Monday, August 28, 2017

Memo, Mail & Me: It's Monday August 28th

Monday has rolled around rather quickly this week.  The start of the business week.  Do you consider Monday to be the start of your week or is Sunday the start for you?  For me in all my list making & planning it is Sunday that is the start of the week. 


This photo reminds me of the season as it is right now, the Summer rose embraces the Autumn coneflower.

Reading:  I just finished the best book I have read in years, "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield.  This was her debt novel.  There wasn't anything that I didn't like about it.  She captured a drama, a love story, a ghost story, a murder mystery, all into one marvelous book. I cared about the characters & I wanted more. I cried a little at the end.  I understand it was made into a BBC TV movie in 2013, which was not released this side of the pond.  This is a book that I am putting on my, dare I say, Christmas, wish list.  I will read this book again. I give it 10/10.



Visitor:  the easterly neighbour's new cat, Cleo came to visit & she was not welcomed at the front door by one of mine.  Sooty Paws was making some very aggressive sounds to warn this kitty off, who couldn't care less about all the growling. 

This is a better photo of Cleo, in my back garden; she was visiting my chipmunks! Again not welcomed & my chipmunks are all safe.  I do think she is very pretty.  Just after this photo was taken, she wandered into the westerly neighbour's yard, where their two large dogs made it very known she was not welcomed.
 
Mail:  more lovely birthday greetings in the forms of cards & postcards!    Lovely!

Discovery:  I found at the local farmer's market something I could have used as a kid - an egg apron!  Simple but an ingenious idea; rows of little pockets to put the freshly gathered eggs into.  These aprons were selling off the rack so quickly & I know a couple of the ladies that purchased are not egg gatherers, so I asked "why" - one lady said it was perfect for her daycare business to put bits & bobs in so they would be handy at all times; kleenex (tissues), bandaids (plasters), candies (sweets).  My favourite was the egg apron with the roosters all over it - that is funny!
Source: Internet
First Harvest:  this is the first of my heirloom tomatoes, I like the ruffles/ripples around the tomato & when cut they look so pretty. Oh the toasted tomato sandwiches I will enjoy!  I grow only one plant so not enough for canning.


And there are more to come!


August brings into sharp focus and a furious boil everything I've been listening to in the late spring and summer. Henry Rollins
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/henryrolli619066.html?src=t_summer
My Monday thought as I leave ... "August brings into sharpe focus & a furious boil, everything I've been listening to in the later spring & early summer."   Henry Rollins
August brings into sharp focus and a furious boil everything I've been listening to in the late spring and summer. Henry Rollins
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/henryrolli619066.html?src=t_summer

 
August brings into sharp focus and a furious boil everything I've been listening to in the late spring and summer. Henry Rollins
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/henryrolli619066.html?src=t_summer

16 comments:

  1. I seem to have missed your birthday, so a very happy belated birthday to you! Your neighbour's cat doesn't seem to care at all about who she is disturbing, does she? -Jenn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jenn. Cleo, I think is going to be as bothersome as her sister, Bella. I am so surprised that they let their cats stay out all night, we have a large coyote pack, with pups living in the field/hill behind us. I worry for the cats.

      Delete
  2. My husband bought very small tomato plants this year, and we'll not see many tomatoes. They look now like they should have looked in July. So disappointing. I love fresh tomato sandwiches, and have had a couple thanks to the farmer's market. I read The Thirteenth Tale right after it was published, and enjoyed it as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Having only 1 beef steak type of tomato & one cherry tomato, it was easier to look after because locally many are complaining that is was a horrible year for tomatoes. I still have a week left on the library loan of Thirteenth Tale so I am re-reading already! The book is haunting me, I cannot stop thinking about Vida.

      Delete
  3. A belated happy birthday. I have seen those egg aprons on Facebook. Those pockets would soon fill with our hens and I'm not sure what would happen when you bent over for floor eggs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Maggie. I imagine those egg aprons are really more decorative than practical & also probably for the hobby egg "grower" although the idea of a bunch of pockets on an apron is rather practical.

      Delete
  4. Oh a lovely tomato - I got some golden tomatoes at the farm stand yesterday - not quite so acidy. Great sandwiches. Love the photos of your visitor, determined little one, even though not welcomed by all. LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I must look for golden tomatoes although I will say these specific heirlooms were lower acid than regular beef steak. Yes Cleo & her sister, Bella, are very determined to be in my garden, then curl up & sleep in our garden chairs! Bold girls for sure.

      Delete
  5. Clever idea for that apron - I'm sure we could all think of ways we could use one of those!
    That tomato looks amazing. I would slice it up with avocado and slices of mozzarella cheese to have a variation on a Caprese salad. Oh boy, I could just eat that now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh now there's an idea for a new type of salad. Something that says summer & yes I am hopeful for still more summer days to come, thanks Deb for that combo salad suggestion. Oh yes I am thinking that apron would be a crafter's delight.

      Delete
  6. I wondered too how practical that egg apron would be, but def great for other knickknacks. The tomato looks delicious, but alas... Never heard of The Thirteenth Tale... but it's now on my radar. 🙂

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think when I'm at the market this week, I'll see if they have any of those aprons left, now I want one. I am most peculiar about eating tomatoes, I like toasted tomato sandwiches but don't put any type in my salad, it makes me gag! Love tomato pasta sauces ... I have bought all the ingredients for trying Deb's suggested tomato avocado combo. In my re-read of Thirteenth, I am in as much if not more than the first read through. I hope if you get, you'll like.

      Delete
  7. I think of Sunday as the first day of the week too. Having said that, our calendar for this year has Sunday in the first column, which is most unusual and has led to a fair bit of confusion over the months and even one missed appointment!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh dear, I hope that missed appointment was a costly one. Our dentist charges full price if you miss. I've gone & checked, all our 2017 & 2018 calendars start with Sunday as the first day - phew.

      Delete
    2. that should say I hope that missed appointment wasn't a costly one ... fingers & brain not fully engaged!

      Delete
  8. I'm doing some catch up blog reading this morning. Happy belated birthday - hope it was wonderful!!!

    ReplyDelete