Happy 4th of July Weekend

Hope you had a wonderful Fourth of July weekend🇺🇸 

Yesterday, I had no plans so watched the movie, "The Beauty and the Beast". It was the first time I have seen it and I loved it!  It was just one of those lazy days. Then by dusk, the firework started going off! My neighbors had an amazing display. This is just one of many photos I took. I had thought about sitting out on the porch to watch them, but was afraid with all the noise that 'Winter' might try to run out. And I not ever see her again...sad So, I took them through the door. I think the hours were until 11 or 11:30 that the could be fired off. So it quieted down and I got ready for bed.  It wasn’t but a few minutes and BANG! It sounded like they were right out my bedroom.  It must have gone on for another hour.  I’d start to doze off...and another BANG-it was awful. And yes, Winter was afraid, but thankfully not as bad as Rusty was. 

Today I went out and was checking my flowers. My son had come over earlier and watered them. With our 90+ degree temperatures and no rain, they really need to be watered.  The marigolds are doing amazing, they look so good. My daylilies are just starting to bloom. Tomorrow I will snap a picture of them. Their just so pretty. 

This is a picture of part of my granddaughters garden. They plan to freeze and can lots of food items. They have fruit trees, along with grapes. A great variety!  I got to Facetime with her and her sister today. (For two hours-😁)  We got caught up on a lot of things and tried to solve all the problems of the world. Ha Ha They are both very cautious and wear masks. And try to stay away from crowds. Very smart...I think! One has been going into work at the Vet's, while the other has been able to work from home.  But starting tomorrow she has to go in the office.

Well, I hear the booming again (which by the way is illegal). But, it’s time to go to bed.  My prayers are with all of you. 

Bye for now...

More from June & July

We had our South Bottoms reunion the first of June.  This is what we plan, as we have our potlucks each month. We had a great turnout. Of course each year, there are less and less. The average age of the survivors of this area of town, is probably 80. 

 My girlfriend took me out to coffee, the first week of June. This little hideaway --so to speak--is so fun to go to. They have muffins, Keisha, scoffles and some of the best coffee ever! I think it's Mondays..you buy one get one free (muffins that is!). They are huge and delious! It's called The Koffie Knechtion.  Also on their property, they have a tree house it is a B&B. People rent it, it has a bed...a fireplace with a bathroom. So neat. You could probably Google it and find out more!

I spotted these beautiful flowers as I was leaving the doctors office one day. They are so pretty!  Are you like me? Do you just want to dehead plants like these?? Ha Ha But of course I did not touch them. I just turned around and walked away. 😊

That same day, I noticed I had a low back tire, so I went to the tire shop to get it fixed. They were so nice to me. The owner said I could just stay in the van and they'd fix it. This gentleman has been there for a long time. He always remembers me, and when Brenda was here this spring and we went in there, we visited wth him then too. So he asked me about her. Well, bottom line...they didn't charge me, since I bought my tires there! That made for a good day!



This is what my naughty cat did...twice as a matter of fact! The leaves hung down and she just thought they were something to play with I guess!! I did have to get rid of it. That was a sad day, as Tom had got this cactus for me years ago. But...I still "L❤️VE" her!

I had such pretty tiger lillies this year. Do any of you have them? They are quite common around here!!



I will end this post, as always, with a picture of "Winter", she is now taking over my desk....lol But isn't she beautiful? (Even though she can be naughty!)

Blessings to all and good night! 

May and More

I can always tell it's springtime when the violets come into bloom! I love them!! I found this vase under my mother's sink after she passed. My mind immediately stepped back in time. I remember always picking violets for her, and she would be so happy and put them in this vase! They would sit in her windowsill over the kitchen sink. Sweet memories...

And then my lilacs would come into bloom. They were so pretty this year and of course they smelled amazing!! They too brought back a memory. My grandfather planted a lilac colored lilac bush at my aunt and uncles house and a white colored one at ours (actually it was close to the outhouse..lol)! My Mom was never happy with that color and always wished it was lilac in color. Well...now that I have a white one....I think I might understand. They do not have the lilac perfume smell that the colored one has. (And if that was part of the reason it was planted near the outhouse and didn't give out much of a smell...I can understand why Mom was unhappy with it! Ha Ha!)

The lily of the valleys were in full bloom too. They are so pretty and smell so good! A part of my driveway is lined with these. 

This was a new bush that grew by my lilac tree. I do not know what it is. If you know I would love to find out. Maybe it just finally bloomed. I'm not sure.  But it was really pretty when it was in full bloom!!

On Mother's Day, my son and his wife Vicky came over for a visit. They brought me this gorgeous plant and planter! It is filled with beautiful petunias! I have it sitting on my front porch, and go out and water and deadhead it almost everyday. I will have to watch it the next several days...as it's to be up to 90 degrees! 

My daughter and her husband sent me this card and bracelet for Mother's Day ! I love the pop-up card and the beautiful bracelet. ( The cross shape is so pretty.)

