Hello everyone! We are getting closer and closer to Wyatt’s next follow up appointment and we can’t wait. We go next Friday and we are hoping they ease up on some of his restrictions a bit. Now that he is feeling better he is restless! He won’t be able to jump right back into things, the healing from this surgery is considered a year, but it would be nice to resume a few more activities.
We got out of the house last weekend thank goodness. It was a beautiful sunny, breezy Sunday and we decided to drive to Belle Isle and take a look around since it has been a while. We stumbled upon a cricket game in progress and we thought since that is not something we see here everyday, we would stop and check it out. Wyatt and I lounged in the back of the Subaru and Billy popped open his camp chair and we just hung out for a bit watching and cheering, although we had no clue what was happening. We had so much fun, just being out and taking a slow Sunday.
Last weekend we also celebrated Mermaid Girl’s birthday in the most casual, relaxed, fun party. They came over to our house to make things easier for Wyatt, and brought the cake and ice cream. The kids played, we chatted, we had delicious vintage cherry cake, which was the name from the bakery, and just had a great night. Mermaid Girl immediately started using her gifts from us; she loves drawing and wants to be an illustrator, so we got her some more “serious” art supplies for that, as well as a set of our favorite alcohol markers and a cute coloring book just to keep it young and fun. She drew and colored most of the night, when she wasn’t hanging out with her sister and Wyatt.
The past few days have felt like fall. I know that it is not here to stay, but I am enjoying it while I can. I even posted a fall books post, the first of a few that I have planned. I want to get them posted kind of early in case people are planning their fall TBRs and are looking for seasonal books. I have somehow amassed a huge list so it made more sense to break it up into a few different lists. I am going to however have the full list of all of the books available for people if they want it, once I figure out how to share it.
Our life has been very simple and slow lately. We are restless, but I am trying to make sure that we also have some fun things “during our confinement”, even if they are small. We check out our Little Free Library, to see if anyone has used it, and get excited whenever we notice books gone or new books left behind. We have been enjoying our animals and our books and our creative projects. I bought a new table that is easier for Wyatt to use with his wheelchair and he really loves that he can just roll up to it and use it without any issues. Our old table had the table legs in the middle, it was a fold up table thing, with leaves, is this a drop leaf table? Anyway, there was only so much room for his chair, the front wheels couldn’t fit between the legs, he had to line himself up exactly, and it was just a pain. Now, it is a bit lower, it is narrower so he can reach most of the way across, and the legs are at the far corners so he can use it very easily. I can’t wait to paint that room now, even more! I am thinking October, when the weather is nicer and the paint will dry better. Then I want Billy and our friend Nathan to tackle storage in that room during mid-winter, and build a whole wall of shelves, with areas for school supplies, art supplies, books, games, and the geckos that live in that room. I might be wishing for a lot there, but you never know! Poor Billy. This is what happens when I have too much time to sit and think. I also have some summer plans for our yard percolating, including a small pond area, and… the thing I am super excited about… a tortoise enclosure! I don’t want a big tortoise, like a sulcata (although, those of you in warm climates could do it, just saying) just a smaller one. I have seen the coolest little outside homesteads for tortoises on Instagram and I just think it would be so cool. We have an old playhouse of Wyatt’s we could probably convert over… see? This is a problem! It might not happen next summer, but I am hoping it will. I am going to spend the winter learning all the different things about tortoises, and their care, especially overwintering them, if they need to brumate/hibernate, etc. It’s a big project. But I mean, just look at this. This woman has the coolest setup for this tortoise, and she also has informational reels as well. Like I said, it is something I am going to research very well and make sure that it is something that we can do and something that is humane for the tortoise as well, and that we can care for one appropriately. I am trying to convince my friend Kelly to get one too, then we can have tortoise playdates. I had happened to see that two tortoises were in rescue together, which gave me that idea. I am such a dork.
And I have probably rambled enough for one day. I will talk to you all soon, and I hope that whatever you do today, you do one thing that makes you smile! Wyatt and I are going to the library and our local fish store for a few new aquarium plants, so we will both be doing happy things today!
And just some random photos!
Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs.. 
