Friday Day Log

 I have seen some blogs who do a 'day log' ? totally the wrong name but I can't think of it right now. Anyway, I liked the idea so I tweeked it a bit and decided that each Friday would be my 'day log' day. 

Looking Out My Window....  I see a large pot of mini sunflowers that I can't seem to keep watered enough. They are wilted again this early in the morning! 

I Am Thinking About.... how I am slowly getting back to my normal schedule after a month of busy, busy, busy!

I Am Grateful.... that my visiting children got back home safely after a 'visit to Mama's'.

I Am Writing... need to get back to that novel I am working on. A month-long hiatus! It's a book #2 of the Springtime series.

How I'm Feeling.... more rested, raring to go this morning. Wonder how long that feeling will last?😁

What I'm Reading... I'm 2/3 of the way through The Venice Sketchbook. It's a delightful book and I am enjoying it. 

What I'm Watching.... Jeopardy. Have for years, love it when I know the answer. And, hey, it's helping keep this old mind of mine sharper. Not too sure who I like as host.... just saying.... Alex can't be replaced. 

That's it for this morning..... tootle-doo!

June, Crammed Full.

 June is almost over. And, my June was so crammed full of events, travel, fun, exhaustion .... you get the picture. I mean, it was almost too much for this ole gal to take but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. 

If you follow my blog you know I left the first part of June for my son's home in Alabama. It got very hot so we headed north back to my place in Va. The kiddos redid my balcony so I can really enjoy it. Then, my youngest daughter flew down from N. Y. for the weekend to help celebrate her sister's birthday. 

It was one ridiculously funny, lovely, tiring time. We ate and ate and ate some more. We had seafood, pork barbeque, Mexican and a bunch of junk food. We spent hours together (me and the three of my four kids) talking about times past, teasing each other, playing Uno and a Memory Chess game. Then, we'd eat some more, stay up late, sleep late (well, some of us did). It was just the best weekend.

When Susan flew back on Monday I was so tired, I thought I would never recover. But, Tuesday morning we (son-in-law, the birthday girl, my son and I) drove 1 1/2 hours to my granddaughters house to have a birthday celebration! More food, more fun.... 

I got up this morning to spend the last day my son will be here before he heads back to Alabama. Tomorrow.... I crash!! 

                        Here's some photos from the weekend. 

A Happy Place

                                                           Mercy Me!

My balcony on 3rd floor was/wasn't a place of joy for me. It never seemed to be what I wanted it to be, a place to read, take pictures, paint... an extension of me out there. It truly was uninviting. 

But, just look at it now...

Chairs and table, a taller size, one which I can work on. The chairs provide me a view that being shorter in this older age did not. (I am shrinking , you know). 

I was looking through the railings before. Now I can see over them. 

I love it! 

Many happy days spent on my balcony ahead, I am sure. 

Throwback Thursday

My husband sitting on his brother-in-law's cabin porch in 2004. 

One of my favorite picture of him. 

Summer Solstice!

      Wow! Today is Summer Solstice! The beginning of Summer. 

Last week I was in Alabama and the temps felt like summer. Michael and I arrived back in Virginia last night and I wake up to 58 degree weather! What the heck? But, the heat is coming. Oh how I dread it. 

                                I am not a summer girl! 

I am so thankful for the trip to my son Michael's and the safe journeys there and back.

He's a good son! 

a picture from Dec. 2020

I have a lot of things to catch up on since I have been gone 3 weeks. 

You know how you get behind if you are not at it every day. 

So...

Tootle-loo

for now 

A Peaceful Flower Garden

 Michael has planted a nice little flower garden underneath some trees in his side yard. It's sort of his little peaceful place. I want to share some of his pretties with you. 

A portion of his garden

I love the variegated hosta. 

Coral bells

Canna lily. I love the color.

Cone flowers

A nice piece of driftwood. When he's sailing, he finds pieces of driftwood. Even his friends collect them for him.

A bumblebee helping himself to pollen in a Rose of Sharon blossom.

The Rose of Sharon

A gorgeous lily. 

Well, that's the tour... at least of that part of his yard. Hope you enjoyed it. 

Tootle-loo!

A Quiet Peaceful Morning

Yesterday we had company. My favorite cousin's wife and daughter came to see me and Michael. Michael had never met them and it had been years and years since I had seen them. Way too long! 

My cousin, Neil, and I were close. We didn't see each other much. I got married young and moved away. In 1964 or 65 he got very sick and had to have brain surgery which left him paralyzed and without speech. His wife, Mitzi, was such a faithful caregiver until Neil passed away abt. 14 years ago. And, I hadn't seen her since. 

So, you can guess that we had a lot of catching up to do! 

I think that people don't make enough effort to stay in touch with those they care about. The reunion was easy and fun. I won't lose touch again. 

me, Susan and Mitzi. 

Michael, Susan and Mitzi. 

I got up this morning (I was already awake) when I heard a tiny whine outside my bedroom door.

It was Sadie, Michael's sweet little dog. 

Michael had gone down to the marina to work a bit on his boat before it got too hot, so I guess Sadie got lonesome. 

She hopped up on my bed and we just enjoyed the quiet, the stillness of the morning.

Such a peaceful time.

I cherish moments like that.