This pup pretty much sums it up, doesn't he?!! Good Golly, Miss Molly! It sure has been hot. I don't know what the weather has been like in your neck of the woods but around here it has been unbearable! My heart goes out to all who have to work outside during Oklahoma summers!
Oh! I almost forgot to answer the questions about my last post. My Mister wasn't actually looking for anything. He was trying to figure out how to work the metal detector so he put a coin on the floor and tried to read the secret code that appeared on the little screen. I say secret code because the stupid thing doesn't actually tell you what you've found. It beeps and gives a code as to what type of metal it is. Kind of like the chemistry charts. Anyhow, that's what he was doing.
I don't have a thing to talk about. I've been staying inside, mostly, due to the heat, but I did bake a Pineapple Upside-down Cake, one day. It was a little to warm to be baking but I got a hankering for something sweet and decided to make one of my Mama's favorite desserts.
It was delicious and a cup of coffee made it even better! I have to admit, though, I had forgotten just how sweet a pineapple upside down cake really was! I don't use a lot of sugar so between the sugar and pineapple juice, in the batter, and the brown sugar for the topping, it was a little too much for me but it was still very good! In the future, I will try to find a recipe that uses less sugar.
Anybody else getting the Fall decorating bug? My birthday is mid-August and my brain thinks that is the signal that Fall is fixing to bust out! So far, I haven't pulled out my big tubs of fall stuff but I did put this little thing together.
I just couldn't resist after I saw a picture of something similar. I built the little box and added the candle and florals. I'm not done with it but I love it. Oh!!! I just can't wait to pull out my Fall stuff!
Well, I guess that is all I can think of. If you still stop by, I sure do appreciate that!
I'm not sure, exactly, what kind he treasure he was looking for in his bathroom but if he finds, bless his heart, he can keep it! Some days you just never know what you are going to see when you wake up.
Well, here we are...Mid-July and no end in sight for the virus or the blasted heat. Do you ever get the feeling we are living in a really strange movie? Remember 'The Truman Show' with Jim Carey? I've been wondering if somehow that is happening to all of us! Good grief! We are all going to find a door one day and it will all be over...well, we can pretend, anyhow! I tell you, I am becoming more and more weary of the state of things including these extreme high humidity/heat days.
Apparently, I'm not the only one that feels that way! Too hot to do anything but hang out! How is anybody going to wear a mask when it's this hot? I'm not going to be able to, that's for sure.
A couple of weeks ago, I decided to join a gym. I hear that self-care is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. I wouldn't have a clue about that because I've always taken care of everybody else and just kind of pushed me to the back burner. Anyhow, I joined and have really enjoyed that hour that is just about me. I'm not able to use a lot of the equipment but the recumbent bike and treadmill, are two things that don't bother my back too much. I've also enjoyed using the tanning equipment. I'm not really trying to get a tan but the heat helps with the pain I live with. It has also helped with my severe eczema. I only use the equipment for about five minutes so I'm not concerned about over exposure. If it makes my back and knees feel better, then I'm all for it.
With not a lot of desire to be outside, I've been visiting more vendor malls. There is one in a small town just north of us, that has always been one of my favorites. It has a lot of things that I love and the small town friendliness keeps me going back. One thing I wasn't ready for was CHRISTMAS CRAFTS!
As pretty as these are, as were all the others, I just can't, right now! Too crazy in this world! Reality is...ready or not, Christmas will be here before we know it. Just as well start preparing. UGH!
Do you remember, back in the late '90s and early 2000's, the popularity of furniture made from used fence pickets? Maybe it was just a thing in Texas, which is where we are originally from, but lately, I've been noticing this type of shelving, hutches, and tables, for sale.
These are just two examples and I bet you know exactly what I'm about to say! I AM IN FREAKIN' LOVE! I loved twenty some odd years ago and I love it now! My Mister made a wonderful television hutch that we hid our big ugly console tv in. I say big and ugly but I kind of wish they would bring those back. I'm not a fan of these new fangled tv's at all but I'm guessing the console tv has gone forever. Anyhow...that's another subject.
Now this cabinet is almost exactly like one the Mister made except ours was a bit more narrow because the place I wanted to put it was just a small space. Ours was also a 'step back' design. I loved that cabinet and only recently had to toss it because it was just flat out done. The last few years it held garden tools and the like. When it was used in the house, I loved to put old lace doilies on the shelves and a few bits and bobs that I had no place for. A few teapots and such. Now that I've been reminded just how wonderful and useful the cabinets were, I think I have just the spot for one! I never seem to have enough cabinet space for my iron pots and pans and I'm thinking they would love to live in a special place. Yes...yes, I can see a new fence picket cabinet in my very white kitchen!
I just love this sign. I'm probably going to make one for my front porch. Our dogs are great watch dogs but nothing gets past me! I'm usually packing heat when I'm outside too so don't you think folks should be warned!? LoL...my Mister, kids, and neighbors probably think so, as well!
Up the road, a fair piece, is a little hobby farm that hosts a Farmer's Market every Saturday. I usually miss it but this past weekend I finally went. Due to the extreme heat, the number of vendors was quite a bit smaller than usual but it was still had a sorts of wonderful things. Everything from hand crafted goats milk soap to fresh veggies and crafts. I didn't buy much because I had just bought groceries but I did get some of the most wonderful pineapple/habenero salsa and spicy watermelon jam. I also picked up some of those super healthy micro greens. I really like them with a little squeeze of lemon or lime juice, salt and pepper. My Mister...yeah, not so much! Anyways, it was really too hot to be out. I sure look forward to going again once the hot weather breaks. I think I might take some of my spider plants and a few crafts to sell. Maybe make a little Christmas spending money, who knows.
