Category Archives: Uncategorized

Braving the heat and the crowds for treasure.

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Husband wanted to go to the annual giant yard sale at the Cumberland Fairgrounds this past Saturday and you know only the lure of cheap treasure would make him wait on this kind of line.

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The gates opened at 9:00am. We were there at 9:01 and the line was already insane. This is just a fraction of it –

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Naturally the heat and humidity came roaring back with a vengeance that day.

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How hot was it?

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Bald men wearing trash bag hats hot.

Was the treasure worth the long line and $10 per person entrance fee?

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I didn’t think so.

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But you know the husband had to fully examine each and every table.

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We were there for nearly 4 hours. Me getting sweatier and crankier by the minute… him never failing to strike up a conversation with a fellow Marine.

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In his hands? Some kind of haying tool and an antique wallpaper ruler.

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And whatever this was.

Treasure?

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You be the judge.

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Zoolak?

This required some research. It certainly doesn’t sound tasty….

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And though there were vintage crates galore, not one was man cave appropriate… so I just came home with a few more albums.

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For Mistermuse –

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Squirrelly

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Our bird bath has been a Godsend to wild creatures this dry, drought ridden summer. Birds bathe and numerous animals drink… like this thirsty little fellow.

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Now that the random apple tree has matured we’re seeing a lot more squirrels.

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The bath is simply a jump away.

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And perfect on hot days.

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As is splooting in the shade.

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🙂

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Not for the feeble minded anymore.

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Today Pineland Farms is

…. a 5,000-acre working farm, diverse business campus and educational and recreational venue that welcomes visitors to enjoy its beautiful rural landscape.

Pineland Farms’ mission is to provide a productive and educational venue that enriches the community by demonstrating responsible farming techniques, offering educational opportunities and encouraging a healthy lifestyle through recreation.

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But back when I was young, it was basically an insane asylum…euphemistically called the Home for the Feebleminded. My cousin worked there briefly in the 70’s and it was a complete nightmare. Think bedlam in the Victorian era. Rumors of neglect and abuse warranted decades of investigation until its closure in 1996.

Now?

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It’s a giant tourist attraction.

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When we’re in the area we stop at the market and have a bite to eat at the cafe.

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It’s a lovely place to just… be.

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Though I’m sure the feeble minded didn’t think so. Shame the money and attention couldn’t have been put to use back then.

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Let’s just drink.

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One of our favorite restaurants has been letting us down lately.

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And while the cocktails and atmosphere are still wonderful ( fresh blueberry mojito, yum!) the quality of the food has been going downhill. Garlic Parmesan wings? Dry and tasteless.

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Pricey pan seared scallops on risotto? Over cooked seafood on a soggy bed of mush.

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Burgundy braised short ribs? Chewy shoe leather. It all looked good, but wasn’t. So we’ve decided one of our favorite dinner restaurants will now just be one of our favorite watering holes.

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Cucumber and elderflower cooler? Yeah, I’m not giving that up.

And the regular bar crowd is a hoot.

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Mr. I Drink My Jameson With A Cover and A Straw In Case I Spill was back, and you have to appreciate a man who knows his limitations.

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Things Facebook think I need.

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I’m beginning to wonder exactly what kind of weirdo Facebook thinks I am.

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The husband and I will not be rocking matching bat suits anytime soon. ( Not to say we wouldn’t crush them, I simply don’t feel the need)

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This made me do a double take, and further research was warranted.

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Jeans that give new meaning to the phrase pants on fire.

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I had to laugh at this ad because I just saw the exact product at a flea market for $10. Sorry Pier One.

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I can say it. But from now on, I won’t.

🤣

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Selfies ruin everything.

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I admit to taking a selfie now and then, usually when we go somewhere wonderful… but mainly because I have a husband who never takes pictures. Ever. It’s a harmless if slightly narcissistic endeavor, and my mother is dead… so if not me, who?

Then there’s the Instagram crowd. The influencers. The vapid youth of today who get paid ridiculous sums for photos that go viral. They’ll go to any lengths to get a breathtaking selfie and call me cold hearted, but I rarely feel bad when I read they fall into the Grand Canyon or off a speeding train.

Which is probably why I cringed when I read this article.

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I have been to Le Gorges du Verdon and it was fabulous. Mainly because there was no one else there.

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The husband, a friend and I drove through the French Alps for a solid 10 hours and saw only one other person. A sheep herder with his flock. It was beyond marvelous.

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That’s me sitting on the wall filing my nails waiting for the husband to climb back up from below.

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The gorge was wild and wonderful. Unspoiled nature ruled.

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As did the goats.

We visited in the early 90’s. The fact that’s it now jam packed with insipid, shallow Instagram tourists breaks my heart. And I bet the goats don’t like it either.

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News you can’t use.

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This week’s headlines fall under the I really didn’t need to know that category.

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Sorry, but I can’t answer that question. My algorithms are bizarre enough as it is…. I didn’t click because I don’t need to be flooded with vaginal tightening ads.

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Ditto that for this poor woman.

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And this one as well.

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Sorry, but this makes me very glad we don’t have children.

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The fecal-oral route?

That’s a highway I’m definitely going to avoid.

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And finally, the other side.

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Because my husband never likes to rush things he moved around to the back side of the baby barn yesterday to complete the gutter installation…. 12 days after he did the front. Better late than never is his middle name.

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Did things go more smoothly on the flip side?

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They did not.

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Miscalculation on length left him with two short pieces instead of the one long piece he needed which meant yet another trip to Lowes for additional connectors. Sigh.

Was the finished gutter line straight and true?

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Not quite, but it doesn’t leak. That’s probably as much as I can hope for.

And if you’re wondering just how dry it’s been here?

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Dry enough for the husband to a pan under the downspout to catch the small amount of rain we got last night.

Please note the green you see is all weeds. Most of the grass is still brown.

😕

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Let’s play…. The Star Wars edition.

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Grab your geek cap and meet me on Dagobah.

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(Yes, I see the misspelling. It hurts my brain but I’m playing anyway. )

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Well, if I only had one…. I could do worse.

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Lying to Obi Wan would be fruitless. He’d know you were full of crap before you even opened your mouth.

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That might be a bridge too far.

And now….

A little Star Wars humor, just because I can.

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Star Wars and Game of Thrones?

Be still my heart.

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Maybe getting old won’t be so bad after all…

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A possible solution

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Most years I wouldn’t have given this article a second thought.

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But with a lawn comprised mostly of brown grass and numerous half dead flower beds? It caught my eye.

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Interesting….

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Who knew gin could solve my garden woes?

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Drunks fare better than abstainers? Anyone who’s seen me navigate icy winter sidewalks after a few cocktails could have told you that.

😉

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