The Week That Blew Right By

1. I experimented by planting a second crop of green beans in July and it worked! I'm harvesting green beans this week. This was unheard of in my New York garden.
2. I yanked out the spent tomato vines and left two standing. The bright marigolds and zinnias that were hiding in the jungle are now revealed.
3. Finding a Netflix movie in the mailbox.
4. I sort the forms that parents have returned to school. One question asks if the child has any allergies. One mom checks "Yes" and writes, "Homework and sister."
Another form asks for volunteers. A mom writes, "Yes. As long as the baby doesn't come first." I love these little glimpses into daily lives and I appreciate the humor.
5. When I run over the black walnut hulls with the lawnmower they release a pungent, earthy scent.
6. I swapped sleeveless, linen tops for long sleeved blouses in the storage closet. It's the "changing of the guard".
7. I met up with six ladies for lunch who ranged in age from their thirties through seventies. Everyone had much to talk and laugh about and there was no generation gap at all.

Out of Earth's Sorrows, Bittersweet, Just Do It

1. Oh, how I look forward to these songs of prayer on Sunday.



2. Sure I'll open a text at 12:30 AM. Someone is coming home. : )
3. Time and time again, my bad attitude is readjusted with no help from myself. I simply put one foot in front of the other and move forward, even grudgingly, and I am blessed. There's got to be a lesson in this.

His Own Method, What Would You Do If..., The Last Two

1. Steve used a harness to hang out the second and third floor windows to wash the mildewed north side of the house. He rigged himself to a sawhorse and a two by four which would catch him should he give way. I fussed and fretted. He lived. The house is sparkling clean.
2. We were hanging out on the porch with two daughters and their husband and boyfriend tonight when somebody said, "Go get the jar with 'Our Family Dinner Questions'" in it. (Available HERE). We had fun with that. People's answers to these (sometimes corny) questions can be quite revealing. For example, Steve's super power is being offensive and my dream house would be where all my girls and their families live with us. The kids told me that was just creepy.
3. Tess and I were tired and went to bed, so Steve and Tess's boyfriend ended up being the last ones sitting out there together. They stayed up and chatted for a little while. I'm glad Ian is comfortable with Captain Offensive.

Not Looking Forward to Hunting Season, Enough Already!, Paint Like the Master

1. You know you live out in the country when... the hole in your roof is from a bullet.
2. I am thankful for air conditioning each and every day during this blasted heat wave.
3. We watched a very interesting movie tonight, Tim's Vermeer. Even with technology I don't think I could paint a Vermeer.

I Love a Project, On a Lighter Note, Smile!

Roosting boxes are larger than regular nesting boxes to accommodate a lot of birds.

The dowels serve as perches for all the bluebirds that will take shelter inside during the winter. I'll post a photo when it's finished.

1. A wide variety of birds live around our property and we enjoy watching them throughout the seasons. So, gaining inspiration from the "Birdhouses for Sale" sign on the highway, Steve is building a nesting box for the Bluebirds. Tonight I "helped" him.
1a. We plan to build a variety of boxes and houses to attract the Screech Owls and Martins and perhaps some others.
2. Ending the day with two episodes of The IT Crowd lightens my mood considerably. (I think I've had it with all the dramas...the daily news is about all the bad news I can process every day without adding recreational drama to my brain.)




3. The students are all spiffy and shiny for school pictures today. What a job the two photographers have. They have to coax four hundred bouncy little people to sit still and smile.

Let's Try This, Nothing to Fear, Plunged Into Darkness

1. I took Tess to Marshall's to try and fix her wardrobe crisis. (I strongly dislike mall shopping and look for ways to avoid it.) Our skepticism quickly turned to joy as she found many unique items that fit her style. Hint: Lucky Brand.
1a. I found something for me, too!
2. Little Henri tried to hide under my legs when the veterinarian came in.
3. A strong storm rolled in just before bed time. It allowed us just enough time to finish washing up and climbing into bed before the power went out. I call that perfect timing.

After Writing This I Realized It's All About Food- Sheesh!

1. I held a jar of peach jam up to the window to admire its jewel toned color. It's infinitely more special when you make it yourself. I could potentially become a hoarder when it comes to glass jars filled with pretty food.
2. I made our macaroni salad with tiny bow tie pasta. (It's more fun to eat.) Heritage Family Market has a nice selection of pasta along with a lot of other great foodstuff.  
3. Audrey and Jared came for dinner and we took full advantage of having a Monday with no work.
3a. The peach cobbler cooked to an intense color of orange/red/peach.