Pictures and no pictures of what's going on

Today's post is a jumble of pictures, things that are going on and what I'm reading-or not reading because of all that's going on.

First, the potato harvest was rather weak.  I still have some plants in the ground so I'll let them stay and see if the potatoes get any larger.  I even had some blight which was really slimy and decided not to post that picture or any comments about starvation, corn, or the Irish Protestant that happens to live in the house.

 Sat night dinner.  A nice manage a trois.  We did add steak to the mix, but that changed everything so I didn't take that picture either because what would you call it?  Manage a quatre?  It just doesn't isn't the same, in oh so many ways.

 I'm still walking and I noticed that the cows seem to be hiding more often that not.  Of course I took it personally (they didn't like my taste in music, my outfit, etc, etc)

And then I saw this sign across the street.
I guess they figure that if they stay in the shadows no one will make the connection between their side of the road and across the street.  Too bad, we saw the cow carrier at the barn today and it looked like it was filled up.

 And now, for the latest happenings on Cross Lane.  Bob had a friend come over the other night to play and he brought this for the 2 of them to have fun with.

 They are preparing the ground for the Red shed that's coming tomorrow.  So now we have the Bob house, the TED shed (in the picture and will be moved soon to a less conspicuous spot) and the red shed.  The red shed will replace the shed that is next to the house right now.  It will be made out of wood and painted (you got it-barn red).  Pictures this weekend.  Fortunately I will be at work for the installation.

This weekend was the Belfast Harbor Fest with the annual boat building competition.  Bob's buddy and curling partner Owen participated again this year with the only female in the contest as his partner.  Since he wears a work kilt they called their group Us Girls.  Not sure how they did as we left before the results were in.  Update:  They came in third overall which is great since Sarah had never rowed before last weekend and had never built a boat.

Owen and Sarah working away.

 One of the many boats on display and for sale.

 And this cute little boat which is a little chubby in the middle is appropriately named, TED.

 Another boat and  view of the event.

 There's Owen in his work kilt and other gear finishing up the boat.  Speaking of kilts and skirts...  Someone has a birthday coming up and would be thrilled to get 2 skeins of this yarn, both the same color.  It would make a really nice scarf for a lucky daughter-in-law or any other female you may know...

 Tomatoes are starting to ripen.  The cherry ones are coming in now and the regular ones should be coming along in a week or two.

 The pink phlox are in bloom and they held up in the rain the other night.  The red phlox didn't do so well, so that's another picture not taken.

The fall/winter garden has been planted.  Lots of carrots, beets and some lettuce.

 The spot in the yard where the TED shed will be this time tomorrow night.

 And Bob pondering the state of the sheds, life and hopefully dinner...

What have I been reading this week?  A couple articles on Paul Ryan like this, and this one about Sonny Rollins and a delightful book of letters between Julia Child and Avis DeVoto  written while Julia Child was in France and Avis was in America.  It was the Kindle deal of the day for Julia's 100th birthday (that's the link to the book).  It is a correspondence between 2 women that loved to cook, comment on the politics of the time (the 50's and 60's) and life in general.  I highly recommend it to all.  And this one was in my email today but I haven't had time to read it.  And for more birthday ideas you can always click here.  I know I'm shamelessly promoting and putting out suggestions, but what the heck?

FLASH:  This is required reading for my relatives.  Not that I have even close to that many books, but I'm still relatively young and if you count the Kindle books and the ones I've given away, maybe????