Another beautiful day – but warmer than yesterday. I’m determined to get caught up – the weather and my lazy bones prohibited me from keeping on schedule. Other than the perpetual mowing and pulling weeds I have a lot of the outdoor projects done. I few I need some help with, if I can get it.

I got up, changed and washed the sheets, grabbed a frozen waffle, then went to the neighborhood yard sales. I drove around and didn’t really stop. So much of what I could see were large pieces of furniture and clothing – neither of which interest me. So I came home and started on my chores. First thing I did was dig out the fern for Kath – I’ve been promising her that for months and months. Got a pot and some potting soil later at the store so now it’s ready to go.

Fern for Kathy – from the cabin….

My main job today was to weed whack. Unfortunately I let it go so long that I used up both batteries before I finished – had to change string spools part way through. So I set one of the batteries to charge (only have one charger!).

Last of the weed whacking finally finished.

There were a few shrubs that needed trimmed in the front yard – the lilac and the bridal bush. I kept getting tangled in them when I cut the grass, and couldn’t see where the stones were. So I trimmed them, cut back some over aggressive daisies and a few done-blooming day-lilies, and dug up a bunch of crab grass along the hill. I took a LOT of breaks, took my time, and drank several bottles and glasses of water, lemonade, and tea.

Easier to mow.

Finished cleaning up this space and around the stones

At about 1:30 I came in and changed shirts, had a fruit salad, then went to Walmart. I needed a new furnace filter (mine was super dirty), drain cleaner, the stuff for the fern, and the watermelon for the picnic at Kathy’s tomorrow.

Guaranteed mine won’t look like this! Although Gen’s did when we were in New York…

Once I folded the laundry and put things away, I put my yucky clothes back on and went outside again. It was much hotter. I finished weed whacking, talked to my neighbor Karen for a while (she’s still sharing the little Jesus’s that I gave her and having fun with them!), and potted the fern. I moved the cement bench by the fire pit (since I’m dismantling it) and filled in around it with stones. That bench – in three parts – is super heavy! I probably wasn’t smart to move it my myself. I didn’t carry it – I sort of skootched it along! I hope to get help actually moving the blocks and cleaning up the little pebbles. I know – ‘good luck with THAT’!

Moved the bench…

….To here.

Last night after my shower, etc, I was sitting on the couch writing in my journal and the fireworks started. I went outside on the porch – I think every other family in Ft. Allen were setting them off! It was very impressive! Everywhere I looked. I just sat there on the deck, in the warm evening, and watched. I couldn’t even see them all. I know there are lots of people who don’t do – don’t approve – and resent private fireworks. I respect their choice but I still love them! I just let all the colors and sparkles rain around me and enjoyed it all.

My house joining in the celebration.

I’m going to finish this, answer emails and then get supper. Have a lovely Sunday!

SCRIPTURE of the DAY:

PEANUTS?

TOMORROW July 6th is:

Build a Scarecrow Day; Capital City Day; International Kissing Day; National Fried Chicken Day; National Patio Umbrella Day.

I like friend chicken but could never manage to make it. I have 2 patio umbrellas. One is broken. I need to get it fixed this winter. God bless…

Hope your 4th of July was a delight in every way. It was a beautiful day! So many people were celebrating and visiting and picnicing – enjoying the holiday. I enjoyed my day very much – but I actually stayed home and did chores. I got up early and cut the grass, and finished the small section of weeding by the white fence. I did a load of laundry, and by the time I was finished it felt too late for breakfast – so I had a fruit salad.

Grass is done.

Before I got started on more outside work, I had a few quick errands to run. I was looking for a flower pot, some bins for in my bedroom dresser, and a sleeveless shirt. I did not find the shirt that fit the need. I went back outside and dug up a plant, finished another section of weeds, then started on the flower beds under the back deck and up by the rose bushes.

Under the back deck.

By the rose bushes

Kathy and Paul stopped on the way home from their picnic and shared some leftovers with me. She brought veggie pizza and a few pieces of cookie cake. They weren’t even out the driveway and I had scarfed down 2 pieces of the pizza! I’ll eat the rest for supper after I finish this.

