Day Two Hundred Ninety Three 2013

The squirrels who visit our yard are in hog heaven this fall. Our big walnut tree has produced a bumper crop of these baseball sized things. There are hundreds of them. They drop by the dozens all at the same time, and sometimes it sounds like bombs going off. The tree grows on the south side property line on our side, well away from our house, but the radius of the drop zone has reached all the way to our deck. We feel badly for our neighbor because the nuts bombard their roof with direct hits, so we debate whether or not to have the tree taken down. They’re all over the yard. It could be an ankle breaking experience if you’re not careful where you’re stepping. And I shudder to think what would happen to your skull if you should walk into the drop zone when those things are raining down. Anyway, if the squirrels are smart [which they are] they’ll be hoarding as many of these as they can for that cold snowy winter they keep telling us is coming.

Day Two Hundred Thirty Six 2013

Jungle cat stalking its prey among the exotic flowers. No, wait, that’s just Lily kitty from next door strolling through the back yard on a Saturday afternoon. And a lovely Saturday it was. Was yours?

Day Two Hundred Twenty Eight 2013

T G I F

Grandson Elijah, grandson Knox, and granddaughter Shelby at the depot this afternoon

On our way to Cream City for some yummy frozen treats

My frozen yummy treat was a scoop of Tennessee Fudge ice cream

Elijah chose orange sherbet. He got to choose where to go for ice cream this afternoon because tomorrow is his seventh birthday, and we were doing a bit of early celebrating because he won’t get to have his party until Sunday.

Granddaughter Shelby and daughter Holly [who rarely gets to join us for yummy frozen treats in the afternoon after school] strike a mommy/daughter pose.

Caught hubby Neil with a smile on his face. How did that happen? Must be the ice cream. And the fact that he didn’t know I was taking his picture.

Knox enjoyed his cotton candy flavored ice cream.

We played on the trains for a while before heading back home.

Pee wee baseball in the back yard ~ Knox gets a little help from his cousin Elijah ~ looks like a hit. Good time Friday with peeps!

We’ve had so much rain this summer that I’m surprised I haven’t seen crops of mushrooms all over the place. I noticed a couple growing along our front sidewalk. I love mushrooms. They’re so cute. So I had to take a picture. This one is lopsided but still cute. Happy TGIF, y’all!

Day Two Hundred Twenty Three 2013

Hubby Neil spent his afternoon building a frame for grandson Knox’s swing. He was forced to work off the back of his truck because what was formerly his woodshop became his RC airplane hangar many years ago. I miss his wood crafting days and hope that one day he’ll reclaim that space. In the meantime, the swing frame is slowly coming together and hopefully will be transported to Knox’s house in the very near future.

Day Two Hundred Twenty Two 2013

This and That

Neil mowed the grass for the first time in I don’t know when today. He had to mow it high, then mowed it a second time to get it as short as possible before the next monsoon. It was slow going and took him forever. We have a mulching mower, but he gave up on that and finally just let it fly. Looks like a hay field right now. That robin probably thinks so, too.

We enjoyed another clear day. Hot and humid. Feels like August.

The blooms on my hydrangea bushes go from full color to faded, depending on how much sun we’ve had. These beautiful blooms are on one stalk~the only full color flowers on one of my bushes. So I cut it and brought it inside to enjoy.

It’s amazing what a dramatic effect lighting has in a photograph. Same flowers, different lighting.

Daughter Holly brought these to me a couple of weeks ago from her yard, and I’ve enjoyed them so much. But they’ve seen better days. I think they’re still kind of pretty even dried up. Neil wants to plant the seeds and see if we can grow some in our yard. I wouldn’t mind that at all.

Day One Hundred Thirty Four 2013

My daughter Holly gave me this beautiful Hummingbird feeder for Mother’s Day, plus some Hummingbird food mix. I filled it up today and placed it where I can keep an eye on it. I’m told I should plant some red flowers, as Hummingbirds are attracted to that particular color. I plan to do that soon. We’ve had one Hummingbird come to our yard the past two years, so maybe he/she will visit my new feeder. And maybe invite his/her friends to lunch.

Day Seventy Eight 2013

Come, gentle Spring! ethereal Mildness! come.
~ James Thomson








And all about, the softening air
Of new-born sweetness tells,
And the ungathered Mayflowers wear
The tint of ocean shells.
The old, assuring miracle:
is fresh as heretofore:
And earth takes up its parable of life from death once more.
~ Whittier

[We’re in the final hours of winter. Finally. Spring begins with the vernal equinox at 7:02 A.M. (EDT) on March 20, 2013 in the Northern Hemisphere. Today was a beautiful sunny blue sky spring like day, this last day of winter. But we all know ‘Mother Nature’ doesn’t pay much attention to dates on the calendar when it comes to the weather. So, for what it’s worth, goodbye winter!]

Day Three Hundred Three 2012

Grandson Elijah and his first grade class visited a nearby pumpkin patch last week. This is the pumpkin he picked. He decorated it at school and brought it home today.
It’s a pretty cool pumpkin. I especially like the mustache. Nice touch, Elijah.

Day One Hundred Eleven 2011

We hosted grand daughter Shelby's 4th grade class Easter egg hunt today. They were blessed with perfect weather for their hunt. Shelby and her mom colored these eggs to use in two of the games they played. Easter is definitely the most colorful time of the year!

Each of the 23 students had 23 numbered eggs to find. Let me tell you, that's a LOT of eggs to hide, so most of them we just scattered around the yard.

They all got off to a running start, but the action soon slowed down when they had to look for eggs with specific numbers on them.

Shelby was #14.

Counting eggs and checking out the goodies inside!

They used the real eggs for this relay race. It's not easy keeping those wobbly eggs on a little spoon while you try to race across the yard to a certain spot and then have to walk backward without dropping the egg and hand it off to your partner.

They used the real eggs for an egg toss game which somehow turned into a food fight. Needless to say, teacher did not appreciate that. I guess the temptation was just too much.

I think they all had a good time. This is their last egg hunt as students. Next year, as 5th graders, they all head off to middle school and won't get to enjoy such activities at school. Makes me feel a little sad for them. They grow up way too fast.

By the way, this little Easter bunny showed up at my house this afternoon. Grandson Elijah enjoyed his egg hunt Tuesday. Today he came home with this bunny mask and was tolerant enough to let me take his picture in it. Had to share it.

Day Two Hundred Sixty Two 2010

Backyard Meanderings

Day Ninety Eight

Good Day Thursday