Poor Saf.  We've been getting her nails trimmed regularly so her feet aren't sliding out from under her.  Well, when she's tired or feeling weak she drags her hind foot a bit.  A recent trim and a bit of a drag on the concrete and she's gotten herself bloody.  On one hand it's a good thing, because this means she has the energy to pace/do loops.

I noticed a bit of blood on the back stairs and deck the other day, but when I checked everyone's feet they looked ok.  Today there is defn more.  I am guessing the one was trimmed just a little too far which is a bad combo with a bit of a drag thanks to the heat really taking it out of her.  I cleaned her up and put one of the little booties on that foot.  Hopefully that will help her out.  Watching her get old stinks.

We were supposed to run tonight for Avery's first singing lesson, but the instructor messaged that she isn't feeling well.  That's a bit of a mixed bag since I had ordered groceries for pickup at the end of the lesson; I guess we're still running up to that plaza.

My bestie is now 7.  She had a great party this weekend with her friends and given her desired theme (Halloween) I am prepped a bit earlier than normal for Halloween.

School is in full swing now too.  It's odd that she's gone, but I get a little more focus on work.

How quickly the summer flew by.  It's officially time to start trimming things back outside every week.  I tore down the plants that were done or not looking promising (broccoli, pumpkin).  The tomatoes are browning and finally turning enough to make it hard to keep up in consumption -- but we'll give it a go or make a small batch of sauce.

This past CSA bag came with cherry hot peppers. I'm hoping they won't kill me -- so I'm looking for a recipe.  One of my favorite egg's uncles made stuffed ones at a gathering at one point - they were amazing.  I should just ask for that recipe!

I don't think I commented on this but I just made a call on it, so I have official information.  I am booked for Icon of the Seas.  I did so w/ a Surfside guarantee and I was excited because it is a new neighborhood and right up the alley for someone traveling with a 7 year old.  Historically on the Oasis class this area was the Boardwalk balcony and it was considered to be an upgrade from Central Park balconies.

Well, Royal has flipped things a bit and I disagree with it strongly.  When my guarantee was assigned I got a Central Park room.  I called the TA and they said it was an "upgrade".  I stewed for a while and today finally called RC to ask/confirm that this is the case.  It is, and that's pretty dumb in my book.

I mean, Central Park is fine if that's what I got a sweet deal on -- at least it was when you got an actual balcony and not just a window that opens and sucks all of the air conditioning out of your room.  No one wants these rooms, it's been widely known since Icon started sailing.  If you want to upgrade me and me not be displeased with it -- put me in an over water balcony.  Central Park is a downgrade, and it was even before the change to infinite balconies.

At one point RC had "upgrade preferences" that you could configure.  Basically you could say "if I'm in an interior and you have an available upgrade to a promenade view interior I do or do not want that to happen".  I'm pretty sure options included changes when in neighborhood balconies.  They've tossed those old preferences -- and never mentioned that they were now OBE.

Either way, I get to go on a cruise -- I will keep on cruising, but for sure I will warn people that they could get hosed w/ this type of a guarantee AND I will be sure to mention this in my post cruise survey (who knows I might end up thinking the Central Park infinite balcony is the best thing since sliced bread.  I doubt it, but I might.)

Here it is, the end of the last weekend before school starts.  I managed a bit of time to get into the hot tub to relax.

I spent a bit of time tidying browned leaves etc out back today.  I will count that as a step to ready for next weekend.  Along with the brown/dead pieces so went the broccoli and cauliflower -- they weren't going to do anything for me -- and the lettuce that went to seed.  Tomatoes are a very regular gather now.  I am glad I have a variety of plants as the sweet 100s aren't producing a ton.

With company coming on Saturday and Sunday this coming weekend I need to spend time each evening tidying and getting things in order. I also need to pull out the Halloween decorations -- a Halloween themed birthday party is an excellent excuse to get decorating.

Kiddo's birthday is in two weeks. If I told you I just started trying to figure out what we're doing for it I feel like you wouldn't believe me, at least not if you know me well.  Sorry to say, but you'd be wrong.  I literally just made a little invitation graphic to send to a few of her friends.  Just a low-key small gathering here.  Hopefully we will have nice weather and can play outside.  This means I have stuff to get done around here inside and outside.  I also need to get some things ordered for favors etc.

