"I'm over here in the hydrangenas."

Not a very good picture - but I was being impatient yesterday when I took this photo. I love hydrangeas and am so excited about these beautiful blooms. I bought these plants last year really late in the season at a very good price - but they looked sort of sad. This year two of them are doing great. The other two still look sort of sad . . . but they look as if they will make it.

I am enjoying Monday off. I love three day weekends! Even better . . . there are only two weeks left of school . . . and only two weeks to work after that . . . and I am not working summer school!
It has finally warmed up here - by that I mean 85 - 90. It has been cooler than normal for this time of year and I am more than ready for heat and sunshine. I probably shouldn't say that, it will be 100 - 105 before we know it.

With the boys!

I suppose the reason that I think little boys are such wonderful creatures is that I have these two wonderful sons. We attended a wedding last Sunday - and I had such a good time just being with them, and their girlfriends. I will post pictures of them and the girls later.

Little Boys . . .

I think little boys are wonderful creatures . . . These three are my great nephews and watching them together was so much fun. I loved seeing my family and spending time with them. Even better - in about two months I get to go and visit again.

"One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, but needs some practice to be a good one."

~ Charles Dudley Warner

Makes Me Smile!

Luke and Abbie - I guess I succeeded in teaching him that it is ok to be silly. I love this about him. He sent me this picture yesterday - to wish me a Happy St. Patrick's day!

"Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans -

it's lovely to be silly at the right moment."

~ Horace

Ooola

So many people I know are going through things right now - some more serious than others, but everyone needs some prayers, kindness, and friendship. Ooola going out - to all those that need it!
"Be kind, for everyone you know is fighting a hard battle." ~ Plato

Friday Night

A quiet Friday night - without much planned. I'm simply happy to have a nice relaxing weekend ahead of me. I was looking at pictures tonight and realized that I have gotten out of the habit of taking them. This I will change - starting this weekend.

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result

of getting something we don't have,

but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."

~ Frederick Keonig

For Today -

For today: January 24, 2009

Outside my window...the sun is shining for the second day in a row. I may have to go out and oak some of it up later today.

I am thinking...that a big cup of coffee first thing in the morning is a wonderful thing.

I am thankful for...a few quiet moments to myself in the morning.

From the kitchen...I believe Richard is going to make a big Sunday breakfast.

I am wearing...a long brown skirt and a brown t-shirt.

I am creating...a Halloween cross stitch that I started ages ago. I keep putting it aside - but hope to finish it today.

I am going...to either go for a walk today or go to the gym.

I am reading..."Still Alice" - by Lisa Genova. It is about a 50 yr. old woman who is diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It is going to be sad.

I am hoping...for some warmer temperatures very soon!

I am hearing...the tv (not my favorite sound), but Jake jut got up and it is his habit to spend Sunday morning watching sports.

Around the house...still quiet - and sort of messy (I have to do something about that today.)

One of my favorite things...my big green coffee mug.

A few plans for the rest of the week...go to the gym after work, finish my cross stitch, watch a few episodes of "Weeds".

From my picture journal...Jennifer & Lily

"Life is simple, just not easy." ~ Anonymous

Blog Therapy

I've been away from here for awhile - just busy living I guess. I thought it would be good for me to get back to this blog and I wanted to start with something to cheer me up. (I seem to need a lot of cheering up these days - but life gets like that sometimes). This picture never fails to make me smile - thinking about my family I miss, and thinking about Connor and Luke and how silly they thought it was to stop and see "Iowa's Largest Frying Pan" - but how can you pass up seeing something like that? : )

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family."
~ Anthony Brandt

How does your garden grow?

I have been so busy - at work and at home. The end of the school year is always like this - and then with working summer school - It just takes a lot of time to get it all done. I have gotten so much done in the last two weeks - but I have been working 10 - 12 hours a day and sleeping on average 4 hours each night. I should be exhausted - but I seem to keep going. I think finally things are starting to get back to normal. While I have been working away - our garden has been growing. I am still waiting for the fence to hide the garbage cans - but Richard is just as busy as I am. It will happen eventually. Our plants have really taken off. We are learning as we go - and will have to do some things differently next year.
Like plant zucchini somewhere else. It's a monster!

