Waiting

I am waiting....

Waiting for the ATT guy to come and check on things... Maybe he can figure out why our service is sooo Slooooooooooooww!

Waiting to go to the store... but I think I will just go... they are supposed to call 1/2 hour before they come and I can surely be home by then.

Waiting to get my office put back together from painting.... I would like to replace the formica desk top with granite--- so I'm

Waiting for my husband to come home.... hopefully with a piece of granite.  He forgot his phone... I can hear it ringing.... in the other room.

Waiting for a friend to stop over to pick up the gift for her husband that she had shipped to our home so he wouldn't know about it.

Waiting for the rain... to water my garden... maybe I should do it myself.

Waiting four more days.... till the trip to the airport to pick up my girl for the summer.

Waiting for the next shoe to fall so to speak with my exchange student... but hopeful that it won't.

Waiting for school to be over... 25 actual days, 19 school days.

And so while I wait I hope to busy myself with constructive things to do.  That will please my Maker and allow me to make progress around here.... To make this house a happy home and the people within happy campers... if they are willing.

Gotta go... ATT is here... imaginge that... :)

The Lake

What a beautiful day it was today.  We woke up and went out for coffee at Panera after dropping Lex off for a day trip to Niagra Falls.  Came home and went to our wonderful church.  Then came home and loaded up the kayaks for a trip to the lake.

The lake was amazing.  Super smooth, the weather was fantastic... Couldn't have been nicer.  and we watched fish jumping and the geese with their little ones.. There were 3 swans on the lake but we steered clear of them. LOL









It was a great relaxing day.  Just me and my hubby.









We came home and worked in the garden... and grilled hamburgers.... mmmmm... so yummy!

Well, how do you top a day like today... Maybe with some ice cream... Yeah!  I think that sounds nice!

How do you find peace?

If you want to relax, sit outside and watch all the activity.  I sat outside yesterday morning and watched a sparrow and a wren fighting for possession of a small bird house.... Loud squawking over the occupation of the this little cabin in the tree.

So I went out to do some shopping last night and looked for another bird house... Found lots of feeders but no birdhouse....

Then I remembered that I had a gourd that I had purchased about 13 years ago with the intention of painting it and hanging it outside.  I decided to place it on the pole with my fern.

And this morning while enjoying a cup of coffee on the front porch I watched the little wren bringing sticks to make her nest in the gourd.  It was fascinating.  I watched her maneuver the sticks to get them inside the house through the hole in the front.  Patiently and diligently she worked... and this evening she is still at it... Funny but the sparrow is nowhere to be seen...

I am going to enjoy listening to their song. Also watching her come and go and then see the little ones fledge the nest.

Still have not seen any hummers... But maybe soon.  I will provide new nectar tomorrow just in case...

But I love seeing, watching and enjoying nature around me.  It is one thing that calms my nerves when I feel stressed....

In Genesis, we learn that God created all things.

When things are out of control and we need to get ourselves together we can always be assured that there is someone out there who loves and cares for us... He has a plan for us and I need to seek Him and put my trust and faith in Him...

Philippians 4:6-7  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding , will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Favorite Flowers and E's Clue

It is simply beautiful here today... I didn't get much sleep last night as Lex returned from his trip to Chicago very late... The boys get back today around 3 or 4... and Erin gets home next week... 

I love this weather... warm, sunny, a slight cool breeze, the birds singing, butterflies, bees just perfection.  I was looking at my peony.. It is simply gorgeous!  I am so glad I was able to keep it protected from the frost... 

I was just trying to figure out my favorite flower... 

I do love those Peonies.  The deep pink and yellow color (there are other varieties too)... Their delicate petals... 

The Sunflowers grow so tall and they turn their heads toward the sun.  They get so heavy from the seeds that when fall comes they hang down cast as if anticipating the long cold winter to come.

California Poppies- The State Flower... remind me of home.  Their orange color and simplicity.  They love the heat!

Tulips-  I love how tall and straight, how proper they look and the many varieties... I have a purple that I love.. Big Purple cups on a tall slender green stem.  Amazing.

Asian Lilies are Amazing... they grow so tall and their trumpet like flowers are boldly colored.  I planted quite a few varieties... White, Yellow, and Pink... I have a red one the color of Merlot... I want to plant a few Oranges... They will lean toward the sun too.

Primroses remind me a very sweet neighbor who moved to Florida.  When I walked Bitsy, we would chat about flowers and birds.  If I was working in the yard, she would stop on her way home from the cemetery and we would chat.  I tried to send her a letter but I came back.. I miss you Grace~  Primroses remind me of you.

I'd say those are my favorite flowers- though I have many others planted in the yard and I love seeing what everyone else has planted in their yards. The flowers attract birds and bees and butterflies and I love watching them fly and flutter around.  I love this season and try to really appreciate all that God has created and blessed us with on earth.  My God, Father God, Jesus, Holy God, You are to be worshiped.

Here it is kiddo!  Your Clue!  

6 days and you will be home... Get cracking and study for finals... This is SSS#2  I don't think your gonna get a clue for SSS#1 ... You only have a week and then all will be revealed!  Hug Aunt Jen and Ali for me and all the children!  Get Mrs. Ross's address!  and oh what was the other thing I wanted to say... hmmmm.... oh yea... Study!  LOL   Love you lots!

