A Bit of This and That - and a Question

 Hello all.  Hope you are all well.  It turned into a pretty morning here.  I woke to the end of a little rain and a little haze this morning.  We had a nice little rain yesterday afternoon as well, and the plants all got a drink.  The skies were grumbling, but we got nothing bad here.  One of these days, I may be able to get out and mow!  Hoping for tomorrow - it looks to be the best day for a bit.  Too hot, too dewy and wet, too humid, it is always something.  Not taking any chances.  I know it is very hot many places, so please take care and stay in and stay hydrated.

I want to say I watched a show this week on Discovery on the 2024 hurricane of Helene and the Appalachia area.  It was films taken by survivors and all their personal videos.  It was so sad to watch.  I cried, and I found myself holding my breath most of the show.  I cannot imagine.  People filming their homes being hit by waves of water and huge debris, watching their neighbors homes being washed away.  One family filmed a neighbor be washed away in the water (an older lady), and their husband/dad jumped in to save her.  Both survived somehow.  Landslides happening right in front of people.  I know many places are still not even close to being back, almost a year later.  Such an unusual event for that area.  I mean who had heard of a hurricane hitting the mountains?  Just so much sadness.

It is now hurricane season again, and I pray for everyone out there, that no one has to go through any bad storms.  I know many of you from Florida and up the east coast have gone through these horrific storms (some many times).  I am so sorry for that.

There is so much flooding around right now, and fires, it is heart wrenching.  

On a positive note, I got a video of my gr.gr. nephew opening his t-shirt blanket after he got home from camping.  He loved it.  He said, "I now officially have the best blanket in the house".  Isn't that cute?  The littles have their blankets I have made, mom has hers from when she graduated high school and the one she had me make with the littles clothes.  He had one as a baby, but nothing as he grew.  He is in middle school this year, and the t-shirts were all memories from 'grade school'.

I got a bag of t-shirts from my niece (his grandma) to make a blanket for her MIL.  Oh my.  I had a gal ask me if I would think about making one for her daughter too. They are fun to do, but oh my back!!  I have no place big enough to spread things out, except the floor.  So up and down.  Guess we will see.

I have a QUESTION for you all.  What do I use fig jam for?  I have a jar I received as a gift, and not sure how to use it.  I am not a big fig eater, except Fig Newtons as a child!  Not sure what to do with it - I sure don't want to waste it.  Give me your best ideas!  Maybe a holiday thing I can make?  Thanks

I picked several tomatoes yesterday!!!  They aren't totally ripe - but I am not taking any chance of critters eating them.  I am so happy they are finally ripening.

I mentioned a week or so ago about the groundhog showing back up for a couple days.  I was really worried about the garden, and it was eating a lot of my flowers.  So I came in one morning (while he was here), and got my jug of ammonia.  It was under the deck/shed - so I started in front of the deck and poured going to the front of shed.  As I walked to the side of the shed - I met him head on!  He just stopped about a foot from me and froze.  I guess he thought I was a BIG predator!!  They usually don't get close to a person and always hide.  I stepped back and off he went too and I haven't seen it since.  The ammonia works!!!!!  My brother has had a problem with them for years and he tried ammonia this year (after my advice) and finally got rid of his as well.  Just an inexpensive tip if you have them.   They don't like the smell at all. (other animals - cats, squirrels weren't bothered).  They leave, I am happy, and nothing harmed.

OK, enough rambling for the today.  Any ideas for the jam would be appreciated!  

Hope you all have a safe and lovely day.

Be a blessing to someone!!!!!