Todays Thoughts, Photos, Shop and End of Summer

What's On My Mind Today?

I must confess not a whole lot. I have been thinking about what summer was since we are now a week or so past Labor Day Weekend. The summer started in California going to Sea World and seeing family. This summer ended with a day on Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park. In between there were other family times here in Jackson and a cruise to Alaska. All of it good and I will share scenes in future posts.

I have come up with what I hope will be a new format that I can stick to. The headings tell it all. First "What's On My Mind Today?" which can be about nearly anything. Next is shop news and I hope to have new listings to share here soon. Last I decided to go through my pictures and choose a photo that catches my eye and share it. Any way we will see how this goes.

Shop News

 I choose a few items from my shop today to promote on twitter. These dishcloths we something I tweeted. I just love the cheerfulness of the colors in these. Just looking at the colors made me happy as I crocheted these.

I am also looking forward to seeing if we can get a nice group growing on the EtsyBloggers team. Got an Etsy shop? Got a blog? Join us!

Photo of the Day

Somewhere in Arizona

I will admit that after nearly 5 years in the Phoenix area I never really grew to love the harsh desert landscape. What helped was that in the central part of the state not far from Payson you could see views like this.

Til next time.

Great Weekend

My weekend was busy and fun and I hope yours was too. On Saturday we went up to Payson. That drive seems to be a regular one for us on the weekends. We stopped at the fruit stand again as they were getting ready to close for the day. When a tired vendor of fruits and vegetables is getting ready to pack up and go home it is a good time to shop. We got almost 2 cases of tomatoes, a case of apples, some pears and some potatoes all for $10! I have spent today making tomato sauce and trying out drying some of the tomatoes in the oven. Tomorrow I am going to make some apple pies to go in the freezer for Thanksgiving when we will have a houseful.

Sunday was spent getting cars washed and going to the Cardinals game. We were treated to seats in a suite by Jim’s boss. (Thank you Tony!) It was a nail biter fourth quarter but the defense really saved the game. It was so much fun to be in the crowd on a winning day.We had a small brush with fame after the game. We ended up at the elevators at the same time as John McCain and one of his daughters. Jim shook his hand. I didn’t get the camera out and ask for a picture because I figure every one needs a day off. We wondered later if senators have some secret safety products to protect them when needed when they are out in public. There were some quiet guys in suits around but I really don’t know if they were part of his group or not.

Plumcot or Pluot?

Have you tried this lovely fruit? I didn't know the pluot or plumcot existed until this Sunday. We stopped at a fruit stand in Payson and the gentleman selling fruits and vegetables suggested it. The pluot as he called it is a cross between plums and apricots. It has a wonderful texture and is very sweet and it is just so danged pretty.

My Birthday Weekend

We spent part of my birthday in this park in Payson, Arizona. The town was hosting a traveling display of the Viet Nam War Wall. I think somewhere I heard that is was 1/2 size which sounds about right compared to my memory of seeing the real one in Washington. I don't personally know any of the names on the wall because thankfully my relatives that were there came home. However when something this special comes close to me I like to visit and in a way pay my respects.

Many people left gifts just as they do in Washington.

Handmade or store bought the love and longing for a different ending is still there. Just too many lives ended too soon.

I just wish mankind could find another way. It just seems to me that when powerful men fight the little man is the one that bleeds and dies.

So here I am at 53 on my birthday selfishly thankful that Jim made it through 20 years, 3 months and 1 day of Naval service and is still here with me.
He took the pictures.