Gotta take my car for service this later morning, then going to my friend’s house in the late afternoon for her daughter’s birthday (and get a key from her brother so I can get in his house when I dogsit in a couple weeks, because he forgot to get a copy made before I went over to meet them last weekend); she’ll be 14(!) tomorrow. Got my new glasses on Thursday but I want to save them to wear around the house tomorrow in case I have any issues; don’t want to be driving in glasses I’m not used to, just in case. They seemed okay when I picked them up, though. They’re a slightly different size from my previous frames, and they’re progressives, so I don’t know how much the position of the different vision fields will change.
The dogs were +5 extra good this week.
(#1 should be familiar.)
DebgAugust 8, 2026 / 2:08 pm
Moose’s puppy pose as he played with the firefly! Thank dog for WRD.
allein š¾August 8, 2026 / 3:05 pm
I am mad.
My car was expensive and I tried to use my debit card to avoid their credit card fees, but it wouldn’t work, so I had to use a credit card and that cost me an extra $42.33. And since the bank is no longer open on Saturday afternoon or Sunday, and they closed the branch near work, I won’t be able go over there until my day off on Friday.
AJAugust 8, 2026 / 8:53 am
So pretty! Reminds me of mom Duchess or Marie from the Aristocats. Semi-lazy weekend ahead. Museum book club this morning – we read a book about art, then come discuss at the meeting, and after have a tour to look at any paintings from the book (or similar) that the museum has in its collection. The books for this time was Keeping an Eye Open: Essays on Art by Julian Barnes. This was one book that was tough going. The essays were so detailed and discussed not only the painting but the artist, and what was going on in the world at that time. Very dense. Needless to say I only made it through about 3 essays before I gave up and skimmed the rest.
After that, I need to go to the library and pick up my latest book on hold. It’s from my favorite mystery series – Secret Staircase Mysteries by Gigi Pandian. The main character’s family has a company that makes and installs secret staircases plus she was a stage illusionist. And somehow someone always dies around her and she helps figure out who. Add in some family secrets and tragedy with a grandfather that makes the most delicious meals, and a funky house with its own secret passageways, it makes for a good read.
The rest of the weekend will be spent relaxing and doing a few necessary chores and that’s it. Any serious cleaning will have to wait until it’s cooler. Have a good weekend all and stay cool.
allein š¾August 8, 2026 / 9:01 am
I am reading Seek Immediate Shelter by Vincent Yu. The residents of a small town in Massachusetts get an alert saying there is an incoming ballistic missile, seek immediate shelter, this is not a drill. Cue varying reactions/actions among the people… then a second alert saying it was a false alarm…and then it follows how their relationships are affected by what they did in the moment they thought might be their last.
AJAugust 8, 2026 / 10:38 am
Ooh that sounds interesting. I might have to look it up. I’m also in the middle of reading The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. It’s a cozy mystery set in rural England 1950. Main character is Flavia de Luce, an 11 yr old whose mother went missing during an expedition about 10 yrs ago so she’s living in this big semi ramshackle English county house with her father and 2 older sisters that just love to torment her. Her favorite hobby is chemistry, especially poison, and discovers a man in their garden early one morning who decides to die in front of her. And it just so happens to be the man she overheard arguing with her father the previous night. So she’s off to the races to discover who he is, how he died, how her father knows him, and how rare stamps and events from 30 years ago are part of all this. Whew, I know. A lot is packed into one book but it somehow all makes sense and the author is good at pulling all the plot lines together. Plus who doesn’t love an amateur sleuth, especially one that loves to do chemistry experiments in the attic and trying out poison formulas.
DebgAugust 8, 2026 / 1:44 pm
I enjoyed the Flavia mysteries a few years back. Might be time to try as audiobooks. I’m listening to the Emily series by L. M. Montgomery–really great reader, who makes every character come alive. I’d only ever read the books before.
