Beautiful day today

These are some of the flowers in my front yard. So pretty aren't they? I think this is my favorite picture of my flowers... today anyway. :)
Today after going to the Pet food store and buying a new lamp and some groceries I started to read ...... I finished Harry Potter today. I had a little over 100 pages left and couldn't put it down... it was a good book but now I'm afraid to read the last one... good thing it will be at least a year before that happens... I liked this book better than the last one... maybe because that one was so darned long and it was just so heavy carrying it around to read.
Today and tomorrow is our church picnic... I may go after mass tomorrow to get some chicken booyah or maybe a hamburger etc... did you ever have Chicken Booyah? It is very popular around here especially at church picnics. Its a delicious chicken vegetable soup. They cook it in a big  drum sort of a cauldron over fire outside.... everyone has their favorite recipe ... I have mine too. But the one at St Johns is the best around and  people from all over come to our picnic...(no bones in ours) Tonight there was roast pork and hamburgers and brats etc etc etc... I didn't go but 4 of my kids and their friends went and they even saw one of my sisters there. They had a nice band tonight too I guess... It sounded good at my house which is a mile away, LOL Tomorrow there will be 2 more bands and a fire dept water fight and bingo and childrens games etc... It's usually so hot but this is a good week end for it I think... tonight was perfect any way...
Guess its time for bed if I want to get up early tomorrow morning. Hope you have a nice Sunday, Sandra

Leo's arbor

Some one asked me to put a picture of the arbor Leo made in my journal so here it is... The morning glories have just started to bloom. Leo brought home a bunch of different kinds one day so I added them to my Heavenly blue ones but it seems only the ones he gave me are blooming... I hope some of the Heavenly Blue ones will bloom too as they are my favorite. Next year it will only be Heavenly Blue again as they show up better and the blue is really heavenly... :>)
  Today is laundry day for me and I am working on the afgan again.... still haven't finished the second panel.... been reading too much I guess.
   It is a beautiful sunny cooooool day today. We are really apriciating it too. I was going to water but Leo came home from fishing and he said its supposed to rain again later.... ok with me. I went to the store yesterday and got a new rain gauge as my other one was broken on the bottom... no wonder we never got any rain, haha.... Now I have a plastic one with nice big numbers and it was on sale. I also got 3 more day lilies that were on sale. They looked like nice big healthy plants and were very pretty colors so I couldn't resist. Leo couldn't believe I got more flowers but I found out something about day lilies.... after they are a good size you don't see any weeds around them... something like the Hostas. I don't like pulling weeds, do you?
  This isn't getting anything done so I better get going.... hope you are having a wonderful summer day, Sandra

COOLING OFF

It's raining..... and cooling off. Iam happy except to get the cooler weather and 2 inches of rain we have tornado warnings out tonigt until midnight... I don't think that will happen because its already a lot cooler so the hot must have met the cold already ..... so no bad storm. I do hope we get the 2 inches of rain though as it is very very dry here. So dry that we aren't supposed to water the grass at all. can only water something like a garden with a sprinkle can. Shouldn't have to worry about that now as we are getting a nice rain. Thats so nice.
How do you like the picture of the Butterfly I took today just before it started to rain?
My daughter in law came over this afternoon just for a short visit... Teri from Florida. :)  She came in to visit her sister in the hospital though so that isn't a good thing. She said she is doing as good as can be expected though... she had a heart attack. She had a stint ( I think that is what its called) put in and she is feeling better about that but she has diabetis too and her numbers are too high. She is much overweight so she will have to lose weight and keep that under control too... poor girl, she is going to have to have a complete lifestyle change but then she should be ok... sure hope she can do it. I realize how hard it will be for her. She was so happy Teri came to be with her for a few days. Teri had been saving up to go to Las Veges with some friends so she was able to change plans and come here instead. She said she would see us soon when she huged me good bye.. I hope so.
Hope you are going to have some cooler days too, Sandra

It was an oven today

It was really hot today. I guess it was hot all over so I can't complain but Iam so happy its going to get cooler.
We went to church today and it was so hot just going from the car to the air conditioned church it took me 15 min to get over it... I'm a wimp. :>)  but we decided to go home right after today. Tomorrow will be a better day if we want to go anywhere. I watered the flowers and that was about it. Watched the race and read in my book...It may as well be winter I think... It was 93 today and I guess that broke a record here... It's nice that the flowers can still be blooming though isn't it... how do they do that I wonder in the hot sun like that. Its some kind of a miracle I think.
So thats about it for today.... very boring I know. Hope we all have a beautiful Monday, Sandra

