Monday, September 20, 2021

A Domestic Rainy Day


Remember how I said our zinnias were looking a bit sad? Well, this may be part of the reason!

When I got up yesterday I set three goals -- finish my Newbery book, mow the lawn, and make a banana pudding. Two out of three ain't bad. I finished the book and I made the pudding.


I'm still trying to use up the box of Nilla Wafers we bought ages ago -- they'd already been sitting around a while when I made my last banana pudding, way back in June. (And yes, they're stale, but when they go in a pudding it doesn't matter.) I think I have about one more pudding's worth.

The book, "Roller Skates," was a rather sunny tale about a privileged girl growing up in New York in the 1890s, hanging out with the working folks and traveling around the city on, yes, roller skates. There were a few tragic scenes but they weren't explored very fully. The whole thing reminded me of a Shirley Temple movie. (The book is from 1936.)

Some of you suggested yesterday that I not pressure myself to read. But I find that I have to deliberately set aside time to do it -- otherwise there are just too many daily distractions, and I really, really want to complete this Newbery project this school year. If I read one book a week I should finish up next spring, and I'd like it to be faster than that.
 
I did not get the lawn mowed. Right around lunchtime it started to rain, so that scotched my plans. I also didn't walk Olga, but it wasn't for lack of trying. She was excited to go until she went outside and felt dampness on her paws. Then she turned tail for the front door.


Here's some of what's happening in the garden. Outside the back door we've got a couple of geraniums, the coleus and, growing up between the paving stones, some purple asters (aka Michaelmas daisies). That geranium on the right needs a trim, but I'll wait until spring.


The sunflowers are opening, finally. Looks like one of them is a brownish variety.


And our wildflower bed is still going strong, with blue cornflowers, yellow crown daisies and admittedly not wild nasturtiums. The white flax has gone to seed -- you can see the little round pods. I'm just going to let them go. Flax next year, maybe?


I started to cut down the yellowing burdock plants, but then I found several of these guys on the stems -- can you see him, peeking out from behind a leaf? It's a green shield bug. So I guess I'll leave the plants for now!

39 comments:

Linda Sue said...

A "where's Waldo" moment, trying to see the bug. I am not sure how to save our geraniums over winter. Mr. Google will probably have an idea. The rains have come and everything has melted. Looks sad like the only tool the gardener had was a hammer.

Moving with Mitchell said...

Maybe the author of Roller Skates was hoping it would be made into a Shirley Temple movie. It’s so funny that Olga abhors rain but adores mud. That shield bug, and your photo, are amazing!

Lynn Marie said...

I remember reading that book & being fascinated by the concept of going everywhere, every day on roller skates and having marvelous encounters and adventures on said skates. I think I put mine on and traversed the length of our child-friendly street's sidewalks a couple of times before getting bored, taking them off and finding something else to do.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

How about purchasing a dog treadmill for Olga? I copied this from "Doggy Planet":-
"In this day and age, with demanding jobs, family commitments and just the grinding style of life – finding time to walk your beloved dog may be difficult. Not to mention other variables such as horrible, cold and rainy weather – not the ideal conditions to take your dog on a walk.

Nevertheless, your dog's health will be of the utmost importance to you, and this is where a dog treadmill can really help in assisting you to keep your dog healthy and young at heart."

John Going Gently said...

Everyone in blogland has an opinion and many like to foist that opinion on other grown ups that know themselves very well
Do what you want x

Anonymous said...

Rather late in your season for sunflower blooming, yet you haven't had such a bad summer?

The banana pudding looks...interesting.

I can see the bug. We have them here too, although it is many years since I have seen one.

I wonder how a coleus would go on our windy balcony. It's a couple of decades since we have had one.

e said...

My grandmother would layer the cookies and banana coins and pudding. Yours is making me hungry.

Marty said...

I think it’s amazing and wonderful for a school librarian to have read all the Newberry. books! Who better to give a recommendation.

Bob said...

I haven't had banana pudding since I was a child and mother used to make it. And it's been that long since I've had a Nilla Wafer.

Anonymous said...

Your flowers are still looking quite beautiful there. Love that darker sunflower.

ellen abbott said...

so much here hasn't bloomed or if it did it bloomed sparsely. I blame the deep freeze. the oxblood lilies are the latest. so few this year. I hope the bulbs didn't freeze. and we really need rain.

