Rose of Sharon..

Uncle Harry gave Rose of Sharon trees to my mother when we lived in Logans Ferry. I think that is where these came from. They are very good at sending out new little shoots every spring. I love them! They are so beautiful!

The lily....

I don't think this lily has ever had so many blooms!

Hot and humid....

The temperature hit 89 today and it is very humid. We had a brief thunderstorm this afternoon which cooled things off a bit. On my way out to the chiropractor I stopped to check the plants in my little garden. The petunias are very droopy. Tomorrow is supposed to be even hotter- in the 90's- and also very humid.
I dropped off cottage cheese and an empty egg box for Charlie and took a few pictures. I was going to look at the garden in hopes of finding a zucchini, but the heat was too oppressive. I don't know how Charlie is managing it. He works in a sweltering hot job and comes home to an oven [the trailer]. I am of course, very comfortable in my little air-conditioned cottage- as long as I don't step outside.

My garden...

Arriving home last evening I noticed that the brown-eyed-susans are in full bloom. They are beautiful!

Fudgesicle time...

Pizza for lunch...

Wednesday July 26, 2006

Wednesday was a busy and fun day! The kids came in the morning while Amy was at the chiropractor. We did puzzles and watched an episode of Flash Gordon. Amy came back with pizza for the kids' lunch and I gave them fudgesicles for dessert.
In the afternoon I went down to the chiropractor, then over to feed the chickens and then up to the Dollar Store and Wal-Mart. By the time I arrived back home I was ready for a rest. I had a long phone chat with Aunt MJ and got caught up on all the news.
Today has been going at much slower pace. I hope to get things vacumed and do some more sorting out. There was a thunder storm a little while ago, but it looks like the sun is trying to shine again.

This lily was a favorite of Mum's. It has a wonderful scent!

Sunflower

This is the first sunflower to bloom. Spectacular, isn't it?

P3 making a card

P3 wanted his lettering to be perfect so he wrote it in pencil first.

Joyce making a card

What a great day! Joyce and P3 wanted to make cards for some special people, so they came this morning and worked away. We watched an episode from a Flash Gordon dvd that I got at the dollar store for $1. I remember watching Flash Gordon when I was their age- before there actually was space travel. It was a good story and held their interest despite being a black and white oldie.
Daniel came to the door just as it was ending and proudly showed us his new shoes. I didn't get to see David and Amy as David was asleep in the car. Later in the day I made the trek to the chiropractor and then over to visit Charlie for a little bit. I took some pictures and picked beans and a couple peppers and a zucchini. The garden looks more beautiful every time I see it! On the way home I stopped for gas. It is still $2.95. I was going to stop and get new batteries for my camera, but decided not to because of the eggs and produce in my car. It is so warm that I would not want to leave anything in the car that might spoil. I had a big plate of green beans for supper. YUMMY!!!

Joyce with card for her teacher

Wednesday

Today the kids were here in the morning. The time seemed to go by very quickly. David wanted the last quarter of my slice of toast, but he did not want to take it in his hand. He just came with his mouth open and took bites out of it until it was gone. What a funny kid! Joyce wanted to stay longer to work on a gift of cards for her 4-H teachers. I wanted to work on a set of cards too, so we worked together. It was a delightful time!

Hollyhocks

These hollyhocks are higher than the trailer.

The Garden

Brown-eyed susans

Monday and Tuesday in review..

Monday I stopped to visit Charlie and take a tour of the garden. It was blistering hot, but worth the effort. The garden is beautiful! Everything seems to be flourishing. Charlie picked some zucchini for me and I managed to pick some beans. The corn was beginning to tassle and the flowers were a riot of color. The tomato plants are loaded with green tomatoes. The rye that Charlie planted between the rows was so nice to walk on. Charlie keeps it mowed. It also adds a lushness to the garden area.
Tuesday I had the pleasure of going to lunch with my sister. I did not stick to my diet very well, but I enjoyed every bite and enjoyed the conversation even more.

Rust Stain

I had an antique lamp on the corner of the area rug that got wet in my flood. It has left a rust ring. I have no idea how to get it out. Does anyone out there know how remove rust from a rug???
I have had the fan going to dry up the wet and I have been running the air conditioner. Everything seems to be drying nicely. I noticed a little bit of a musty odor when I came out to the living area this morning. I suppose Lysol spray would be good for that?

Rescued!

Here is Jack cheerfully setting up the box fan and making a final check on the air conditioner.

The "spot" I thought was a little spill....

This picture shows where the water flowed out from under the rug. This is the "spot" that I first noticed. Of course, it was much smaller at that time.

The flood wall...

