Monday-10am

Goodness!  Been a while since I've posted anything.  I guess I really do feel like I'm on summer vacation.

I've been reading, writing letters, watching TV/movies, and just puttering about.  It's been so hot!  Upper 80s to low 90s every day.  I know for some of you that is normal, but this started in June and is a little warmer than we are used to up here this early in the summer.  Karma loves it, though.  Here she's out protecting her string.  From what?  The only thing out there was a moth and a few lone mosquitoes. 

We've had rain and thunderstorms off and on, too--but the big cotton-ball clouds are my favorites.

Miss Karma lounges in the heat... 

...and watches for bugs... 

...while I stay nice and cool inside and perform doorman duties for Karma.  ;)

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The first item arrived from my monthly Amazon order.  (I do order almost every month, don't I?)   

It's copper mesh that is actually used to plug holes to keep mice out of the house.  But I thought it might be perfect for some abstract wall art.  Dagan and Leah like fall colors (me, too) so I was thinking of trying to create a textured canvas that they would approve of for their new house.  I give them rejection rights so that they won't feel obligated to have something hanging on the wall that they don't really like, you know?  And I never make anything that I wouldn't like to keep for myself--so we're cool.

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I have some more boring stuff coming from Amazon (like filters for my water pitcher, Karma's big bag of cat food, envelopes and such) but I do have a few crafty-art things, too, like this copper mesh.  :)

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Finished the two library books on the food industry.  Was shocked at how our food is made and what they put into it so I decided to try to start reading all the packaging.  Spent a lot of time crawling about in my pantry, kitchen, frig and freezer reading boxes and bags.  Some of them have very few ingredients (usually what I bought that was organic), but--even bread baked at the local grocery store has a long list of mysterious ingredients. 

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I know Dagan and Leah have a bread maker so I emailed Leah to ask her what brand it was and if they like how it works.  She said they haven't used it for ages and that I could just have it!  Whoohoo!  At least I'll know what is in my bread.  ;)  They're planning on bringing it over on Wednesday.

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They spent the long holiday weekend cleaning the basement and garage.  They stopped over for about an hour and a half on the 4th of July to sit in the dark with me and watch fireworks displays all across the horizon.  At that point they were almost done with the basement and were starting on the garage the next day.  I haven't heard, but I expect they can finally get their cars in the garage now.  With storing all Leah's brother Aaron's things (he went into the navy) and her youngest sister Ariel moving back in--there's just a ton of stuff at their place.  I bet it feels good to have it all at least sorted out a bit.  

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They had gone down to Minneapolis the weekend before to pick up a shelving unit from IKEA for their living room (and they picked up a couple small things for me, too) and they had already put those shelves together, too.  I'm going to want to go visit sometime soon and see the results of all their hard work!  :)

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I offered to help, but was gently reminded that my mind wants to make promises my body can't keep.  True.  True.  Just climbing into the end of the senior van put my knees out for about a week.  Doesn't stop me from wanting to help, though.  Sometimes I need to be protected from myself.  ;)

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Well, I thought I'd give a quick hello.  I'm on The Cat Who first book now.  Pam comes on Friday with more books!  I am definitely still on summer vacation.  Seems to be helping the sciatica, too, so I plan on more of the same for a while.  I have been pretty much keeping up with everybody online, too.

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  So glad I am following by email now--although I miss a few who don't have the follow by email option.  :(  Even if I, apparently, don't always get every single post and they do come a day late--I love it!  Much, much easier for me.  My Google Reader was totally gone on June 28th and then my Blogger reading list has been acting up for at least a month.  It disappears for days at a time and says I'm not following anyone and then suddenly reappears for a day or two--only to vanish again.  

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Been a wonderful quiet week.

Very best to everyone and have a fabulous week!!  :):)

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"Our business is to be happy."

Dalai Lama