Taking the MINI Cooper Out for a Workout

Wow, September already. How did we get here? A day at a time is how. Have the months flown by for you as they have for us, or is time standing still? Stores are already bringing out the Christmas stuff, but what will it be like this year? Just today I learned of a young father who drowned both himself, and his 19 month old son, following an argument with his wife. This happened not all that far from here and the woman who made us aware of this tragedy wrote something to the effect that people are hurting, both financially and mentally, in part because the future is so uncertain at the moment. It broke my heart, yet it did not surprise me because I've been expecting this sort of thing from the beginning of lockdown. What more is there to say except that I hope and pray that this is an isolated incident that just so happened during the time of Corona.

In better news, one of my photos was selected for the annual historical calendar here in the city of Orlando. Several months ago I mentioned it, so I thought I'd follow up with both that news, and the selected photo.This is the first time I've entered in a few years so I was grateful to be chosen; which month will be news to me when the calendar comes out.

Let's see....it's been some days since last I wrote a post so what have you missed? I know, one morning we drove to Sanford to check out their pickleball courts which was super fun. They are very nice, and this is but one of two parks where they have courts!

Again, it makes me crazy to think Orlando has only an indoor facility and some part time courts that are set up in a roller hockey rink in a very part time manner no less.

As such, I wrote to both the city and county regarding this lack and was pleased to receive replies from both of them. While I was not quite as pleased with their answers, there are some plans in the works. Sheepishly I admit that I got one thing wrong in my emails and that is the exact name of the park I suggested they think about using for pickleball courts. Calling it Fiesta Park when the true name, as I discovered yesterday, is Orlando Festival Park. Duh! Nevertheless, I'm still sold on that location because it is underutilized and is convenient to downtown. While we are super fortunate to have our lined courts to play on, it is a distinctly different feeling playing on the real thing as we discovered for ourselves when we got up the nerve to accept the Sanford players invitation to join them. Yikes were we nervous because they are all far superior players, however, they were kind, making us glad we went for it. 

Other than that, on Saturday I drove, for the very first time in over three years, FAST. Since Bruce's retirement, he's been our driver pretty much everywhere we go, including two cross country trips. For the most part, especially during Covid, the MINI has sat idle, however, as I discovered on Saturday, she's still got it in spades! And while I thought I might be nervous, driving to Cocoa was a good test, and dare I say I passed with flying colors? I think I will. 

Following are some scenes from the beach that day, including, you guessed it, a few birds.

It was pretty much a perfect day with mostly sun, warm water, and just the right amount of waves, especially as the day progressed, to jump around in. And while some folks are nervous about going in the water, for me going to the beach is about immersing myself in the ever changing surf. Of course I do love wandering too because I never know what I will see.

Loads of businesses may be struggling but as is always the case, others are surging and in this instance it must be sign makers who are crazy busy. And yes, people were cognizant of social distancing from what I witnessed.

I was puzzled by the above bird because I can't remember ever seeing an Ibis at the ocean, but according to Cornell, this is most likely a juvenile, a fact I imagine is not in the least interesting to most folks, if Bruce's reaction is any indication. I sent him some of the photos I took and he was bold enough to admit that the birds didn't do much for him. Thus, I know that I may be just a tad more enthusiastic on the subject than say, most of you?

Which brings us to pickles, or the lack thereof. Should you have thought I was exaggerating....

Occupying a good bit of my time was finishing the quilt. Here the binding is being sewn on the front of the quilt and although there are few quilters that read this blog, I'm here to tell anyone who will listen that using the paper towel roll was the bomb! Although not pictured, it is on the floor. (btw, there are 2,176 pieces in this quilt!)

Okie dokie. Binding attached on the front and now comes the thread and needle time. Except, try as I might, I could not thread my needle, so you know who came to the rescue. I ended up using twice as many.

This step took a seriously long time but with the help of pickleball videos and the complete opposite, hours of Indian Matchmaker, helped me get to the end!! I'm thinking it was nine hours and well worth it.

So now it is done, except for one thing. I'd neglected to plan for finishing it really because instead of searching ahead of time for a dust ruffle that would work, or make that the new term, bed skirt, the look was underwhelming.