Yummy veggie pizza!

Delightful dessert! Thanks to my dear sister!

There is a community yard sale down the road from me – I’ve gone down there several years and it’s pretty fun to walk around. So I may do that in the morning — but then I need to weed whack. Today I took some happy July 4th pictures.

My neighbor Al’s giant flag!

Autmn and Noah popped in on their way to Jaime’s – they are celebrating Autmn’s sister Penny’s graduation! Congrats to Penny! I can hardly believe she’s old enough to graduate.

My sweet boy!

SCRIPTURE of the DAY:

PEANUTS?

TOMORROW July 5th is:

International Cherry Pit Spitting Day; Mechanical Pencil Day; National Apple Turnover Day; National Bikini Day; National Graham Cracker Day; National Workaholics Day; Pet Remembrance Day; Work without your Hands Day; National Play Outside Day.

I have no interest in spitting cherry pits and I am not a fan of mechanical pencils or bikinis. I’m borderline reformed workaholic. I WILL play outside when I can! God bless…

It was a nice day today! I had a good time at work, if that’s not an oxymoron. Everyone was in a jolly mood, and had things to share, and were all willing to help out. I only had one deal but was there for over two hours!

When I left work I stopped at Walmart for some fruit, ingredients to make home-made weed killer, and ice cream! After lunch I did some emails then talked to my friend Tamara who is co-hostess for the Loyalhanna Review Publication Party. We got the menu worked out and some solid plans for other things.

Past issues

Another update on my medical journey. I was supposed to have a test next Tuesday. However, my blookwork showed that one of my prescriptions affected the numbers – and that would affect the results of the test. So I have to let up on that prescription for a week and have the bloodwork redone. So next week’s test has been delayed.

Nate’s friend Jamie came and looked at my electrical issue from the lightening strike. He’s going to replace the light, update the connections, and check on a few other things for me. I pulled weeds along the white fence for a while and will finish with the rose flowerbed tomorrow.

Scripture of the day:

PEANUTS?

TOMORROW July 4th is:

Alice in Wonderland Day; 4th of July Day; Independence From Meat Day; National BBQ Spareribs Day; National Caesar Salad Day; National Grill Safety Day; National Hillbilly Day; Sidewalk Egg Frying Day.

Whatever you do tomorrow – stop and give thanks for this great land we live in. God Bless America – 149 years old!

Typical Wednesday. Just cleaning and laundry and trash. Nate and Dave just stopped on the way through Ft. Allen and lugged all my heavy trash bags out to the road. That saved me a lot of heavy lifting! Thanks, guys.

I got mail from my vacation! I usually send myself a post card, reminding me of when I was there and what I did. So I got the one from Ft. Ticonderoga.

Post card from me.

I also got a perfect little note from Gen – which I framed and put on my shelf. A nice reminder of our wonderful time together.

Cool cannon card from Gen.

And truthfully, other than playing Biltmore Christmas on a loop all afternoon, that was my day! Still trying to get a prescription filled that I HAVE to start taking on Friday or I will have to reschedule my next test… Sigh.

SCRIPTURE of the DAY:

PEANUTS?

I guess so!

TOMORROW July 3rd is:

Air Conditioner Appreciation Day; American Redneck Day; Disobedience Day; International Drop a Rock Day; National Chocolate Wafer Day; National Eat your Beans Day; National Fried Clam Day.

I do appreciate my air conditioner. I try not to disobey. I’m just hanging out! God bless…

Work this morning – and the computers/programs were not working. As of today PENNDOT raised all their fees, so all the forms and programs were struggling to be correct (my interpretation!). I finished there and picked up the supply bin from Ruth for the Loyalhanna Publication party. I have to sort through it tonight.

I went straight to get my pre-test test done, then came home and made lunch. I had an egg sandwich on the French bread we brought back from New York.

It quit raining about then, so I went down and put black plastic trash bags over the paper lawn bags. I was afraid they wouldn’t hold up in the rain. While I was outside, I changed the small garden flags, scrubbed the chair mat for my desk chair, and took some flower pictures. Took a minute to throw away an old leaky garden hose that was taking up room in my garage.

