With my book quilt on temporary hold ~

this morning I went back to constructing string blocks.

However, a back view yet again proves  

 that they are not quite as idiot-proof as once thought...

It's really windy today.  In fact I had to alert Tom that the manual for his smoker was blowing around on the back porch so 'maybe' he'd better rescue it before it went for a swim in the pool!  

Here he was yesterday, on the phone with the friend who recommended this type of smoker.  Instead of using wood (like Tom's original one), this one plugs in and automatically dispenses pellets - but Tom was experiencing some confusion with respect to the controls and directions.

He had planned to smoke a brisket today, but has decided to put that off for another day, partly because it is so windy, and partly because Alex (we think) is boarding in Flag today and we want him to join us for the feast.