Sunday, August 14, 2022

Warm on Saturday

We Just Love Our New Basket



"It's a Purrfect Fit for Me!"

Dancer has been in and out of his new basket, all day long!

Another warm day, today.  We went up to 99F.  It was a bit cooler in the morning, but, I decided not to vacuum.  Instead, after replying to blog comments, etc., I spent a very relaxed day, seated in front of the fan, watching quilting related videos online.  There were quilt exhibitions, a couple of documentaries on quilt making and quilters from Gee's Bend, Alabama, and someone giving a talk about their quilt collection.  One of the quilts that was shown in one of the videos I watched was in a collection in a museum and it was a very unusual quilt because the design on the quilt top was entirely made of buttons!

Later, around 6:30 p.m., I decided to sit outside in the back patio area as it was cooler outside than inside by then, with a little breeze blowing.  I took my laptop with me and started to write an email to a friend.  After a few minutes, I realized the chair was to close to the passionfruit vine because there were at least three wasps flying around the passionfruit vine!  There were no flowers on the vine, so I don't know why they were visiting the vine, but, maybe they were finding aphids or perhaps they were sucking some juice from the leaves?

Anyway, I moved my chair away from the passionfruit vine and continued to write my email.  Then, I noticed the swarm of what looked like mosquitos around my legs!  They hadn't started to bite, yet, but, I wasn't willing to wait!  I picked up my laptop and phone and went indoors!  Any further plans to sit outside in the patio in the early evenings will have to include some mosquito repellent!  Not sure where they are coming from because I don't have any standing water in my back yard - even the cats' water bowl has been emptied since the only garden cat seems to be preferring to be in the front garden.  But, I believe the neighbor behind me has a pond, so maybe they are coming from there?  I think I was outside for less than 30 minutes!  I haven't been stung by mosquitos when I am outside putting water, but, that maybe because I am always moving when I water.  One small mosquito managed to come inside with me and was buzzing around for several minutes while I tried to swat it.  I must have succeeded because it stopped flying around after a few minutes.  

Later in the evening, friend R called and I chatted with her.  Then, I commented on a couple of other blogs.  Still later, I video chatted with my daughter.

Brunch had been the leftover spaghetti and sauce from last night and the last bit of fruit salad.  I had a corned beef sandwich with my tea around 5:30 p.m.  I couldn't decide what to have for dinner, so, I just made a scrambled egg and toast, with a piece of mango for dessert.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Being able to sit outside in the patio for a short time
- I didn't get stung by a wasp or mosquitos!
- Online videos that offer glimpses of things I would not have seen otherwise
- Emails, phone calls, and video chats
- All the friends I've made online through blogs and forums, etc.

Today's joyful activity was watching quilt videos.

No big plans for tomorrow.  It's supposed to be another warm day, with a high of 96F.  I'll probably relax and play with fabric a little more.  

How was your Saturday?  What are your plans for Sunday?

 

 

16 comments:

  1. That is a hot day! But a breeze is always nice. Those mosquitos...they are the most annoying bug! Andrea

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    1. It's summer in southern California; triple digit temperatures are the norm! The evening breezes, however, are nice; they are called sundowner winds. I don't recall having so many mosquitos around, before, though.

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  2. Dancer has claimed that basket for himself, maybe time to put a small blanket or pillow in for him :) It's not pleasant having wasps and mosquitoes flying around you outside, you did right to give sitting outside a miss though that was a shame. The quilt top made of buttons sounds interesting. Another very warm day again here, I'm just staying inside next to the electric fans.

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    1. Dancer was in and out of that basket all day, yesterday! LOL.
      I think I will have to give sitting outside in the early evenings a miss! Or, sit near the lemon grass plant as that is supposed to be a mosquito repellent.
      The lady who made the button top quilt replicated a quilt pattern in buttons, using thousands of buttons to do so!
      I'm glad you are staying close to the fans. I've just turned on my fan and that's what I'm doing, too! :)

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  3. Do you have a small fan you could take outside with you? That could help keep the bugs away. A quilt with buttons sounds interesting, but it doesn't sound good to sleep with.

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    1. I do have a table fan I can take outside with me. I was hoping to reduce my electricity use by sitting outside when it was cooler. I'll have to rethink my outdoor seating arrangements!
      I think the button quilt was made more for display than for actual use! On the video, the curator said the quilt weighed 45 lbs. but, an article I read stated it weighed 65 lbs.! Now that's what I'd call a weighted blanket! :D

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  4. I'm glad that you escaped stings. Dancer seems to really approve of the new basket - and he is obviously a discerning gentleman.