In last night’s session, there was reference to one of Emily’s suitors who didn’t have a strong religious background. His family included a Theosophist and a Christian Scientist. I’d totally missed that before!
GeorgianaAugust 8, 2026 / 9:36 am
lurking …
TaraAugust 8, 2026 / 11:47 am
šLooks a little more like yer casinā the joint
Hope all is well. ā¤ļø
N. FritzAugust 8, 2026 / 10:39 am
Aw… kitty reminds me of my Webster – so named because he used to sleep on the Webster Dictionary when we first brought him home.
I’m finally getting around to reading The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. Enjoying it so far! It helps that we’re on vacation and we have time to do the things we WANT to do and not just the dumb things we gotta do.
Happy Caturday, folks!
TaraAugust 8, 2026 / 11:46 am
I love The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store! Great read. Enjoy your vacation!
TaraAugust 8, 2026 / 11:44 am
Ah, cute Caturday kitty. š¤ His name is Wynken? As in Wynken, Blinken, and Nod, one night sailed off in a wooden shoeā¦? Sweet. Perfect name for a cat.
Itās hot and soupy in Philadelphia and I am missing Jacques. I went to PetSmart yesterday for the first time since he died. Before that Iād been there at least every other week picking up wet food, treats, anything he would eat. Itās been over a month and it felt strange not to be agonizing over what and how much to purchase for him. I was just picking up dry food for Butch and SweeāPea, hairball wet food for Butch, and some canned urinary support for SweeāPea. I couldnāt resist getting some Churus, they havenāt had any in a while. But I almost started crying. Hard bite down on the lip so I wouldnāt, worked. Now this morning I cooked a slice of bacon for breakfast and again, a flashback to making plans to share with Jacques, who always demanded his piece. I offered some to Butch who wasnāt interested. sigh. Iāve been unintentionally neglecting Butch and SweaāPea. I almost ran out of food for them. I donāt have to clean the litter box every 12 hours, so sometimes it goes too long. They still get plenty of love, we all sleep together, but I have to snap out of this and make sure they are taken care of. They are sweet boys who deserve just as much love, even though they donāt demand it the way Jacques did.
On a happier note, Iād like to weigh in on the book recommendations. My Dad and I (in our Father-Daughter Book Book Club where we read books about books – heās a retired librarian and Iām a book conservator, so…) have taken a break from the books about books and are reading All We Say by Ben Rhodes. It is a history of the US in 15 speeches and it is fantastic! Itās not a deep scholarly dive but a good, informative read. Itās starts with a speech by Ben Franklin which leads directly to accepting the Constitution. Then to Red Jacket, a Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Chief, on a speech about whether or not to accept Christianity. Next is Maria Stewart, a free black woman living in Boston who made several very abolition supporting, but damning, speeches in the early 1830s. Then we get Alexander Stevens – VP of the Confederacy, followed by Lincolnās second Inaugural Speech. Next up is Frederick Douglas. Itās an easy read, very thought provoking. Rhodes has done a brilliant job of connecting each speech to the next and back to previous speeches. My Dad and I are enjoying comparing notes about what we learned and didnāt learn in history class.
This is a gift link so hopefully you can read it. One of my favorite current authors is on the list, Tana French. I plan to peruse the list later this afternoon.
allein š¾August 9, 2026 / 12:29 pm
I looked at the source photo and it appears there are only Wynken and Nod. I wonder if maybe there was a Blynken who didn’t make it..? š
Caption says “These two will return to the cat shelter in about a week and a half, having had all their shots and a chance to grow up in peaceful surroundings.”
This is Nod.
Alice ShortcakeAugust 8, 2026 / 11:55 am
There was an exciting moment in York last Tuesday when a thunderstorm promising lots of rain sailed overhead after depositing about 37 drops of water. There’s been one light shower since but otherwise drought conditions prevail.
Last Sunday I explored a new bus route to Richmond, which passed through Knaresborough, Harrogate, and some picturesque small towns and villages. I’m going again tomorrow with the intention of visiting Richmond Castle and museum.