Here you can see the wall [on the right with the exhaust grill] that the water flowed under and you can see the wet floor. This is the area where I had my table. The darker spots are pools of water! You can see the sharp edge where I had the area rug. That is all very wet! The area rug seemed to be holding the water.

My Flood!!!

Tuesday evening I noticed a wet patch on the floor. Assuming that David, who was here earlier had spilled his water, I got a towel and spread it over the spot and left it to sop up the liquid. I was astonished that my heavy bath towel was soon very wet! Joyce stayed overnight to work on cards, but I faithfully replaced the towels as I noticed them getting wet. Then I realized that the area rug next to the little wet spot was also wet. Hmmm...It also began to dawn on me that there was far more water to deal with here than David's little cup. More like a gallon or more! The carpet and area rug were getting wetter. I called maintenance and Jack came to the rescue. He said the hose from the air conditioner was not in the right place and the water was running out under the wall to the carpet. He fixed the problem and brought a fan over to help dry everything out and helped me to move the table further into the living room. Water certainly can make a mess! Of course it is nothing like the problems in the south or in New York. I really appreciate that my problem could be dealt with so quickly! Many thanks to Jack and to Kristen for calling Jack. Thanks to Doris too, for sympathizing and helping me move the table and fold back the area rug. I feel blessed to have so many helping hands! God is good!

My house...

The petunias that the kids planted back in May are certainly flourishing. The mystery flowers have turned out to be brown-eyed-susans! Charlie had guessed that they were either daisies or susans. Julie, who lives at the other end of my row has strawberries in her little plot. I would love to get a strawberry plant!

Watering the plants...

Daniel would make a good farmer. He really enjoys watering the plants. He gave every flower a good drink!

Making cookies...

We played a lot of card games and Daniel helped me get the trash out. We made yummy chocolate chip cookies!

Daniel does phonics...

P3 had to leave in the morning, but Daniel was able to stay for a while. We did phonics for a while. I thought he showed some improvement, but Daniel declared that he really didn't think that he would be able to read by tomorrow!

P3's Pack

Paul packed a lot into his backpack. He wanted me to post this picture showing the stuff he managed to cram into it.

Sleepover

Daniel and P3 had a sleepover last night. Before bed we reviewed the Noah's Ark story from the Bible and P3 read the verses about the rainbow covenant. Daniel did a great job of recalling the story and P3 remembered to pray for the flood victims and those who are helping them.

Racing

Racecars with Dad seems to be the favorite game of Paul and Daniel. Joyce likes it too.

Chucky Cheese

Today we had lunch at Chucky Cheese. David was a litttle wild man running from one ride or game to another! He had to have a few boosts from his obliging big sister to make it up the steps to the bubble- then down the slide and ready to go again!

Our National Anthem

The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
By Francis Scott Key 1814



Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

It seems to be politically incorrect to love the USA these days. The NY Times seems to be on the side of our enemies as they publish information that can only help them and bring potential harm to us. The Dixie Chicks have said it isn't necessary to love your country or some such nonesense. The Words of Sir Walter Scott come to mind. Although he was not American, his words have the ring of truth to any citizen who loves his country.

Breathes there the man with soul so dead
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!
Whose heart hath ne’er within him burned,
As home his footsteps he hath turned
From wandering on a foreign strand!
If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
For him no minstrel raptures swell;
High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim
Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonored , and unsung.

Hollyhocks...

I noticed that the hollyhocks were coming out at Charlie's place. They are such an old fashioned flower.

Hmmm....

Here is a remedy for high cholesterol:

You mix together 2 cups of grape juice, 1 cup of apple juice and 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar [or white vinegar]. Drink 2 oz. daily before your largest meal or at bedtime.

My cholesterol numbers were "perfect" according to my doctor. I took this along with Zocor last spring before my test. I still have to get my triglycerides under control. The doctor is starting me on a Rx of highly concentrated omega 3s to lower them.

One more note...

I wish I had the picture to go with this one last note. I was sitting in the living room talking to Wendy when we heard a crash outside. Rushing to the door we saw Wendell in the flower garden among the potted plants. Apparently he was sitting on the porch and fell over the edge. The drop was only a few inches, but certainly unexpected! Nothing was broken even among the pots. Wendell appeared to be fine--though my guess is that he will feel sore tomorrow. We are all thankful that he was not injured! I tried to get him to do a re-enactment, but he declined.

Isaac

Gayle

Esther

Friday evening...

After making a quick trip to Staples and then to the Pharmacy I went down to the chiropractor and on to visit the Valentines. They are certainly precious kids. Cory barbequed marinated chicken [ Very yummy stuff]. I wish they could stay a little longer.