it like a slushie.
A rhubarb cordial slushie could be quite dangerous. Also quite delicious!!
DeleteAfter your comment on my post about your trip to Alaska for your 25th anniversary, I came here and did a search and read all about it. Isn't blogging great, that we can do such things? Your trip sounds absolutely lovely. The whales, the fjords, the mountains...the lobster and champagne and dancing...lovely lovely lovely.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I think my comments are disappearing. I just tried to comment about your wonderful series on your Alaskan cruise, and how much I enjoyed them. :)
ReplyDeleteJ--I've been on an extended Blog Hiatus, so comments have gone into moderation.
DeleteThank you for reading all about my Alaskan Adventure! It was such an incredible trip. I will always remember the whale watching excursion and my morning with the glaciers. I don't have such a personal connection with Alaska as you do, of course, but I felt very protective of that place after seeing its natural beauty. I still hope it is allowed to exist as it is forever. So beautiful and almost timeless in its wild, unspoiled state. It would be a real tragedy if it were exploited for oil or other resources.