Avery told me the other day she wanted a Halloween theme.  Yes girl.  I can do that.  Of course whatever bakery I turn to will think we're crazy, but I'm good with that.

Saturday was a busy one for us.  Avery met a new friend from Camp Splash at the trampoline park (we were originally going to go to the park, but we are at last getting lots of rain so we wanted to be indoors).  We also had to go to evening mass to celebrate the end of Summer Fun Week at the Church.  From there we were off for a short visit with her bestie Luke.  Having gotten church in on Saturday allowed me to sleep in a bit today.

Never underestimate the therapeutic value of clearing out your underwear and sock drawers.  I also finally pulled all of the tank tops from the one drawer.  I haven't worn one in a year... they're gone.  Kiddo also started trying on school clothes from last year to see what all still fits - most everything is still good to at least start the school year so far, at least with regard to dresses, skirts, and short, we still need to go through the tops.

As we headed downstairs today I started by emptying the toy box and the set of drawers next to them.  So many little garbage toys purged!  There is still a ton all over the floor at the moment, it's time to continue sorting and purging.

Next up I need to get cooking with some of the goodies from my Friday CSA haul.  Since we were gone the week before I got a double dose this week.  There was an obscene amount of many things, but high on my list is peppers.  I think I'm going to make some stuffed peppers - the larger peppers I'll do rice and ground beef style and the longer sweet ones I'll do with my chicken cream cheese goodness.  Guess what I'll be eating all week if I can keep moving here this afternoon and get all of that made?

I probably should be doing some general cleaning as I've been working longer days (due to the pile on my plate and running Avery to Summer Fun Week) and neglecting the routine cleaning activities.  I think I really need to get someone in here to support general/routine cleaning again.  I just can't keep up.

Scheduled the kiddo with her pediatrician, can't get her in until October, so the school forms will have to wait.  Got her an appointment for a hair cut next week - may need to do one more round of blue in the tips tonight (in the mean time).

This morning she made an odd comment (as a 6yo does) about needing to keep her one foot on the rug in the bathroom because it needs the cushion.  Fortunately I didn't dismiss it and asked more.  Apparently her heel has been hurting.  I take a look and there is definitely a harder patch and a small brown ring.  I think it's probably a plantar's wart.  So now we also have an appointment for that with a podiatrist.

Back again!  Our second cruise this year is complete.  It was a short 4-nighter out of Bayonne to Halifax Nova Scotia.  We went with my favorite egg and his parents - their first cruise!   A great time was had by all.  Found an amazing tour provider and we learned a ton.  Liberty of the seas had excellent food and over the top amazing singers/dancers that were part of Saturday Night Fever.  5 stars!  It was a long drive, but dealable.

Also notable - I realized that Saturday (July 27, 2024) was my parents' 50th wedding anniversary!

Tomorrow I take the car for repairs, run the kid to another vacation bible school, and we head into a week with various appointments.  I guess I need to get a few more on the schedule to get us ready for the new school year.

We did get enough rain to fill my barrel while I was away. The plants were wilted but survived my absence.  I pulled a few more cukes and tomatoes upon my return, but little else.

We finally have a cooler temps.  We've had crazy heat for so long that the mid-70s as the sun set this evening felt cold.  It's been a struggle to keep the moisture in plants, so this little break is significant.  Tonight I gladly agreed to walk along with Avery while she rode her bike (she's getting much better and more confident).

I wish it had cooled off earlier as I spent one evening earlier this week sweating it out as I cleaned the inside of the car.  To say it's been a while since I flipped seats etc puts it lightly.  I even scraped the melted crayon out of the console.  The good news is when I drop it off to get repaired I need not feel embarrassed.

I need to follow up on the CSA basket from last week - I found a kale recipe.  It was actually a chicken and spinach recipe but I swapped out.  Matter of fact, it was so friggin good I might re-make it this weekend to use up more of the kale.  The kale chips I made were even tolerable.  Maybe this is just a more mild kale than I've ever had before.  I also made a wicked good sauted scape and parm linguine last night.