The bags were pretty wet and soggy

Drying the mat on the car windshield!

Growing in the deck railing

Peach color and yellow.

Butterfly bush blooms

The mystery is solved! They’re pink!

These are by the driveway.

SHED pictures from last night’s work:

I still have to iron and pay bills and update the wooden Snoopy calendar. That’s probably all for the day. And happy 16th birthday to Chase! Hoping he has a wonderful day and a happy year!

My handsome grandson!

SCRIPTURE of the DAY:

One of my favorite verses.

PEANUTS?

TOMORROW July 2nd is:

I Forgot Day; Made in the USA Day; National Disco Day; World UFO Day; National Wildland Fire Fighter Day.

There’s always something to forget. I believe I WAS made in the USA! Enjoy your day – God bless…

Last night’s sunset –

It was cloudy and cooler when I woke up, so I cut the grass. This weather is making it grow like crazy!

Front yard.

But I got it done, got a shower and had breakfast, did laundry, and started on my extensive list. I put up a few red/white/blue decorations. I kept my favorite ones and gave the rest to Mary for her work.

Window stickees

Kitchen door

Front window

I went outside and pulled weeds along the rest of the walk, and by the corner of the white fence. Then the repairman came for the fridge (which had started working for some odd random reason!) and spent about 40 minutes figuring things out. He ordered several parts and explained in very great detail what was wrong and what he was doing. He’ll come back on the 14th (first available date) and repair everything.

The rest of the walk.

Corner by fence.

Once he left I went down behind the shed and cleaned that out. It was a mess and my least favorite place to weed. It’s not hard, just extra dirty, and critters live under the shed, and narrow in places. I have a bunch of trash bags that are heavy, so Nate and Dave plan to stop on their way through tomorrow and take the bags up to the road.

From flower beds

From behind shed.

I just noticed the the one set of lights are out again. Bummer. It’s raining now so I can’t check them. Tomorrow IS another day! But I got the flag changed and the banner up.

Left are out; right is lit

My deep purple glads are filling out nicely. The pink ones aren’t open yet.

They are so beautiful!

SCRIPTURE of the DAY:

Courtesy of Logan Christian Church

PEANUTS?

TOMORROW July 1st is:

American Zoo Day; Blink 182 Day; Canada Day; Dog House Repair Month; Early Bird Day; International Chicken Wing Day; International Joke day; National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day; National Gingersnap Day; National Postal Workers Day; Zip Code Day.

Chase’s 16th birthday! Happy birthday tomorrow! I sort of like zip codes. I like clean funny jokes and ice cream – and gingersnaps! Thanks to our postal workers – I love getting fun mail! God bless…

It’s hard to believe that tomorrow is the last day of June. Next thing you know it will be December and snowing. Remember I said that!

Last night’s sunset was another beauty — the heat and the storms and wind have created a lot of color.

This morning we had a guest speaker – a missionary since 1999 from Bangladesh named Mawia. He gave a presentation of his work during the Sunday School hour, then preached for church. It’s hard to believe that people live in the conditions that they do. Very nice person and has a true heart for God.

At 1pm we had a viewing and then a funeral service for a young man (age 50) who died suddenly of a heart attack on Wednesday. His parents had spent many years in Ghana West Africa as missionaries. I knew his mom from high school and youth group, and his father was senior pastor at our church several years ago. It was a very sad thing for all of us who were left behind – but the family and friends were rejoicing for Kofi’s new life! His daughter and brother delivered the eulogy and the devotion and wow they did a great job. Strong faith and heart for the Lord. I think I will remember those messages for a long time…

Kofi – photo from church directory.

I’m watching ‘Haul out the Holly’ on Hallmark. It’s Christmas in July. I’ve seen it a dozen times so I’m ok with just background noise.

Once I got home I changed into yucky clothes and went up front. I pulled weeds in front of the deck and part way down the sidewalk. It was in the shade, but I was still dripping sweat.

Section of front.

In front of deck

By the spigot.

After a shower I got started on this post. Here are flower pictures. And that’s in for today. God bless Kofi’s loving and beautiful family.