Truth be told, this was a little a painful after all of this time, however, I'm working on rectifying the problem. First I got rid of the big fat green pillow, followed by a search for a navy blue bed skirt in a few stores. A waste of time, but I gave it a shot, wearing my mask of course, because we are bound and determined to buy local whenever possible. That was not my first thought though after auditioning different colors from the quilt, after which I'd decided on tiny white polka dots on navy fabric that I'd hoped to buy from Hobby Lobby. Not so fast Gail!

There were some blues, just not ones I wanted which is what led me on the further search. As it stands, I'll show you how I solved this problem in my next post. I was working on it when I thought to myself--self, you need to write instead. And here I am doing just that!

While I wish that I could write that it is getting cooler, I can't, however, after a lengthy conversation with Jonathan, Austin is far worse when it comes to heat. Holy cow, day after day of over 100 degrees! In a silver lining kind of way, he said he is glad to be working from home and missing the 15 minute walk to his car every day following work. Imagine how hot the interior must be!! No, don't, it sounds too hideous. We are grateful that the hurricane missed us completely, but of course, mourn for those in Louisiana who have to deal with the aftermath. Not to mention no electricity for air conditioning! 

We felt a massive sonic boom on Sunday night, so much so that it rattled the sliding glass doors, when the booster returned to Earth. That was interesting to say the least. There's been plenty of rain too, so the drought from earlier this year is officially a thing of the past. With all that rain there have been some amazing sunrises of late.

My lens was fogged somewhat with humidity, but as I kept wiping and looking NE, wow!

Looking at the lake out the window just now, I am ever so grateful to be living here, healthy and happy during these strange days. Oh how I wish it were the same for others, but that is a mystery that cannot be explained, unlike the 90 minutes of Endeavour where they figure everything out! That show is so good. As was the novel I just finished, Sisi, on loan from Ann. I finished it just before going to sleep and could not wait to wake up in the morning and do some research on the topic. 

Recently I stumbled upon a blog post entitled, "How to Write a Good Blog Post" so I read it. Where was that 13 years ago? And yet I carry on.....

your friend,

Gail

Mystery Solved!

Before I reveal the mystery that was solved, let's all just bask in the total cuteness of the card Bill and Fallon gave to Bruce for his birthday, shall we?

Talk about a feel good way to begin, I can think of nothing more fitting than Snoopy and Woodstock. We are the kind of folks who save cards for ages, loving to come across a fine stack to reminisce; this one will surely be enjoyed many times in the future.

Okay, so here is the mystery. There have been no field trips this week meaning lots of staying around here, including one afternoon when Bruce and I went to the pool to cool off and read. And yes, it's been killer hot, with temperatures climbing to 96 yesterday and today. Plus all the dust in the atmosphere! Anyway, we came home and found a white mailing bag on the front porch. With my memory, I thought, did I order something and forget? Heavy, there was not a smidgen of paperwork in the bag or any clue on the outside as to the contents, or sender. Opening it, I burst into laughter, wondering who in the world could have sent me a box of Arborio rice?

Nancy happened to call about this time and I asked if she was responsible. No, she was not. I was seriously flummoxed, that is until about three hours later, Jonathan sent a text "should be a package out front if you haven't seen it yet." Indeed. Having read about my search he did what young people, and increasingly older people do, he found it on Amazon.  Wasn't that sweet? Generally I don't think he reads the blog so he must have been bored!

Because we have been home so much I was thinking I didn't have a bunch to write about, but turns out, once I checked my camera cards, I have more than I thought. In fact, maybe too much! Let's begin with something exciting as far as I'm concerned. I'd been told by the front gardeners about an  interesting new plant there so I went to check it out. For the life of me I can't think what the plant is called, but while there I heard a loud bird and began focusing on that. (no pun intended)

Not much of a photo, but it is kind of fun to see the lit up wing. I was shooting into the sun and in real time I had no idea what kind of bird it was. The only thing I did know was that it flew into a nearby tree, where I kept tracking it when much to my surprise, looking up, this guy was sitting on a nearby branch.

This would be a Red Tailed Hawk, but the bird I eventually identified is one I rarely see, as in maybe two or three times before, and that bird would be a Northern Flicker from the Woodpecker family.