I’m currently re-reading “King Lear” in preparation for seeing it at Sheffield next month (with Ian McDiarmid in the title role), and “Wuthering Heights” as I’ll be spending four nights in Haworth shortly after the theatre trip.
allein š¾August 8, 2026 / 11:59 am
Last night I left work amidst a severe thunderstorm warning and the very dark clouds followed me home. The downpour hit about 20 minutes later, lasted a few minutes, and that was it. No thunder or lightning that I noticed.
Duckie š„August 8, 2026 / 12:27 pm
Good Saturday morning, Wynken. You have beautiful eyes.
Peeps, this week I have been raising h*ll.
It started last weekend when talking to our pastor after church about therapy animals. I have been wanting to get a Maine coon cat, and Iām trying to get my doctor to sign off on one as a therapy animal, so that it can live in our condo. I wanted to tease our pastor about bringing animals to church and he replied that as long as it is medically prescribed as a therapy animal, and is not causing a distraction, he sees no problem with therapy animals in church. So I told him that I would be bringing my therapy tarantula to church this weekend, and for the first time in my life, I fully understood the ādeer in the headlightsā reference. Iām looking forward to seeing his reaction when I first walk in. And no, I donāt like spiders.
The top fifteen dog protecting the ducks reminds me that Mike posted an image of hubby being beaten up by Little Duckie in the thread about the snuggly duck.
I have decided that, after years of my family supporting my sistersā husbands and yet being treated like cra*, I will no longer be a nice sister-in-law. One BIL is apparently still expecting my dad to pay him a dowry, and the other one thinks that he can do what he likes at work because my husband is his supervisor. I have been going through a huge amount of stress because of them, and I have finally decided that itās going to stop. Just thinking about them is causing me to clench my jaw. So, from now on, I will be brutally honest with them, and if anyone hears male screaming from southwest BC, know that I am the cause.
We are starting to count down the time till hubbyās retirement. 17 months.
Three weeks until my favourite time of year starts. 8pm sunset is the marker.
Today, I have two baby quilts to finish, a sundress to sew, and vacuuming. I plan my activities in groups of three, and I find I get much more done. Tomorrow, being Sunday, I will read all day and feel no guilt.
Have a great weekend, everyone. Stay cool.
DebgAugust 8, 2026 / 1:52 pm
A therapy tarantula would at least be fuzzy! Good luck with the family drama.
TaraAugust 8, 2026 / 2:57 pm
Duckie – you crack me up! Therapy tarantula! Ha! But I wouldnāt put it past someone to try that.
Thanks for the reminder about Hubbyās āportraitā with Little Duckie. I went back and checked. It’s spectacular.
Keep raisinā H. E. double hockey sticks!
sedro6August 10, 2026 / 12:12 pm
Am pretty close to you. Listening for the screaming…
DebgAugust 8, 2026 / 1:52 pm
What a gorgeous little kitten! Those eyes!
I love hearing about what everyone is reading, and what book clubs you’re involved in. Added some more titles to my wish list, thanks to you wonderful people. We should dedicate open threads every month to what people are reading or watching.
Just got back from errands, and got chores started so I can focus on my creative projects. Last weekend, I took a doubleweave blanket off the loom but was too tired to do the next steps, so that’s today’s big thing.
I want to get all my gifts-for-other-people shipped off this week: the blanket for friends, a hat for my SIL, and gloves for my brother. Because everybody is cold these days, right?
Hugs to you all.
DebgAugust 8, 2026 / 1:56 pm
Forgot to mention that George Weasleycat is still putting on weight, which is a huge relief. It’s worth it to open 6 cans per day! I just ordered more food and if he goes another month like this, we’ll do subscribe-and-save.
TaraAugust 8, 2026 / 3:09 pm
oooo! DebG, that blanket is beautiful! I like the colors. Itās also fascinating to hear about the process. I hope your friend is really pleased with it. I sure as heck would be.