    Perhaps you should keep an eye out for wasps nests. They are so awful.

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    1. Dancer seems to love his new basket! I had fabric stored in it, but, I guess it is now his basket!
      Yes, I'm glad I didn't get stung by a wasp. I do have wasp nests under the eaves of the house; every so often, gardener M and I knock them off, when we consider it safe to do so. I've read that peppermint oil will get rid of wasps; maybe I will try that!

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  5. Saturday involved entertaining the grandchildren. Sunday had been more peaceful. Church, then lunch in a lovely venue in Norwich to celebrate our wedding anniversary. (Which is not for 2 weeks - but grandchild #4 due soon, so we wanted to celebrate before I have to go to Manchester) It's very hot here. I'm not coping with heat and wasps...

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    1. Spending time with the grandchildren and then, an early anniversary celebration - sounds like a lovely weekend to me. :) Happy early anniversary! All the best to you and Bob! Hope it cools down a bit for you. :)

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  6. I don't think I've ever seen a quilt where the top is covered in buttons. I can't imagine it being too comfortable.

    It's a shame the flying beasties didn't play nicely and you couldn't stay out on the patio. Will you try again? I use a citronella candle to keep unwanted guests away.

    Are you making anything special during your fabric playtimes?

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    1. Apparently the lady who made the button quilt replicated a published quilt pattern in buttons! I think it was made more for display than for actual use. In the video I watched, the curator said it weighed 45 lbs., but, an article I read said it weighed 65 lbs.! I don't know which is more accurate, but, I think it's safe to say it weighs more than 40 lbs.!
      I need to buy some citronella products or peppermint oil (for the wasps). Or, ask M to buy me some of the plants that are supposed to repel mosquitos and wasps to place around the patio. In the meantime, I will spray more of the stuff I've sprayed for fleas - it says it works against mosquitos, too (I just looked it up).
      Currently, I'm just cutting up fabric into little squares. I have plans to sew up the squares to make a quilt top, but, haven't got to that stage, yet. But, this is something I had been wanting to do and the whole reason behind the time log...I wanted to see why I wasn't taking the time to sit and play with my fabric. Of course, it means that certain other things are going undone, but, that's OK - my excuse is it is too hot to do those other things! :D

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  7. I guess Dancer loves the fact that the basket is a basket - with ventilation. I'm sorry you were bugged with flying critters while outside, that is not fun.
    We had an outdoor mass today and the bishop came. It was sunny and rather hot and not everyone had hats which concerned me, especially men with bald heads. After I got home we had guests for lunch and we hadn't seen them for decades so it was fun to catch up.

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    1. Dancer seems to enjoy spending time in the basket! Then, when he feels tired of being curled up in it, he stretches out on the coffee table or the bathroom floor. Then, he gets back into the basket. He's so funny!
      I plan to sit outside, again, armed with my container of flea spray, which also says it will repel mosquitos. I'll keep a safe distance from the wasps, too!
      The outdoor mass sounds like quite an event; I'm glad it was sunny, but, hats would have provided some sun protection. I'm glad you were able to enjoy the company of your guests and visit with them after such a long time. Hope you are enjoying the rest of your Sunday, Bushlady. It's just after 2:00 p.m., here, and we've reached our forecast high of 96F.

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  8. Well - that was annoying! Your plans to sit outside gone awry.
    I'm glad you didn't get stung by anything. I'm prone to mosquito bites but they don't bother my husband. If I don't slip a shirt with long sleeves on over top of my shirt before I go outside, I always get bites. And if I have shorts on? Forget it.
    We had wasps earlier in the year apparently building a nest in the wood around our back garage door and used the wasp spray a couple times to end that effort.

    The basket color is perfect for Dancer's coat :)

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    1. Yes, and I was feeling so pleased with myself, too, for finally deciding to sit outside where it was cooler! Today, a little unwelcome guest hitched a ride on my skirt when I came inside from checking on Mama Cat...a tiny black dot that jumped! Oh, no! Need to ask M to spray the outdoors, again, when he is here, tomorrow!
      I think Dancer might be tiring of his new basket! The novelty is gone! :D

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