I love it!! Billy is your “if I can dream it, he can build it” guy! I’m sending prayers, good vibes, and crossing my fingers for a good appointment. Sounds like a drop leaf table to me. We gave ours to our youngest son. You’re just going to tease us with the paint color, aren’t you? I’m really in the mood for some DIY, but I really need to think it through since it will be me doing it…yikes! Have a fabulous weekend! We’re going to have lows in the 50s next week! Color me excited!
https://marshainthemiddle.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Marsha!! I hope it is our last appointment there for a while!
And I know, poor Billy. Lol. I am planning on doing the painting myself this time, sooooo.. I hear you. I am not the greatest, Billy is much faster and better at it but for the sake of time (and the fact that I want it done sooner) I am doing it. Lol. The color will not be that exciting. Swiss Coffee. I love using it as a neutral and then having other colors pop off of it. Ooo the 50s! I want it to be in the 50s here! Maybe it will be!!
LikeLike
It sounds like those few outings and get togethers have managed to plan have been lots of fun. I know what you mean about sitting around and thinking up projects. I was like that A LOT when the boys were younger and my husband used to tease me about needing o find a job so I didn’t have enough time to sit around and think up projects. I haven’t come up with any big ones in awhile.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol!! We can’t help it if our brains are constantly creating new things!
LikeLike
This post makes me smile 🙂 I’m so glad things are starting to feel more normal and y’all are able to do more – even though I’m sure that restlessness is a bother, at least it’s a positive kind.
Tortoise homesteading is beyond adorable, hehe
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol! I would love a little tortoise home in my yard! My issue is winter! I have been reading mixed reports on whether they need to brumate or not as pets. Hmm.
And I am glad we made you smile. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
On cricket, hooray, can’t believe you have it there at all! There is a famous tea-towel you can get (do you even call that a tea towel, the decorative towel you dry dishes with?) with the rules of cricket on it …
“You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that’s in the side that’s in goes out, and when he’s out he comes in and the next man goes in until he’s out. When they are all out, the side that’s out comes in and the side thats been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out.
When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in. There are two men called umpires who stay all out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out.
When both sides have been in and all the men have out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game!”
Apart from women, too, now! All clear?
Re tortoises, here we pronounce it “tor-tuss” apart from RIGHT here where they pronounce it “tor-toys” which I unfortunately think is adorable and try to make all my locally accented friends say!
LikeLike
Lol!!! Oh yes, I totally understand now!! Thanks for clearing that up!! We were surprised as well to see it. It was a neat way to spend the hour we were there.
Lol that is how they say it on Peppa Pig… aren’t you glad that is my comparison? Tor-toys. It is cute!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the idea of a tortoise enclosure!
We have tortoises at the little local zoo and our club president (the zoo is run by a club) always took them home for brumating. A school friend of mine had two tortoises and she took them inside for brumating, too.
It’s great that your little library is getting used!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it would be so fun! And I could rescue a tortoise! There are always so many in rescue around here, along with geckos.
Ok, that is good to know!! I need to read up on how to do that correctly. I did all my gecko research through a local reptile place called Josh’s Frogs that is a trusted resource. I need to find a resource for tortoises and how to do handle the care, especially with brumating. That is the one thing I am concerned about. The other things I feel are things I could easily do.
This morning we woke up to some new surprises in the library, and someone left a surprise for Wyatt on the porch as well. He was very excited!
LikeLike
It sounds as if you’re managing to have loads of fun. Watching cricket is always an experience – especially if you aren’t all that sure of the rules. Like me! And how lovely to have had a party moved to your house so that Wyatt could take part. I think the fact you are researching caring for tortoises so thoroughly is ideal – I know they can be very long lived, so knowing how to care properly for them is important. Fingers crossed for next Friday:)).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! They live so long, it will be like an heirloom! Lol. And thank you. 🙂
LikeLike
That cake looks delicious! Sounds like a good week! I love a lazy Sunday. Wishing today was more of that. It is kind of, but I’m going to the movies with a friend at noon, then family dinner at my mom’s later. I need a day to just be home and not have to do anything. Hope you have a good week!
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2025/08/24/weekly-wrap-up-238-august-24th-2025/
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was really good! I was surprised my niece picked such an old-fashioned type cake. It was refreshing!
I would like to have some time like that. I am considering one of those reading retreats!
LikeLike
Pingback: My Sunday-Monday Post – Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs..