Oooo! Aahhh!

Yup!  You could hear the sounds of "Oooohs and Ahhhs!" after the fireworks sparkled out over our heads.  "We", set off our own mini display.  Some of them rivaled the bigger shows, but then they probably looked bigger since we were right underneath them.  It was fun to be back in the thick of things (smoke-wise that is).  Dan was having fun lighting them.  Rob was setting firecrackers and Roman candles off.  Blake was lighting up some of the bigger clusters.  Brett set off his own rounds.  Mitchell and Jonathan had Roman candles.  The rest of us sat in our chairs, covered our ears when needed, and clapped in appreciation for a full night of color and sounds.  Quite different from my day which was long and very quiet.  The grandkids enjoyed it once they got used to all of the sounds.  Frank fell asleep during the whole process and Olivia had to go inside.  She fell asleep too.  They all had a water balloon fight (tradition now).  Julie, Ben, Dan, Mitchell, Jonathan, Audrey, Rob, Frank, Jaqulin, and Michael were in on that.  It was wet and cold!  The air here has chilled right down.   Food-wise we had ice cream and all the toppings to go with it.   Megan still has a stuffy head.  Samantha was fine watching on the sidelines along with Kathy, Amanda,Susannah, and myself.  I think there were nineteen of us.  They had played volleyball earlier.  I didn't get there until 9:30.  Good time.  Short, but sweet.

Before the Big Weekend!

Here I am.  I am sitting in a room that is slowly heating up.  I wanted to make Megan some baked mac & cheese.  Turning the oven on is a little nuts, but "comfort foods" might help. She is not feeling well.  Jaq and Frank are here.  We will take off soon to her house.  She called and said she is feeling "some" better.

Frank is awake.  Jaqulin is awake.  The mac & cheese is done.  Off we go!

I have to work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  At least we can celebrate a little bit tomorrow night.

Happy 4th!

Picture Day

I took lots of pictures today of odd things and normal things.  I thought I would take you around the property, show you the gardens, and a few pictures inside, and then a couple of when I was little and my family.  I know I can't put up the real pictures, but I thought I could put up a picture of a picture. 

Coming out the south door (our main door as I don't use the front door).

My experiment with pole beans.  They are starting to climb.  When they have filled the string, I will show you again.

Tiger Lilies

My second string section.

Coreopsis.

East side going down the hill.  My little side garden on your left.  It is mostly beans, onions and at the bottom pumpkin and watermelon.

At least it is all growing!  I am happy for that.

My moat.  This is before I mowed it this afternoon.  I tried to take a picture of it all mowed, but I did not have enough light.  You can see my circle.  There are flowers on the outside rim, then squash, pumpkin, pickles, watermelon, muskmelon, with tomatoes and flowers on the inner circle.  My HOPE is that the large vines will grow down the moat and fill this all in with large leaves and orange blossoms.  It will be pretty if works.

Part of the trees that are down.  Dan worked on them, but there is still so much to do.  Meg suggested we have a work day.  Sounds like a plan.  Bar-B-Que would be good too!

I think the whole thing will just have to come down.

Looking towards the west (down below the hill).  We have another lot past the water tower.  That is where a lot of our blackberries are hiding.

Looking towards the southwest.  Julie's property (Julie being my sister) is on your right.

Looking towards the southeast towards our house.  This is the same hill I might show sometimes when the kids are sliding down it in the winter.

Back of Julie's.

Looking east towards the house.

Looking northeast towards "the little woods" where all the trimming has to be done.  Also where some of our berries are.

Hostas up by the house on the west side.

Back of the house.  We took the pool out and have a campfire pit way off to your left (out of shot).

Out the back door (steps/deck that you can see in the other picture).  It is a favorite place to go out on and just sit and listen.

Looking off from the deck NE.  The clearing you see goes down to the moat.

The berry bushes down below.  They are just now coming on.  It won't be long and we will have blackberry pie.

Looking out the Master Bath window (berries just below).

Fireplace mantel in the living room.  This is one side of it.  I did not take a picture of our third mantel, but you have seen it before if you remember our Christmas pictures.

This is the mantel from the other side in what we call our "meditation room."  Susannah has been working on it.  She has started the cherry blossom trees and we hope to add a screen and a fountain.  It is quite relaxing just being in the room.  The grandkids have their toys in there too.

"The Family"  These are special photos that we almost lost in the fire.  Thankfully, they are "okay."

Moi.  A little tyke.

My parents, Julie and me.  You can tell my mother just cut our bangs.  Both Julie and I have the "cowlick look."

Julie and I.  I thought I took one of all of us girls, but I only took individual shots.  I will have to show you that one someday.  It is in the "family" picture up above.  My other sisters are Kathryn and Lynda.

Susannah was kind enough to take a picture of the berries just starting to turn.

And so, there you go!  A trip around the house and you didn't even have to walk it.  Believe me, it is a walk!

I want to be able to show you the gardens when they are in full production.  It will be fun to keep track of them.

Night!

Olivia's birthday party.  You can see the anxious faces waiting for the cake AND to blow out the candle!

Franklin

Jaqulin and "Livvy"

Michael and "Livvy"

Jaqulin with her coffee cup at Grandma Ray's house.

Jaq enjoyed it very much (so did Grandma)!

After the rain.  The sun shone on the screen and made it seem like glistening crystals in the window.

Less than Six!

I just noticed my countdown meter to my 50th birthday.  I am now at less than six months!  I haven't planned anything.  I probably should write down a few things on that.  It all sounds silly, but I think, in my mind, it is like I will go into obscurity after 50?  I really need to have a chat with myself about what I see for the future and what things I want to accomplish.  I know, some of you who are past this mile-marker, are laughing.  That is okay.  I will probably laugh too when I look back on it.  Right now, it seems like this is a bigger deal than when I turned 40.  Sounds all silly when you write it out.  Probably a good thing that I did, then I can just adjust my thinking.

Pray for Meredith.  Kathy and Jim were up that way and said she has a pinched nerve.  I don't know what you can do for that, but I'm thinking CHIROPRACTOR.

Cooler today.  Really nice.  I have a free day.  I am going out to work in the garden.  I have new batteries in the camera.  I will put up some pictures later on.

Enjoy your day.