My Soldier Boy Home on Leave

In about an hour I'm off to the airport to "collect" my oldest son. He's coming home for ten days of R & R, chowing down on his mom's famous food, meeting his new nephew, and giving me a hand around this place. Will be back later to post pictures.

Dont' Even Go There, Dear Hubby

Today's conversation via long distance phone: (Mrs. Mac) "Blah, blah, blah .... mumble, mumble, mumble, oh yeah, the dog fence people were by today, the carpet installers were here too, the spa man was here, blah, blah, waaah, waaah, it's hot inside without the a/c." (DH) "I think we should put in a split rail fence along part of the side yard" ... ("the multi-stacked, zig-zagged type ... I'm envisioning $$$$ signs) oops, did I just say my thoughts out loud to DH???") (DH) "Well, maybe if we use some of your "HAIR" money (did he mean my beauty parlor $?), we can buy another section of fence. " "YOU SAID WHAT!!" "Don't even go there, dear hubby."

Yes, anyone still following my trials of home building ... Heat, Humidity, and Hormones have wreaked Havoc in my life.

Update on the broken brand new a/c: Part being shipped from Texas via a UPS truck is being tracked and possibly lost (or so I'm told).

I think you are all better off if I don't post while in such a frenzied condition ;)




















.... "I can dream can't I?" ... what I'd really like to be doing right now

Beating The Heat

Now without a working air conditioner, it will be nearly impossible to beat this heat! Yes, my new a/c has a fried part and the replacement is somewhere between Texas and Idaho on a truck. Lucky me! Even my normally cool basement is fighting to stay cool. The temps have been hovering around the 100 degree mark causing frayed and short nerve connections in my brain. The house stays tolerable until the mid afternoon ... then a wave of stale, humid air hangs around until way past sundown when it's possible to open the windows. But opening all of the windows has its drawbacks ... more than normal amounts of "dust" in the house, which causes me to work a bit harder cleaning each day ... Oh well, at least I'm physically able to do the cleaning, have a roof over my head and a pillow each night; food, water and loved ones to cherish. I guess in all things (even this heat) I should give thanks to God.

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
1 Thesalonians 5:18

Beating Weeds

The past few days have found me in the yard pulling weeds from our new lawn, planting perennials, shrubs, and digging rock hard dirt with a shovel and pickaxe. We haven't had a smidgen of rain for several weeks and the soil is very dry; the natural grass in the landscape is turning brown. Monday I mowed the wild grass along our parkway ... and weed whacked too. I shall consider this my exercise for the week (or punishment) ... along with walking the dog around our "loop" a few times. Boy, am I sore! Hopefully next week I can get our landscaper back to install the drip lines for the flower beds ... having to hand water everyday is quite a job.

It's late ... I'm tired ... maybe tomorrow my brain wont' be as "fried" and I can actually think of something better to write.

But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.

Matthew 13:25

A Pet For Sara

My friend Sara (in Michigan) recently said goodbye to her elderly dog and is on the hunt for a new pooch, cat, lamb, or something to love that her husband will "adopt" into the family. I have a doe that frequents my yard almost daily. She's well trained (so far) and only eats the weeds. The newly planted "deer resistant" plants seem not to be bothered by her. Today I found her taking a nap (resting) in the shady part of the front lawn. She doesn't seem too old, is not afraid of Miss Holly, and has beautiful brown eyes. Sara, she's up for adoption, please send her a ticket and some food if the Mr. says yes ;) Be sure to go to Sara's and vote on a name for her new pet.

My Father's "Almanac"

For the past 22 or so years, since my father built his "new" home and retired, he has been preserving daily facts on 22 years worth of wall calendars ... yes, that's a new one added faithfully to his collection each year. If you need to know what the weather was like say 19 years ago on July 5th, all he would have to do is find that calendar still hanging on his garage wall. You see, each calendar is in chronological hanging order ... and each month, he routinely flips them all up to the "current" month. Things of interest to him that he notes are:

• daily high/low temps
• rain gauge amounts
• how many fish he caught
• when he purchased his fishing license & cost
  
• visits from his children
• date he ordered firewood, cost, and how much
• date he fired up the wood stove for the season
• date he put out the wood stove in the spring
• trips to the doctor for his "baby" (my mom)
• date he puts up his 15 or so hummingbird feeders
• vacation start/end dates
• gardening facts/seed types
• golf tee times + scores
  

You get the picture. I think it's time to carry on this time honored tradition with our first wall calendar in our new garage. Maybe I'll even use my "better" penmanship so the grand kids can read grandma's writing in years to come.

Happy Fourth Of July

Have a safe day celebrating our nation's birthday!