Good day for pictures

It was nice to take pictures today because the sun isn't shinning... Hope we get some more rain today... we still need it. You know how long it takes for the lawn to turn green again after its been almost brown... so thats what we are hoping for~~~ a nice green lawn again.
We had a nice morning, Leo got his lawn mower fixed after getting another part last night. Now it's like new again so he will have to wait I suppose to get the new one he was looking at. :) I did my regular house cleaning and laundry today and then had time to play ... so I took pictures and entered them here for you too see... It takes so long this year to get a picture of the humming bird. It seemed they were more friendly last year. maybe its because the dogs were out too. I will still keep trying though until I get a better one... I think Iam trying too hard and moving the shutter too much. You really can't get fancy taking a hummingbird picture as they are too fast and they are moving all over the place too.. It can be done and I hope I will again  this summer.
I have been reading Harry Potter and am on chapter 7..... 31 chapters all together so it will be awhile before I finish... still haven't gotten into it really. I usually only read after supper on the porch. Can't sit still before that usually. I tried today but then I went to get my camera to take pictures... think I will go to the store now... hope you like my pictures, Sandra

One Beautiful Day

We did, we actually got a beautiful summer day!!!!!! It was cool last night and I actually breathed fresh air. This morning I went outside and trimmed for awhile and then the neighbors came and talked to me for a half hour.... better than trimming. They will be moving now the 12th of August... How will I ever find out what is going on in the neighborhood without them telling me I wonder... It seems in their daily walks etc they find out everyones business.... including ours too I guess. Everyone knows about everyone else in our neighborhood now.... when they move and the other 3 neighbors on the block move it will be a big change....

Well anyway I trimmed and I could see some improvement too ~ also have a lot more to go but I filled the barrel I had so that was my limit I guess....  Oh, I got stung by a bee while working in the flowers too..guess what I did... after I yelled ouch.... I spit on it and then rubbed some dirt on it and the pain went away... It got swollen just a little and then Leo said the druggist told Shari to rub a credit card over it to get the stinger out... so he gave me a credit card and I did... now I can't see the bee sting any more but it was on the inside of my elbow and its tender there so my skin is a little red there.... More fun, huh?
 Tomorrow it will be back to watering and HOT weather. supposed to get to 90 again and by Sunday I heard 97..... say it isn't so... Maybe we will get some rain between now and then too... Just a little each day for awhile would help. Last year my tomatoes didn't ripen because of too much rain and this year I water but that sure isn't the same as rain. After I weeded I got the mail and a bill was there( naturally) so I did my bills right away and went to the bank and then it was already lunch time. So I ate ( of coarse) and then read in my book for awhile and read emails etc etc etc and then we went to Fleet Farm to get a cotton ball for the finches... they used all that was left today. It says they will nest around here until the middle of August... I hope they are happy with their new cotton ball.... made the trip with Leo just for them. Also picked up a green cord for the new hose reel we got.... Ordered from qvc.... :) it has the hose in and it winds itself up.... Ours is soheavy and Im always complaining so we are going to try this one out. If I like it I will also get one for the front if they come in again this year... they sold out the day I bought mine. I sure hope it works as well as the lady said ( the one that called in) it also looked good on the show... even Leo said so... I hope he's right...
Leo took that bike back today. the gears kept slipping and it was a bit hard to control and he couldn't see what was coming in back ... guess he is going to put a mirror on his new bike... He got a regular bike this time .... the other one you had to pedal with your feet stretched out and he couldn't get used to that. I asked him why he didn't get a motor bike and he said how would I get my exercise that way... So he is keeping himself in good shape. I should learn from him I guess.
So thats been my nice day... it got a little warmer than expected and had to put the air on later this afternoon but it was nice while it lasted.
Hope your day was nice and we all get a bunch more like this before fall comes, Sandra

Another sunny summer day

Since my flowers are burning up I decided to give them a rest from pictures for a day or two and put some family pictures in instead. Isn't it strange that we haven't gotten any rain this month but a lot of upper 80 and 90 decgree days. Not my favorite kind of summer but my son Dan was over today and he said he loves it... so I will too. In a different way.
I got my Harry Potter book Saturday and since I finished reading my other book I started reading Harry. Iam only up to chapter 3 and that is mostly a review of the other books etc... I'm glad she did that so I don't have to get my other books out and read them first.
I took Peaches and Twinkie to the groomers today and they look so nice... I washed all their beding and ours too and now we can start over with a clean slate... haah. I thought they might have fleas because of all the rabbits in the back yard but they didn't have any or a trace of any so that is good. I got some Frontline for the prevention and that should last until we have a freeze... So one less worry I guess. They sure look nice and fluffy today.
I watered all my flowers in the front and back today and tonight, now I will have a free day tomorrow I think. The weather is supposed to be nice for a day  and can't decide what to do.... It will be nice so who knows ..... can you believe by morning it should be down to 59 and only up to 82 with low humidity... should I spend the day cutting back those plants that need it and pulling weeds??????? we will see  and maybe I will let you know... and if I don't ????? Maybe I will sit on the porch and eat the fudge my son Dan brought me today from their vacation at Macanaw Island(not right spelling I know)  hehe.... Maybe I will have time to do both unless Leo has a better plan.
Hope your tomorrow is beautiful too, Sandra

