Three Weeks Out...

...from my next show and I have a throw top completed, the backing procured and washed and just waiting for the next quiet day (Monday) to layer and start quilting. In the meantime, I am working on some wall hangings as I recently acquired some new winter/holiday panels. I also see a couple of new pillows in my future. Other things in my world these days are dealing with the aging car. I just had my mechanic change the oil and filter and replace the engine and cabin air filters. He's reluctant to spend any time on determining what is causing the problems with the evaporative system leak so I still have the lights every few days. He also had to replace the waterpump but that was not as expensive as first thought. And I still have a tire light that must be one of the pressure sensors malfunctioning. So I have to decide if I want to spend the money to replace the tires and have an alignment. I hate shopping for the big ticket stuff but once it's done I'm usually happy with the results. So tomorrow I'll start the process after I get my flu and COVID shots. Meantime, David has exhaust system work on his schedule this Wednesday, before his trip to Rochester. (Three times in one year is a record for him, getting close to my 4 trips to Ithaca the last year of Judy's life, back when we each could make the trip in a day.) And I still need to finish my bed renovation project outside and complete the deadheading for the time being. Do it now so I don't have to do it in the spring when it's all matted down. I'm always amazed that the beds that look so barren in the winter can burst into such richness in the spring and summer. And then shrink back to nothing in the winter. The circle of life.

Take Down!!!

Two nights ago was the second Presidential debate of 2024 and the result was spectacular! Kamala dominated the orange man from the get go. She crossed the stage to introduce herself and shake his hand after he shuffled to stand at his podium, barely acknowledging her. Then she hit him with the force of a hurricane and he really didn't know what hit him. His answers devolved into his standard rants while she scored points with her plans and positivity. Afterwards, he showed up in the Spin Room to declare he had won and that the moderators (David Muir and Linsey Davis) were biased because the kept fact checking him and not her. ("Well, you see, Donnie, she wasn't lying like you were!") And he went so far as to accuse her of having the questions beforehand. (Donnie - she had all those answers ready because unlike you, she does her homework! She's prepared.") The Harris camp immediately said they want another debate but by today, Trump has said he's done with debates, an unspoken admission that he lost although he's still claiming victory. SMH!!!!! We are in the midst of the most glorious Indian Summer weather - 70's and sunny and cool nights. Not much rain. I finally got the ninebark shrub planted today after ripping out the furiously self-seeding Rudbeckia from the bed right up against the house. Only one bag of mulch left to spread after I rip out more tomorrow. Unless I decide to sew, which is a good possibility as I still need to make another couch throw for the Fall shows. I'm working my way through binding turning on the runner and placemats I completed with one table topper to finish quilting. Time to move on to that throw and some wall hangnings since I have new panels now. And I still need some more tree skirts but those can wait for a month or so. New hurricane hit Louisiana today and California is dealing with an earthquake and major wildfires. Crazy stuff. We have some haze from Canadian wildfires but it's not too bad.

On to Autumn!

September 1st - beginning of Fall. Time for mums, cornstalks, orange and brown and green. Indian corn and pumkins - NO pumkin spice for this girl, though! YUCK! Pumpkin oie? YES!! Pumkin ice cream - yes, but it's hard to find. I'm so ready for the cooler temperatures - I have outdoor gardening projects deferred since spring due to the hot and humid weather. A bed in front of the house has become overgrown with self-seeding perennials and needs to be cleared and replanted. I just found the last shrub needed and will attack it this coming week. Then it will be time to cut back dead and dying foliage and get ready for winter. About every third year I don'g get around to clearing everything and it makes for a tough slog the following spring. I'm always amazed that what is lush and full in the summer (especially this summer with all the rain!) looks so barren in the winter. The Brunswick show last month was again a success, falling just short of last year in earnings. Still, a good day and we were blessed with good weather again. Muggy morning turned to clearing skies and a nice breeze all day. And I was on the grassy mall this year which was much quieter than last year on the street. I will request the same spot next year, for sure. And I was able to just leave the car right on the street, so no running off to some far away parking spot. Loved it! The Democratic convention was gala celebration of Harris and Walz. There were seemingly too many celebs and extraneous personages. But it was all good. And got generally favorable reviews...well, from the Dems anyway! Meanwhile, TFG continues to spiral out of control. He cannot stop himself from the personal attacks that just fuel his rage over and over, and, I suspect, fuel his followers rage at the Dems. His VP pick seems like an evil person who continues to stoke the misogony that has layed just under the surface until now. He would rather women were barefoot, pregnant, at home and silent. I have to say, the two of them have met their match in Kamala. She won't put up with that at all. And Trump pissed off the veterans this past week by essentailly breaking the law at Arlington to video a campaign message. Adding insult to illegality, his team neglected to blur/remove the names on the headstones that appear in the video and photos - some of those were of service members who have committed suicide due to their injuries in service. Just in genereal, another slap in the face for the "suckers" and "losers" as he calls them. Saratoga racing is winding down - they had their first in-race fatality on Friday when The Big Torpedo was lost during the running of the Saranac. Again, a high-profile breakdown right in front of the stands. Another horse was knocked into the rail when he went down and the jockey, Javier Castellano, was sent to the hospital. All is okay but he was off his mounts yesterday. The Big Torpedo's jockey was uninjured. I was not watching at the time and glad of it.