Monday 23 August 2021

Lately...

 I really haven't been posting much. There's not much of big importance (in my own experience, not world wide) that I feel a deep need to write about, but here's what's been on the forefront. 

Weather / Time of Year: I know lots of people whine and complain about this heat, but I love it. It feels like summer, which is perfect for someone who lives in winter for about six months of the year. August, as I've written about before, has a distinct "feel" to it. It's a crickety, crunchy, hot, winding down, kind of feel. This is, of course, the first year in thirty-one that I am not mentally gearing up to get ready for another school year. We in Ontario begin school right after labour day at the beginning of September. So, August has always meant a wrapping up of freedom and beginning of routine. Not this year, although I intend to continue to do some supply work because after a lot of soul searching I realized that I still want a foot in the game. I still like the job, still like being with the kids, still enjoy the camaraderie with my fellow teachers and ed. assistants. 

Gardens: In bloom now are my tall phlox, some types of hydrangeas, purple cone flowers (echinacea), some remaining although lacey-leaved looking hollyhocks, and of course, seas of black eyed Susan (rudbekia). It's a very yellow and purple world right now. We are enjoying much from the vegetable garden including potatoes, beets, beans, lettuce, cucumbers, zucchini, and very very soon... tomatoes!! It's also peach season, be still my heart, and I have been enjoying my favourite breakfast (or lunch), oatmeal with cinnamon, sliced fresh peaches, and vanilla yogurt. I've also made one peach pie so far. Perhaps I'll share the recipe. Our peaches come from the Niagara region of Ontario.

Pests: Husband's time and efforts were required this past week to deal with a wasp (I think yellow jackets, specifically) problem at our back porch doorway. We live in an old yellow double bricked house. There was a small hole between the bricks over top of the doorway to our back porch. Great numbers of these winged beasties were coming and going through this hole. I was a bit hesitant to use that door, and I'm not generally scared of bees or wasps. So, after much research and contemplating, husband "suited up" and got ready to deal with the problem. This was one of those near 30 degree days. He put on thick canvas work overalls, topped by a thick canvas cold weather coat. I wrapped a scarf around his neck to protect that area, and then a bug hat (covers entire head) went on over that. He had tall rubber boots and gaunlet-type leather gloves. Duct tape was used to seal in any openings around wrists, legs, and waist. 


This is a picture I took through the back door of him beginning proceedings. 


Another picture taken through the screened window. 



How it looked after the old metal ceiling (soffit) was ripped down. Husband has since replaced the whole thing with new vinyl soffit and installed two new lights, instead of the old one light. He's handy that way. The current nest was found in the insulation that was above the room adjacent to this porch and some old nests were pulled out as well. Copious amounts of wasp spray were used and a wasp catcher is still hanging on the back porch to take care of any lingerers. That day, when he was done dealing with the nest and came back into the mudroom to be "disassembled" and out of his gear, he was sweating profusely and announced happily later that he had lost two pounds! Maybe not the best weight loss method, however. He did not, by the way, get stung even once!


Birthday: This month, husband celebrated a birthday. He is very hard to buy for. We are at the age and stage where if we really want something, we just buy it. So, for his gathering of our immediate family and two close friends, I created "the world's best charcuterie board". Husband's drug of choice is cheese, and we have gone to some vineyards for wine and a charcuterie board in the past, much to his delight (not so much for the wine, but for the cheese and meats). It was pretty impressive and far too big for just the amount of people at the time, so there were many tantalizing leftovers.


Cheeses that were featured were: Stilton blue (husband's absolute favourite), Brie, Smoked Cheddar, Swiss, Two-year old Cheddar (Balderson), and Jalepeno Monterey Jack. 

Hair: We all know about Covid hair. Nobody could make a hair appointment and we all looked hideous. Now that we can make appointments, I had called up a good hair dresser and I am waiting patiently for my September 7th appointment. Yes, she was booked up about a month and a half ahead of time. I've been dying my own hair for quite some time now because it is just a heck of a lot cheaper. Not saying I do a better job, because frankly, I don't. I'd much prefer getting someone to apply highlights and lowlights in just the right places and make me look good, but less than $20.00 is better than over a $100.00 every few weeks. If you want a glamour shot of the "roots" part of the process, here I am in all my glory, sitting at the computer playing Solitaire, waiting for the 20 minutes to be done.


Just spoils the magic, doesn't it?


Cat: Murphy the kitten is growing. He is still a pain in that everything continues to be a toy: rake, vacuum cleaner cord, feet, broom, little felt pads on the bottoms of chair legs, pillows... He is however, adorable when he is sleepy. Here he is today, helping me with this blog post.


