New Addition*

I teased it a few days ago.  He's here now.

Equine Alley has welcomed a moose.  As one does.  Now, the question, of course, is exactly where said moose's back half is.  The shabby chic couch and old, worn wallpaper and floor sold it for me.  Distressed wood, signs of age on and in buildings --- I love that.  I have Pinterest boards titled "Weathered Wood" and "Old Doors."

During a filter change some time ago, the HVAC technician told me that burning candles badly clogs filters.  I like some ambience and Ifragrance in the house, so I've turned to 1) batteried candles and 2) aroma diffusers.  This is my favorite of the latter:

 I do like a fireplace fire, so the flame effect entranced me.  I'm currently enjoying "ocean and bergamot," which is so very nice.  In the "flame," I see a ladderback chair in front of an open window, with long curtains blowing on either side.

Not so nice:

Man, I hate this stuff.  Decide your upcoming medical plan from among over 20 choices.  4000 graphs and charts to make your decision "easier."  So tedious, so boring.  

*Not New Edition, the R&B group.  In case you were confused.

Well, Shoot

I made the banana bread, but it isn't what I wanted.  By accident, I picked up baby food bananas and carrots instead of plain bananas.  It isn't sweet enough at all.  When I realized what had happened, I shrugged it off, thinking it would be a cross between banana bread and carrot cake, which didn't sound bad in theory.  In reality, though, the loaf is drier and less sweet than I wanted.

Live and learn.  Pay attention when you're shopping.

It was 102 degrees here today.  The air conditioner has run without pause.  Just miserable.

It would seem that miniature dachshund are the hot dog (!) of the moment.  You can understand why:

Move over, French Bulldogs.  You've been supplanted.

 

Re-Pixied

Haircut time.  The stylist played a little.

 She had to use "taffy" to get my thick, wavy mop styleable.  Not mousse, not wax, not spray.  Taffy.  You can see it in the photo.  The challenge comes when I have to do something with it myself.

More sewing last night.

Done with what reds I have.

Some blues

Shades of purple

The baby blue is my favorite.

I'm itching to make some banana bread.  Looking up bread machine recipes online, I'm seeing sour cream being used in a lot of them.  Never heard of that myself, but sour cream is a favorite ingredient of mine just on principle.  Unfortunately, I don't have any sour cream on hand, so it'll be plain ol' 

plebian banana bread for me. 

I've done a surprising amount of knitting on my garter stitch snood today, without my fingers screeching for mercy.  Quite a relief, I tell you.

Likes

You know what I take for granted?  Crisp Cheez-It's.

Straight out of their little bag, all fresh.  Not from a box that the children forgot to close, leading to quick, inevitable staleness.*

It is still so hot here: upper 90s all week.  And there's a home game Saturday.  I feel for those players, and for the bands.  (It's TSU, so the health and stamina of the band are extremely important.)  Also, none of the roads are done.  Which is why I just did grocery shopping.  Avoiding some of the worst heat and the crowds on their way.

Amazon Memories sent me Baby, Baby Tap today.

He's always been with The Face.  This is the day he came home, I think.  Or quite shortly thereafter.

*Sorry --- Mom rant.

Projects

So, how do you usually spend your time while watching police body cam educational videos?  Today, I did this

It may never actually become a quilt (my mother had SO many quilt tops in one of her closets), but it was fun to do.  I made need to invest in a thimble, though.  With knitting and coloring and cross-stitching and writing projects all around me on the couch, I started something new.  Go figure.

Equine Alley has officially opened Phase II.

We had to move across the stairs for this, and for one very special addition that is on the way.

Finally, Twinnie, I see your Richard and raise you a Teddy.

Car Stuff. And a Birthday.

Never will I own a Rolls Royce.  Never have I particularly wanted one.  And yet, I've always known it would have to be dark (preferably midnight) blue.  This morning at my psychiatrist's office, look what I parked next to:  

An SUV, not a Rolls, but that deep blue is so pretty, don't you think?

Another color-specific "dream": a 1972 Cougar,

in chocolate brown.  As long as I've liked this car, the shade of brown I have in mind has never been a stock color.  Now, though, there is a pick-up truck in the back of the neighborhood that is exactly what I've always wanted.

Also, either a white or a black MGB GT:

1969?  '70, '71?  Anyway, this would have been a poor investment.  I can't drive a stick.

Kind of a meh day.  I cleaned the glass doors on the front porch and the back.  I made and frosted a vanilla cake.  It's a disaster in every way but taste.

Yesterday, I made Potato and Chives bread.  The taste is good, but the texture is divine.  I'm guessing adding some cheese and/or bacon would take it up several notches.  I would like to know the amount of potato flakes that could be added to other recipes, if that texture is due to them.

My suspicion is that I say this each September 1st, but again

Happy Birthday Sir Barry.  80.

 

Stay Hopeful, Friends