Hi

I didn't realize I haven't been writing in here... I have been reading journals but doing a lot of other things too .... I will try to write more often...
It's been hot..... and sunny, no rain yet. the farmers are beginning to worry. I heard the cicadas yesterday already so I guess that means summer is beginning to wind down already. You would never know it though as its staying hot and supposed to into the next week and more yet... Maybe one day of rain. I have been spending a lot of my time watering all my flowers but not pulling weeds as its too hot and humid. Supposed to get a little relief from that next Tues or Wed... I hope anyway. I want to do some gardening but I won't suffer doing it. Its supposed to be a hobby after all. :) 
I found another project for Leo ( he said he didn't have anything to do) We haven't changed the heating vents since we moved so I went with him and bought 2... 1 for each bathroom. I don't know what they are called... guess not vents but the thing you put in front .... what is that called anyway? It didn't look very nice when he took it off the wall. He usually takes it off and paints it when we paint the walls but it was getting rusty. guess all the moisture in the bathroom. Anyway they really look nice now and very clean.... I like knowing they are clean. LOL  Now I have to think of something else for him to do next week if the weather stays hot... the fish aren't biting after 9 am so he has a lot of spare time.  The grass isn't really growing so he isn't cutting that. I have been working on my afgan and odds and ends and reading and watering... Can't wait until it gets cooler so I can do some work outside.
 So thats what I have been doing .... not much huh... hope you are having a nice summer, Sandra

A winter entry

This is a picture to remind us what winter is like..... Johns assignment for this week... makes you wonder if the heat or the snow is better... one extreme to the next.... actually it was a little warm shoveling as you can see I put my mittens in my pockets as my hands got too warm, LOL  So which would you rather have is the question I guess..... Snow and winter are easier I think.... just a little shoveling now that we got our snow blower and don't have to worry about watering or pulling weeds and cutting back etc etc ...... also have more time and energy to keep the house clean.... but summer has its good points too. I don't have to put layers and layer of clothes on when I want to go somewhere and I can go and sit outside and read or talk to the neighbors easier....
Today is another warm one but the sun is not so hot yet... its still a little cloudy at 9 so maybe it won't get to 90 again today. I don't like 90 :)  what is your favorite? Feb or July?
Yesterday I decided to buy some of those hostess cupcakes at the grocery store... sorry I did as they aren't as good as I remembered them... funny how they used to be so good and aren't anymore... I will have to try the twinkies next just to see if they are still as good. Have you tried either lately? what do you think?  Now I have a whole box and what to do????? guess I will freeze them and take them out when Carley comes over... maybe its a kid thing and she will like them.... who knows
Hope you have a nice day today, Sandra

A hot day coming

Good Morning,
      I was outside for awhile deadheading the flowers and pulling a few weeds in the front.... didn't get to the back as its already hot out and the sun is mean today..... I will stay in until this evening. I usually don't water at night but last night it was necessary. I think the rule can be broken when its so hot, don't you?
   I'm going to be working on my afgan today while watching tv I guess.... It would be a good day for shopping too but I don't have anything I want to buy.  :)
  Mike called from Florida yesterday and everything is ok there... they had wind and rain Sat night but he said the wind was only from 40 to 50 mph.... and no damage in the neighborhood this time...
   For the race fans...... It was a good thing that Jr finally won one wasn't it? Hated to see what happened to Jeff though. Maybe one of these days they will both do well in the same race... that would make me very happy.... other wise it was a pretty good race, the only problem was the track being so darn hot and the tires blowing..... The Busch race Sat night was extra good too with all the cup drivers racing... I'm glad Kevin won!
    So now I will go and do more cross stitch on my afghan... Hope everyone is having a nice day, Sandra

Perfect Summer Day

Today was the perfect summer day... A little warm at times but a hat and sunglasses helped... I did sit in for awhile and work on my afgan but we also went to the farmers market ( got some peas in the pod) etc and then took a little ride and came home.... I love summer days at home. Tonight someone in the neighborhood is having a birthday and they had some music and were singing happy birthday.... what fun they are having. At one time they were playing a Johnny Cash song and I even felt like dancing. So I sat on the porch for a couple of hours... had a small supper and read in my new book for awhile. Also watched part of a race this afternoon.... It was a nice day! Hope your day was as nice, Sandra