He still torments Scooter to no end, but Scooter is now fighting back, which is good because he's always been a lover, not a fighter, but Murphy needs to understand pecking order.


And that, my friends, is it for now. Enjoy your day!

46 comments:

  1. I agree Niagara peaches are the best. The wasps & hornets are certainly a pest I try hard to keep away - I find the fake paper wasp nest does a fairly good job & I only need to replace yearly. Your husband is certainly a brave man tackling! Happy belated birthday to your husband, that is some birthday spread. ... Mary-Lou =^[..]^=

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    1. Why, oh why haven't we thought to use one of those fake nests?!? One at each porch, and one at the pool house would be perfect. I must buy them now and remember to put them up in time for next year. Great idea!!

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    2. I remember those peaches; yes they are the best.

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  2. Murphy is SO cute!!! You are brave to show yourself dyeing your hair lol...we all do it, but I don't think I would so openly admit it! :) You look great there! That charcuterie board...I just couldn't take my eyes off it! I was sure it was catered. FANTASTIC. My drug of choice is also cheese as you know Jenn...a great wine along with it and I'm in lala land. I love Stilton on graham crackers, I think the pairing is delicious. Haven't had that in ages and I'm not brave enough yet to make a blue cheese at home! The wasp nest, eek. We had one in the basement last summer but we didn't find it until the winter, thankfully. We just couldn't figure out where all the wasps were coming from but when Alex started to insulate the basement, he found it. Glad everyone was safe!

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    1. Oh I’m certain that charcuterie board (table) spoke to you! I always marvel at your cheese making!!

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  3. Great update post. Love the pics of the 'wasp extermination'. Good to get to the bottom of that. Those fake wasp nests do work. So glad I didn't have to wait a month and a half to get a hair cut. I'd have taken the shears in hand myself! Lovely looking table and cute kitty...and love your new header picture.

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    1. Re: cutting it myself, I was having a step 1 or 2 lockdown moment and was contemplating either cutting bangs into my hair myself or getting another cat. You can see which one I opted for.

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  4. Murphy is absolutely adorable. As for that laden table - wish I was there to sample the Blue Stilton - my favourite too.

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    1. Oh yes, you would be more than welcome! It was a bit of an ordeal to find a place that sold genuine blue Stilton! Nothing else would do!

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  5. Thank you for the update Jenn. I love the charcuterie table, right up my street. Also the kitten looks adorable. As for hair, I will pay someone to do my colour everytime, she makes a good job of it and I wouldn't know where to begin. xx

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    1. I’ve been envious of your visits to the hairdresser! I figured this woman must be good if she was that booked up! I’m always looking for a good hairdresser, if just for the cuts!

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  6. Your world is set to rights so well done! May the heat continue!

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  7. "crickety, crunchy, hot" ~ describes August perfectly! I'm glad you have a handy husband!

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  8. You have a very brave husband!
    I love the charcuterie board idea - that would be right up my alley. I have a book that someone gave me as a gift and it is shows how to set up cheese, charcuterie & dessert boards! If I ever get to have company again it is definitely something I will keep in mind!

    I already had my hair cut once and I just booked again for Sept. 3rd - the last time I ended up having to wait 10 months between appointments with the shut down so don't want to wait too long. I stopped colouring my hair about 2 years ago so my timing was good on that one! It is a relief - and yes - it saves me a LOT of money.

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  9. Your garden sounds beautiful in August colors. That is a winning, 5-star birthday celebration with more cheese than I have ever seen on one table. Beautifully done. It sounds like cute Murphy is pushing the envelope with Scooter. Bees are a big problem, I had Carpenter bees that required extermination and then exterior repairs.

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  10. Covid hair! Ha ha. My hair is the longest it has, I think, ever been. I like it, but I am starting to look like a hippie.

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    1. Mine is ridiculously long, too. It's fine to pull it back or put it in a bun, but to wear it down, it's just too much.

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  11. You look great! I need a haircut in the worst way; like Sandi I'm starting to look like a hippie. But not in a good way.

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    1. "But not in a good way". Yes, I sometimes have Joan Baez hair.

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  12. I am so glad summer is winding down, I am just not a fan of the heat. I don't mind August because I know we're at the tail end of summer and that just makes me happy. I am an Autumn kinda girl. Speaking of tails, is Murphy the cutest or what? I am right there with your husband, cheese is my favorite thing on planet earth. I just love the stuff, anyway I can get it. Happy birthday to him. That was quite an impressive charcuterie board you made. I, of course, zeroed in on all the cheese.

