Draft Thoughts

I did four loads of laundry (two of which were mom’s; all got washed, dried AND folded!), hand-washed dishes and ran a load in the dishwasher, went for a couple of walks, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, changed kitty litter, and showered.

I visited mom (and called her later in the evening) and watched some HGTV programs. (No reading got done today because of visiting with my siblings, who visited mom.)

Temps started out at 66.4(F) and reached 75.2. It was cloudy almost all day even though we barely got any rain, but there were a few times the sun peeked through.


Mom Update:

Mom was very weak today. ( more back here )

I hit the Bakery while I was downtown and got in a walk around the park. I filled my gas tank on the way home.

(The original plan was to get gas AND milk, but they were so busy when I stopped in that I had to move away from the gas pump so someone else could have it and then I couldn’t get back around to a parking spot because cars were lined up all over the place. I could barely get ~out of the parking lot. Milk will have to wait for another day.)

I did a load of laundry (yes, washed, dried AND folded!!), hand-washed dishes, went for a couple of walks, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, and scooped kitty litter. Pip had leftover chicken for supper, so another day I didn’t have to cook!! (Leftovers are my friend. *g*) I decided to have Cheerios and a banana.

I visited mom; read more in Hatshepsut (2 chapters today, which is a miracle because sometimes reading just half a chapter makes me fall asleep); watched some HGTV programs and re-watched Olympus Has Fallen to take notes.

Temps started out at 54.5(F) and reached 86.2. It was stupidly lovely out. But that's going to change. The rain forecast for the next couple of days keeps changing, so not sure if we're going to get any rain, but the temps are going to drop for a few days.


Mom Update:

Mom was doing a bit better today. ( more back here )

I hit Price Chopper and the Pharmacy while I was downtown and got in a walk around the park. I also went to the lab for blood work as I have an appointment with my PCP next week.

I did a load of laundry (washed, dried AND folded), hand-washed dishes, took Grant for a short walk, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, scooped kitty litter, paid some bills online, placed an online order, hard boiled some eggs, and showered.

I also went for a walk with Pip and the dogs when he got home. I'm trying to get more walks in because I've been slacking even though I haven't been spending entire days with mom. Today I managed just over a mile, so I'm hoping to increase that before winter hits and my walks also take a hit. o_O

We had BBQ chicken quarters for dinner! This time I picked them up. I made sure it was okay with Pip to have it again and he agreed. I like chicken and I'm happy to not have to cook, so win-win for me! *g*

I visited mom, read more in Hatshepsut, and watched some HGTV programs.

Temps started out at 48.9(F) and reached 82.3. It turned out so nice!! However, the TWC app is calling for ~80 today and tomorrow, then mid-70s for two days, then mid-60s for two days, then temps in the 70s, slowly moving from 71 to 78. Except for two days when the overnight low will reach 60, it will be ~50. I don’t like this. (TBF, I love the temps of fall, but not at the expense of summer, and also, I’m sorry fall, but you get a bad rap because you lead right into winter.)


Mom Update:

Mom did not feel well at all today. ( more back here, including the mention of vomiting, though no details )

Blackberries! I think it's cool that you can see the entire progression here, from green to red to black.




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What I Just Finished Reading: Since last Wednesday I have read/finished reading: Answers in the Ashes (The Inn at Holiday Bay) by Kathi Daley, Once Upon a Mystery (The Bookstore at Holiday Bay) by Kathi Daley, Halloween Moon & Thanksgiving Past (The Cottage on Goosberry Bay) by Kathi Daley, Opera and Old Lace (The Bistro at Holiday Bay) by Kathi Daley, and some fanfic.


What I am Currently Reading: Still working on The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt by Kara Cooney. I also started An Archer's Awakening (Of Crowns & Quills) by Casey Morales as my ‘light’ reading to go with the heavier reading of Hatshepsut.

(Funny thing, I didn’t remember the book when I read the blurb, but apparently I’ve already read it. o_O Some of it came back to me when I started reading it, but not enough for me to feel comfortable going on to the second book. So I’m actually re-reading this one. So many books, too little brain.)


What I Plan to Read Next: I have some library books out, so one of those. Probably the next Amelia Peabody.

Bidding at sunflower_auction, to benefit Ukraine, is open!

My offer is HERE.

(There are only 10 offers, so it's very easy to scroll down to see them. Some are offering fic, and some art. Please go check them out!)

Another Photo Flashback post. I posted a couple lilac photos back in May, but didn't continue, even though I took several photos every day or every couple of days. I decided to choose one photo from each day to show the progression.

Seeing them here I'm remembering how wonderful they smelled and the times I'd go outside and bury my face in them (after checking for bees first o_O).




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Posting this now for two reasons. A) so the book meme isn't overflowing with books and B) because I'm hoping to read something by an author who is not Kathi Daley next as my light reads along side Hatshepsut.


Book 89 of 2025: Answers in the Ashes (The Inn at Holiday Bay) (Kathi Daley)

I mostly enjoyed this book. ( spoilers )

This book was pretty good; I’m giving it four hearts.

♥♥♥♥

(There are two more books in this series listed on Amazon, but they aren’t due to come out until September and October.)

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Book 90 of 2025: Once Upon a Mystery (The Bookstore at Holiday Bay) (Kathi Daley)

This book is the first in a series that spins off from the above series. I wasn’t sure how I was going to like reading about another main character. It was alright. ( spoilers )

The thing that interested me about this series is that they eventually form a group that solves murders/cold cases, and that sounded good. Also, the bookstore showcases some cats from a cat rescue, how cute is that?!! But I didn't enjoy this book enough to continue with this spin-off series. I’m giving this one three hearts.

♥♥♥

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Book 91 of 2025: Halloween Moon (The Cottage on Gooseberry Bay) (Kathi Daley)

I enjoyed this book. I had forgotten that we met the main character in the Inn at Holiday Bay series, so this is also a spin-off. ( spoilers )

This book was pretty good; I’m giving it four hearts.

♥♥♥♥

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Book 92 of 2025: Thanksgiving Past (The Cottage on Gooseberry Bay) (Kathi Daley)

I enjoyed this. ( spoilers )

This book was good; I’m giving it four hearts.

♥♥♥♥

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Book 93 of 2025: Opera and Old Lace (The Bistro at Holiday Bay) (Kathi Daley)

This is another spin-off from the original Inn at Holiday Bay series I read. It was pretty good. ( spoilers )

This book was okay, but I’m starting to wonder how many murders (aka, spin-off series) a small town like Holiday Bay really needs? I’m giving it four hearts, but I don’t expect I’ll read more in this series.

♥♥♥♥

Here are the garage cats (who have moved to the deck for the summer, almost like snowbirds heading to Florida) making themselves comfy on the deck. They're very brave, but the dogs mostly leave them alone now that they're getting used to them.





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I realized, as I looked back at my photo posts, that I never posted any photos of the apple blossoms! Granted, I was still wearing a walking shoe/boot at this time (and if I recall correctly, it was soaking wet all the time), so I couldn’t take any walks through the orchard, but the apple trees in front of the house blossomed nicely. Here are just a few pics from the early days. (All were taken on 5/6/25.)




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