Had a great day!

I have officially been off work for 3 days - only 3 days and I am exhausted. I am getting so much done . . . but then there is so much to do. I am loving every minute of it though.

We did not intend to trim trees today. The day started with Jake helping clean some leaves off the patio roof. Ordinarily this would have been done this Spring - not at the end of June when it is nearly 100 degrees - better late than never I guess. So Jake got on the roof and cleaned off the leaves, then he decided to trim the branches that hung over the house. Next thing I now he is climbing the tree with a saw. . . (after spraying it with water to make sure the were no hidden spiders - the guy hates spiders!!)
Not a huge branch - but what a mess and a lot of work it created. I have to call the city tomorrow and arrange for a pick up.
Tomorrow we tackle the garage . . .

Lily came for a visit. Always a treat for us. She went swimming - and entertained us all the whole time she was here.

Jake and I cooked dinner. I probably wouldn't have taken a picture - but I had to get one of Jake wearing the flowered apron. We had fried rice, pot stickers, and sweet & sour chicken.

Great Day! - I love summer!

"The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise man grows it under his feet." ~ James Openheim

This and That . . .

Cucumbers from the garden! I am so excited about these. I loved eating the small pickling cucumber out of my dad's garden when I was in Iowa. Last year (my first attempt at a garden) - the cucumbers did not make it. This year I am going to have a lot of them. I am picking them every day - putting them in salads - or just slicing them up to snack on. I may get the hang of this vegetable garden yet.
Another picture that I found this morning on my camera. Lily's pacifier at Brent and Ashley's wedding. I just liked how this looked.

Wii Jake

I found this when I was looking through pictures today. It just makes me laugh . . . I'm not sure what game he is playing - or even what he is trying to do . . . is this dancing??? hula hoop??? - who knows.

From last month . . .

I have two cameras - and don't use this one often. I actually forgot these pictures were sitting in my camera - just waiting . . . for me to notice and share them.

Richard and I at "Jake's" restaurant - somewhere in Nevada . . . greeted by

"Jake the Snake" of course.

This was in Nebraska somewhere (or nowhere).

After 3 days of driving - this is exactly how I felt.

And when you are just driving and driving . . . and find yourself nowhere . . . crocheting helps kill the time. I made this coffee cozy. For some reason - I think these are so cute.

I need one in every color.

And when your husband is tired of driving, hungry, and somewhat crabby . . . crochet these - because when I finished them and put them on - he forgot about being tired and hungry for a minute and actually smile. (Don't look too close - my toenails really needed to be painted.)

Go ahead . . . splash me!

I think she is such a cutie! - She had gotten in the pool earlier and had a good time - but she was a little cranky. A couple hours later . . . and a good nap taken, she took my hand and let me know that she wanted to go swimming again.

No crankiness this time. She even was jumping off the side of the pool before she was done. I think we had as much fun watching, as she did playing.
Jake splashed her . . .
She splashed him back . . .

Then they tried to determine who had the most attitude!

"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Zucchini from the garden

Our first zucchini from the garden this year. . . cooked my favorite way - a little olive oil and garlic with sourdough toast and raspberry jelly. Luke and I came up with this snack at 3 am last summer - now it is one of our favorites. We were talking about adding a few ingredients to make a sandwich. We'll see how that turns out.

A Perfect Hand - what are the odds?

Odds of being struck by lightening in your lifetime: 5000 to 1

Odds of finding a four leaf clover on the first try: 10,000 to 1

Odds of getting a hole in one: 5000 to 1

Odds of getting a perfect hand in cribbage: 216,580 to 1

Kasey was dealt this perfect 29 hand in cribbage awhile back - I just got around to framing it for her this weekend. She hasn't been playing that long - but after she learned the game, she really liked playing - and I guess she was quite excited when the last five was cut. I wish I would have had a chance to show this picture to Dad - he would have gotten a kick out of it.

"Life consists not holding good cards but in playing those you hold well." ~ Josh Billings

Summer Weekend

This is what happens when you stay up way too late playing video games and get up too early because it is too hot in your bedroom.
It is finally warm enough to enjoy the pool - we had to find the water proof cards today . . .

. . . here is Jake trying to find the 2 of Spades.

I love summer!!!!!

Except for these guys. Richard found this underneath the lid that covers the filter that catches leaves and junk - and I had just lifted it up this morning to throw in some chlorine tablets . . . I guess it was a good thing I didn't see it then - I would have definitely freaked out. That off white ball next to it is an egg sac. If you look close you can see the red hour glass. I HATE SPIDERS!!!!

Shibby, Shibby, Shibby Sleep

Luke came home with this new kitten a few weeks ago. We named him Sebastian - but he is more often being called Shibby. He actually is sort of a pain - but when he falls asleep like this - I can't help but think he's adorable . . . he's still a pain, but adorable.

Missing Dad . . .

I had intended on posting something else this morning, but I had trouble uploading the picture that I wanted. When I was looking through pictures I found this one of me with Dad. Of course it makes me cry - I seem to do that a lot these days, but that's to be expected. I go along just fine and then all of a sudden find myself thinking about him. I didn't really intend on posting something emotional and so personal this morning - but that's what is on my mind.

"He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it."

~Clarence Budington Kelland

Family

Jake, Kasey, Abbie, and Luke . . . I can't even begin to say how much I enjoy these guys.

THEY ARE THE BEST!!!!!!
It is so rare for us to take a picture together. Partly because I hate having my picture taken - Jake isn't much better. I told everyone before Brent's wedding that we were taking pictures - and as much as I really hate having my picture taken - and usually hate how I look - it is so nice to see us all together. I guess we should really do this more often.

"The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together."
~ Erma Bombeck

Quick & Easy . . . tastes great!

Kasey found this recipe last night - and so Jake and her decided to make it. It was out of a simple recipe book - and simple it was.
Angel food cake, instant vanilla pudding, bananas, frozen strawberries, and cool whip.
Next time we want to try it with fresh strawberries, and cooked pudding. But it is good this way. Not too rich - just light and tasty.

The hardest part was waiting the four hours it said to chill it before we could taste it. We only waited about two hours. Great summer dessert - easy to make!

" . . . you know what else everybody like? parfaits. parfaits are delicious. you never go up to somebody and say hey you wanna go get some parfait, they ain't gonna say hell no i don't like no parfait." ~ Donkey (Shrek)

Taking a Walk

I went for a walk early this evening - just to get out of the house. I need to walk more - it clears my head and I need the exercise - that's for sure. It was a beautiful evening! Our summer weather is just around the corner. It is supposed to be 100 next week. So until then I will enjoy these perfect evenings and get back to walking - and next week I will enjoy walking in the evening no matter how hot it is - well . . . maybe I will start walking early in the morning.

"Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thought begin to flow." ~ Henry David Thoreau