Isn't it interesting with the spotted belly and the little black ascot? So, there is something exciting for the week.

That said, once I see an owl again, as in a few posts ago, I go hunting, searching in all the big trees nearby. Well, lo and behold, I was walking near the canal and there it was, not ten feet from me, perched on a fence. Thrilled and actually even more so when it flew onto a tree branch where the light was somewhat better for picture time!

Cute, cute, cute! This morning I did not have to go hunting because I spotted it out my bedroom window, chatting up with a neighbor about how neat it is to see an owl, and dragging Bruce out back to watch. Generally the only thing that bothers an owl is the dive bombing from Crows and Blue Jays and even that is sometimes not enough to get them to move so it is not hard to get fairly close. Anyway, eventually it flew into the tree and Bruce left to work over at Bill's house, something he will not be able to do after July 1st when the unit Fallon works on becomes a full Covid Unit to care for the increasing cases. Naturally we are all nervous about that. For now though, once I'd wished B a goodbye, coming back inside what should I spot, but the owl in the lake!

Earlier it had looked as if it were panting from the heat so it was not terribly surprising to find him there having a drink before flying away.

Switching gears to another nature family, Bruce called me over to his car to show me a moth he'd never seen before. Neither had I. Doesn't it look as if it is made of wood? Apparently others have noticed the same as it was easy to find on the web using those very same search words.

Pretty cool, huh? I think it was the same day that the rice came, in fact as I was putting it on the counter, as I recall, I noticed some action on the front porch that gave me pause. Yes, Black Racer snakes are not dangerous, but who likes to watch one come sliding out from under your porch chair? Not this woman for one! Yikes.

In the kitchen, while I've not made any of the risotto yet, I did make some dried cherry scones that, while good, may have needed a bit more time in the oven? They were tasty enough but I think a bit more browning would have looked better.

Although I can enter only three photos for the contest, I printed five to examine them more closely before submitting the entrants. Hopefully there are some winners in this group. I remember the year that my photo was on the cover and I was so excited until such time as I realized that it would be viewed once, unlike when it is chosen for a month. Ha ha...be careful what you wish for!

For sure we stayed home yesterday while dog sitting Grace.  Bruce spent most of the day reading a thriller given to him by Connie,

while I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out that mountainside. Seriously, aside from our meals and making some chocolate chip cookies, I did nothing else and I still have a long way to go! Thank gosh Sue told me about using a magnifying glass!

 Another unreal sunset although this time it is the sunset reflected in the Eastern sky.

And they say that this dust cloud will make the sunrise and sunset even better? How can this be?

That was quite the sunset in Vancouver, wasn't it? Because I am still struggling with this new Blogger format, I've had to see all the photos I've posted in this space for the last few years, each time I wanted to upload a new one. Because of that, I came across the above so why not relive it??

I hope everyone reading is safe and sound, staying at home as much as possible even though, I for one, am dying to do more stuff, as I imagine you are as well. Remember the words of wise Mothers everywhere, "it is better to be safe than sorry."

Continuing my quest to make the ordinary, extraordinary...

your friend,

Gail

Back to the Here and Now

I had some crazy good luck the other day. Finally getting the top together for the new quilt, it was time to turn my attention to the back. I'd purchased three yards of a lovely aqua stripe at Hobby Lobby on sale about two weeks ago for said back. Not even close to enough. I also needed batting and HL, using the 40% off coupon, is the place to buy it. It must have been Friday morning that I went there with the batting in mind, and the hope that, maybe, just maybe, I could find more of the stripe. At first I did not, and then I did!! Score! Three more yards that I then put together using a pieced strip down the middle. My friends, that is a lot of fabric to wrestle. And iron, for that matter.

Now what? Because it is so large I could not use my table method for sandwiching the backing, batting, and front. After some searching, I discovered the only large bare spot to place said backing was the pool deck, and wouldn't you know it, the timing was terrible. Oh my gosh it was hot!

But, a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do.

At least half of it was in the shade! Next step was laying out the batting, followed by the top and then to pin it all together. So far, so good. Until it wasn't.

The batting was not wide enough!!! Fortunately I found some in the closet that I was able to butt up next to this, pin some of it together, and then get the hell back in the house before I died of a heat stroke.

