2024 Project 365 – Week Thirty-eight

This post will be a little different than usual. I do still want to share a few pictures from last week, but Hurricane Helene derailed our lives a little bit this past weekend. We are fine and our families are fine. We lost power Friday morning and they don't expect to get it restored until this coming Friday - but we have running water and that's huge to us. Although I had a VERY brisk shower this morning - brrr! Also, we were really excited to finally get a smidge of cell service at our house last night. Being completely cut off is unnerving.

Also, what we're experiencing is a tiny fragment of the hell that folks in the mountains are experiencing. Whole communities washed away. No way in or out. No water, power, cell service. Dr. M & I drove through Chimney Rock on our way home from our vacation. It's just gone now. Devastating. 

And still we live our silly lives in the hopes that the next disaster won't be us. I'm not sure we can count on that anymore. 

Sunday, September 22nd        

I went to my nephew's wife's birthday party and got to hang out with the great-nephews. They're a mess, and much much loved.

Thursday, September 26th        

I pulled a pack of peanut butter Nekots out of the jar yesterday & thought, “Huh. These don’t taste very peanut buttery.” Tonight I decided to finish eating the pack & thought, “Huh. These REALLY don’t seem very peanut buttery.” Reader, they were fudge.

Friday, September 27th        

Apparently I went to work during a full on hurricane? As in, later that morning Dr. M tried to go the same way and there was a tree across the road. Yikes. He was seemingly foiled at every turn trying to get to his dad's house, if it wasn't a tree, it was flooding. He did finally find a way to get there & his dad still had power - yay! My dad and Sue have power too - and last night they got their internet back.

Saturday, September 28th        

I left Dr. M at home and went to the office to charge All The Things. I also wanted to work - I had optimistically taken my laptop home with me on Friday. Hahahaha!

Well, I'm at the office writing this and it's time for me to start working. Here's hoping for a less eventful week! How are all of you doing?

2024 Project 365 – Week Thirty-seven

 We had a great time on our vacation - lots of photos this week!

Sunday, September 15th        

The deck on our hotel room in Dillsboro was fabulous - I decided that I would just live out there.

Monday,  September 16th  

We spent some time driving around the mountains today, but first, Dr. M spent some quality time deck sitting.

Tuesday, September 17th   

Happy birthday to my dad! (They were on their own mountain jaunt, so I didn’t feel bad about not being with him on his big day). Meanwhile, can you tell which bed belonged to Captain Chaos?

Then we went on a 4 ½ hour train ride along the Nantahala Gorge! It was a rainy day, but we didn’t care. The train was super comfortable and the views were lovely. This is a small fraction of the photos we took. 

There was a wandering musician on the train who took requests. A little girl requested Taylor Swift and then she & her mom sang along with him. It was great!

And yes we bought the cheesy photo. Makes us smile. It was a fun day!

Wednesday, September 18th     

Headed home today. It was a bit foggy! 

Thursday, September 19th     

Started a new crochet project (another cat pod for someone who requested it).

Friday, September 20th      

Update from Elliott’s mom: He had surgery this week so that the doctors could find out why Elliott has difficulty swallowing. So much so that he is still 100% formula fed at 15 months old. Well we finally got our answer! Elliott has Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE). Hopefully with some meds this can be controlled, but there is a very real chance that Elliott will never eat the foods you and I eat. This is an extreme allergy to the common food groups: wheat, soy, dairy, nuts, eggs, and fish. This is a chronic lifelong condition with no cure. Over the next few months/year we will be doing trials to find out what foods are triggering for him, and removing them from his diet. For now, we try meds and do a repeat endoscopy in 2 months to see if they help. Here's to hoping he can still enjoy chocolate milk (it’s actually his formula, but chocolate flavored)

Extra photo because he’s adorable.

Saturday, September 21st      

One of my internet friends had sent me a video of a person who made a “soap saver” gadget (upper right photo) that helped make soap stick together. I decided that a fork would probably work, and it DID! I’ve had three showers with the glommed together soap & it is still intact. Woot!

I’ve had a great week. Tomorrow is church and grocery buying and spending time with family and then it’s back to work on Monday. How was your week?

2024 Project 365 – Week Thirty-six

People. I am on vacation! I don’t have to go to work until Monday the 23rd! I mean, I did bring my laptop home, but I don’t plan to look at it until Wednesday at the earliest because Dr. M & I are Going On An Adventure. Happy sigh. But first, what happened this past week?

Sunday, September 8th        

Headed to church this morning & this song came on. I’m hovering somewhere between belief and unbelief but I still have faith that the church can do good in the world (especially my church, but I’m biased). And even a hermit like I am needs community. So every Sunday is a will she won’t she. Today will she won & as usual I was glad. Still somehow thrives this love.

Later I finally finished the Cat Pod I’d been working on! Not having an actual cat, I used this somewhat similar substitute to model the thing. Stay tuned for photos later in the week with actual cats!

Monday,  September 9th  

I had this feeling that someone was staring at me, but one of my FB friends said that I was actually being laughed at. Hmph. 

