Resting....

I need to stop and smell the flowers.

These daylilies are so sweet-smelling it takes my breath away.

They remind me of 32+ beautiful years.

Early  6 am photo of one of my weeping cedars. Looks like all 4 trees I  planted this year are going to make it.  The trees were in shock after first being planted, but with tender nurturing they will grow into a thing of beauty. So it is with our lives....

I love my tall massive oak trees.

I like looking up at the spreading branches....

and at the Lily-of-the-Valley sheltered at their feet.

The trunks of the mighty oaks are so strong... they remind me of my husband in his younger years, before sickness and pain took that strength....

There are two oak trees here, side by side, growing strong together through the years. That is how I learned to be strong .... from my husband. He taught me persistance, allowed me to lean on him when I needed, he sheltered me, loved me, encouraged me and gifted me in many ways not visible to the naked eye.

I am glad to have these 2 trees as a symbol of our life together. No, this is not our anniversary, not a birthday, no special occassion..... just reflecting.

3rd Time's a Charm you say??? Guess again.... and Tex-Cyn's visit.

Ok, this is the 5th try..... (3 times today). I guess the problem was I was using the "old" blogger publisher and needed to switch to the new one. Who knew??

Here is Tex-Cyn with some of her beautiful Saluki dogs.

 I am amazed at the grace which they move about, every step is graceful!

My photos are surely lacking but the beauty of these animals is not.

National Champion "Feather". (Correct me if I am wrong, Cindy)

and this is Cyn's "Dog Palace". (my words, not hers). I think they have more creature comforts than she does in her (their) motorhome.

The thing that I will always remember, is the joy and pride in Cyn's face as she walked her canine friends. Got to hand it to this girl... she sure is dedicated!!

Cyn also makes some really nice jewelry. I only got a photo of some bracelets, but the earrings and necklaces (for gals and guys) is very nice!!

This is the one she gifted me with. I love the colors!!

It was a pleasure meeting up with a blogger friend, not only once but twice since she was in the area. It was such fun and she had alot of pointers for me on my new-to-me motorhome and selling my retro one. Hope to cross paths with Cyn again in the future. Safe travels, Girl!!

Fed Up With Blogger

When I have to sit for several hours at a time to post and still can't get it to do what it should, links don't work, or pictures won't load., it becomes useless. i have tried 3 times this week to post about Tex-Cyn's visit and pictures of her beautiful dogs and jewelry she makes, and something always messes up. When it becomes "labor" instead of pleasure, something needs to change....

Right now I have other, more pressing things to take my time so I may be off for a while. Its been wonderful exchanging info and views with you all. I wish you all the best.

Sunny

My NY Shopping Trip

Haha! Keeping you all in suspense!

Me too... I can hardly wait!
Here is a little peek.....

Yep, its a Winnie!

All 29' 4" of her..... Woot!! Space to LIVE in for a few weeks ... or months.

Bigger, stronger, newer, easier on fuel.......

Can you tell I am excited??

Back bedroom... yes!!

Entertainment center.... yes!
(Music and painting go well together)

Making her debut Sunday evening or Monday evening!

B-deep, B-deep, thats all for now, Folks!

Some Raised-bed Garden Photos

So far so good. We shall see if they produce......

which I was told they would do better the

2nd and 3rd years.

Here is my asparagus bed which has rhubarb at the near end and a couple winter squash plants at the other. I expect the bed to fill in to all asparagus by the third year and I'll need to move the rhubarb plants to another location. Love asparagus!!

Looking across the other 2 beds. Lots of lush growth. Yes, my tomato cages are upside down. Something I learned about on the "web" and thought I'd try it.

Left to right; pole beans starting, basil, zucchini and sumer squash (one of each), Roma Italian(flat) beans, and 2 kinds of lettuce with marigold seperating them.

Middle bed (L to R) has 4 Roma tomato plants, 2 Grape tomato plants (lots of these tiny salad tomatoes), green onions, celery, swisschard, carrots, and 4 different peppersplants, oh and beets in between the tomato plants.

This is my lettuce and behind it are the Roma beans ....

Celery in the middle between the swisschard and onions...

See those little carrots coming up?

... and 1 each Green, Red, Yellow, and Sweet Banana pepper plants, with purple curly (I forget the name of) basil in front.

So this is how my garden grows.

I hope you also take advantage of all the fresh, local produce this summer. It'll do your body good!!

Is there really any such thing as *NORMAL* ???

.... or is that a figment of imagination? Time to fest up... my life has not been normal lately. Although that probably took none of you by surprise, sometimes it does me. Ready or not, life happens. I don't usually post about personal stuff but today I am making an exception.

Anyway, what has been going on the last 6 weeks, is first my 21 yo grandson had a horrific car accident in which he was litterally projected out of the vehicle, was lifeflighted to Pittsburgh Presby hospital trauma unit where he was in a coma for 5 days, and had sustained multiple head, brain and other physical injuries. Much prayer went up for him and to make a long story short he has had a miraculous recovery although he will still be undergoing surgery on his shoulder to reattach his muscle in August. He will not be able to go back to work until Dec or Jan, depending... We are very fortunate to still have him with us.

