My insanity

I can’t believe it’s August already! This was another no-shopping day until Pip wanted me to check Tractor Supply for cold medicine for cats (*head desk* one of our garage cats keeps sneezing lately; all I could find was immunity boost stuff) and I got in a walk around the park.

I filled my gas tank and hit the bank drive-thru on my way to visit my aunt. I picked up lunch from Subway on my way to mom’s.

I did two loads of laundry (both washed and dried, but only one folded), hand-washed dishes, ran a load in the dishwasher, cut up chicken for the dogs’ meals, placed two online orders (including Chewy, which will make the dogs happy), and scooped kitty litter. I made a ham steak with mashed potatoes and peas for supper.

I finished one Kindle cozy and started and finished another. And I spotted another fawn! Though not one of ours, sadly. This little guy was standing on the side of the road just outside the village where my mom lives and I spotted it on my way to her house. Thankfully it didn’t run into the road in front of me OR behind me (I checked the rearview mirror to make sure it stayed safe).

Temps started out at 50.0(F) and foggy. Another day I not only wore a sweatshirt out of the house, but a winter scarf and a jacket. Temps reached a glorious 75.6, with sunshine and a breeze. Honestly, a perfect day. If everyday could be like today I’d be so happy.


Mom Update:

The weather was so nice, Mom spent most of the day on the porch. ( more back here )

I had a pedicure this morning! I hit Agway (for dog treats) and Price Chopper (to pick up a couple things for mom) while I was downtown. I also picked up Chinese for lunch. I folded a load of laundry, hand-washed dishes, cut up chicken for the dogs’ meals, paid some bills online, and scooped kitty litter.

I finished a Kindle cozy and started another. I also typed in 2,900 more words on my fic!

Temps started out at 68.0(F), which was amusing since the high for the day was supposed to be mid-60s. So imagine my surprise when I saw that the temp ~11:30am had dropped to 59! I saw it reach 61.5 in the afternoon before it started going back down again. (Even weirder, I just looked at TWC app and it says today’s high is supposed to be 86. Where did that come from?!!) To make the day even more fun, it rained off and on most of the day. We need the rain, but very dreary. (According to Pip, the rain gauge showed 1.5" of rain.)


Mom Update:

Mom was doing okay today. ( more back here )

I had a chiropractic appointment this morning. It was ~almost another no-shopping day, but I ended up stopping at the Feed Bag. I got in a walk around the park and I ran an errand for Pip, to pick up parts for the garage. (I rewarded myself with a McD’s smoothie.) I managed to get to mom’s around the usual time.

I washed and dried a load of whites (still need to be folded), hand-washed dishes, cut up chicken for the dogs’ meals, placed an online order, and scooped kitty litter. I made open-faced tomato and cheese (melted under the broiler) sandwiches for my supper and grilled steak for Pip’s.

I started and finished the next book in the Inn at Holiday Bay Kindle cozy series, and then started the next. They’re just so easy to read. Very little thought involved. I also typed in 1,000 words on my ‘new’ fic! (Only ~ 9,000 left to go! *g*)

Temps started out at 61.3(F) (it felt cool enough for me to wear a sweatshirt when I left the house) and reached 91.6.


Mom Update:

Mom had already sat on the porch and given it up as too hot by the time I arrived. ( more back here )

What I Just Finished Reading: Since last Wednesday I have read/finished reading: Death at the Manor (A Lily Adler Mystery) by Katharine Schellman, Clue in the Carriage House & Witness in the Wedding & Christmas in the Candlelight (The Inn at Holiday Bay) by Kathi Daley, and One Was a Soldier (Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries) by Julia Spencer-Fleming.


What I am Currently Reading: Heir, Apparently by Kara McDowell.


What I Plan to Read Next: I have more library books in my hot little hands, so probably the next Amelia Peabody.

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Book 73 of 2025: Death at the Manor (A Lily Adler Mystery) (Katharine Schellman)

I enjoyed this book. ( spoilers )

This was a good book and I'm giving it four hearts.

