due South Slash

For anyone interested, my basket is HERE. (I asked for fic/art in several fandoms: 9-1-1, Hudson & Rex, MCU, Murder She Wrote, and Terminator (Genisys/Dark Fate)).

Sign-ups are open through Sept 5, so if you want to sign-up there is still time! Go HERE.

Dates and links are in the Sticky Post.

I plan on going through the baskets, but if you'd like to link to yours here, please do so!

I had a doctor appointment this morning. A ‘3-month’ (in quotes because it’s nearly impossible to actually schedule these 3-month follow-ups at the 3-month mark) check-up on my A1C numbers, among other things. ( mostly good news ) I got in a walk around the park while I was downtown.

You already know that I like schedules, so, because I knew I would be busy today between my appointment and visiting mom, I had to schedule When Things Got Done so I didn’t miss anything. Before I left the house in the morning I hand-washed dishes, washed a load of laundry, and heated up a ham steak and some peas for Pip’s supper, so he in turn just needs to heat them up like he’d do with leftovers . (I got the thick-thick ham steak this time and have already chunked up half of it and put it in the freezer for escalloped potatoes on another day.)

What I did not schedule into my morning was Grant getting skunked first thing. What a rancid smell. The house and my car smell, and I’m sure I have some residual stink. We gave him a skunk bath at the garage (because there’s light, as well as a drain and a hose, and there’s help, lol). (I use a mixture of peroxide, Dawn, and baking soda.)

I had a little bit of time after my doctor appointment and before I left to visit mom, so I: checked mom’s mail, put the load of laundry in the dryer, hard-boiled eggs, and scooped kitty litter.

The fun continued after I got home from the hospital: I folded laundry and hand-washed more dishes!! *g*

I read more in Amelia Peabody.

Temps started out at 57.2(F) and reached 64.4 (that I saw at noon). It was raining when I got up; it was supposed to rain most of the night. It stopped around 7am as forecasted, though the clouds remained, but then we got a short but mighty downpour at a little after 11am. The sun did eventually come out, so I’m sure the temps went up a little bit, but not much, I don’t think.


Mom Update:

Mom was exhausted today. ( more back here )

I did not go downtown today. In addition to doing things online, I accomplished some things around the house before I went out to visit mom: hand-washed dishes, swept/mopped the kitchen, and scooped kitty litter. I also did some stuff for mom: checked her mail, paid bills and put them in the mailbox, and did some banking.

I got home early because my brother came out to the hospital, so I got to do some things in the afternoon/evening: cleared a pile of mail/magazines/newspapers of the counter, hand-washed more dishes, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, went on several walks, and showered.

I read more in Amelia Peabody and watched an HGTV program.

Temps started out at 51.8(F) and reached 77.5. It really was a beautiful day.


Mom Update:

Mom was doing okay. Kind of her new normal. ( more back here )

What I Just Finished Reading: Since last Wednesday I have read/finished reading: The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt by Kara Cooney.


What I am Currently Reading: The Golden One (An Amelia Peabody Mystery) by Elizabeth Peters. I’m also still slowly working on my re-read of An Archer's Awakening (Of Crowns & Quills) by Casey Morales.


What I Plan to Read Next: Probably another library book as I’ve already had to renew them all at least once because Hatshepsut took me so long to finish.

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Book 94 of 2025: The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt (Kara Cooney)

I finally finished this! It was really interesting. I didn't know anything about Hatshepsut or Egyptian politics of the day, so I learned a lot. One of the things that peaked my interest was something that the author said about women in power in the cover blurb and preface. It's not spoilery, since it's in the cover blurb and preface, but I'll put it behind a cut just in case

( spoilers )

I really enjoyed this book (even though it took me forever to read; that's the way of non-fiction for me) and would recommend it if you're interested in the subject. I'm giving it five hearts.

♥♥♥♥♥

I hit Walmart while I was downtown and got in a walk around the park. I hit Stewart’s (for milk, finally) on the way home.

I did two loads of laundry (both washed, dried AND folded), hand-washed dishes and emptied the dishwasher, went on a couple of walks with Pip and the dogs, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, placed a couple of online orders, scooped kitty litter, and shaved.

Pip finished up the bbq chicken quarters for supper (I haven’t cooked a new meal all weekend! I love it!). And there are still enough leftovers for him to take to the garage tomorrow.

Pip had to release the dogs to save Smokey from a buck! Smokey was out hunting at the edge of our lawn/where the high grass in the field begins. Two deer were heading up to the bird feeder through the high grass. The buck realized there was ~something there and turned to check it out/stomp it to death. I called out the window to Smokey, but he just turned to look at me PUTTING HIS BACK TO THE DANGER. What a hunter. *shakes head* So the dogs chased the deer away and Smokey was saved, but he probably had no idea what the deal was.