Dark purple Gladiolas

Huge cluster of orange Day Lilies

SCRIPTURE of the DAY:

PEANUTS?

and live for the Lord!

TOMORROW June 29th is:

Clean your Disposal Day; National Corvette Day; National Meteor Watch Day; Social Media Day; Rabbit Week.

There are more than enough rabbits in my yard. They are eating everything but the weeds! Have a lovely day tomorrow – God bless…

I was busy all day. It’s 6:30pm right now and it just quit storming – for now. I started the morning changing and washing sheets, shower and breakfast. I had a list for Hepler’s Ace Hardware so I did that early. I broke the cover for the weed whacker string so I replaced that, got more string spools, picked up two paint stirrers (Not sure where all of mine went!) and an ant treatment for outside. Came highly recommended so we’ll see. I can’t put it out when there’s a threat of rain since it will wash away.

After lunch I put WD-40 on the kitchen storm door – it was squeaking like crazy. The curtain rod behind the washer was crooked so I fixed that, then put a big red hook in the overhead beam to hang dryer clothes on.

Straightened the curtain rod and put a hook for hanging clothes.

The towel rack wasn’t on correctly – one of the molly screws was broken. I took pictures and measurements and went to Lowe’s and the guy gave me a very easy fix! All good!

Guy was very helpful …

All fixed.

Kelly called me on her way home from Izzy’s grad party ( Peyton’s girlfriend ). Apparently a few of her aunts and uncles live in Albion. One couple go to Keepville church and had been to Mom and John’s house! That’s what you call Small World! All of them were excited for the connections!

Haven’t been here in a long time!

Two of my light sets on the deck were half lit, so I took them down, restrung them, and added new sets. Even though the sky looked dark and I heard some rumbles of thunder, I got a trash bag and did some plant trimming. I cut the flower stalks (already done blooming) from the Hosta down the back walk – they were falling onto the walk. I trimmed the Rose of Sharon sticking through the fence on the hill, dead-headed the Daisies, and cut all the Sage back to the ground. The fragrance is way too strong for me. Even in the outdoor black trash bag I can smell it in the garage. Also cut back the Spider Mums. That will be enough for today – still have some emails to answer.

Daisies

Hostas

Trimmed Rose of Sharon

Cut back Mums to make room for the Butterfly blooms

Sage is gone.

SO – back to Thursday vacation day. Once we got back from Saratoga, we decided to go down to the Stockade – it’s a section of Schenectady that’s from the 1700’s and the houses are amazing!

My favorite!

Kath and Gen in front of the Market

We walked around the town and then sat by the Mohawk river and watched the clouds for a bit.

Canon by the river

Mohawk River

Watching the clouds

We offered to get supper out so we wouldn’t have to cook. Gen suggested Jumpin’ Jack’s drive-in diner by the river. It was VERY good! We all had a fish sandwich, then shared orders of French Fries and Onion Rings. It was a nice way to spend our last full day there.

My stomach is rumbling just looking at the picture!

Here is a picture of her upstairs hall and the dining room window looking to the back yard.

We left about 8:30am or 9am Friday morning and headed out. It was a beautiful sunny comfortable day and we did good getting home. The views, mountains, vistas, farmlands – it was all, well, beautiful! It was hard to leave, simply because it was such a refreshing fun time. Gen sent me a picture Friday night of setting her sister up on an air mattress – with her new throw blanket. She also sent a picture of her grandson Jack – he found Jesus! I will forever remember our time there – spent with two people I love in a house that is perfectly wonderful for my dear friend!

Dog is already asleep! (Bottom right)

Jack with Jesus!

SCRIPTURE of the DAY:

PEANUTS?

TOMORROW June 29th is:

National Darts Day; Hug Holiday; International Day of the Tropics; International Fisherman Day; International Mud Day; Log Cabin Day; National Almond Buttercrunch Day; National Bacon Burnt Ed Day; National Camera Day; National Guy Day; National Waffle Iron Day.