Such good news about George Weasleycat. Iām glad heās putting on weight. ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
EmsthemonsterAugust 9, 2026 / 4:28 pm
Beautiful colours!
ZackAugust 9, 2026 / 12:22 pm
That blanket sounds incredible! š§¶ Managing all those shipping deadlines and errands can definitely get overwhelming. I started using Taskai on my Android to dump all my random ‘to-do’ thoughts so I don’t forget the little things while focusing on my crafts!
How pretty!
Gotta take my car for service this later morning, then going to my friend’s house in the late afternoon for her daughter’s birthday (and get a key from her brother so I can get in his house when I dogsit in a couple weeks, because he forgot to get a copy made before I went over to meet them last weekend); she’ll be 14(!) tomorrow. Got my new glasses on Thursday but I want to save them to wear around the house tomorrow in case I have any issues; don’t want to be driving in glasses I’m not used to, just in case. They seemed okay when I picked them up, though. They’re a slightly different size from my previous frames, and they’re progressives, so I don’t know how much the position of the different vision fields will change.
The dogs were +5 extra good this week.
(#1 should be familiar.)
Moose’s puppy pose as he played with the firefly! Thank dog for WRD.
I am mad.
My car was expensive and I tried to use my debit card to avoid their credit card fees, but it wouldn’t work, so I had to use a credit card and that cost me an extra $42.33. And since the bank is no longer open on Saturday afternoon or Sunday, and they closed the branch near work, I won’t be able go over there until my day off on Friday.
So pretty! Reminds me of mom Duchess or Marie from the Aristocats. Semi-lazy weekend ahead. Museum book club this morning – we read a book about art, then come discuss at the meeting, and after have a tour to look at any paintings from the book (or similar) that the museum has in its collection. The books for this time was Keeping an Eye Open: Essays on Art by Julian Barnes. This was one book that was tough going. The essays were so detailed and discussed not only the painting but the artist, and what was going on in the world at that time. Very dense. Needless to say I only made it through about 3 essays before I gave up and skimmed the rest.
After that, I need to go to the library and pick up my latest book on hold. It’s from my favorite mystery series – Secret Staircase Mysteries by Gigi Pandian. The main character’s family has a company that makes and installs secret staircases plus she was a stage illusionist. And somehow someone always dies around her and she helps figure out who. Add in some family secrets and tragedy with a grandfather that makes the most delicious meals, and a funky house with its own secret passageways, it makes for a good read.
The rest of the weekend will be spent relaxing and doing a few necessary chores and that’s it. Any serious cleaning will have to wait until it’s cooler. Have a good weekend all and stay cool.
I am reading Seek Immediate Shelter by Vincent Yu. The residents of a small town in Massachusetts get an alert saying there is an incoming ballistic missile, seek immediate shelter, this is not a drill. Cue varying reactions/actions among the people… then a second alert saying it was a false alarm…and then it follows how their relationships are affected by what they did in the moment they thought might be their last.
Ooh that sounds interesting. I might have to look it up. I’m also in the middle of reading The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. It’s a cozy mystery set in rural England 1950. Main character is Flavia de Luce, an 11 yr old whose mother went missing during an expedition about 10 yrs ago so she’s living in this big semi ramshackle English county house with her father and 2 older sisters that just love to torment her. Her favorite hobby is chemistry, especially poison, and discovers a man in their garden early one morning who decides to die in front of her. And it just so happens to be the man she overheard arguing with her father the previous night. So she’s off to the races to discover who he is, how he died, how her father knows him, and how rare stamps and events from 30 years ago are part of all this. Whew, I know. A lot is packed into one book but it somehow all makes sense and the author is good at pulling all the plot lines together. Plus who doesn’t love an amateur sleuth, especially one that loves to do chemistry experiments in the attic and trying out poison formulas.
