whatcha readin'? 2020 {book 14::goal 30}

July 20, 2020 Arlene Giddings

This was a great quick summer read.

It carried me along quickly
on a maze of twists and turns,
made me wonder
and try to figure what
was actually going on
and at the same time,
I was able to empathize….
I remember what being a new mom
felt like.
Always worried you were doing the wrong thing,
that you weren’t doing the same thing,
that you were being judged,
that you were screwing your kids up
FOR LIFE….

And really, that fear almost never goes away.

But anyway, I digress.

Great summer read book.
:)

This book is up for grabs if you
have a book you want to trade for it….

5 ♥’s out of 5 ♥♥♥♥♥’s
NEXT UP:: TRANSIT - RACHEL CUSK

mary mary quite contrary

July 19, 2020 Arlene Giddings

how does your garden grow…

I actually took these
photos a couple of weeks ago…
it is looking even bigger now
plus, thanks to a good friend,
I was able to add 4 more deck tomato plants.

The cucumber plants are actually
way bigger now.
Next year, I would like to try to
make something cute
that will also keep them up a bit
but now, I am just trying to “train”
them to grow around the bamboo.

Sadly, my string bean plants
were eaten in infancy
by some heartless monster…
or possibly slugs?
I don’t know.
But I am going to try replanting some…
I do have a couple that might give me
few string beans
but
I WANT A LOT!

heehee.

This is the path I take
countless times a day
to water the garden
(the hose won’t reach
AND it leaks
so I have to use a watering can)
and to check on its progress
multiple times a day…

At some point,
I would like to put a real path
in here
with some cute stones
but not sure that
is going to happen this summer.

Good intentions though.
That counts, I think.
Heehee.

the other end of the island...

July 18, 2020 Arlene Giddings

friday was a sweet success of a day…

had a conversation in the gas station
about my polka dot dress and
was called
classy lassie as a result.

met up with a bff for our newly established
friday-at-lunch walk…
made friends with everyone in the line at access pei
while waiting for her to come out
heehee.

drove 2 hours to see another bff
at the other end of the island.
made a pit stop at micheals
(no, not to change in the parking lot this time)
for new watercolor paper….
maybe that will inspire me.

found new beaches,
climbed down a GIANT hill of rocks
and subsequently, back UP again…
stepped on a jelly fish
which is undeniably the grossest feeling
i have had in a long time,
had a close call where i almost ate a
PICKLED TURNIP…
or something…
drooled over bff’s new camper
which was more like a sweet little
fancy apartment on wheels…
seriously, i took my shoes off inside.

drove down a precarious dirt path
in a big truck 4 people jammed in a front seat.

giggled a lot….generally at jokes made at my expense
but that’s how i know they still love me…heehee

came home with 4 more tomato plants,
full of shawarma and rice
sand in my hair and dead jellyfish remains on the
bottom of my shoes,
exhausted and so happy.

yay for making the decision
to get of the house yesterday…
it was the right one.

AND THERE ARE STILL 2 DAYS LEFT OF THE WEEKEND!

friday i'm in love....(a bit of a weird one)

July 17, 2020 Arlene Giddings

i struggled with writing
friday i’m in love today.

i’m in a slump,
a bit of a black hole
of work and school and laundry
and work and school and bills
and lists of things to be done
and lists of lists so that i
don’t lose track of my lists….

i am not getting out as much…
not because i can’t
but i think because i have to think too hard
about everything….
is this place open, do i need a mask,
are there going to be restrictions, arrows, judge-y people
just waiting for you to make a mistake
and then…
i end up just staying home.

but today, I’m going to force myself
to go out (and no,
not just because i need diet coke, but…
i do need diet coke…heehee)
but because
the only way forward
is to make a step in that direction.

but in keeping with friday i’m in love
here is a quick & dirty list
(noooo. not that kinda dirty. gawd….)

sitting on the deck with a friend while her boy plays ball down the street
mr freezies….usually 5 at a time…and every color is my favorite
while i am eating it…heehee
a text from a friend promising an ice cream date
my study bunny app
tomatoes are growing & i have little teeny tiny cucumbers starting
10 minute dance breaks throughout the day

happy friday!
Right now, I am packing up my camera, cell phone, bug spray,
dairy bar crawl list, a blanket & a book and
making that step forward. :)

wordless wednesday...

July 8, 2020 Arlene Giddings