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  13. I remember my dad complaining that I didn't write enough letters to him...just send a postcard he said..you will soon run out of room!

    Your post reminded me of that!! You think nothing much has happened...but...!!

    Wasps are useful in the big scheme of things, but don't make good neighbours unfortunately

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  14. What a magnificent cheese and charcuterie spread! Yowza!

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  15. That is my kind of birthday meal! Do you cater out???? I admit to being terrified of any wasp-ish kind of insect. Especially those that build ground nests - you can never tell they are there until they sting you! I'm glad you are keeping your hand in, vis a vis teaching. It will be the best of both worlds.

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    1. Catering. Another job on my long list of jobs I wouldn't ever want to do. We had a bumble bee nest in the ground one year behind the chicken coop. I found it interesting to watch them. (They weren't really in anyone's way there).

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  16. I haven't had my hair cut since last October. I was trying to go a year but I'm beginning to look like Cousin Itt from The Adams Family and now Covid is ramping up again so I don't know that I want to. I'm still coloring my own, too. I LOVE that birthday meal with cheese, fabulous cheese! A perfect idea! And well done on the wasps. I wouldn't want to be anywhere NEAR that job. I LOVE summer and dread -- well, not fall, but what comes after. I'm hoping September is warm and beautiful!

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    1. You reminded me of a Hallowe'en many, many years ago at a university pub where someone had made a "Cousin Itt" costume using baler twine (the old fashioned yellow stuff). I am also hoping that September is warm and beautiful.

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  17. Taking a minute to catch up with you. Sounds like exciting times at your house, getting rid of that nest. Men. They are so very useful to have around, aren't they? The charcuterie looks splendid, every man's dream, I'd say. I'm back to the kitchen again this morning, canning as I have every day practically for the past 2 weeks.

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    1. I just read your post - your canning results look amazing!

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  18. Thank goodness, your hubby is very handy. He did a great job. Your garden fruits sound delicious. I think your kitten is adorable. He will slow down soon enough. Enjoy your visit with your hair dresser, and have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.

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    1. Yes, husband is very handy, not afraid to tackle anything.

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  19. Well, I enjoyed every word of this post. You look pretty there dying your hair. I ruin pictures even when looking my best. Never seen such a delicious table full of foods. I would say "charcuterie" but that is a word I don't know. Sure will look it up though. :) Showing my ignorance here. Wasp, or yellow jackets scare me to death. Glad your husband didn't get stung. I accidentally stirred up a wasp nest yesterday while trying to pick up a fake deer that had fallen over. Only two came after me but I beat them to the front door. Lefft the deer in the edge of the woods. Murphy is growing. He is an adorable kitten.

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    1. Charcuterie is just a fancy word for cheese and meat! But then you can jazz it up with other nibbles (nuts, fruit, dried fruit, crackers) and spreads (red pepper jelly, grainy mustard, roasted pepper spread, hummus). I am imagining you tossing your fake deer to one side and running like the wind!

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  20. I really enjoyed this post. Lots of interesting stuff happening. That table is amazing. It does look like it would feed an army though. And kitten, still adorable!

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    1. There were seven people altogether and lots of leftovers!

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  21. I laughed when I read “pests:husbands...”. I honestly thought for a second you were going to say something about him. Interesting post and beautiful cat, you are very lucky to have such a beauty. I think I have spotted a stray on rough ground near my flat as he/she looks very scruffy but could just be very old. I will keep an eye on it and see if I can look any closer

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  22. Oh what a wonderful table of goodies. I'm trying to cut out meat and dairy but with some good wine to sample I'd gobble the lot.
    I just dyed my own hair. The front is white blonde and the back is dark blonde. At least the grey is covered but how do hairdressers get even colour? I bought myself some purple shampoo so it doesn't go orange

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  23. With the new blogger things don't update, but then I caught my eye in my reader that you updated! I'm so very glad to read your here with us and I hope everything is still going ok.

    Regards,
    Online Thesis Help

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  24. That is a lovely table spread.

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  25. It has been awhile since I last blog visited and your post was full of so many catch-ups, Jenn. The charcuterie get together with good food and friends was a great birthday plan. We are also at that age when we can buy anything we want without waiting for a special day. Yeah to home hair coloring which is so much less costly. When the pandemic closed my regular hair place for longer than most places, I tried a SuperCuts near my home. The results were so good and way less costly that I am still going there. Hope the wasp elimination was successful as they are insects I dread. Murphy is a cute kitty.

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