Since Memorial Day is in May we (my son Randy and I ) had to take a toad trip and go to the cemetery where Tom and his family are buried. They had so much rain up there, it was sad. The firlds had turned into lakes. And this is what the road to the cemetery looked like. Since my van is low to the ground we had to be careful not to bottom out.  Sad...

My friend Mary and I went out to eat in May to celebrate our birthdays! (Our October and January ones...ha!) I told you we had a bad winter!! It's always fun when we get together! Great food, friends and memories.

Here are the twins Eden and Ivy, already for their school program. I believe this was getting close to the  end of the school year. Aren't they adorable??




I must add a picture of Winter...this was in May of course. She had found her sun spot on the kitchen floor. 

Today, a friend of mine who writes books, sent me a text this morning telling me she had received her Advanced Review Copies of her new mystery book and asked me if I'd be interested in reading it and posting a review on a few sites she mentioned? Of course I said YES! I cannot wait to get it! I will share my review with you. Any one love mysteries??

Well, time for bed. Bye for now.

Where do I Start?

Where do I start?? I guess I start right here! It has been almost 5 months since I've posted! Sorry, I  has so many things going on in my life and I feel really bad that I haven't written about them....so...I had this bright idea! I will do a few posts to play caught up! Then I hope to update this blog more often.

Did you have a nice and safe 4th? Last night as the skies darkened..I looked out and could see beautiful fireworks going off all across the horizon, from the east to the west as far as I could see.. Last year they changed the law in Iowa to allow the sale of fireworks.. so this is only the second year that I have been totally entertained with a sky full of celebrational lights! They were red and white...nad maybe a hint of blue! Just lovely!!

The flowers in my header are my daisies. They are always so pretty!!! I just love them! I've had lots of other photos I'll be sharing of my flowers!

Blessings...

❤️Happy Valentine's Day❤️

I hope this finds everyone doing well. We had a gorgeous Valentine's Day with temperatures in the 40's...wooo hooo!! Especially since we've had below zero numbers lately! Of course this spring like day won't last.  It it was nice to have the doors open and get a little fresh air in! 

I went to my doctors appointments yesterday. Kind of nice to get out and about! Rusty was jealous...but today he went to his vet for his yearly shots. He's tired tonight...

Finally got the fans and dehumidifiers removed yesterday. That was a relief (noise wise anyway)! Now on to the next step of repairs! 

Hope your day was filled with lots of Love!

Please pray for those effected by that school shooting today.

Bye for now....

Flowers and Such..

 

My iris are blooming like crazy. I had Randy go out yesterday afternoon and cut a few! They smell so heavenly! Do you have any? These are the ones that a colleague at work gave me years ago. Each year, they bloomed so beautifully . Then one year they didn't come up...and years went by...with nothing. Last year they bloomed in all their glory and here they are again this year!! (Big smile!!!)

This is what was going on at my house Friday after Bible Study and physical therapy! Window cleaners!! Who doesn't just love clean windows?? I remember the days when Tom and I did all of them ourselves! I'd take them all apart and do the inside while Tom got the pleasure of being outside..washing away! ~smile We had bought one of those poles with the rag/cleaner on the end. That in itself was a job!! But, these guys are in and out in no time!! There was four of them and that is their business!! Well worth it for me!!

Next thing...I need to get my carpets cleaned. Then I'll be set for awhile..lol Tomorrow I hope to finish working on my newsletter! 

 

 Our weather was just so lovely today, I had to get out for a little bit. I pulled a few weeds out of our wheelbarrow. My peonies have big buds, but aren't blooming yet! (Even though yesterday I noticed the neighbors were blooming!) The hostas look nice too. (One year, we had so many wild deer, that they were almost starving and ate everything in site, including our hosta's. They had them ate to the ground.) So, I wasn't sure they'd ever come back but they did!! Yeah!

I hope you are enjoying this "Memorial Day Rememberence" weekend. Until tomorrow...good night!

Where Does the Time Go??

 

Here is the highlight of the past month....smile... Yes, I think it's been almost a month since I've blogged.. So much to tell you...but I'll just share with you a few things in this post. My daughter and granddaughters had planned on coming back last week for our MS Walk! It was just amazing to see them and to have them here to fill this empty house with love chatter and laughter!! Sweet...sweet memories.. And of course to care for Rusty and myself.

The weekend before was Easter! These beautiful flowers were from my son Randy and his family. (they were specially delivered by these sweet great granddaughters, as you can see below.)

 



Here they are walking down the hospital hallway.. Yes, the hospital.. ugggg. The best laid plans go awry.... (I had plans to go to the Good Friday Services at our little church..) But, Thursday I fell, just a silly accident. I bent over and lost my balance. Thank God for wonderful, caring neighbors.

Thank goodness nothing was broke, just pulled muscles and a ham string. That was why they put me in the hospital...I couldn't walk, it was so painful. So Easter Sunday, I had company...smile... Look at Maggie...she was keeping the nurses busy by pushing my call button...lol I was released that night and had a friend stay for a couple nights, till Brenda and the girls got here. (Thank goodness for my son, he had to take me to the doctor, then to the hospital, care for Rusty Friday [that's another story] and Sunday night bring me home...what a blessing he is..)