Purple Clematis

This is my favorite clematis because its just like the one my Mom and Dad had on the side of their house for many years and Iam just getting it to grow pretty nice.... theirs was much fuller than this one but thats ok .... I think they had 2 plants side by side. It was so beautiful for a long time and I missed seeing it so I started my own... It makes me smile.
It sure was sad what went on in England today wasn't it..... How can people be so mean and hateful to do something like that I wonder....
I went to the library yesterday after I weeded my garden, and got 2 books... I finished reading one already... it was good and easy to read... a summertime story I would say. "Summer of Roses" by Luanne Rice, in case you want to know....
This week is going so fast, tomorrow is Friday already... I hope you had a good week and if you were on vacation (like many were) I hope the weather was nice and it didn't go too too fast. My son had some days off and they went to door county for a day and came home with Bing cherries and brought me a big bowl.... they are very tasty!
So it's bedtime now, hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow. It sure has been a nice summer so far and all the flowers are prettier than I have ever remembered.... Good night, Sandra

JUST ANOTHER DAY

My hummingbird vine is ready for the hummingbirds ~ I have seen a few but none by the vine yet.. The flowers are just opening so they will be there soon. We always get a lot of hummingbirds drinking their necter here. I can sit in my chair and watch .... I'm glad I planted this vine many years ago. We had another one too but it was on a fence we had to take down and there wasn't anything for it to hold on to so we dug it out.... My husband isn't fond of these vines because they like to spread so we didn't put up another on the new fence... I did start one on the other clothes line though. I think the hummers will be happy to learn that. You know what else is neat about this vine the way I have it growing? Little birds make their nests in there and I have birds singing all summer into the fall. Then when the leaves are gone they still come and sit on the bare branches and sing.. Its a good thing.
I don't know what I will do today... was going to work in the little garden by the shed because the good day lilies are starting to blossom and I have to cut some things back and pull some things out if I want to see them and take pictures etc... Looks like it might rain though. We'll see. I got a new diet book I would like to read and see if it will work for me.... something has too. The doctor said why don't you just try cutting back.... thats no fun though, lol  I really need to do that..... I will today and see how it goes.... wish me luck.
Gotta go and eat breakfast...... funny thing is you always have to eat. It was so easy to quit smoking. you just quit but you can't just quit eating can you... and I guess I just love to eat... I guess. I will have to tell myself I don't really love it so much.
Hope everyone is going to have a nice day today, take care. Sandra

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

CHARLIE WISHES EVERYONE A HAPPY 4TH TOO BUT HE IS ON THE LOOK OUT FOR WHO EVER IT IS THAT IS MAKING ALL THAT RACKET.  Its the neighbors on both sides so we are taking extra special care of our little fur babies....

Gotta go and see what I can see... maybe more pretty fireworks tonight again... :)  Sandra

Happy 4th from Twinkie

Peaches didn't want to come and get her picture taken.... she doesn't like all the noise from the fire crackers tonight....

Beautiful Weekend

I have been busy the last few days... I have been reading journals but forgetting to write in mine.... We got our new priest today and Mass just wasn't the same... of coarse not.... but it will take a lot of getting used too. I have to adjust I guess or just forget how nice it used to be. I will try.

The race last night was so good!!!!!! We waited and waited for it too start because it was raining in Daytona. My daughter in law called and we discussed it and I knew she was sitting there watching too so it almost seemed like we were watching together... My favorite driver did not win but he came in 7th and Jr finally did great too so now I can only hope the rest of the races will be as they should be and the better drivers will start doing better again... I can only hope for more races like last night. It didn't get over until 1am but I wasn't tired... only slept a few hours before getting up to go to church so this afternoon I had a 2 hour nap, haha

I finished reading all my books so now I will have more time to work on my afgan I guess..... until I buy more books that is or go to the library. Trouble with the library I only have a certain amount of time to read it... I don't like to be rushed so I usually buy them.  I still need to go to the new discount store and see what they have. I also ordered the new Harry Potter book... I read all the others so I have to read this one too. It will be out the 16th.
Leo watered all the flowers for me today.... it was supposed to rain but it looks like its clearing up so who knows... its been warm and windy so everything is drying out.
The writing looks so small ~ hope its not but if it is I'm sorry. I have it at 14. So think I will quit so I don't ruin anyones eyesite. Take care and have a great 4th of July, Sandra