ivyskeep

The YouTube algorithim is feeding me nostalgia videos of school pizza recipes. Some may ack but I'm going to try the crust and sauce from this recipe tomorrow and see how it goes. Apparently, the secret ingredient is milk powder in making the fluffy crust. That'll be my splurge day for the month.

Due to the vet's and my husband's (he has the car) availability, the first vet appointment we could get isn't until September 8 to have Bridget's cysts checked before probable surgery. She's doing good right now though.

I'm slowly cleaning up the yard plant wise. It looks like some elderberries will be ready for harvesting soon.

 No hail storms got the elderberries this year. Woo hoo. But it's not such a great tomato year. I didn't go all out in sowing radishes and beets this year, but I started some in late July in hopes of a late harvest.

Being old is getting old. I used to get a second wind after resting from doing yard work for about three hours. My wind is gone y'all. At least I got the yard work done that I wanted to this weekend. I cleaned up the bed around the baby lilac bush I'm trying to protect from Bridget, aka Ms. Stompsalot. I'll keep it esconced in a heavy tomato cage until it's too big for the dog to kill it. I also dug around it to place a border. Maybe I'll have some energy left tonight to do some of the creative work I want to get done.

The tomato seeds didn't take in this year's winter sowing experiment, so I plan on getting at least one tomato plant from a local nursery so I can have fresh tomatoes through the summer. I was bummed about the experiment failing since I had one success last year. I will make sure to do winter sowing next year but also have a backup of indoor starter plants.

I'll be sowing these sweet redcore carrot seeds tomorrow. Those haven't failed me yet, and they'er the most delicious carrots I've ever tried.

Garden stuff: I weeded the area around the raised beds to prepare it for the rocks I'm going to lay down. I think I'm going to be using more rocks this year instead of so much mulch due to the mushroom problem I had last year. I also thinned out the yarrow before it devours the columbine. You've got to stay on top of yarrow. It's like peppermint that way.

While my knee isn't perfect, it feels much stronger, so I've been walking more on the trail near my home. I always take my "emergency cane" though.

Bridget is doing better, so her surgery has been rescheduled for April.

I tried this recipe for Scottish rolls, and they turned out perfect! I think they're the best rolls I've ever made.

We've had an attack of penis-looking mushrooms. They're called stinkhorn and they're invading a mulched section in the backyard. Apparently, mulch is a known culprit in attracting them. From what I've read, they're not poisonous to people or pets. I dug some up but more are breaking through the soil. They may be good for the soil, but I don't want them to be much worse next year. I've read about two DIY remedies, one being boiling water mixed with bleach and the other being lime. I've got lime, so I'll try that first. I hope they stay in that little patch. I live on a corner and openly wear Paganish T-shirts and my Mjolnir. I occasionally get something like Chick tracts (Gods, remember those things?) thrown in my yard. It would be too funny if I become known as the Pagan penis-growing lady. I would be more concerned about the HOA getting on our case if it comes back with a vengeance next year.

In other mushroom news, we have a fairy ring in our front yard. I don't know what kind of mushrooms are growing there, and it's not in a mulched area. It's been a rainy summer.

I took on a digital art project for someone, and I'm rolling in the imposter syndrome over it. It's barely a hobby, and I have so much to learn. She wanted it completed in a little over a week though, and she seems to like the result, so I just need to cut myself some slack. I learned new things and found even more things I want to learn and practice, so I'm happy about that.

This video was helpful in regard to "analysis paralysis" especially the part about her making a decision about perfection. I may actually try the five-second rule she mentions throughout my day.

I'm getting used to juggling my three work contracts. I'm so much less stressed than I was with the bad place, and I'm learning some new things to add to my skill set, so all is good.

Pink snapdragons are growing up in cracks between some wood pieces in the back yard. It's a pleasant surprise.

I did a short blot for King Radbod today. Some info at Wyrd Dottir's blog. 

I made another batch of pesto to freeze. At this point, I might have to invite the neighbors over for pesto for a year. The basil plants are huge! I'll see if some neighbors would like some fresh leaves. I also dried some in the dehydrator for the winter.

My knee is to the point where stairs aren't as painful. However, when I turn and don't lift my leg up properly, I feel it's about to twist. I've been doing home exercises and still use a cane when I go for walks or am out and about to force myself to remember to be mindful of my movements.

Prompt 7 for the July 2023 Sunshine Challenge is for Zinnia which represents:

"While Zinnia has many different meanings, it is usually associated with friendship, endurance, daily remembrance, goodness, and lasting affection. The Victorian meaning of Zinnia are thoughts of an absent friend or a friend you haven't seen in a while."

I haven't had luck growing zinnias in great quantity, but I got this lovely dark pink bloom last year. I'll veer a little off the description and dedicate this one to people I'd like to get to know better.

“If you have two friends in your lifetime, you're lucky. If you have one good friend, you're more than lucky.” ~ S.E. Hinton

Work, aka life security, is going to be on my mind for a while, so bear with me during these posts. One contract I took on for weekend work has another opportunity during the week, so things may be smoothing out for me soon.

Bridget keeps noshin' on her leg, so I'm still making her wear a covering. I ordered one that covers just the one leg because the one that covers both hind legs gets cumbersome. 

Mom had to buy a new air conditioner. Thankfully, she went through the company we did. They've provided great service over the years. Her old one was from the '90s and rusting out.

The basil is doing great. I'll be making pesto soon. I've got elderberry blooms for the first time. I planted the bush two autumns ago. Hopefully, I'll get some nice berries to make a tincture and something tasty like jam. I have the York variety, which is self-fertile. I may eek out space though to put another variety in the yard for proliferation.

The rosa rugosa bush in the front yard has taken off. I'll be harvesting rose hips in the fall. I don't know if I'll have enough for jelly, but I can leave some for the birds in winter and still have some for tea. 

I made an appointment with my doc to check my knee. I slipped last year on the deck and torqued it somehow but the pain got better. I've had problems twice since then, but this time it's not getting better. I just want to make sure I don't have something like a meniscus injury.

I'm taking on some contract work on the weekends because I'm a terrible masochist I was a contractor so long that the habit of "not putting all my eggs in one basket" is a hard habit to break.

We need it to rain. Things are still growing though. I think the bush beans will be successful and at least two tomato plants.

I try to keep Bridget from barking at the toddlers next door, but if they're dog is out, she gets a few barks in. The little brother toddler has started barking back. She does the German Shepherd head tilt. I guess she doesn't know what to do with that. It's cute.

I'm very happy to start a new job in a couple of weeks. Bridget's yearly checkup went well, and she got her three-year rabies shot. Her dad took her for a burger after, lol. I started a new summery crochet afghan. My goal is to complete three this year with one of them being a gift for mom. I started two 12-pk trays of seed starters. They contain a mix of vegetables, flowers, and herbs.