I enjoyed the Flavia mysteries a few years back. Might be time to try as audiobooks. I’m listening to the Emily series by L. M. Montgomery–really great reader, who makes every character come alive. I’d only ever read the books before.
In last night’s session, there was reference to one of Emily’s suitors who didn’t have a strong religious background. His family included a Theosophist and a Christian Scientist. I’d totally missed that before!
lurking …
šLooks a little more like yer casinā the joint
Hope all is well. ā¤ļø
Aw… kitty reminds me of my Webster – so named because he used to sleep on the Webster Dictionary when we first brought him home.
I’m finally getting around to reading The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. Enjoying it so far! It helps that we’re on vacation and we have time to do the things we WANT to do and not just the dumb things we gotta do.
Happy Caturday, folks!
I love The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store! Great read. Enjoy your vacation!
Ah, cute Caturday kitty. š¤ His name is Wynken? As in Wynken, Blinken, and Nod, one night sailed off in a wooden shoeā¦? Sweet. Perfect name for a cat.
Itās hot and soupy in Philadelphia and I am missing Jacques. I went to PetSmart yesterday for the first time since he died. Before that Iād been there at least every other week picking up wet food, treats, anything he would eat. Itās been over a month and it felt strange not to be agonizing over what and how much to purchase for him. I was just picking up dry food for Butch and SweeāPea, hairball wet food for Butch, and some canned urinary support for SweeāPea. I couldnāt resist getting some Churus, they havenāt had any in a while. But I almost started crying. Hard bite down on the lip so I wouldnāt, worked. Now this morning I cooked a slice of bacon for breakfast and again, a flashback to making plans to share with Jacques, who always demanded his piece. I offered some to Butch who wasnāt interested. sigh. Iāve been unintentionally neglecting Butch and SweaāPea. I almost ran out of food for them. I donāt have to clean the litter box every 12 hours, so sometimes it goes too long. They still get plenty of love, we all sleep together, but I have to snap out of this and make sure they are taken care of. They are sweet boys who deserve just as much love, even though they donāt demand it the way Jacques did.
On a happier note, Iād like to weigh in on the book recommendations. My Dad and I (in our Father-Daughter Book Book Club where we read books about books – heās a retired librarian and Iām a book conservator, so…) have taken a break from the books about books and are reading All We Say by Ben Rhodes. It is a history of the US in 15 speeches and it is fantastic! Itās not a deep scholarly dive but a good, informative read. Itās starts with a speech by Ben Franklin which leads directly to accepting the Constitution. Then to Red Jacket, a Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Chief, on a speech about whether or not to accept Christianity. Next is Maria Stewart, a free black woman living in Boston who made several very abolition supporting, but damning, speeches in the early 1830s. Then we get Alexander Stevens – VP of the Confederacy, followed by Lincolnās second Inaugural Speech. Next up is Frederick Douglas. Itās an easy read, very thought provoking. Rhodes has done a brilliant job of connecting each speech to the next and back to previous speeches. My Dad and I are enjoying comparing notes about what we learned and didnāt learn in history class.
By the way – there is an article in the New York Times: The 50 Best Thrillers of the 21st Century:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/books/best-thriller-books-21st-century.html?unlocked_article_code=1.31A.1JqE.JhEKGj05eCW1&smid=url-share
This is a gift link so hopefully you can read it. One of my favorite current authors is on the list, Tana French. I plan to peruse the list later this afternoon.
I looked at the source photo and it appears there are only Wynken and Nod. I wonder if maybe there was a Blynken who didn’t make it..? š
Caption says “These two will return to the cat shelter in about a week and a half, having had all their shots and a chance to grow up in peaceful surroundings.”
This is Nod.
There was an exciting moment in York last Tuesday when a thunderstorm promising lots of rain sailed overhead after depositing about 37 drops of water. There’s been one light shower since but otherwise drought conditions prevail.