Got to thinking all our family could breathe a little easier, when last week my son who has worked in the woods all his life, was injured through a freak accident of a treetop come crashing down on his back and laid him to the ground. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital where they took xrays. We were informed he had no broken bones, although he could neither sit or stand, and 2 days later he was released from the hospital. After another 3 days he was life-flighted to Pittsburgh Presby hospital with extreme bloating, 104* temp, and loss of feeling in his legs. That was Tues night. ( I was in NY, on my "shopping" trip at the time with my sister, but took a quick trip home the next morning)

They found he had a huge cyst full of infection from the impact, 5-6 broken vertabrae, and many fractured ribs. He was in surgery yesterday where they put 2 steel rods in his back after they cleaned out the infected area, then took him back into surgery where they worked on cleaning out an infection in the esophagus. He was in there several hours. They are waiting to see if the swelling caused the loss of feeling in his legs, and if so should therefore return to normal.

Today is a new day, and again, we are so blessed to still have him with us. Could have turned out much worse. I am just so thankful for all the many prayer groups who have taken the time to pray for him (them).

Remember to tell (and show) your loved ones how much they mean to you.

Change of Plans

I was going to post pictures of my garden today, but a slight change of plans has me

in New York

Which, I was planning to go to NY, but not for a few days yet,

because I am still dealing with "hogs"

anyway,

my sister, made a sudden trip from her home near Niagara Falls, about 150 miles, to my home because we got a phone call that we had cousins who came into my area from Colorado over the weekend. It was great to see "the cousins"!

Sunday afternoon I followed my sister back to her home in NY....

I decided to do some shopping... I guess you could say "window-shopping".

I am shopping.... you know ..... important..... intense.......shopping.

I will post if I decide to buy anything.....

Otherwise, I'll be back home in a few days and then post my garden pictures....

Temperatures are supposed to be cooler this week; at least in PA-NY area.

Enjoy each new day... it is a gift from God.... thats why it is called the "present"!

Annie.... Git Yer Gun!

Don't know if I posted about this before or not but I have a groundhog problem here....

Now I love watching the critters but when it comes to them backing me in a corner, I'll come out shooting (literally). They live (or supposed to live) in the woods behind the houses all along this road, and we all have long back yards. But because my house sat empty for a year before I bought it, they probably figured it was their playground.

Hole #1

Hole #2

They have been known to even ruin a foundation.

They have been digging under my deck,

coming up ON my deck in broad daylight.....

I had been hearing noises under my house from time to time

and didn't know what it was until I saw one run under.

Hole#3

and now have burrowed under my garage.....

the small section that has a wooden floor .....

not a good situation.

Hole #4

They have also ruined (eaten and broken down) several of my coneflowers plants.

So I nailed one last week and 2 on Monday . Then because of the circumstances, which I will not go into, my son came over and sited the gun in for me and we did some target practising.

~~~~~~~~

Another scenario........ Izzy would not come out to the main living room area all the next day, just layed in where she does in my bedroom at night. I was beginning to wonder if she was sick. I tried to coax her with food but all she would only come as far as the kitchen to get a doggy biscuit, and carried that back into my room before she would eat it.

Finally yesterday morning, July 4th, she ventured out.and was almost acting herself.... until the evening when the fireworks started. It seems I have a gun-shy dog. Or any loud abrupt noise for that matter. She's never been around either noise before so I had no idea. I really pampered her lately for putting up with all that noise.

Learn something new everyday.

Back to the subject at hand...

Traps would never work as there are so many "hogs". I do know of another "solution" but hate to use it. I will block off the holes best I can to the house and garage. Hopefully there's no more hogs under there. I really hope I don't get any flack from this post as I already have it from the highest authority that I am in charge of what is mine to take care of (Gen 1:28) NASB

You all take care and thanks for stopping by.

Going to miss Mayberry's sheriff, Andy. How about you?

Some Yard-sale Purchases

I posted earlier about the neat folding chairs I found to go in my rv, and here are the rest of the purchases from that day. Most very useful ...... some not so much.

First, this beautiful knit cotton patch-work sweater, for this coming fall or cool summer nights. I just love the colors in it!

As I am doing what I can to give my new home a "cottage" feel to it, I found this ceiling light shade to relace one of the ones in the main room. ( shoo, I don't know what to call the room as it contains my dining area, a sitting area, and my paint studio. A great room?? a gathering room?? a living room is so boring of a 'name' for it.... ) But hopefully the shade will add some character and charm. It needs cleaned up .....badly .... the shade. My room is clean...

I also found this shelf for under my window in the bathroom. It is brand new! I hope I can figure out how to put it up. I know ..... if all else fails, read the instructions!

and here is wher I get a little frivilous. Yes, JoJo, I did go a little overboard and break my rule for myself :) Well, most of these are useable, some are just cute!

I had always wanted to collect teapots, and I did have an empty cupboard that needed something in it....

At this one yardsale a woman had brought her whole teapot collection. WOW, I was in teapot heaven!! Three of these were originally mine, but the rest I bought that day. Sixteen teapots! The price was right and I got a discount for buying so many.

and the last purchase was a popouri burner, just because it had pansies on it and it reminds me of my grandma...... :)

I am still looking for an old dresser and a tiny nightstand for in my bedroom.

What do you look for at yardsales?

Bye for now, I am going outside and create something....

Have a wonderful day!