Here it is Friday – a few rumblings of thunder out there and maybe threats of more but I’m inside for the day. First thing this morning I went out and weed-whacked the whole yard – which takes well over an hour. I used up both batteries and barely finished! Then I cut back some wayward dead stalks on the hill and freed up some space around the azalea and the new butterfly bush, pulled some weeds, and tidied up.

Azalea can breathe now.

Little fences to keep the steps clear.

Looks nice when it’s all weed-whacked.

This is a close up of my favorite Snoopy statue that Chrissy brought me yesterday:

Siblings with their puppy!

I had to run over to Greengate Road and do a title for a friend but that didn’t take long. I came home and made a healthy salad for lunch, did laundry, worked on the RSVP’s for tomorrow’s publication party, and updated my RSVP lists.

We have 45 people as of right now.

I finally got a call about my test on Tuesday. Turns out that my stress test last month gave a false negative and it was really fine. And the CT scan Tuesday was perfect – everything is normal. They did recommend upgrading my exercise program. So I have to find something that is appropriate that I can handle. That’s the next challenge! Oh, and I also updated my medical journey journal that I’ve kept since last May when I had Lyme Disease. I now have nine single-spaced pages of documentation of this journey. And Dr. Baker also took me off two of my prescriptions! Good news! One of them was effecting my kidney function….

I forgot to mention that yesterday while I was waiting for the kids to get here I touched up the bucket I bought last month at a yard sale. I’m terrible at painting, but I touched up all the orange spots with white paint. (I’m not a fan of orange.) It’s good enough for me, until I find someone more capable than I am!

Bucket touched up….

SCRIPTURE of the DAY:

PEANUTS?

QUOTE of the DAY:

This is my new ‘words to live by….’

Here is a picture for absolutely no reason whatsoever.

TOMORROW July 26th is:

National Day of the Cowboy; National Dog Photography Day; National Saint Day; One Voice Day; National Bagelfest Day; Holistic Therapy Day; National All or Nothing Day; National Aunt and Uncle Day; National Coffee Milkshake Day.

I like bagels, and I love my aunt and uncle! No coffee milkshake – chocolate or nothing! We used to love cowboy TV shows when we were young. God bless…

It was fun having Sir Regis back from vacation. He was taking his time getting back into the swing of things. But he said Ireland was great and they all had fun together. He brought me back postcards but he hasn’t unpacked them yet! I was glad to be able to help him with a few things.

He actually sent me a picture of this castle – not sure what post cards he bought!

I stopped at the bank, Walmart, and the Post Office on the way home. I needed to get a few things for Saturday’s publication party and also lunch today. Autmn, Cameron and Chrissy came over to visit for a while and I wanted to be able to feed them!

Cameron was fun – He has a strong, smart personality and loves to talk. I can’t always understand him but mostly can figure out what he’s saying. His two best words are NO! and OH–kay. He can be pretty stubborn! When they first came we were outside and I gave him a bucket of water and a watering can. He and Autmn were both soaking wet, but Chrissy and I just had our feet washed – several times!

Filling his little watering can – he’s soaked!

Happy little guy!

Once we went in, he played with the cows and the manger and the wooden rocking house. After a few episodes of Ms. Rachel he was playing hide and seek in the coat closet! He also tries to escape to other rooms as much as possible. Thankfully he doesn’t manage to open doors yet so we’re semi-safe. He sat on my lap and we sang songs for about half an hour. Once in a while he’d just laugh – I didn’t think my singing was that funny!

I’m hiding.

Where’s Cameron?

Here I am!!!!

Chrissy brought me up a bunch of Snoopys that her mom got when they closed the thrift shop where she worked. And a package of four spatulas – which I super love!

My six new little Snoopys — my favorite is the fifth one – where they are reading the comics in the chair!

Snoopy Spatulas…

Kathy sent me a picture this morning – she was interpreting for the culinary department. It’s so nice to see my sweet sister with a big smile on her face!

I didn’t ask permission! I hope I’m not on the naughty list!!!

SCRIPTURE of the DAY:

PEANUTS?

TOMORROW July 25th is:

Carousel Day; Culinarians Day; Darwin Show Day; Feast of St. James Day; International Red Shoe Day; National Hire a Veteran day; National Merry Go Round Day; National Talk in an Elevator Day; National Thread the Needle Day; National Wine and Cheese Day; National Hot Fudge Sundae Day.

It’s also five month until Christmas Day (as per Bud!). I do have a pair of red sandals. I avoid elevators if I can. I have an awful time threading a needle. No wine, but I like cheese. I’ll take a hot fudge sundae! God bless…

Wednesdays are always a little uninteresting. And since I have a few projects to work on tonight I’m not going to make a big post. I did cleaning, laundry, trash, and still want to water the new grass. Not much exciting.