The Bug said...

I WANT BANANA PUDDING! Sorry I'm shouting, but I might have to buy some vanilla wafers & pudding mix & make one!

Sharon said...

The insects appear to be pretty happy with your yard. Lots to eat and enjoy. I love the color of that sunflower and I see a few more buds ready to bloom.

Sarah said...

I want banana pudding too, even with stale biscuits! We have lots of baby snails, ad I found a shield bug on the bedroom door last night. I rescued it and put it outside where it belongs. It was a duller green than yours though.

Kelly said...

That's certainly a good, southern dessert! Do you cook your custard for the banana pudding or just do the boxed pudding type?

That little green bug is really camouflaged well.

Ellen D. said...

I love the photo of your wildflower bed - those colors really pop!

Margaret said...

Shield bug? Is that like a stink bug, only green? I don't like them whatever they are although they are welcome outside. I love vanilla wafers--with frosting!

Catalyst said...

re your Vanilla Wafers: I just read today that brown rice lasts for about six months, white rice for 25 to 30 YEARS! I absolutely love your flowers.

Sue said...

Zinnias are my absolute favorites and I grow a huge patch of them every year and enjoy cut flowers for months. This year they have a blight that's particular to zinnias and apparently very common. The leaves are covered with black spots with a white interior. I read that I have to get rid of all traces of the plants and then not plant them there for 2 years. UGH!

Steve Reed said...

I bring our geraniums inside for the winter. Are yours in pots?

Steve Reed said...

It IS weird how Olga loves mud and even wading in ponds, but hates rain! Maybe because she has control when she's wading or rolling in mud? Is my dog a control freak?

Steve Reed said...

OK, well, there's a testament to the effectiveness of the book! Maybe other kids will be similarly motivated today. I didn't know roller skates even existed way back in the 1890s, when the book is set.

Steve Reed said...

Weirdly, that sounds like a VERY good idea!

Steve Reed said...

Well, I don't mind people making suggestions. I'll always do what I want anyway. :)

Steve Reed said...

It's been a cooler summer than usual, I think, which may be why the sunflowers seem a bit behind. I'm hoping we get some good flowers over the next few weeks, at least.

Steve Reed said...

Yeah, that's exactly what I did! Some varieties require meringue and baking, but this one is just instant pudding layered with bananas and cookies -- the easy version. :)

Steve Reed said...

My biggest problem is I forget the books after I read them. If you asked me what "The Whipping Boy" is about, for example, I couldn't tell you -- even though I read it. My memory is terrible. I remember the ones I really like, though.

Steve Reed said...

It's a Southern staple! My babysitter used to make it when I was a kid. As far as I'm concerned there's no reason to eat a Nilla Wafer except in banana pudding.

Steve Reed said...

It's nice, isn't it? I'm eager to see it after it matures a bit more.

Steve Reed said...

I'm sure that freeze knocked a lot of plants back. Not to mention insects and animals.

Steve Reed said...

I'm glad I've inspired you! LOL!

Steve Reed said...

We do get lots of bugs, and I'm glad!

Steve Reed said...

Apparently this is the season for the shield bugs (aka stink bugs). Apparently they burrow into the leaf litter and overwinter, coming out again next year. Who knew?

Steve Reed said...

No, I just use boxed instant. I'm not ambitious enough to make cooked pudding. :)

Steve Reed said...

It's looking pretty good, isn't it?!

Steve Reed said...

Yeah, stink bugs and shield bugs are basically the same thing. I don't know if ours stink and I'm not going to kill one to find out! Staying outside is imperative for all bugs, as far as I'm concerned. I like insects but only in the garden.

Steve Reed said...

Yeah, the stale wafers really aren't a problem. They get saturated with pudding anyway and soften up, so it doesn't matter.

Steve Reed said...

Yikes! I've never heard of that! Does it kill the plants? I should cut more of ours. I just leave them outside but I think we'd enjoy them more indoors. (Of course, then I'd be depriving the snails.)

Edna B said...

Your flowers are beautiful. I love love Nasturtiums. Enjoy your day, hugs, Edna B.