I had a chiropractic appointment and a pedicure this morning. I chose a light teal polish, though it looks like a brighter blue on. Still, this is the summer for experimenting with different colors on my toes, so I’m okay with it.

I hit Price Chopper and the Pharmacy while I was downtown and got in a walk around the park. I also picked up Chinese for my lunch.

I did a load of laundry (mom’s that she sent home with me; got it washed, dried and folded to go back to her tomorrow), hand-washed dishes and did a load in the dishwasher, took Grant for a short walk, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, scooped kitty litter, and showered.

I visited mom, started two Kindle cozies (finished one), and started the Hatshepsut biography.

Thanks so much for birthday wishes from goss, mific, scriggle, tarlanx, and tozka.

Temps started out at 70.5(F) and reached 86. That I saw. It had to be hotter than that, but the clouds had started rolling in before I got home. In fact, the temp dropped two degrees the short time I was home between downtown and visiting mom.

It was so hot downtown, but just as I was pulling out of town, dark clouds rolled in. I drove through rain on the way to the garage to pick up Grant (another story), some of it quite heavy. And then it stopped, but the roads were wet. It was also wet at the garage, and about a third of the way home from there, and then dry pavement. We were supposed to get some rain later in the day, but we only got enough at our house to get everything wet. Meanwhile, the garage got a second storm and Pip said he thought they might have gotten over two inches because it came down so hard and fast.


Mom Update:

Mom was not doing great. She was lying on her bed after having a dizzy spell when I arrived. ( more back here )

I hit Walmart and the Dollar Tree while I was downtown and got in a walk around the park.

I did two loads of laundry (both washed, dried AND folded), hand-washed dishes, baked and cut up chicken for the dogs’ meals, scooped kitty litter, and shaved. I grilled steak for Pip’s supper.

I visited mom and finished the Clare Fergusson book.

Temps started out at 68.0(F) and reached 92.3. The temps should be a tad lower after this (low- to mid-80s for a few days) before dropping to mid-70s. We’ll see if that holds.


Mom Update:

Mom was very tired today. ( more back here )

I did two loads of laundry, hand-washed dishes, cut up chicken for the dogs’ meals, and changed kitty litter.

We went to a local restaurant for supper to celebrate my birthday. (I had their fish and chips which I remembered fondly; they were good, but not as good as in my memory.) I also finished the Kindle cozy and started the next Clare Fergusson book.

I visited mom and got my birthday raspberry pie. (I've reached the big 6-0 today!) I also got pressies from mom, my sister A (who left the bag there yesterday) and my brother (who visited mom today). Lots of gift certificates: Amazon, Bath & Body, and Panera. I also got some candy (Andes mints), some lip balm, a scented candle (mango tangerine), and some sunflower themed stuff (a wind chime, a mug, and a sun catcher) from one of Pip’s sisters.

I received a lot of birthday wishes from family on FB and from DW peeps angelofthenorth, angelskuuipo and desdemonaspace, so thank you for that!

Temps started out at 60.1(F) and reached 92.3.


Mom Update:

Mom was actually doing better today. ( more back here )

I hit the Pharmacy and the Bakery while I was downtown and got in a walk around the park. I stopped at the farm stand and the post office on the way home. I spent several hours with mom.

I did a load of laundry (yes, washed, dried AND folded!!), took the dogs for a short walk, cut up chicken for the dogs’ meals, hand-washed dishes, placed an online order, scooped kitty litter, and showered.

I finished the Duncan Kincaid book and started another Kindle cozy.

Temps started out at 59.0(F) and reached 88.3. Yes, it was hot in the sun.


Mom Update:

Mom was doing a little better today. ( more back here )

I hit Walmart while I was downtown and got in a walk around the park. I did a load of laundry (washed, dried AND folded!!), hand-washed dishes, placed an on-line order, scooped kitty litter, and shaved.

I stopped at the library to talk to the librarian about a series we’re both reading and picked up a book. (It’s one I requested on a whim and I hope my interest lasts long enough for me to actually read it.) I also finished the Amelia Peabody book.

Imgur was not loading properly for me today, which is annoying because I have so many pics I want to share!!

Temps started out at 63.5(F) and reached 84.0. I realized this morning that the haze and overcast skies of the past few days have probably actually been smoke coming in from the fires in Canada. I really frelling hate climate change and the fact that so many people are still denying that it’s a problem.


Mom Update:

Mom was doing okay today. Better than I expected after last night’s phone call, but not as good as she could be. ( more back here )

What I Just Finished Reading: Since last Wednesday I have read/finished reading: Secret in the Storm & Clue in the Cottage & Message in the Manuscript & Trouble in the Theater & Evidence in the Espresso & Christmas in the Country & V in the Valentine (The Inn at Holiday Bay) by Kathi Daley.


What I am Currently Reading: Lord of the Silent (An Amelia Peabody Mystery) by Elizabeth Peters.