I finally finished Hatshepsut and watched some HGTV programs. And I handwrote ~800 words on a new fic! I’m hoping that it will be my entry for smallfandombang. If you guessed, based on the fact that I recently re-watched the movie (to take notes) that it’s in the Olympus Has Fallen fandom, you’d be right!

Temps started out at 60.4(F) and reached 81.3. It was only supposed to be 70 today! Needless to say, I changed my morning capris for shorts when I got home from downtown. We got a teeny bit of rain later on, but not much.

ETA: I forgot to say, Thank You to kat_lair for my birthday fic! It's Primeval (Nick/Stephen) and you can read it here: Celebrate Tonight by MistressKat


Mom Update:

Mom was doing about the same today. ( more back here )

I did four loads of laundry (two of which were mom’s; all got washed, dried AND folded!), hand-washed dishes and ran a load in the dishwasher, went for a couple of walks, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, changed kitty litter, and showered.

I visited mom (and called her later in the evening) and watched some HGTV programs. (No reading got done today because of visiting with my siblings, who visited mom.)

Temps started out at 66.4(F) and reached 75.2. It was cloudy almost all day even though we barely got any rain, but there were a few times the sun peeked through.


Mom Update:

Mom was very weak today. ( more back here )

I hit the Bakery while I was downtown and got in a walk around the park. I filled my gas tank on the way home.

(The original plan was to get gas AND milk, but they were so busy when I stopped in that I had to move away from the gas pump so someone else could have it and then I couldn’t get back around to a parking spot because cars were lined up all over the place. I could barely get ~out of the parking lot. Milk will have to wait for another day.)

I did a load of laundry (yes, washed, dried AND folded!!), hand-washed dishes, went for a couple of walks, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, and scooped kitty litter. Pip had leftover chicken for supper, so another day I didn’t have to cook!! (Leftovers are my friend. *g*) I decided to have Cheerios and a banana.

I visited mom; read more in Hatshepsut (2 chapters today, which is a miracle because sometimes reading just half a chapter makes me fall asleep); watched some HGTV programs and re-watched Olympus Has Fallen to take notes.

Temps started out at 54.5(F) and reached 86.2. It was stupidly lovely out. But that's going to change. The rain forecast for the next couple of days keeps changing, so not sure if we're going to get any rain, but the temps are going to drop for a few days.


Mom Update:

Mom was doing a bit better today. ( more back here )

I hit Price Chopper and the Pharmacy while I was downtown and got in a walk around the park. I also went to the lab for blood work as I have an appointment with my PCP next week.

I did a load of laundry (washed, dried AND folded), hand-washed dishes, took Grant for a short walk, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, scooped kitty litter, paid some bills online, placed an online order, hard boiled some eggs, and showered.

I also went for a walk with Pip and the dogs when he got home. I'm trying to get more walks in because I've been slacking even though I haven't been spending entire days with mom. Today I managed just over a mile, so I'm hoping to increase that before winter hits and my walks also take a hit. o_O

We had BBQ chicken quarters for dinner! This time I picked them up. I made sure it was okay with Pip to have it again and he agreed. I like chicken and I'm happy to not have to cook, so win-win for me! *g*

I visited mom, read more in Hatshepsut, and watched some HGTV programs.

Temps started out at 48.9(F) and reached 82.3. It turned out so nice!! However, the TWC app is calling for ~80 today and tomorrow, then mid-70s for two days, then mid-60s for two days, then temps in the 70s, slowly moving from 71 to 78. Except for two days when the overnight low will reach 60, it will be ~50. I don’t like this. (TBF, I love the temps of fall, but not at the expense of summer, and also, I’m sorry fall, but you get a bad rap because you lead right into winter.)


Mom Update:

Mom did not feel well at all today. ( more back here, including the mention of vomiting, though no details )

Blackberries! I think it's cool that you can see the entire progression here, from green to red to black.




( 15 more back here )

What I Just Finished Reading: Since last Wednesday I have read/finished reading: Answers in the Ashes (The Inn at Holiday Bay) by Kathi Daley, Once Upon a Mystery (The Bookstore at Holiday Bay) by Kathi Daley, Halloween Moon & Thanksgiving Past (The Cottage on Goosberry Bay) by Kathi Daley, Opera and Old Lace (The Bistro at Holiday Bay) by Kathi Daley, and some fanfic.


What I am Currently Reading: Still working on The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt by Kara Cooney. I also started An Archer's Awakening (Of Crowns & Quills) by Casey Morales as my ‘light’ reading to go with the heavier reading of Hatshepsut.

(Funny thing, I didn’t remember the book when I read the blurb, but apparently I’ve already read it. o_O Some of it came back to me when I started reading it, but not enough for me to feel comfortable going on to the second book. So I’m actually re-reading this one. So many books, too little brain.)


What I Plan to Read Next: I have some library books out, so one of those. Probably the next Amelia Peabody.