Random Shots Around the Yard: Mid Oct.

 ...spiders are everywhere. Here's some kind of Orb Weaver perched on the edge of Hub's work van, hoping he doesn't stick out like a  great big spider on a white van...

...one of the last of the hollyhocks, looking big and fresh. Still there, too.

...firebugs aggregating on butterfly weed seed pods, for some reason.

...and the lovely seeds themselves. After many years, these plants are beginning to come up from seed in my yard.

Having Trouble Finding Your Local TrainStation??

Molly, Micah and their paternal Grandma (borrowed from Mommy's FB)



Up to your fanny in Weevils and wondering why? I might be able to help. The Twins are growing, as can be seen in this recent photo: they are over 2-1/2 now. Wow! They are learning so many things--among them, the nightly saying of The Lords Prayer, with assistance from their Daddy. Micah has his own way with words, as we've enjoyed before. And The Lord has a sense of humor (having put up with humankind all these years!) So when little Micah--the soul of innocence--implores his Lord to "...lead us not to train stations but deliver us weevils.." what is He to do? Wipe his tears of laughter and get started!

Kiss That Face....

....an appearance by one of our BlogStars, the Fabulous L'il Pearl! (now to find some recent pics of her hubs and the other two).

What Is It? Friend or Foe...?

... Hubsy is concerned. I think it's a FireBug. i wiki'd it. No, it doesn't frequent The Moon! That's our driveway! My neighbor was concerned it was "an asian beetle" and yes, it is. It aggregates (lots of individuals on one plant) and I have a photo of that to come. Another thing that's striking, in a Halloween-y way. So far, I have not read that it is harmful. ??

To Whom It May Concern...

....many faces are missing from the New Year's Dinner at L'il Pearl's Mom's house; I remember when these events where bigger and extra tables were needed. It will be so again, no doubt. From left, standing Hubsy, L'il Pearl's Mommy, Lady R and Sir Goldenheart (favorite curmudgeon ;-> ) and seated is L'il Pearl's Daddy. Poor fellow: he is seated because he is recuperating from a nettlesome leg clot! As you get older, you find out all the things that can go wrong when they happen either to you or around you!! Happy New Year! Have a Sweet Year. Did I say Sweet? That Cake!! Lady R found it, it was marzipan and so very delicious.

Furniture Painting: A Meander...

 I had this little hall table; the usual story: $2.00 at a garage sale in 1982 or similar. I just slapped on some "harvest gold" 1970's paint we happened to have around....

...so this time I had an inspiration: Colors and patterns of Mackinzie-Childs and this little green console table by Ultimate Accents. And please remember, I haven't even seen a paint brush in 36 years. I sanded, I cleaned, I used my tack cloth, then primed and sanded and cleaned some more. I used my new best friend Martha Stewart's Hummingbird Blue Satin finish for the legs, a Glidden bone white satin on the top. Then I went to town with little bottles of craft paint for the decoration on the edge. Free-hand. My 63 year old hands are a little shakey, I learned. Maybe this will improve with practice?

 I took a big chance and applied a glaze of my own concocting with acrylic medium, a bit of aqua and brown craft paint for a thin wash over the whole thing.  It is drying and curing in the garage, where I won't see it tonight and get discouraged....

I plan to distress it a bit where it seems right. Then a couple of coats of clear satin acrylic finish.

Early October...OK, bring it on...

 ..o no! cat photos again; but this is how I feel--I'm not depressed, but somehow I just want to curl up and snuggle in my quilt, with a cat or two, maybe a hubsy, and maybe read. All summer I've been trying to finish the last of a biographical trilogy on Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris. Being a distracted reader, it takes time, but it's wonderfully written...I'm working during the day, of course--but working from home has wonderful advantages.  I'm trying to trim down a bit, doing the SlimFast "1-2-3" plan which seems to be working. Chores, playing around with furniture painting, exercise....That's me, for now. Oh, and silly TV shows. Hubsy is ready to call for medical help when he sees me watching "Fashion Police" or the Beverly Hills Housewives or some "red carpet"...I told him don't worry, it will pass like a virus.

 Outside, it's like this--when the sun comes out. Raggedy butterflies on their tattered wings, getting the last of what's left of the nectar. Pretty, tho. We've had a crazy weather pattern of sprinkling rains on and off for days. I noticed today that the DesPlaines River is nicely swollen, tho we have no reports of flooding. We need the rain, truth be told.

Clouds like this just seem to spontaneously drop a few minutes' worth of light to medium showers. Strange, after the hot, dry-ish late summer. And for the reluctant entertainer / hostess (me), Thanksgiving begins to loom on the horizon; I actually like to have friends and family over for the big dinner, I enjoy seeing everyone. And, if I do say so myself, the dinner is great. I'm finally managing to get everything done when it should be and on the table hot or cold, whichever. Somehow, in Life, you only get to the point where you can accomplish these events about the time your mind, heart and energy begin to fade.