A little later, once I'd recovered, I laid it on the dining table, and pinned all the white squares. I was nervous about machine quilting something this large, but the only way to know if you can do it is to start, and start I did. One of our sweet new neighbors, George, was recently getting rid of some stuff, having listed it on Craigslist as free. It must have been serendipity that I chose that moment to go over there for something because one of the things he was giving away was a wooden tv tray that is having it's day in the sun, helping me hold up all the weight of the quilt.

Because you must start in the middle, it is a lot of fabric to handle. Moving the sewing machine to one end really helps, but still it covers my table top.

Am I ever happy to have moved the table to the middle of the room! I'm happy to report that against all odds, (my lack of skill), the quilting is going well. Because Bruce worked all weekend, I have completed about 1/3. You know what I will be doing today, don't you?

Leaving Hobby Lobby, I finally discovered where the popular eatery, 7 Bites is moving their location. I knew it was still going to be located on Primrose, I just did not know where. Now we all know.

Every day I am discovering new murals and memorials. I'm very fond of this one, found at the end of the pictured wall above.

You might notice that brilliant blue sky and you are seeing that because rain has been so infrequent of late, meaning the temperature is several degrees above normal. As in 97 degrees! Yikes.

I felt that sun beating down on me when I dropped off the photos I'm entering into the annual City calendar contest at City Hall. It was with a plan that I parked on Rosalind. What plan might that be? I was interested in walking the length of the Dr. Phillips center to see what I could see. They have corralled most of the memorials here.

That said, there still are some on the great lawn,

which looks surprisingly green, having been trampled so in the last month. Someone went to a lot of effort to make this:

So, as you can see, people are still mourning the tragedy. Inside the City Hall rotunda it looks like this:

In the foreground there are books for people to write encouraging words. Just off the rotunda is the art gallery which I generally peruse while there. It was with delight that I came across my sister-in-law Ruth's winning photographs.

This is not the first time she has won in the annual employee art show, and I'm sure it won't be the last!

Who knew Alice Cooper was coming to Orlando?

Friday night we went out with Zarita and her very interesting husband Greg, who we were meeting for the first time.  We began the night at The Outpost in College Park where we mostly enjoyed our appetizers. Our first time there, I'm not sure we'd go back, but maybe in the winter. As Canadians, neither of our guests had ever eaten pimento cheese, fried okra, or fried green tomatoes before, so that was good.  I was disappointed that they fried the entire okra pod which seemed like a labor saving thing rather than this is the best way to serve fried okra thing. It is not. Because Greg is a big man, and because I am always hot, we left for cooler environs, landing just two doors down at Rusteak, which is where I took this photo.

Greg is from Manitoba and grew up on a huge farm, with the nearest town having a population of about 50. As well he is one of four brothers!! During the evening we learned some new things, and as you know well, I'm always up for a good story. The photos he showed us from a trip they took to Africa were astounding!! As to the restaurant, we were mostly full by the time we got there, but it does look like one we'd like to visit again.

On my way to church Sunday morning I stopped to see a new work by the artist who is beginning work on the mural he will be painting for Bruce, well actually Earl's, but at this point it is still Bruce's place!

Painted on the back side of the Hideaway, he also put up some new birds, which I am naturally partial to.

Reverend Garvey began his sermon by saying, "I don't know what to say." Neither, really, do any of us because what is there to say when senseless violence seems to be everywhere? Last week we had to miss because Nancy was here so I did not know the backstory he was referring to when he talked about the cranes being dedicated just last week. Now I do know, and so will you, should you take a few minutes to read this.

In the article it quotes someone as saying they hoped Orlando would become their permanent home. Not gonna happen now, I am so sad to report.

The work continues...

Today some of the executive chefs are inspecting the kitchen. Naturally I am so hoping it will go well; I imagine you're thinking the same thing!

Carol, you will be happy to learn, is regaining her strength, and resuming her normal diet. The tincture of time cannot be overstated!

Back to my sewing machine after some breakfast.

You know where to find me,

Gail

I've Been Meaning to Tell You

While messaging with Catherine the other day, I asked her if she'd been writing her blog posts. No, she said, I can't think what to write that might not bore readers. I suggested that she not only write for herself, but jot things down when they occurred to her so she'd have ideas when she did sit down. I followed my own advice, except for the part about boring readers....