My little grass section

I did not hear any results from my test yesterday. They are usually much quicker in their response. The only thing I have to share about that is when I pulled the band aid from my arm it left a bruise! NOT where I was pricked — the adhesive! Looks weird.

SCRIPTURE of the DAY:

PEANUTS?

TOMORROW July 24th is:

Amelia Earhart Day; International Self Care Day; National Cousins Day; National Day of Motoring; National Drive Thru Day; Pioneer Day; National Refreshment Day.

I could do a drive through – Big Mac!!! That would be my refreshment… And my favorite it COUSINS! I love my cousins – the Skunk Hollow Girls and the Violets! God bless….

Skunk Hollow Girls – Two missing!

There were several things to do at work, as well as title work for an old friend. Even when I send him a specific ‘need’ list we still struggle! But all’s well that ends processed.

My test went smoothly. I don’t do well with anything medical but it was fine. Now we see what the next step will be. Probably a few days until I know.

No, not that kind of test…

I stopped on the way home and picked up 5 items and spent $30. How does that even happen? The day just flew by with all the little things, and it’s already 7pm. So there’s really nothing else to report! I’ll try to do something interesting in the next few days.

SCRIPTURE of the DAY:

PEANUTS?

TOMORROW July 23rd is:

Hot Enough for ya Day; National Gorgeous Grandma Day (?); National Sprinkle Day; National Vanilla Ice Cream Day; Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day; National Lemon Day.

Sprinkles go great with vanilla ice cream. And it really is comfortable today, weather wise. God bless…

And before anyone says anything — YES I’ve been binge watching A Biltmore Christmas on a loop! 🙂

It was a perfect morning to cut the grass but I just couldn’t make myself do it! So I still went outside, cut back some briar bushes, pulled weeds, and cleaned up the yard a bit. I wasn’t in the mood for breakfast so I just waited for lunch and had applesauce and half a cinnamon bagel. I went down to the shed and lugged the dehumidifier up and plugged it in the basement, which smells very stale. Already after just a few hours it smells better in here, and I emptied it once.

After the bagel I pushed myself into making Russian Tea Cakes. I was reading a book and they were serving them at a party and it made me hungry for them. They turned out good.

Oh – and I forgot to say that Saturday several of the young girls with the Union Army (reenactors) were selling Hardtack, just for fun. I bought some but it was like eating a brick! I did my best tasting it, took a picture, and threw it away!

Once the kitchen was cleaned up from the cookies (powdered sugar everywhere!) I made a big pot of potato soup. That was supper.

While the soup was cooling I made myself cut the grass. It was pleasantly cool with a nice breeze so that’s done for a few days.

SCRIPTURE of the DAY:

PEANUTS?

TOMORROW July 22nd is:

National Mango Day; National Hammock Day; National Rat catcher’s Day; World Brain Day.

Unless you are the scarecrow, you have a brain. Using it is another matter all together. God bless…

Here is a little birthday tribute to Mom! She’s been on my mind a lot today, of course. I miss her and those monthly trips to Albion to spend with her! Happy birthday, Mom.

A ride in Byron’s up-loader – she was spunky!

Flowers from John

My azaleas in bloom – she loved flowers

Right after she was married and moved to Greensburg

Celebrating with the Skunk Hollow Girls!

I just got home from Hanna’s Town’s Civil War weekend when Byron (Mom’s former minister) called. He was missing Mom as well, and just wanted to talk. It was very nice to just bring up memories – although admittedly some were hard, the ones near the end. But Mom was ‘one of a kind.’ We have those wonderful memories tucked in our hearts.

Byron

So I went to Sunday School, then left for Hanna’s Town. Yesterday when I checked the schedule there were a ton of open spaces on the volunteer schedule. So I put myself on the schedule from 11am to 3pm (when it closed) and spent the day there. Although it wasn’t as busy as yesterday, there were several times when it was non-stop! I did have time to run over to the food truck and grab a hot dog. And here are some photos to add to yesterday’s ones:

View from the parking lot – starting my day.

Union encampment.

Inside the newest cabin – just finished last week. It’s not named yet it’s so new!

Another skirmish

Carrying the colors. The flag is hard to see…

A good place to write.

Dough tray from Hanna’s Town

My little dough tray.

SCRIPTURE of the DAY:

One of my favorite verses.

PEANUTS?

TOMORROW July 21st is:

Comic Con; Global Hug Your Kids Day; Invite an Alien To Live with You Day; National Be Someone Day; National Get Out of the Dog House Day; National Junk Food Day; Take a Monkey to Lunch Day.