♥♥♥♥

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Book 74 of 2025: Clue in the Carriage House (The Inn at Holiday Bay) (Kathi Daley)

Good book! ( spoilers )

I enjoyed this story and am giving it four hearts.

♥♥♥♥

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Book 75 of 2025: Witness in the Wedding (The Inn at Holiday Bay) (Kathi Daley)

Okay book, mostly because I got really annoyed by some of the ‘guests' early on and even when I found out what was going on I couldn't let that go. ( spoilers )

I mostly enjoyed this story; I'm giving it four hearts.

♥♥♥♥

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Book 76 of 2025: One Was a Soldier (Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries) (Julia Spencer-Fleming)

I was worried that I wouldn't like this book because it dealt with some difficult subject matter, but I ended up enjoying it a lot. ( spoilers )

This book ended up being really good! I'm giving it five hearts.

♥♥♥♥♥

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Book 77 of 2025: Christmas in the Candlelight (The Inn at Holiday Bay) (Kathi Daley)

I enjoyed this book. ( spoilers )

Good book, despite my niggles. I'm giving it four hearts.

♥♥♥♥

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DNF'd: The Case of the Haunted Hotel (Ghostly Glenwood Mysteries) by B I Skinner


I've broken 75 books already! I'm close to my goal of 100, so maybe I will surpass that. Or, perhaps when I get to the end of one or two of the series I'm currently reading, I'll return to fanfic so I can complete my comment bingo card. Or maybe I'll catch up on all the tv I've been leaving hanging. (Resident Alien, I'm looking at you.)

I hit Walmart while I was downtown and got in a walk around the park. I stopped at Stewart’s for gas and milk on the way home. (One of the things I had to pick up was wasp/hornet spray because Pip discovered - by getting stung three times - a wasp nest in the roof area of the front porch, where Midnight spends a lot of time. (TBF, Pip never completely closed up that roof area, so it's really his own fault. o_O))

I got two loads of laundry washed, dried AND folded!!, hand-washed dishes, emptied the dishwasher, baked chicken for the dogs’ meals, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, and scooped kitty litter.

I posted my SFFest fic, finished the Clare Fergusson book, and talked to mom on the phone. We went to Texas Roadhouse for supper with friends!!!

Temps started out at 68.2(F) (and sticky) and reached 91.0.


Mom Update:

Mom had her first chemo treatment today (Monday). ( more back here )

I washed, dried and hung up Pip’s uniforms, hand-washed dishes, made myself French toast for breakfast, stirred up tuna salad (without the usual celery) and added sliced cucumber for lunch at mom’s, and scooped kitty litter. After my visit to mom I washed, dried and folded another load of laundry, hand-washed more dishes, did a load in the dishwasher and shaved.

I printed off my SFFest fic and gave it a re-read. I finished the Kindle cozy and started the next Clare Fergusson.

Temps started out at 70.2(F) and reached 82.4.


Mom Update:

Mom was doing okay. ( more back here )

fandomgiftbasket rides again! Sign-ups open on August 23. Check out the Dates, Rules & FAQ post for more information.

I hit Walmart while I was downtown and got in a walk around the park. (I originally had no intention of going shopping today, but Pip needed something for the garage, so since I was already there I decided to pick up a few things I’d added to my list since Monday instead of wasting the trip.)

I folded yesterday’s load of laundry and got another load washed, dried and folded, hand-washed dishes, scooped kitty litter, and showered. I visited my mom (~10am – ~3pm); I stopped at the library to return a book (and talk to the librarian about it) on the way there and hit the bank drive-thru for mom on the way home.

(I did chuckle about the load of my clothes I folded because they reflected the weather the past few days perfectly: one pair of jeans with a long-sleeved t-shirt; two pair of capris with two t-shirts; two pair of shorts with two tank tops.)

I finished the Lily Adler book.

Temps started out at 69.8(F) (quite a difference from yesterday morning!) and reached 93.6. It was really hot out when I left mom’s.


Mom Update:

Mom was doing okay today. ( more back here )