So, let's begin with the calendar contest I entered, shall we? Perhaps it was the cute little note papers I used on the back of the photos, the ones from Jonathan and Alissa's honeymoon in Japan, but somehow or other, the city chose two of my photos for next years Historic Preservation Calendar. Learning this a week ago, it is always puzzling to me how they choose what they do, and even more so this year when my favorite was not chosen.

I wish one day they would do a calendar in color because wouldn't this adorable house make a lovely July scene?

Seriously cute, right?

More often than not, the calls we get on the house phone are what you might call "junk calls." That said, that is the number on my business card. Once in a blue moon I get a call from a customer, and last week one came through that made me very happy. Nell, she of the owl house fame, called me to order five prints of "Tree Hugger" for her grandchildren's Christmas gift. Now that is a woman on the ball wouldn't you say? We had a lovely chat about birds, gardening, and more, and during that conversation she mentioned that although the photos taken by my former Geology professor were top notch, she just loves mine. How darn sweet is that?

The hot weather is causing all sorts of algae growth in our lakes, and believe it or not, there is water underneath all the pictured green.

Isn't that something? This a a canal, adjacent to a home in Harbour Isle, that runs into Lake Conway. I can't imagine any boat going through this mess!

So, I've been reading my head off these last weeks when B is gone for four days, and the last three books could not have been any more different. Sort of like the photos and stories on this here blog! All of these are good in their own way. See if any of them interest you.

• Delicious! by Ruth Reichl. The linked review has barely a good word to say about it, but if you are looking for a foodie book that is easy reading, this might serve you well.
• Eventide by Kent Haruf.  Whereas, the linked review for this novel can't say enough good about it, as does every other reviewer. If you're a fan of Marilynne Robinson, I think you'll like Mr. Haruf's quiet, yet forceful writing style, and subject matter. I was having my nails done a week ago, and tears just poured down, requiring me to close the book for a while.
• The Sweetheart by Angelina Mirabella. I could not find any professional reviews of this, but on Good Reads it gets a 3.67 rating, which for a first novel, seems good enough. Written by an FSU grad, it tells the story of a young woman from Philadelphia who becomes a lady grappler, or in more modern terms, wrestler, in the 1950's. I picked it up because our son David has that huge wrestling card collection, and although it started a little slow, it picked up steam. Very colorful!

There you go--easy reading, thoughtful reading and quirky reading.

Speaking of books, did I show you this before? Pam rode along with me when I went to pick up my prints; while driving home we moseyed through some neighborhoods pointing out the houses we like. While I was showing her our friend Lynn's house, we saw this on her street.

With all the rain we've been having, I wonder if they remove them daily?

The sunflowers have officially bit the dust...

and, I could not find any seeds, so they really did bite the dust, or make that land in the garbage can.

On the way home from Renningers, this fellow was in front of us,

and I think he may be on to something wearing that shirt. The handlebar ends!!!!

Let's see what else has been languishing???

My first ever sighting of one of the Sun Dance prints in a store aside from those I've known about. I was walking to the bathroom in Ross, and what to my wondering eyes should appear?

I've made a new dress with my estate sale fabric, and I can say this much....fabric today ain't nothing like it used to be. Have you ever seen the term colorfast on a label? Well, this new fabric I bought two weeks ago, in for a preshrinking bath, was anything but colorfast.

Filling the sink with hot water at least five times, the water finally ran clear. It's highly likely that not one person reading this blog will find that information useful, but there you go.

I bought a new hibiscus, thinking it wasn't quite red, but by golly, what other color would you call it?

Let's end on a bird note. Perhaps you've wondered about all that bird seed I buy. Probably not, but just in case you have..... Lately we've been getting this fantastic seed from Costco, a 40 pound bag made by Audubon. I needn't tell you that is a heck of a lot of birdseed. Opening the bag, I scoop out enough to fill one container for storage, fill the actual one I use to pour it, and hope that works. Sometimes I need an extra storage one, but generally, if both feeders need filling, this method does the trick.

I may very well have crossed the line on this one....mundane to the max!! Indulge me please.

Tune in again for more excitement!!

Thanks for reading,

Gail