  

Here we are at the Walk last Saturday. My wonderful team!! My Angels...  I did go home early, but was able to stay for the most important parts. I will get a close up photo of this year's t shirt design. It is very unique and oh so cool!!!

 

I will part with this photo...my beautiful/handsome children. Its always so good to have them together at home again.... Give God the Glory for my family......

Flowers-Flowers-Flowes

Are you enjoying the flowers this autumn? It seems they are all in full bloom now. The other day when we were coming home, I saw these sunflowers...one of my favorite blooms. (Of course being a farmers daughter...sunflowers are normally not a friendly 'weed'..)

My son and I were both discussing this...how when  we each had to cut these flowers (weeds) down out of the bean fields. BUT...they are YELLOW, and their a flowers. I even love the name SUN-FLOWER!!! smile..

I told you I'd share with you how much my porch flowers have grown this summer.

 

Aren't they pretty?? My friend Laurie did an amazing job potting them didn't she??

 

These are hanging and are such a nice variety too... Their just perfect for this half basket. I bought the basket years ago and try to continue to use it every year as it fits perfect on the garage! 

Just a close up of  one of the plants... I love these!!!

Another close up of another one of them..

 

And finally the last one!

 

I've been busy finishing up the quarterly newsletter. Whew...another one done!

 

Our day was cool and gorgeous! Rusty and I sat outside for a long while. We just enjoyed watching and listening to the sounds of world going by!! (I kept hearing this clicking...as a bug or something flew by me.. I tried to see what it was. It landed here and there.. but couldn't get a good view of it. Even though it sounded somewhat familiar...different things went through my head.  Could it be a hummingbird? A butterfly (I did see the Monarchs flying by)?? NO...it ended up being a 'grasshopper'!! Ugggg...[another story for another day..])

 

My son, Randy continues to heal, it's been two months of H____ for him. But bless his heart he is a fighter and very strong in his faith. I pray soon he will be back to his new 'normal'. He and his lovely wife just celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary this week! She too is a very 'strong, caring, loving and God fearing woman. How blessed we are to have her in our family.

 

My sister in law, Karen is having more health issues and I would really appreciate your prayers and or good thoughts for her.

 

Blessings and have a wonderful SONday!!

 

Flowers and Butterflies

How was your day?? I did make it to the doctors. My numbers were all good! Only bad news was I have strep throat..uggg.. But I'm on antibiotics so in a few days I should be as good as new!! smile.. I thought I'd try to have lunch with my son today, before he headed to have his surgery tomorrow. BUT, the doctor said I was contagious for the next 24 hours. And of course he certainly doesn't need to get strep...he'll have enough to worry about. smile...

 

On my way home, I changed the route I usually go and look at what I found!! Flowers and butterflies!! I wish I had some of these flowers so I could watch the butterflies all summer!!

 

I parked out front of these peoples house...rolled the riders side window down and started snapping pictures...lol I kept praying no one would come out and ask what I was doing... smile...

 

But they were so pretty...

I know it's really hard to see it, but where I typed butterfly...there it is!!

Well, our Olympian came in fourth today and will run again Friday!! smile...

 

Tomorrow I have laundry to do and we're having company over for lunch. Just a pizza, but will be nice to see him. (It's Karen's cousin.) And of course my mind will be on Randy as he has his surgery..

 

We had some storms last night, and got around 3/4th of an inch of rain.. Our yard is loving it!! Still doesn't look like it did this spring, but much better than it was a couple weeks ago! I see some lightening north of us, so might get more tonight...

 

Once again, it's time for bed...  Hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow...

Beauty-Beast-Birds-Best Strawberry Pie

One day I was at the doctors office and spotted this 'yellow' flower! The early morning rain drops were still on it's petals. Oh how I love nature!! Beautiful huh?? 

 

Isn't this funky?? ha! ha! When life gives you a tree stump...why not display your Beast of a Bike for all the world to see on it??? 

Oh, how I love to watch the Birds, especially the Mourning Doves. They are such gentle birds. They come in, in the evening and roost on our tree limbs. They will primp and pamper for hours. And of course they take a nap or two during this time also...

 

I was going through some pictures today and came across this collage of how to make this simple and easy Best Strawberry Pie. Years and years ago, I went to my brothers house and his wife made this....I just fell in love with it!!! So...so...simple and yet so...so...delicious!! And it's perfect for this time of the year. When it's 'hot and humid' and no one wants to run their oven....even for a pie. This way you can have you summertime pie and eat it too!! smile...

 

This was a busy day...my friend came up and cleaned the house. We had lunch together, (Chinese,) and just a good old fashioned visit...which I always love!!

 

We have a potluck tonight, but the heat is too much for me to go out in. Hopefully, it will cool down and I'll be able to attend next month!

 

Have an amazing day...