Everstorm

I totally would if I wasn't worried about the foxes that live in the area. And snakes. My oldest plans to go into radiology, so that would be a yes! Too soon to tell about the youngest. I have definitely killed a fair number of plants, but I just blamed them for being fragile snowflakes instead of myself for being a bad plant mom and kept going 😆 (I'm looking at you, delphiniums!) No, they are a "set it and forget it" plant. I don't water, fertilize, prune, nothing. They grow and bloom and make babies no problem. The only thing I have ever had to do with my super tall ones is to stake them if they get too floppy. Just be aware that they have a rather short bloom time and just look like a corn field for the rest of the year 😅. So it might be good to plant them behind something else that will hide them when they are done. Some people take the time to set out the bulbs in groups over the course of a month or so, just to extend the bloom period, but that's a lot of bother for someone as busy as you are. Oh wow! That's crazy the school had the budget for that, but I guess it's kind of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for science. Good thing it didn't rain after all that investment! I ate veggies with lunch (haven't had dinner yet). Sugar...we don't talk about sugar. I made it to the pool today. No record-setting, just a solid 1km swim in 30ish minutes. Every time I go, I think how amazing it is that what used to be a stretch goal swim (400km) is now basically my warm-up. I've made a lot of progress without really having a plan, which has been really nice. Something @Harriet mentioned in her thread about rushing goals we think will fail has really had me thinking. I find it hard to articulate what exactly I am thinking. It's along the lines of taking time to explore and progress at my own pace, even if that makes it hard to set "SMART" goals. It's along the lines of journey over destination. It's along the lines of "I don't know how any of these thoughts could be distilled into a 5 week challenge" 🤪 I definitely need to do some more ruminating. And research. I am remembering some things from my Eating Skills course that I would like to get back to: living according to your values, practice, not performance, etc. In other news: my mother was cleaning out her art room and found an unopened box of artist-quality colored pencils she no longer wants. So she gave them to me. Score! This week's "play" will be taking these babies for a test run.

Thanks!

Maybe I should just open the door...

We had cloudless skies and about 75% eclipsing, so not too bad. We got the total eclipse in 2017 anyway. I've seen videos of using a colander! That's what gave me the idea to use the spoon, since it had better holes than my colander (square holes). 😂🤣😂 I like the way you think.

Uh oh. Sleep regressing again?

Oof. Hopefully you will dodge that one. I assume she's on antibiotics now? Should clear up her symptoms rather quickly.

Wow, that's an interesting insight.

Is it? I always heard it's kind of weedy-looking. Catmint is supposed to have better form rhan catnip, but mine never does much. I think it gets too much shade. My husband just bought the nip for our cats. I told him I've heard the local cats will roll in it if you plant it, but he wanted to try. At this point, it would just be par for the course with the deer eating my roses, lilies, and tulips, the rabbits eating my asters, and now the squirrels digging up the sunflower sprouts to eat the seeds 😑 What's a few cats in the mix? Thanks! I've been loving this weather lately. Went out today and heavily pruned my silverberry shrub. I kind of want to cut it down entirely, but I'm not ready to replace it yet. At least it's at a less monstrous size now. I "watched" the partial eclipse with my boys. We didn't have proper eyewear, so I showed them the trick of watching the shadows through a slotted spoon. They were appropriately impressed with my technological skill lol.

Isn't it? 😍 So much yard work yesterday. I planted the clematis, some catnip, and my new irises, did some light pruning, and moved some "volunteer" gladiolus and hydrangea. It was so nice out, I didn't want to go inside. I hit 2 veggies (barely), and definitely went over on sugar. Pretty sure the sugar dragons have hit full scale riot at this point. Le sigh. Got GMB Elements 4 of 7 done, so at least my fitness goals are online. I plan to swim tomorrow. I have been painting a lot on my week off:

This. So much this. I have such a hard time getting my brain to shut down at night and I don't know how my people just go to sleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow.

💯 Might as well

Lilac would be lovely! Good choice!

Awesome! I think you'd be safe with purples, whites, soft pinks, and yellows in your garden, as far as colors to coordinate with your house goes. See how pretty this Jackmanii clematis and New Dawn climbing rose are on the yellow house: Other pretty, low maintenance purples could include agapanthus, cat mint, or salvia. Panicle hydrangeas would be pretty, and they can take full sun, unlike big leaf hydrangeas. I love, love Little Quick Fire, whose flowers open white, then turn pink as they age. Daisies would look pretty, or echinacea "Pow Wow White", which looks like a daisy but has a much, much longer bloom season. Reblooming daylilies like Stella D'Oro would echo the yellow on the house without being too matchy-matchy, because they are a rich golden color. Black-eyed Susan (rudbeckia) would do the same. I'm going to stop there or I'll never stop lol. Hopefully it gives you a few ideas.

Oh my word, I did need to hear that. That sounds amazing

What climate zone do you live in? I have thoughts, but some depend on how hot/cold it gets in your region. Also, are you particular about native plants?

Do you have a white gel pen? I have had luck making labels by blacking out a square (or fancy label shape) to cover what I drew before and writing on it with white gel pen. The effect is like the "liquid chalk" labels you see (at least they are popular here in the US).

I feel like missed sleep derails me more than almost anything else, so even partially meeting your goals was a win for the day.

I'll take it!

They are definitely more awkward, but I can at least do them. I don't get very far with back squats before my knees nope out. I found a clematis for my garden! I love how the red in the stamens echo the red in the Japanese maple. They won't go in this spot, but on the trellis in the back. Plenty of room to add a rose later 😉

It's a half rack, but it at least has spotter arms, pull-up grips, and attachments for racking plates in the back for more stability. I can squat a rather insignificant amount of weight, mostly because my knees are a limiting factor. I do need to do more, though, so maybe next challenge will see a squat goal. I'd like to see if I get farther with a gentle exploration of weight lifting rather than strictly adhering to a plan. Swimming has gone much better that way, I think. I like pushing on the days I feel like pushing, so I don't think stagnating is a concern. Too much too soon is. For some reason, front squats or goblet squats are better than back squats. It is! Spending the day cleaning out the garage so it's a pleasant place to workout.

They make those guys pretty happy, too! I caught this happy customer on camera today. I've had a pleasantly busy day today. I worked on a painting for BotanicaCollection (still not finished). Then, went to the store with Husband for a new squat rack. When we got home, I planted the last of my new plants (milkweed for the butterflies), then assembled the squat rack. Evening plans got canceled, but I am down for a chill evening. Sugar dragons have been decently well-behaved so far. I have had one serving of veggies, will try to get in another at dinner.

Oh interesting. I don't think I ever heard about that one when I was breastfeeding. Then again, underproduction generally wasn't my issue. I swear I never had a dry shirt the first 6 months after my oldest was born. 🙈

Thank goodness they were prepared! What are those?

My heart goes out to you for the loss of your cousin.