Last Sunday I explored a new bus route to Richmond, which passed through Knaresborough, Harrogate, and some picturesque small towns and villages. I’m going again tomorrow with the intention of visiting Richmond Castle and museum.
I’m currently re-reading “King Lear” in preparation for seeing it at Sheffield next month (with Ian McDiarmid in the title role), and “Wuthering Heights” as I’ll be spending four nights in Haworth shortly after the theatre trip.
Last night I left work amidst a severe thunderstorm warning and the very dark clouds followed me home. The downpour hit about 20 minutes later, lasted a few minutes, and that was it. No thunder or lightning that I noticed.
Good Saturday morning, Wynken. You have beautiful eyes.
Peeps, this week I have been raising h*ll.
It started last weekend when talking to our pastor after church about therapy animals. I have been wanting to get a Maine coon cat, and Iām trying to get my doctor to sign off on one as a therapy animal, so that it can live in our condo. I wanted to tease our pastor about bringing animals to church and he replied that as long as it is medically prescribed as a therapy animal, and is not causing a distraction, he sees no problem with therapy animals in church. So I told him that I would be bringing my therapy tarantula to church this weekend, and for the first time in my life, I fully understood the ādeer in the headlightsā reference. Iām looking forward to seeing his reaction when I first walk in. And no, I donāt like spiders.
The top fifteen dog protecting the ducks reminds me that Mike posted an image of hubby being beaten up by Little Duckie in the thread about the snuggly duck.
I have decided that, after years of my family supporting my sistersā husbands and yet being treated like cra*, I will no longer be a nice sister-in-law. One BIL is apparently still expecting my dad to pay him a dowry, and the other one thinks that he can do what he likes at work because my husband is his supervisor. I have been going through a huge amount of stress because of them, and I have finally decided that itās going to stop. Just thinking about them is causing me to clench my jaw. So, from now on, I will be brutally honest with them, and if anyone hears male screaming from southwest BC, know that I am the cause.
We are starting to count down the time till hubbyās retirement. 17 months.
Three weeks until my favourite time of year starts. 8pm sunset is the marker.
Today, I have two baby quilts to finish, a sundress to sew, and vacuuming. I plan my activities in groups of three, and I find I get much more done. Tomorrow, being Sunday, I will read all day and feel no guilt.
Have a great weekend, everyone. Stay cool.
A therapy tarantula would at least be fuzzy! Good luck with the family drama.
Duckie – you crack me up! Therapy tarantula! Ha! But I wouldnāt put it past someone to try that.
Thanks for the reminder about Hubbyās āportraitā with Little Duckie. I went back and checked. It’s spectacular.
Keep raisinā H. E. double hockey sticks!
Am pretty close to you. Listening for the screaming…
What a gorgeous little kitten! Those eyes!
I love hearing about what everyone is reading, and what book clubs you’re involved in. Added some more titles to my wish list, thanks to you wonderful people. We should dedicate open threads every month to what people are reading or watching.
Just got back from errands, and got chores started so I can focus on my creative projects. Last weekend, I took a doubleweave blanket off the loom but was too tired to do the next steps, so that’s today’s big thing.
I want to get all my gifts-for-other-people shipped off this week: the blanket for friends, a hat for my SIL, and gloves for my brother. Because everybody is cold these days, right?
Hugs to you all.
Forgot to mention that George Weasleycat is still putting on weight, which is a huge relief. It’s worth it to open 6 cans per day! I just ordered more food and if he goes another month like this, we’ll do subscribe-and-save.
oooo! DebG, that blanket is beautiful! I like the colors. Itās also fascinating to hear about the process. I hope your friend is really pleased with it. I sure as heck would be.
Such good news about George Weasleycat. Iām glad heās putting on weight. ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
Beautiful colours!
That blanket sounds incredible! š§¶ Managing all those shipping deadlines and errands can definitely get overwhelming. I started using Taskai on my Android to dump all my random ‘to-do’ thoughts so I don’t forget the little things while focusing on my crafts!