Well, sweet friends, it is time for this old gal to hit the hay! It's been a long day and those grandbabies will be running in that back door first thing in the morning! Goodnight and may God keep you through the night.
Grace & Peace,
Pam
I would love to say that this is my porch...but I can't. I can imagine it being my porch...but it isn't. It does look like a fine place to sit, on a hot July day, though. Can't you just see all the family and friends playing games out on that grass! Older folks sipping sweet tea in the rocking chairs. The little ones waving sparklers as it begins to get dark. *sigh* Oh, how I miss the 4th of July from the past. Like most things, these days, even Independence Day doesn't seem to be celebrated like it once was. I catch myself wondering if anyone even remembers why we celebrate it...or any other holiday, for that matter. Yes, indeed, I do miss the 4th of July from my youth. Sadly, even I don't do anything special. I don't even hang up a wreath on the door or decorate like I once did. Not really any point. We don't shoot off or go watch fireworks or have picnics or family gatherings... Our family is like most these days, I guess. They have better things to do. In fact, our daughter and her little family, is celebrating with someone else's family. Our son is more than likely spending it with his wife's family. She just lost her Dad and her Mama has Alzheimer's so they usually spend the weekends there. And here we sit. We don't go to the lake with all the crowds who are drinking and raising cain. So many things have been canceled because of Covid19 but even it they weren't we wouldn't go because of the craziness that comes with large crowds. I know it's our own fault but it would be so nice to have friends and family over for a BBQ, games, and visiting.
I'm sorry...I didn't mean for that to be so down and depressing. Really, I didn't. I was just expressing my sadness that nobody celebrates like in the good old days. Sorry.
It has been so blasted hot this week. One day it was 111* with high humidity! June was the hottest on record, according to the weatherman. And DRY! No rain in 45 days. Yesterday, we had a little shower but it didn't hit the ground hardly before it dried up. Our grass is pretty much dead. My Mister probably thinks that is a good thing since he is normally the one who mows. I, on the other hand, love grass, and trees, and flowers. Those are looking a little sad, too. It's just too hot for old gals like me and my dog, LuLuBelle. We are delicate flowers, you know.
Yesterday, I sat here all day, with all the curtains closed in hopes to keep it cool enough that the A/C didn't have to work so hard. It did help but it didn't help my mood, at all. I was so bored!!! I mean bored to the point of bawling. I couldn't go outside because of the heat, I have no crafty stuff to work on, and TV just makes me nuts. I couldn't get my head into a book and the house is always clean, so I didn't even have that to do! I went to bed very early but I woke up this morning, determined to get out and do something today. My Mister is off for the holiday so I dragged him to some antique and vendor malls. He was so excited *sarcasm*! He doesn't really share my love for that stuff. I know. Weird man!
I was happy to be able to finally go since everything has been shut down because of this obnoxious virus. Stupid virus! Going not only got me out of the house but it semi-revived my creative juices. I thought I would share a few things I saw and want. Y'all are going to think I am crazy with some of this stuff but I've always had a passion for things that are usually found in someone's old barn or was "made to work" out of necessity. The more worn and weary the better. Hmmm...maybe that's because I am worn and weary, myself!
There is not one thing on any of these shelves that caught my eye. Nothing! It was the shelves themselves. I'm sure there were some lovely things on them but all I saw was the shelves! Even in the one picture with the wooden wall, picture frames, blah, blah, blah! All very nice but did you see those old drawers hung on the wall as shelves? That...that is what caught my attention. My Mister thinks I'm nuts and you probably do too. That's just my thang, y'all!
I mean just look. These are nothing more than two separate shelves stacked but to me this is sweet and useful. Not a fancy item but it reminds me of the old farms and homes where you figure out how to make do. I know my Mama did this. She made do with what she had. Everything had to "work" even if it wasn't meant for that particular job. Growing up, in my spoiled ways, I didn't understand that and I dang sure didn't see the beauty in something like two shelves stacked one on top of another! I thought we should have had all the foo-foo, store bought furniture, that my friends had. It never occurred to me what we had was just as important and did the exact same thing all those fancy things did...but with so much more character and love! Now, I wouldn't trade any of that old junk Mama dragged out of a trash pile or found on the side of the road, for a million mansions full of store bought stuff! Nope, sure wouldn't.
So anyways, I fell down that rabbit hole, didn't I! I do that...a lot!
While we were out, today, we stopped in at a small shop called "Farm Hippie"! Y"ALL!!! Just the name was calling out to me! They have local, homegrown fruits and veggies, raw milk, grain fed-homegrown meat, handmade gifts, soaps, lotions, and more. All hand made. Of course, there were a few things that weren't, like this mug. This has my daughter written all over it! I don't know why I didn't buy it while I was there but I'm going to go back this week to see if it is still there.
Well, that is about all I have for today. I hope you are still with me. I just want y'all to know, I have been visiting everybody's blog and exploring some new ones. Have a safe and blessed holiday weekend! Make it count and remember the why of it!
Grace & Peace,
Pam
