Kieffer Pears

Such a bumper crop! Some branches have broken under the weight.

Ripening pears aren't the only hint that we're moving toward Autumn.

                                           

 

The Lantern's Dance

                                                                         

This latest entry in the ongoing saga of Mary Russell and her rather older husband Sherlock Holmes (yes, that Sherlock,) is a pure delight.  The eighteenth in the series, it's a delightful puzzle, weaving together past and present while unravelling some old family secrets.

I highly recommend the entire series. While this novel can stand alone, it will be especially fulfilling for those who've followed the adventures of ths unlikely duo of Russell and Holmes.

As always, King's writing is intelligent and lively--fully developed characters, well-drawn settings (India and France), and a twisting, teasing plot with an ending to satisfy--and intrigue. 

Great fun!

Garbanzo Pasta Rosa

Still trying to adhere to the alternate-night vegetarian plan, I came up with this simple dish. As almost always, it begins with an onion.

Sauté one chopped onion in butter. Add one large tomato, also chopped, and a can of garbanzos (chick peas), drained. As it cooks, chop some garlic then add it. When most of the moisture is gone, add heavy cream, a sprinkle of dried chili flakes, chopped fresh basil and parsley, them simmer till sauce has thickened. 

I served it over conchiglie --small shell-shaped pasta--and the garbanzos nestled in the shells like big, delicious pearls. We topped it with a bit of parmesan.

Surprisingly delicious and filling, not to mention quick and easy to prepare.

 

Silent Sunday

 

New Rools

After pancakes, we played with the babies and did some other stuff. Meema and I were both a little cranky and when I fussed at Meema for being mean, she told me to tell her how she should act.

So I made a list of rules for her. (I didn't spell all of the words right, but Meema asked if I'd like her to show me the right spelling and I said yes. So she wrote in the right spelling.)

This is what it says.

New Rools (Rules)

1. Lisson (listen-it is a silent T)

2. No inruting (interrupting-a very hard word)

3. No yelling

4. Kind words

5. Be pashnt (patient)

6. Do what your (you're) asked to

Meema said they were very good rules, and she would try to go by them. BUT then she said that they would be good rules for me to0. 

I hadn't thought of that.

But we decided that we would both try to follow the rules and we did, for the rest of the day. It worked very well.

I put the rules on the corner cupboard so we can remember them.

I did some painting. This is Gertrudis and Hildegarde.

Then I worked on a painting of a story

It is a story about a monster trying to attack our house.

The hero goes from our house past the tree to fight the monster. There is a wall in the way and then a lot of gold and then a treasure chest. 

Last of all we played Pirate Go Fish. We call it Pirate because if you ask for the right card, you can steal a lot of cards.

I won all three games.

And we both followed the rules.

 

Didn't See That Coming

                                                                              

You may or may not recall an earlier post in which I talked about our bafflement at the construction going on next door to one of our cow pastures. The property had recently changed hands, and a very serious fence was being built. We wondered what in the world kind of critters it was intended to hold.

Well, now we know.

Camels.

The new owner (whom I've not met in person, but we've exchanged some cordial texts) is starting a camel dairy.

Yep. Apparently camel milk is a hot commodity with all sorts of health benefits. 

Can't you just hear Miss Birdie saying, Ay law! 

I'm told there are also emus.

For some good pics of the new neighbors, check out their website HERE.

Ay, law!

No Politics--Just a Fantasy for Hot Weather

 

Well, Okay Then!

                                                                       

What a guy! 

The Harris/Walz ticket is already bringing joy to a lot of us who long to keep grownups--positive, progressive grownups-- in the White House.

On the one hand, there's Felonious Dementia Don with his hellfire and damnation rhetoric, plus JD, his seriously creepy sidekick who's somehow a hillbilly and a venture capitalist.

Or there's the level-headed ex-prosecutor VP and now this teacher/coach/veteran/legislator/governor with a real rural/farming background.

There's a definite Coming Home vibe to this pair.

                                                                     

         

Tiny Toad and Thoughts on VP Pick

 About the size of my little fingernail. They are everywhere, making mindful walking a necessity.

I'm looking forward to seeing who Kamala picks. It seems to me there are lots of good choices. Of course, there's so much to consider, beyond background, political views, and personality. Would the choice of X lose a Dem seat? Would the choice of Y bring more swing voters to the ticket? Would the choice of Z better balance the ticket (whatever that means.)

Our NC governor Roy Cooper was under consideration, and he would have been a good pick. But like Joe Biden, he put the good of the party and the people before personal ambition and chose to withdraw his name, rather than leave our state at the mercy of the radical right Lt. Gov. Some Folks Need Killing Robinson.

I liked a suggestion I saw in an op-ed (link HERE): that perhaps Kamala needs a team. Yes, pick a VP--but go on to announce her picks for Cabinet and other positions. Unlike the Orange Bloviator's "I alone can fix it," it would be "Together, we can fix it."

Shades of the Justice League and the Magnificent Seven!

Forget-Me-Not (and One Small Petunia)

 

Josie's Art Show

I love how the trope of sun-in-upper-right-corner endures. But the artist has upped her game with the addition of orange to the traditional yellow. Also, breaking from tradition: blue clouds in a white sky. Does this speak to the topsy-turvy state of our modern world?

The artist's statement. She is in second grade (in another two weeks). She is seven and lives with her mom and dad. At the time of writing, she is at Meema's but will be leaving early to have pizza with her friend Vera and Vera's sister Ilona. The artist likes to draw.

Winged Dragon (monochrome)

Chicken Looking Up (more monochrome)

Three Happy Fish with Coral and Seaweed

                                    Unicorn with Rainbow (also monochrome)

Looking East

Almost fifty years here and we're not yet bored with the view.

 

Josie's Summer Days

This is a picture I made with the Colorforms Sandy sent me. It is a girl and her dog. The dog even has a collar and a leash. There is also a tree and the sun and some clouds.

I started to make a city but I changed my mind

And made a playground with a slide and a ladder and a swing. 

Then I taught kindergarten for the babies and their friends. We worked on counting and the alphabet. Margo thinks she knows everything and goes "A B R G W K H Y Z" and "1 2 7 4  27 11."

She is a little hard to teach but I am patient. (Sometimes, though, I have to yell at her.)

I read some easy books to the babies and then I read to myself.

I make sure the babies have a good lunch and that they use their napkins. 

Later, they will go with me to the library and go down the slide.  I will take them home to have a sleepover at my house. When I realize that they don't have their jammies, I will walk ALL THE WAY up the mountain to Meema and Grumpy's house to get their clothes. 

I am a good mother.