Because I am getting the texts as I type I'm going to share my frustration however... apparently everyone else getting CSA baskets can pick up immediately after it arrives mid-morning.  So I'm the only one who works?  *sigh*

I never did report on my hood's 5th of July party.  It was hot and I sweated outside from around 2pm to 11pm, but it was a blast and well worth it.  I love my neighbors.  I have been eating leftovers of what I made for the past week (fruit salad, haluski, and broccoli salad - the last I need to toss at this point).

This week has felt hectic.  Avery had a half-day VBS that had me running around 9am and noon each day.  It made it harder to get my hours in so I could take Friday afternoon off, but I did it.  Before we headed back to the church this evening for their final program we made our way to the Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens.  I've never been before and I'm angry with myself for not going before.  This place is a treasure -- and close to me, rather than in Pittsburgh.  It's still crazy hot out there, so the less than 2 hours we spent there was enough for now.

Today was the first day of my newly found CSA!  Someone in town posted, looking for interested people as they wanted to be a stop.  Of course, I'm in!  Today we had some potatoes, tomatoes, a red and a white onion of good size, tons of garlic scapes (yay!), a beautiful large head of lettuce, and a huge bundle of.... kale (y.a.y.?).

My garden on the other hand is a mixed bag.  I have another pot (this would be the 3rd one) of potatoes that I need to dump as the greens have completely dried up and died off.  Some of the tomato plants are starting to really take off size wise and are forming fruit.  I have more cukes forming.  Peppers are just starting to form (other than the cubanelle that wintered over and has two ready to pick).  As to the other things in my garden... let's just say, if I didn't mention it, you can assume nothing has changed.

I found it interesting to compare my garden's progress to that in the Botanic Garden's growing area.  Their peppers are killing it, but my beets are far ahead of theirs.

Lower of 2 repair estimates:  ~$4700

My insurance (keep in mind, the other person's insurance should be the one paying but they are playing stupid nearly 2 months later):  ~$2400

Right now I'm stuck w/a $1000 deductible, so where is the other $1300?  Oh, and don't forget I will need a rental while I am without my car.  That's about $500 a week.  Avery has a camp the week the car is going in, or I would try to go without a car.

This past weekend has me feeling young.  It is short lived because I cannot keep up that pace.  Saturday night we hung out with the (best ever) neighbors - the adults out back and the kids playing away.  This ended up being a pretty late evening, but we still needed to get up on Sunday for church.  This meant I 100% got a nap on Sunday afternoon.

Avery and I had Sunday evening plans near the airport so I took the opportunity to hit At Home and get my code orange Halloween fix!  Admittedly I already got a Halloween fix from Cracker Barrel this past week.  Our plans were meeting up with two friends from college; one was picking his son up at the airport and it was so good to get to sit and chat.  I can't believe how old we all are at this point.  Life flies.

I pulled 4 sweet 100 tomatoes yesterday, so Avery and I got our first taste.  Boy were they yummy!

Today I pulled 4 cucumbers (which look pretty ratchet looking - short, fat, stubby, and starting to get orangy-yellow).  I guess I left them on the vine too long, but I was hoping they would get a little longer.  I also plucked one rather large beet - the others remain too small.  I then planted a few more beet seeds and some lettuce in the bucket from the failed radishes.

Well dang it.  That's what I get for being motivated and trying to cross what should have been a 10 minute task off of my to do list.  I have needed to clean my dryer vent for a VERY long time.  Today, I busted out the tool I purchased and got to it.  Suffice it to say I made it worse.  The end of the vent cleaner popped off and is now somewhere along the vent under Avery's bedroom.

I guess I'm not finishing laundry today.  Trying to find a handyman around here is a difficult task.  This is compounded by the extreme number of scammers that post vent cleaning services on facebook.  Anyone miss having actual phone books to try and find legit businesses?  I've left 4 or 5 messages and sent a few texts/fb messages.

I guess the good news is I could find someone reliable and start getting some of the other things on my to do list addressed around here.