Tuesday, September 10th   

Dr. M & I dipped in & out of the debate, but I mostly kept track by reading this message thread that one of the folks I follow had. It was VERY entertaining.

Wednesday, September 11th     

Now that the cat pod has been completed (and isn’t it interesting to contemplate how cats have been used this election cycle?), I picked up this project. I’m a little worried about having enough yarn so imagine my dismay when I saw it was discontinued. I could order some off of eBay but why do that when I could just end up with something too small & have to give it to a child? Just playing crochet roulette over here folks. Whee!

Thursday, September 12th     

It’s so pretty around here…

Friday, September 13th      

We use a lot of folders at work & my “work wife” decided that we should all have some pretty ones! This one made me laugh & laugh because of the definition at the top left. Degenerately indeed!

Saturday, September 14th      

Out front, it’s a sedum/morning glory jungle, with occasional azalea & bumble.

As promised, here is the cat pod in action! An Ohio friend had asked if I would make it for her & she got it today. I hope her cats find hours of enjoyment. 

So what did you guys think about the debate? Do you think it will help with the election? It’s astonishing to me that it’s still so close. What in the actual world. 

2024 Project 365 – Week Thirty-five

It’s September & I’m feeling my usual angst about The Coming of the Dark. I mean, it’s nice that it’s not 90 degrees, but still… 

Sunday, September 1st        

No other photo, so you get this one of me after church. I do believe I was in the drive-through line at KFC. Ha!

Monday,  September 2nd 

Your weekly morning glories. They’re taking over the yard, but I can’t be mad about it.

Tuesday, September 3rd   

Dr. M says it’s not easy being green in a concrete world!

Wednesday, September 4th     

Walking in to work this morning my coworker said she thought I was wearing Jesus earrings & I said I AM!! (To be clear, I know Kamala isn’t Jesus. Just in case you’re worried about my eternal salvation.)

Dr. M says, as Saint Buffy of Sunnydale reminded us, “The hardest thing in this world is to live in it. Be brave. Live.”

Thursday, September 5th     

It’s muscadine season!

Friday, September 6th      

These spider lilies at my dad’s house are so pretty!

Saturday, September 7th      

So I said to myself, “Self! It’s a lovely mild September day! Go crochet on the deck!” Turns out sitting in full sun with yarn on your lap isn’t actually very mild.

Dr. M took a photo of one of my favorite views. He says that the soybeans are looking good!

This week has been pretty heavy. One of my favorite people that I follow, Sharon McMahon, wrote a post about how we are sacrificing our children on the altar of firearm worship. She said that we need to melt down that golden calf, and I agree. We’ve all said all the words there are to say. I feel some despair, but also a smidge of hope. But that hope depends on everyone voting. I’m ready - are you?

2024 Project 365 – Week Thirty-four

This week had some drama, some mysteries, and, once again, more pictures of me than we necessarily need. Let’s check it out!

Sunday, August 25th        

We sang the Black National Anthem at church today and, fresh from the DNC, it gave me all kinds of feelings.

Monday,  August 26th 

Drama! Intrigue! Mystery! I washed my makeup brushes on Saturday and then when I went to use them on Sunday one was missing! It’s a mere few feet from the bathroom sink to my makeup table but Dr. M & I looked everywhere & couldn’t find it. On Monday morning it still wasn’t there (the nerve!). I told the interwebs that I was going to start looking in the freezer & Dr. M’s toothbrush cup. Later that day Dr. M looked again and found it in the pocket of the hoodie that hangs on the back of the chair. I guess we didn’t really look everywhere in the first place.

Tuesday, August 27th    

I found this mustache on my desk & was wondering if this is what I would look like if I quit waxing my upper lip. 

Meanwhile, Dr. M found this battered spicebush swallowtail. I especially love the shot of it with its snoot down in the almost closed up morning glory.

Wednesday, August 28th     

Morning Glories!

I wore my new t-shirt while I was mall walking after work. Makes me smile. 

Thursday, August 29th     

I didn’t have a photo for today, so I’m sharing this from the way back that my nephew’s wife found while doing genealogy research. This is me in college around 1985 or ‘86, with my sorority sisters (it was a brand new sorority that we created - I was the founding treasurer). Just look at these ‘80s fashions. The clothes! The hair! My poofy sleeves and bow tie!!! 

Friday, August 30th      

I wanted a new Facebook profile pic with some blue in it 💙 

Saturday, August 31st      

I watched some of the Paralympics and love that after they got their medals, the athletes received this plushie instead of the poster that the athletes got at the other games (although it was really cool!). The box just seemed more awkward to hold than the plushie was. (I found out later that everyone got both - just one group got the box during the ceremony & one group got the plushie.)

People, it’s September now. What in the world. Now that the season is turning toward fall I can finally think about what to do with this cardigan (I couldn’t face imagining someone wearing it when I finished it in June). I’ve decided to give it away, so if you are interested I will add your name to the hat. It’s a large and I think it’s perfect for the person who wants to match the Thanksgiving tablecloth. Let me know!