I would LOVE to hug one of my kids tomorrow! I am NOT having Aliens live with me – I can barely manage to live with MYSELF! And what’s this a lunch with a monkey? I’ll stick with Junk Food… God bless…

I could NOT fall asleep last night. Last time I noticed the clock was 3:48am. I didn’t feel tired this morning but I’m losing steam now. Glad I had an early close to my evening. I’m writing this at 6pm, ahead of my typical schedule.

Maybe like this….

I changed sheets, washed them, and got my bag organized for an afternoon at Hanna’s Town – water, snacks, extra phone charger, more water, and a Letters to Mary book for my new friend Kegan. He was very excited and appreciative. He even walked over to the tavern and I was able to give him a quick tour. He’s going to read it and then share with his brother. He’s a really nice kid. The Confederates were in the Stockade.

Kegan – my young friend.

Tents

Confederate encampment.

The newest log cabin almost rebuilt.

I walked around the first hour taking pictures and talking to everyone. I have so many friends out there – and there are a few who seek me out just to chat! And Angela – County Director – and Lara – Education Director – know me by name. That’s really cool. When I was getting ready to leave I walked downstairs in the tavern and the people that I had just talked to upstairs was telling someone that I was an excellent tour guide! THAT was pretty cool – they really loved learning and that makes a difference.

Setting up.

Lining up for Parade march

Drilling in rank.

Drummers

Uniform samples.

Encampment – and a full parking lot!

The steep, twisty stairs going down.

Upstairs in the tavern – a second of quiet!

Making stew – see the veggies on the blanket?

The surgeon talking about wounds – see the discarded limbs in a pile? (bottom left)

An afternoon stroll

The ‘upper class’ resting in the shade.

Time-period camera

Local clothing collection.

When they shot the canons during the scrimmage they were so loud it shook the building! Even though you know it’s coming, it still makes you jump!

Getting ready.

Canons waiting…

Shooting the canons

There was an unusual shrub by the Steele house, and Joanna said it was a button bush. I took a picture for my friend Gen – wonder if she’s ever seen one. This one had already bloomed – it had golf-ball size flowers.

Internet image of blooms.

They do look like buttons when they’re done blooming…

Oh, and on my way to Hanna’s Town I stopped at a yard sale down the street. I found a really cute wooden rocking horse for Cameron to play with. It’s about six inches high and 8 inches long. And it was a $1, in great condition! Hope he likes it. Autmn called to ask me a question and the whole time we were on the phone Cameron was in the back seat yelling ‘Hi, Mimi! Hi, Mimi! Hi, Mimi! – over and over. What a cutie.

I put him outside to get fresh air.

SCRIPTURE of the DAY:

Courtesy of Karen Ursta

PEANUTS?

TOMORROW July 20th is:

International Chess Day; Lake Superior Day; Moon Day; National Fortune Cookie Day; National Ice Cream Day; National Lollipop Day; National PENNSYLVANIA Day; National Ugly Truck Contest Day; Space Exploration Day; World Jump Day.

Tomorrow would have been my Mom’s 95th birthday. Pennsylvania is good. I love ice cream – every day! And Mom was so excited that the moon landing was on her birthday! I’m not jumping much these days, for sure. God bless…

I will break my day up into four parts. The first one was morning, and I had toast for breakfast then went out and cut the grass. I also pulled a few weeds and scrubbed the mower and the fence. It needed done. I also moved the azalea bush and the Hosta and planted the butterfly bush where those two had been (they ended up in the same hole somehow).

Got the grass cut…

Scrubbed the fence…

Hosta

Azalea

Butterfly bush from the bottom…

From the top…

After I finished that, I came in and got a shower and had lunch – a piece of leftover pizza. The sky was cloudy and by the time I got to Walmart it was raining. I had not bought groceries of any magnitude since vacation because the fridge was on the fritz. So I spent more than I have in years for one order. And sadly, most of it wasn’t food – cleaning products – which are expensive.

Less food — more ‘stuff’.

Again, I had to change clothes and get ready to leave for the Civil War Tea. And that was so fun! We had about 8 ‘officers’ and soldiers attend and they sat at our tables with us. They were very interesting to talk to! They do take their reenacting very seriously! There were several from the Confederate army and some from the North. My favorite was a younger guy from the South. (He actually lives near Meadville.) He was very passionate about his reenactments and was a wealth of information. He is also a writer so I gave him some information about the Loyalhanna Review. He’s had a few things published and can submit to our publication next year! But the tea was yummy – we had four different types of tea in fancy cups, and four different types of cookies that were baked by our hostess. My favorite were the molasses ones. They remind me of the ones Grama Steiner used to make!

Our hostess, who baked the authentic Civil War era cookies.

Our hostess, her daughter and granddaughter.