We have peppers nearly ready to pick.

And I swear if you sat and actually watched the tomatoes - you could see them grow.

I can't wait to taste them. We ate our first zucchini the other night.

Ladybugs all dressed in red

Strolling through the flowerbed.

If I were tiny just like you

I'd creep among the flowers too!
Maria Fleming

Thunder & Lightning

We never get lightening like this. I love thunder and lightening and it is one of the things I miss about the Midwest. We had quite a show last night, and thunder that rumbled and cracked. It was above us and all around us. It was great!
We watched for quite awhile - Luke with his camera.
He got a few good shots.
The power behind a storm like this is amazing.
We watched as it moved toward us - you could feel and hear it as it a came closer.

"The wise man in the storm prays to God,
not for safety from danger,
but deliverance from fear."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Outside Everyday

"With a few flowers in my garden, half a dozen pictures and some books, I live without envy." ~ Lope de Vega

I have been spending a lot of time working in the yard the last few weeks - before it gets too hot to enjoy being out there. I have gotten so much done - but I have a long way to go before it looks like I want it to.



Our raised garden is doing fine. Only now I wish it was bigger.

I think next year I will put one in on the other side of the house.

Richard did build another box - so we can plant a little more. I want to plant some more kohlrabi (which no one around here has heard of). And I have some garlic to put in. My dad can grow anything - he simply waters a plant and it thrives. I can't say I got any of that from him - but so far everything is looking great! Except the inside of my house (time for me to spend some time and energy in there)

I feel like this . . .

Life is so busy right now - and although this picture truly expresses how I feel, I really don't mind. I tend to function very well when things get busy and chaotic. And the more I have to do - the more I can get done. The only problem is that when I get busy and really throw myself into things - then I have a hard time stopping. I just keep on going and going. I end up getting everything done - but I wear myself out. I will try to avoid that - but probably won't.
I love this picture! Time to take a couple of deep breaths and get back at it.

Planted

Our plants are in. We got a late start on our garden and now we are getting some hot weather, but they look as if they will do fine. It is supposed to cool down again after today. We planted tomatoes, yellow peppers, eggplant, zucchini, jalapenos, cilantro, kohlrabi, and some peppermint. Richard is going to put up a small fence to hide the garbage cans for me.

Jake - barefooted? I love when the boys do things together. They are not really close - there is a five year age difference and they are so different from one another - but as they get older this is changing a little. One of my biggest blessings - is that they do come together when I need help with something. I have watched them both go through so many things - and the years seem to have gone by too fast - sometimes I miss the years when they were young, but on days like this I simply enjoy them as my sons.

Pigtails and Puppies

Jennifer and Josh brought Lily over last night - with pigtails. I can't believe how big she is getting. I not only enjoy Lily - but it is so much fun to watch Jennifer being a mama - she is so relaxed with her and seems to enjoy every minute of motherhood.
Yesterday was Sadie's birthday - 4 years old. Sadie is such a sweet dog - and very spoiled . . . and if I do say so myself - she is adorable!!! Happy Birthday Sadie!

Mother's Day Project

I just have to post a picture of this sweet little thing with her sunglasses. I can't begin to explain how much joy I get from her.

I think Sadie was wondering exactly what we were up to yesterday - (I love when she looks at us this way.) Luke and I have been wanting to plant a small vegetable garden. So that turned into our Mother's Day project.
We took this spot . . .
(Sadie is back there watching and wondering.)

. . . and put in this raised bed. I am so excited. We are going to grow tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, garlic, and possibly some green onions. I am also thinking of having Richard build an arbor over the back side and whether we need it or not - I am going to have to have a cute scarecrow.

I have some other pictures of the boys working - but they are on Luke's camera. I will have to post them later. It was a wonderful Mother's Day - having both the boys out there working on this. I have to order some top soil - then get some plants going.

"A garden is a delight to the eye and a solace for the soul." -- Sadi