We are very proud of you

     The job you're doing away at school.

Staying focused and doing your best

     Finding a balance is a difficult test.

This super secret surprise,
     Is coming together late at night 

Each circle placed inside a square,
     As I work, you're lifted up in prayer

The colors~ To show your pride

     Take it in the car on a long ride.

To warm you up when the temps are low

     My attempt~ Love to show

On those days,  when you need a hug

     Wrap it around you like a bug in a rug.

And when you do, think of me~

     And the rest of your loving family!

In or Out

The question of the day... In or Out?

The house is torn up from my painting... and I need to put it back together but where to start... Organizing and decluttering is part of the process.  I look around put a picture back up, put the thermostat back on the wall... have another cup of coffee and go outside.

It rained last night and the garden loved it.  I don't have much planted in there but spinach and lettuce and peas and onions.  I took my little seedlings and some rubber gloves and decided to plant.  My neighbor stopped by and brought me some scallions... Isn't it nice to share!  And nice to chat with her... She also gave me some beans to plant at the end of the month... Italian green beans... He mother-in-law brought them back from Italy over 20 years ago... So they save the seeds each year and now I can do the same.

I put in tomatoes, cilantro, basil, and parsley.  Then cabbage and broccoli, and brussell sprouts.  Then turnips and peppers.  I think that was it... but it took all morning... then I found the really nice long handled shower head  sprinkler and put it on the hose... but no water.  my hubby turned it off .... :/  So I had to use a watering can and haul water from the garage to the garden... Getting my exercise.... :)

Then I pulled mint out of my front bed.... it smelled so good.  I left some but pulled it from where other things were growing.... If you want a fragrant ground cover that will cover quickly... get some mint!

Pulled some weeds, cleaned off the front porch... How many cans of lighter fluid need to be out there next to the hibachi... there were 4 plus two bags of charcoal briquets,  the briquet starter, and the Christmas tree stand... and a pair of skis, and 2 pair of shoes.... good grief...

Put all that stuff away and then swept the porch and walk.... I put the fountain out I just need to find the right extension cord...  Then I filled the bird feeders.  Oh my does it look nice.

I'm so tired I don't think I can do a thing inside today.... So the answer is out!

Painting the Kitchen

Worked all day today... Painting and running a few errands... I am so exhausted...

I didn't get to my painting till the afternoon and then after working for hours, about 6pm, I thought man it is stifling! That's Ohio weather for you.  We go from wearing a jacket to wanting to strip to our unmentionables.  Good grief...


I repainted the lower part of the wall the same color it was before... But I wanted to go a bit lighter on the upper part... So I decided on a color had it mixed and went home.. It was tooooo white.  grrrrr.  I do not have a knack for choosing paint colors.

So I went back and asked them to punch it up a shade... Well, that wasn't working and I was afraid they were going to give me something I couldn't work with at all... Sooo I went home and did a mix job of my own... I mixed some of the darker with some of the lighter and tried it.  Nope, so I went back to the drawing board... added more dark.  Nope, more dark... then ooops, it's the same color that I wanted to change.  So add more of the white... and more white.... and finally a color I think will work...

I painted the walls but because it is sooo humid the paint is not drying very fast. I will have to wait till tomorrow to see if it covered well enough and if I like it...  Hopefully the next time I paint the kitchen it is in a different house...

I am exhausted... I cleaned up my paint mess and now I have to clean up messy me....

What a day... What a week... This is how my husband works everyday... I don't know how he does it...

I did have lunch with a friend and put up my plants outside and a hummingbird feeder... but the majority of the day was inside working... I wanted to to plant my veggies, ran out of time, so hopefully I can do that tomorrow.

I hope I can get someone to help me with SSS#1 tomorrow... I am excited to see it.  And kayaking... oh if only I had more time... 24 hours does not seem to be cutting it!

Needs

Today I am painting... again... I finished the Computer Room... unless there is touch up after it dries...

Yesterdays trip to Home Depot for the vent cover was well, a semi fail.  So, I went to Home Depot again to see if they had a vent cover with 4 mounting screws instead of 3.   They did not... So I purchased the part of the vent that opens and closes... and I thought I could replace this part and then put the cover on and wa-lah be done... but no- the screw holes don't match up on the ducting... So tomorrow Gary is going to stop by and attach the darn thing.  But on a good note- since I had to purchase the open/close part I can use the old one in my son's room.  The vent in his room is broken and no longer opens and closes... sooooo a twofer.  I love twofers... and I need to get a gift card to give Gary for his help.


Now I need to put all the stuff in the computer room away (or throw away)  We have too much stuff.  It really does look cleaner and much brighter... But we need to cut the clutter....


Need a new window blind- the blue one has to go...
Need a piece of granite for a counter top- wouldn't that be nice.... :)

Need, need, need.... That is all we think about sometimes...

What do we truly need.... Food- Shelter-To Love and To be Loved.

I guess I have got it all!  Thank you Jesus, for the many blessings in my life.

Now I need to go paint the bathroom... Because the kitchen is getting painted tomorrow. That way I can go kayaking on Thursday if the weather holds out.... A reward for accomplishing the painting and cleaning.