Summer 2.0

 Happy Summer! 

Here at the Stress Pool, we are enjoying some free-time by sitting on the screened-in porch and enjoying the real pool on the few days where it has been hot enough to warm the water! Life in the new house is good. The new bathroom is beautiful, and a walk-in shower should enable us to stay here until the bitter end - the whole idea of 'this is our retirement home'. Now for some window treatments...and a new roof. Oh, the joys of owning a home!

 My colleagues and I left school the other day a little war torn, but still standing. Seriously, any educator who made it through this last year should be proud to stand up and declare victory. The kids, too. It was just as tough on them. I don't believe that next year will be easy, but it shouldn't be quite as challenging as this one was. Now, time to recuperate, and what better way than by seeing friends, working on some artwork, taking little vacations, and yes - reading!

Back to the 'Summertime book a week' reading fest - and I have quite a line-up ready to go. I've already put down a couple that I have to mention. One is 'Verity' by Colleen Hoover. Wow - I couldn't put it down, even reading while stirring the sauce on the stove! If you like a good suspense novel, this would be the one to read. 'Honeysuckle Season' by Mary Ellen Taylor was also a good read, another one that only took a few days to read.

We have a lot of books on our Kindle library, thanks in part to DH, who probably buys more books than I do! We had started a series by Kendall Elliot that focus on FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick, daughter of a prepper in Washington state. The titles all have the word 'Merciful' in it. I finished book 3 after a long hiatus, and look forward to book 4 in the series. Our book club is reading "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and while I'm not too far in, it is proving a good read. DH has also been reading a lot lately. He'll look at me and say "I just finished this book - you would like it." (And, he's right -there haven't been too many books I haven't liked!) Tommy, BFF's brother from the Great White North recommended a series that revolve around a little town called Mitford, by Jan Karon. It's a nice series showcasing small-town America in the mountains of North Carolina, and are truly delightful. I just got three more from the library - I'm about halfway through, and there are maybe 13 in the whole series? Maybe 14, plus a cookbook. Loving the Bethel Park library!

I've discovered a watercolor artist's Patreon page - Louise de Masi. Her tutorials are informative - she's a fabulous teacher, and her videos have been super instructive. Yes, this old dog can learn a few new tricks, and my goal this summer is to improve my skills. I want to be an artist when I grow up...like, when I retire! It will be a few years yet, but there's no time like the present to prepare.

Then, there is the pool. Ahh, grand days floating around the cool water. The Pool has been a source of stress lately - I know next to nothing for how to take care of a pool! We've contracted with someone to come and take care of the chemicals all summer, but there are other parts that often have me stymied! This too, shall soon become old hat, and life will move on.

 Of course, there is also a bevvy of boxes in the garage that still need to be unpacked, the linen closet to be reorganized, and drawers to be gone through. There are movies to see - we watched 'The Batman' tonight (bet you didn't know I'm a closet Batman fan - ever since the Adam West days!). Cinematography was out of sight, and surprise - Robert Pattinson made a super Batman! I wanted to get a drink of water, but didn't want to miss any of the action - and there was a lot of action! We haven't seen the new Downton Abby movie yet, and I fear it will be On Demand before we know it!

There have been 4 owners of this house in the last fifteen years (yes, including us), and somewhere along the way, someone put in raised garden beds on the side of the house. It took a few times going outside and digging up the weeds, but they're finally clear. Now, I just need to get some top soil to mix in, put down some weed fabric, and plant some banana peppers, a cherry tomato plant, basil, and maybe a zucchini or two. I also thought it might be fun to try a pumpkin - we've never done that before! Big Brother said he would help me put up the fencing - he did such a good job on DiDi's garden. That will keep me a little busy, too. And Moink...but he doesn't know that yet!

Ahh, summer. Yep, nothing better. If you're in the area and feel like talking books, or digging in the garden, or just floating around the pool, then stop on in! You're always welcome in the Stress Pool!