What I Plan to Read Next: I’ll probably finish the Holiday Bay series (there are only two more currently available) and then start the next Duncan Kincaid book.

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Book 82 of 2025: Evidence in the Espresso (The Inn at Holiday Bay) (Kathi Daley)

I enjoyed this book. Mostly. ( spoilers )

I did enjoy parts of this book a lot, but I'm going to give it three hearts.

♥♥♥

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Book 83 of 2025: Christmas in the Country (The Inn at Holiday Bay) (Kathi Daley)

This was a good book! And I didn't get as annoyed with some of the author's choices as I have in the last couple of books. ( spoilers )

I enjoyed this book and am giving it four hearts.

♥♥♥♥

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Book 84 of 2025: V in the Valentine (The Inn at Holiday Bay) (Kathi Daley)

Good book. ( spoilers )

♥♥♥♥♥


DNF'd: Paws, Claws, and Curses (A Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery) by DeAnna Drake

Separating these out so tomorrow's reading post isn't hella long.


Book 78 of 2025: Secret in the Storm (The Inn at Holiday Bay) (Kathi Daley)

I enjoyed this book. ( spoilers )

This book was interesting; I’m giving it four hearts.

♥♥♥♥

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Book 79 of 2025: Clue in the Cottage (The Inn at Holiday Bay) (Kathi Daley)

I enjoyed this book. ( spoilers )

Good book; I’m giving it four hearts.

♥♥♥♥

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Book 80 of 2025: Message in the Manuscript (The Inn at Holiday Bay) (Kathi Daley)

Good book! ( spoilers )

I enjoyed this book and am giving it four hearts.

♥♥♥♥

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Book 81 of 2025: Trouble in the Theater (The Inn at Holiday Bay) (Kathi Daley)

I enjoyed this book. ( spoilers )

Despite my niggles I did enjoy the story, so I’m giving it four hearts.

♥♥♥♥

I did three loads of laundry (all three washed, dried AND folded!), hand-washed dishes, changed kitty litter, and shaved. I spent a few hours with mom, started and finished another Kindle cozy (then started yet another), and baked boneless chicken breasts (lightly glazed with a three-cheese Italian dressing) with Gus’s potatoes for supper.

Temps started out at 49.2(F) and reached 85. Another beautiful day. (If you're sitting on the porch doing nothing, lol! Pip did not think it was beautiful when he was weeding the pumpkin patch.)


Mom Update:

Mom was doing pretty good today. ( more back here )

I can’t believe it’s August already! This was another no-shopping day until Pip wanted me to check Tractor Supply for cold medicine for cats (*head desk* one of our garage cats keeps sneezing lately; all I could find was immunity boost stuff) and I got in a walk around the park.

I filled my gas tank and hit the bank drive-thru on my way to visit my aunt. I picked up lunch from Subway on my way to mom’s.

I did two loads of laundry (both washed and dried, but only one folded), hand-washed dishes, ran a load in the dishwasher, cut up chicken for the dogs’ meals, placed two online orders (including Chewy, which will make the dogs happy), and scooped kitty litter. I made a ham steak with mashed potatoes and peas for supper.

I finished one Kindle cozy and started and finished another. And I spotted another fawn! Though not one of ours, sadly. This little guy was standing on the side of the road just outside the village where my mom lives and I spotted it on my way to her house. Thankfully it didn’t run into the road in front of me OR behind me (I checked the rearview mirror to make sure it stayed safe).

Temps started out at 50.0(F) and foggy. Another day I not only wore a sweatshirt out of the house, but a winter scarf and a jacket. Temps reached a glorious 75.6, with sunshine and a breeze. Honestly, a perfect day. If everyday could be like today I’d be so happy.


Mom Update:

The weather was so nice, Mom spent most of the day on the porch. ( more back here )

I had a chiropractic appointment this morning. It was ~almost another no-shopping day, but I ended up stopping at the Feed Bag. I got in a walk around the park and I ran an errand for Pip, to pick up parts for the garage. (I rewarded myself with a McD’s smoothie.) I managed to get to mom’s around the usual time.

I washed and dried a load of whites (still need to be folded), hand-washed dishes, cut up chicken for the dogs’ meals, placed an online order, and scooped kitty litter. I made open-faced tomato and cheese (melted under the broiler) sandwiches for my supper and grilled steak for Pip’s.

I started and finished the next book in the Inn at Holiday Bay Kindle cozy series, and then started the next. They’re just so easy to read. Very little thought involved. I also typed in 1,000 words on my ‘new’ fic! (Only ~ 9,000 left to go! *g*)

Temps started out at 61.3(F) (it felt cool enough for me to wear a sweatshirt when I left the house) and reached 91.6.


Mom Update:

Mom had already sat on the porch and given it up as too hot by the time I arrived. ( more back here )