We finally got some rain last night – we needed it. Now we are enjoying a hot sticky day. I’m ready for cooler days already. I just don’t enjoy the hot muggy days we’ve been having. Although it’s not so bad outside this afternoon if you’re in the shade. I had some leftover potting soil from earlier this spring and decided to use some of it up by trying some indoor plants. As I was sitting outside on the patio in the shade potting my plants there was a beautiful breeze. It was so nice enjoying the cool breeze, with my hands in the dirt and Drew’s kittens playing at my feet. And being alone – it’s a very unusual day for me. Joe and Eric are at work and Drew is spending the day with my dad and mom. I rarely have time alone at home. I treasure these times but I’m always ready for everyone to come back home. The quiet is nice but I miss the noise and knowing everyone is home.
I found some McCoy planters at a thrift store in a neighboring town and went shopping here at home to find a few more. My history with houseplants is a little lacking – I have struggled in the past to keep anything alive. Remembering to water them seems to be a problem. I’m hoping that being home now I will be able to remember! Another issue I’ve discovered is Pierre. I’ve caught him chewing on some of these. And digging a couple of them up. Naughty kitty! Now off to find homes for them. And another issue – with two beautiful big old oaks outside I get a lot of shade throughout the day so finding sunny spots will be a challenge.
Laundry is not my favorite household chore. In fact, I really really don’t like to do laundry. Unless the weather is nice and I can hang my clothes outside. Then I don’t mind doing the laundry at all. There’s just something so relaxing about hanging clothes out. And seeing those clothes hanging on the line all day, dancing in the wind. And the wonderful smell of those sun dried clothes. One of things I so love about summer is being able to have bedding that has been line dried. I seem to sleep so much better on sun kissed sheets! But one thing I haven’t hung out for years was my towels. My “guys” didn’t like how stiff they were coming off the line. So, I did some research to see what I could do to keep them from getting so stiff and this is what I found out – if you tumble dry your sheets for about five minutes in the dryer before you hang them out – they won’t be so stiff. Yeah! They aren’t quite as soft as I was hoping but they are definitely softer and it’s so worth it when you consider how much money you are saving by using your clothesline and not your dryer. It works for jeans too! A few things I do when hanging my clothes out:
This time we found sandstone bluffs. It was so much fun climbing up and down the bluffs – sometimes between them! There was graffiti all over them – it doesn’t take much carve a name into sandstone. It amazes me that we had never heard about this park. It’s not too far from home. We even stopped for a potty break and mom asked directions and the lady at the counter had never heard of Wildcat Den – and it was just around the corner from the convenience store! I love finding places like this – so much better than anything commercialized.
The park had this beautiful, easy to walk trail. We walked and walked until we found the end and then back to the truck. So much to see, everything was so green and pretty. I hope to go back this fall when the leaves are changing and the air is crisp and cool. I bet it would be breathtaking!
Two full days of hiking, up and down and all around. Hopefully this will keep this little guy content for awhile until our next “adventure”!
And Grand March – don’t they look awesome!
