Summer Winds Down

 As Summer Ends and Sept. winds down. I was doing a mental review and realized I had actually done quite a bit. I have been working on the yard got it mowed and learned the fall fertilizing schedule that was something I had not done alone before. It went well, I read the directions and did the front one day and the back the next so the dog could use part of it. I watched the weather forecast and got to that before it rained. I was glad about that. I also got the trees de-suckered so it is looking better around here now.  

Tulips in safely in the ground in one new spot out front, the other three bags are in groupings in the back.

I decluttered a box of things I came across in the basement that I am not going to be using. That felt great to be free of. 

I got a small crock pot and have been enjoying using that, then the nearly eighteen year old microwave died and I replaced it. I like this newer model with a clock on it and I am learning the digital style one. I got the counters spiffed up and decluttered. 

I did get to the pantry and decluttered it, that was overdue. My granddaughter was here and she made cookies that was way more fun than when she did homework the next time she was over. We got a gift bag ready for her brothers birthday. 

We have not had our first frost yet here but I did need to turn on the heat it was 48* this morning.     

Mid Sept. Rain!

 Mid. Sept. we finally got some rain after the smoke iit was smokey here for ten days. I got to some vacuuming, because of the dust I had to wait on that.  I have been home and inside a lot more than normal. I took some down time and watched some shows I like on Net Flicks. I got a break in my schedule and finally had nothing pressing first time since the first of the year. So I decided I could take advantage of this for a stacation. 

My exercise was on the stationary bike, and I had the stairs for some exercise as well. One of the things I had not done in a lo-o-ng time was dust the walls so I started in doing one room each day. I got to the last two rooms this evening. I skipped some days. 

I had been doing some yarn crafts knitting dish clothes, and crochet hot pads. That and lifting cast iron skillets I had a sore hand so had to rest it. 

The smoke air quality were at hazardous levels and finally improved to unhealthy. I decided I needed to get out of the house and run the rigs. Even if I did not really want to. 

I have been taking the dog on mini walks just around the block every other day, and finally did one of our medium walks today.

I got more tulip bulbs and planted half of them the others I am deciding where I want to plant them.  I dig a big hole and put in a group planting of them! It is great to look out the window and see them bloom in the spring. It's great to have that to look forward to!  

Grapes

I have been picking grapes and have the ones easiest from the deck and the ground harvested for animal food. I have some more from the railing that are a bit more of a challenge to get to. The deer ate some herbs the night they were in the back yard. I was going to deadhead them and they did that task for me! 

I found some tulip bulbs I like and got a couple of bags of those prepped the soil for that watering it digging the holes letting water soak in and then planted those while the dog watched was fun. I chatted with a neighbor over the fence of my recent actives. 

I found a cherry cheesecake I wanted for my birthday yea! 

I got fuel at a new place the pumps were a bit different but I finally got it figured out had a good laugh over that later I now know a couple of ways NOT to do it. 

I am watering we have smoke and from fires a ways away from us. I am thinking of the go bag and emergency prep. for situations when folks need to evacuate like some in-laws had to do in two different states. Makes one think about it. 

I have tuna in packets poptarts and crackers to go condiments, thinking on the stuff for camping that I used to keep in the camper, kept most of that we have a utility trailer smile hubby and I used to talk about using that but heading out to the woods now is not a good plan. The forests are pretty much closed any way. 

Maybe a retreat to the basement for some sewing and or weaving might be in order. I have been crocheting hot pads and dish clothes this cone of yarn I am currently using is nearly gone. 

I got a couple of bags of donations dropped off odds and ends from the zone work I did last week.  

  

Sept. checking in

 This week went good, not perfect I am happy my ring is done I had some work done on it added three small birthstones. The ones I picked were too big so they had to order in some to fit the space I'd choose. Got more closure on the estate stuff I am glad that apiece is behind me now yea! The school schedule is reminding us of kindergarden for my youngest grand daughter she is in the afternoon session for her grade.

I cleaned out the food cupboard, did a store run, and was not home as much as I thought  I would be this week and hard to get time for a group meeting with my fall schedule this year I realize things have changed. 

My daughter came on my birthday for dinner we had a lovely evening and laughed that was 

good. I got a package from my sister in a town that has a Michael's store I was excited to get that.  I am watering and cleaning at home today inside stuff. Funny how that does not happen as easily if one is out and about for appointment, business, and fun birthday shopping! LOL!

I am still learning some of the features on my phone. I ended up sending myself an email with my grocery list on it as I could not find the other list I put in this new to me phone. 

I have been picking grapes they are ripe, the deer love them one year before I had a dog they came up on the deck to eat them and the tomato blooms. This year they came to the back yard for  more grapes. 

There were winds in the area yesterday and fires with smoke blowing dust made for poor visibility and travels of some were delayed they shut down roads until the winds died down later in the day closer to dusk. I am relieved that it is calm outside here this morning. It is cold 45* when I got up and I am glad I put on an extra blanket on the bed last night. 

Plans

I have been enjoying some time outside in the garden with the milder temps and the smoke from the fires in the west easing up making it much more enjoyable. Yesterday we had a windy day that blew the smoke out of the valley I live in. Today the winds have died down and I am happy to see the progress I made that past few days on the weeding of the beds I did the past few days. 

I dug out some herbs that were taking over and their prickly seeds stuck like burrs in the dogs fur and on my clothing, those had to go to make room for others some bulbs that are not so "grabby", I thought I had them all out but found some stragglers that I had to get later. 

I got more area cleared out by the deck, put in a few of the bulbs from onions that went to seed I harvested earlier. I am looking forward to having a place for some fancy tulips, and a new color of iris if I can find them in stock.  I did not find those tulips but did put in a couple more iris bulbs.

Then it got hot so I went back inside for more cleaning in prep. for my birthday. I remembered it was time to think about holiday grand plans. No grand plans here but I do like the cleaning schedule and motivation it gives me.