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A Summer Ramble


Most of last week was being lost in Sudoku. Two, three, and, sometimes, four hours at a time, I was distracted only by making meals, eating, doing minimal errands and chores, being just a bit creative, and combing gnats and fruit flies out of Molly's fur. No excuses for my slacker activity, not even the few days of high temperatures.

It wasn't until recently that I learned to play Sudoku. So far I've been able to solve a puzzle every eight games or so. I'm indiscriminate: I play easy, medium, hard, and very darn hard games, whatever happens to by lying around in a newspaper, magazine, or Sudoku book. Whatever its level, the puzzle I'm playing is difficult. I like the process so it doesn't bum me too much when my solution doesn't work.  Solving Sudoku reminds me of doing algebra problems once-upon-a-time in high school. I loved solving for x's, y's, and z's, regardless of whether I got the correct answers. The chase! (Cue wicked grin.)


Do you know that some kinds of fruit flies bite? The past two months I have been blaming fleas for taking refuge in Missy Molly's fur and biting us, she and me; the Husband, the fortunate soul, is tasteless to the creatures. I was most likely right about the fleas at the start of summer. Not anymore. The sillies attacking Missy and me in the backyard are fruit flies. A couple weeks ago I found bites up and down my left side, from the base of my neck to my toes, after picking up the fallen green apples and persimmons in the backyard. There they were on the ground among the dozens of apricot pits that bugs left behind after devouring the fallen fruit.

Leaving fruit to rot on the ground is no longer a very good option for us. (Cue: apologetic shrug while looking upward) Only took me three summers to figure that one.


It's time for me to decide on what to enter into our county fair coming the first weekend of October. Entries are due in three weeks. Flower arrangements, definitely. Crafts, too. But, not those painted pots you saw above. Nor those work-in-progress painted rocks and tiles.  Maybe baking and confectionery. Yes, yes, I know I haven't done much successful baking or making truffles in quite a long while. There's the challenge. (Cue wicked grin) And, most of all, to have fun. I'd love to enter a painting or drawing in the Fine Arts Department, but next year may be better.

If you were going to enter your county (or something similar) fair, what would you enter?

It being still Monday, I'm off to link with Jesh at All Seasons and Angie at Mosaic Monday. Come along and check out the wonderful bloggers who also participate.
A Pretty Picture (Cue ding, ding, ding)

Comments

  1. I did not know that about fruit flies.

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  2. Su-sieeemac - have I told you lately how much I like reading your blog? It's like a conversation, and I find myself grinning and laughing out loud. You are my dose of "Laughter is the Best Medicine." I am impressed (but not surprised) that Sudoku is about the challenge for you, and not the outcome. How wonderful. You can enjoy it despite the result - me, not so much. Funny you should mention entering the Fair - when I was at our Fair last week, Dear Neighbor Friend was encouraging me to enter some of my photos. Perhaps next year! Good luck to you, and thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!

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    1. More and more, with every new activity I do, I get that saying about life is about the journey, not the destination. I've read that the quote is often attributed to Emerson, but he didn't say it in those words. A theologian, whose name I can't recall even though I read it a few minutes ago, did.
      I hope you consider entering your needlework along with your photos next year, Angie.

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  3. Fruit flies, eh? Who knew!. Poor Molly and poor you.

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    1. I've noticed that Molly stays away from the worse parts of the yard. She's a smart lady.

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  4. Am smiling because I can just "see" you think what to bring to the country fair. If you are good in making truffels, that would probably easiest to sell? How serendipitous - am having a small family/friends party on Sat. and I have an art table set up for the kids - one thing they can do is ... painting rocks! Love that bell! Do you use it as a front door bell? I have some big chimes by the front door, but no one gets the "message" - it's there to ring it! Before going off on more tangents, am thanking your sharing your thoughs/decisions with All Seaons. Have a lovely week, Blog Friend!

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    1. Oooh, I'd love to own a bell like the one in the photo. It's a church bell that hangs at Mission San Juan Bautista, which is 8 miles or so down the road. I like the idea of hanging chimes by the front door. Hmmmm.

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  5. I am not good at Sudoku. And maths in general. ;)
    If I had to enter a local fair I would give homemade jams or cakes - no doubt.
    Also for my own enjoyment in making them. Ciao Susie!

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    1. Homemade jams and cakes, cool! The other day I read a recipe for a chocolate peanut butter cake by Emeril Lagasse that I want to try.

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  6. ...I leave Sudoku to my wife, she is the one with patience in our family.

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    1. I never thought of it that way: Patience and Sudoku. That would make a good title for something.

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  7. I have battled Sudoku for some years though I've kind of left it alone for the past 2. Watch out for the buggies and good luck with the fair. Please share whatever you enter you brave lady.

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  8. We have so many flies and bugs and I bat them all away! lol Don't know which one will decide to bite! I can't wait for the arts and craft festivals in the Fall. I guess I would enter one of my bird sketches. I love painted rocks! Need to try that! Hugs!

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    1. Thanks, Lavender Dreamer. You'll enjoy painting rocks. I like to keep a bunch nearby when I'm painting other things so that I can use leftover paint on the rocks.

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  9. I get in game mode sometimes, too. If nothing else is going on, it's nice to have something to keep the brain occupied.

    I think you know what I'd enter into a county fair. I have no idea what I'd knit, but it would be something with yarn.

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  10. Rotten fruit on the ground here is an invitation to bears. This year the Conservation Officers are doing random checks and issuing citations. Sometimes it's easier to see bears and deer in town than out in the bush. When we aren't careful our food attracts them and encourages them to stay and cause harm and damage. I used to do a lot of Soduko puzzles. Now I only do them on my iPad along with a whole slew of solitaire games a night. - Margy

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Thanks for the good cheer. :-)

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