My friend Kathy – she bought her dress in Gettysburg!

The captain’s fancy hat!

These were our guests for tea!

This person introduced everyone

The one on the left is the surgeon.

Our friend the confederate soldier! He’s been doing this since he was 14!

A confederate officer – and the young man’s actual father!

He’s in charge!!!

General Sherman…

So I’ll be at Hanna’s Town at the Civil War Encampment tomorrow afternoon and maybe Sunday. I hope to have time after my volunteer shift to walk around and take pictures. If you are local, stop out! Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 9-3.

I had enough time when I got home to change clothes AGAIN – I planted my grass seed and covered it with a little top soil, then pulled the nasty weeds on one section of the far hill. I’m done now!

Planted out….

Looks so much better!

SCRIPTURE of the DAY:

PEANUTS?

TOMORROW July 19th is:

Flitch Day (look it up – it’s cool!); International Retainer Day; International Snowdon Race; National Football Day; National Words with Friends Day; Woodie Wagon Day; National Play Day; Toss Away ‘Could Haves’ and ‘Should Haves’ Day.

Woodie Wagon? Listen to the Beach Boys! Think I will, right now! God bless…

Was able to start the morning getting everything done in good time at work. From there I had to buzz over and pick a few things up from Diane. While I was there my Whirlpool repairman called and said he was heading to my house. He got the wires replaced and had the fridge back up and making ice even before he left. I told him I really enjoying chatting with him and hearing his faith journey, but I hoped I didn’t see him for a while!

I was just ready to eat lunch when Kelly called. She was headed to camp to pick up Logan and his two friends. Logan is playing hockey (Ice hockey) and his friends were going to watch. It was a two hour drive so we chatted while she drove (phone was hands free). We talked for almost an hour and a half and I think we solved all the church, community, family and event issues for the rest of the summer!

Go LOGAN!

I had toast and tomato before heading outside to pull weeds. I needed to clean up the stones between the two fences as it’s been since spring that I last tackled that. It really looks different, and better, of course. I was soaked and filthy when I finished, so I got a shower and put on PJ’s.

Before pulling weeds…

View from the bottom facing up – all done.

From the top down…

I just finished that when my friend Don W. called me. He was just checking to see if I was good and everything was ok! We chatted for a while, until his wife called him to dinner. It was so nice to talk to him! His twin brother just had a horrid bout of illness that turned out to be an 11 day hospital stay. Ended up being Lyme Disease! That can really throw a person off base – as I can attest!

Don is on the left…

When I walked past the phlox it looked like three different blossoms on one stem! It was actually three different stems but it’s not obvious…

Three tier phlox…

I moved the Dutch girl and boy into the stone circle – they love it there!!

SCRIPTURE – combined with PEANUTS:

QUOTE for the day:

‘No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.’ – Eleanor Roosevelt.

TOMORROW July 18th is:

Insurance Nerd Day; National Caviar Day; National Sour Candy Day; World Listening Day; National Tropical Fruit Day.

Nate loves Sour Patch Kids. We should all spend more time listening and less talking! 🙂 God bless…

I woke up this morning to a txt from Sir Rege. He, his wife, and another couple are in Ireland and he sent me a photo of a castle they were visiting. I was so excited to see that – and to think that he actually remembered to send me a castle photo. Thanks, Rege!

The whole way from Ireland!!!

The morning started out sunny and warm, but mid afternoon we had a few storms pass over, with heavy rain. I was glad my agenda focused on the inside today.

I saw on facebook this morning that Mt. Joy PA had some serious flooding. My skunk hollow cousin Karen lives in Mt. Joy, so I txt her sister and asked if she had heard anything. She txt me back and said there were a lot of flooded areas and a few impassable roads but her family was fine. I was relieved to hear that. We sure have been hearing a lot about flooding recently, all over the country.

A facebook photo from Mt. Joy.

So basically I spent the day cleaning – talked to my cousin Mark. He had a crew helping him move today, and has a few weeks to get everything out of the house he sold. Hoping everything goes smoothly.

Mark’s facebook photo

Looks like it’s done raining for the day – I just had a bowl of cheddar chicken rice so that’s supper. I’m listening to Christmas movies in the background (Christmas in July on Hallmark). And that’s my day!

SCRIPTURE of the DAY:

Another one courtesy of Logan Christian Church

PEANUTS?

Make mine tea!

TOMORROW July 17th is:

National Lottery Day; National Peach Ice Cream Day; National Tattoo Day; World Emoji Day; Wrong Way Corrigan Day; Yellow Pig Day; Get to Know Your Customers Day.

I actually never play the lottery – I do have a tattoo on my ankle. I often end up going the wrong way! God bless….

My buddy Snoopy