Hugs are fun! Zane (Gen’s husband) was an avid fisherman! Not a fan of mud, actually, but I do like bacon! Have a great day, and a waffle! God bless…

I was able to quickly cut the grass this morning very early. I jumped out of bed, threw on old clothes and went out. It stayed cloudy and cool and breezy and I finished in good time – then got a shower and breakfast. My intention was to pull some weeds this afternoon but it’s too warm and humid. I’ll see what happens this evening. But sure glad the grass is cut.

Last night’s sunset clouds

Grass is cut – for a few days.

Here are some flower pictures.

Two colors of Day Lilies

Blazing Star just starting

Purple Daisy – Cone flower?

Gladiolas – I did NOT plant it there! Ready to bloom – What color will it be?

Daisies

Phlox

So the second part of our Thursday in New York was at Saratoga battlefields. So much history there. The most interesting fact for me was below:

Interesting!

Beautiful day; beautiful sky!

In visitor’s center

Battlefield outside the Visitor Center

Miles and miles…

The Nielson Farmhouse was abandoned early in the war, but when the Neilson’s came back to claim it the American troops had taken it. They eventually got it back.

Farmhouse

Inside

Looks like Little House on the Prairie.

After we watched the movie in the visitor’s center, we got in the car and drove the nine mile road through the battlefields. We learned something different at every stop.

Mushroom

At stop 9 we pulled in and shared lunch above the Hudson river. We were just finishing up when it started to rain. The fields were very solemn and hallowed remembrances.

Hudson river peeking through the trees

The cloud looks like Chernobyl nuclear explosion! Over the Hudson.

Rain chased us to the car.

SCRIPTURE of the DAY:

PEANUTS?

TOMORROW June 28th is:

House Paint Touch Up Day; Midsummer Day; National Tapioca Day; Paul Bunyan Day; Summersgiving Day; National Mural Day; National Foodie Day; National Logistics D.

I paint-touched up the house yesterday! We are all probably foodies to some degree. God bless!!!

A few things to do at work – Ken was chasing ants. Apparently the April accident stirred up a few colonies and we are overrun by them. Ruth Ann (Matt’s mom) brought up paperwork for a truck that they bought for Logan so I helped with that. I bought a few birthday cards then came home and had potato soup for lunch. Still too hot to do anything outside.

Touched up a few scratches on the door to my garage and then made cinnamon muffins. I could barely fit them in the freezer but I only put a few in a baggie and it worked. It’s trying to rain right now.

So on with the vacation. Thursday morning we headed to Grant’s Cottage in Wilton NY. We had never even heard of it! But it was amazing! This property was a rental owned by a friend, and when Grant was diagnosed with Throat cancer and couldn’t work, he was encouraged to write his memoirs. This friend offered the cottage to Grant for as long as he needed it. He spent his last weeks there. The stories we heard and the details for Grant’s last days were very moving and emotional. Our tour guide, Mark, was very thorough and knowledgeable. Somehow we think of war heroes dying on the battlefield. But General Grant (President Grant?) died a slow, painful death while writing his life story. He did this to provide for his family when he was gone, and the men who had served under Grant went door to door to sell the books! They loved him! Such an amazing story of those last days.

Kathy ready for the day!

This is a bath chair, but for traveling not for bathing.

A bust of Grant

Last picture of Grant – on the porch.

Grant’s typewriter – Remington!

Copies of the book

His desk

Hand written pages

When Grant died, his son stopped the clock and it hasn’t been touched since.

These are actual floral arrangements sent for the funeral. They have dried perfectly and are preserved.

The parlor was used for Grant’s bed – where he died.

Notice the black mourning band around the flag.

Gen and Kath chatting with Mark on the porch.

Side porch.

And it’s been preserved as it was.

Path to the overlook.

Views from the overlook.

Tomorrow we’ll finish up at Saratoga Battlefield and the Stockade in Schenectady.

SCRIPTURE of the DAY:

PEANUTS?

TOMORROW June 27th is:

Cream Tea Day; Decide to be Married Day (?); Drive your Corvette to Work Day; Helen Keller Day; National Bingo Day; National Food Truck Day; National Onion Day; National Orange Blossom Day; National Sunglasses Day; Screen Repair Day; Ice Cream Cake Day.

Ummmm… Ice Cream is good, and sunglasses! God bless..