Work, A Surprise, & Shopping....

  Grandson Jake bought a house last year. An old remodeled house.  Who ever did the porch post, made a mess.  Jake said the big tiles feel off the bottoms in the heat of this summer. LOL

  I know he had this house inspected before buying it. There are inspectors out there that haven't a clue. Sorry, it's true.  The inside had the best materials and some fine work , but the outside seemed an after thought.

  Ted and I went over on Friday . Tore the bottom surrounds off the posts.

 

 We fashioned our own idea of how the bottom parts should look.  Oh my gosh this was a major job for us oldsters.  So much walking , standing, measuring, cutting. What ever happened to square and plumb ?  We always use screws to put things together. They grab better, they can be backed out easily if need be.   We were at Jake's at 9 , on Friday morning.  Left for lunch at 11, and back again at 12. ...worked till 5.  I forgot to get pictures once we were done. So we went back Saturday evening for this last picture. I see the fellows (Jake and his pals) have been sitting out on the porch having beers and not painted the posts. Hmm? Gonna have a talk with that boy.

  Saturday my daughter Karen and granddaughter Savannah came to Tipton . They went to the library for a book signing. This book was written by a young lady that used to be my neighbor girl. The photo of the girl on the book was a girl from our town that was murdered in 1965. The murder was never solved.

  The surprise, Karen bought a book for me too and had it signed by the author. When the book signing was over, Savannah and Karen came out for a very late lunch.  We had a good visit.  Then Savannah drives them home.  That is why Savannah is with Karen so much, getting her hours in for her licenses. Gee, it's hard for me to believe my granddaughter is driving.
  That was two days of our weekend. On Sunday, we just stayed in and relaxed.

  Then came Monday morning. Ted and I went to Kohl's with our 30 % off coupon. That's the time to shop .  I found these taupe colored  shoes by Sketchers. You know they have that memory foam insole.  So comfortable.  They were 59.99 marked down to 54.99 and with 30 percent off well I gladly paid 38.48 for them. :):)

 Then we used some of our gift cards from the children and had lunch at Steak and Shake.  So it was a good start to the week.  Ted got some golf in this Tuesday morning even though it rained last night and the ground is wet. LOL  Shot an eighty -four. , not bad for wet ground .
   Wishing all of you a good day today.  XO
 

Saturday.....

   There were over a dozen butterflies on this flower , yesterday when we can home for our lunch. This is a flower I bought at Horton's, I do not remember what it is. I am so glad the butterflies love it.

  This is a hibiscus, I think. It was across he street for my grandson's house.  It was a huge plant and very pretty. I heard lots of song birds and saw many butterflies while Ted and I worked on Jake's porch. I will post about that later.

  We went to Big Lots one day last week. I wish I had bought these lanterns...they were decorated for autumn, but I think you could change that out many times . Great decorating items.  I may go back this coming week and check out the price .

 So many cute things. Isn't this a sweet pillow? :):)

 I love the colors on this sign. There were typical autumn colors of  rust , yellow and orange...then there were these pale greens and cream colors.

  This is a pumpkin topiary, in a white urn. This would be so cute on a porch. Or even inside.

 Many cute hand towels. Love those pumpkin pillows.

 Candles, ceramics, wreathes.....don't you love it.

 Here was a nice country type sign, which I liked.

A tractor pumpkin too. I guess we may as well look at fall décor as it is coming around the bend.   Today does not make me think fall outside. It is extremely hot today. Our state fair is open and running for a couple weeks. Hope everyone drinks plenty of water.
  Speaking of hot... I would like to ask all of you to please pray for those in the fires out west. Send good wishes, thoughts or prayers... let's not forget everyone there and the brave fire fighters. Thank you. so much.  XO

Starting August....

  Just this past week I read on blogs about the fogs of August predicting our winter snows. I hope that is an old wife's tale. Because today is the 2nd and this is our second fog. LOL.

 Normally I can see the traffic on the road just south of here....not today.

 It is starting to burn off, slowly.

 Just eerie floating along through the trees.

  My daughter Angie, flew to Florida for her last week of break from teaching. We were going to have another day of fun before school started. I will have to wait for a weekend . Since she doesn't get to see her sweet daughter as often as she would like.  Airfares have been cheap enough that she can do this a  few times a year.

  She wanted to spend some time with her daughter(my granddaughter) Sierra. Those girls have so much fun together.  Sierra sent me a snap of a crowd of people gathering  on the beach, saying, Shark, Shark. (yikes)   I told Sierra it was a good thing her father wasn't there to see it....for he would be flying right back home. LOL

  Teddy Bear made me this new ink pen.  He went to his son Health's house one weekend and made the blanks.  The blanks are a combination of burl woods and resin. Resin can be in any color. Ted brought the blanks home to turn on his own lathe.

 I love the rosy pink color he chose for my pen. He made one for himself from a brown color. Ted could not remember the name of the burl wood.  I love my new pen and will carry it in a special pocket in my handbag.
   Hope all of you are starting your August safely and happily. XO

Busy July, Goodbye.....

  My grandson Skylar's friend got a new puppy this month...so I am showing this only because this puppy is so darn cute.  Look at that adorable face. It's an Australian Blue Heeler.  Gosh I swore I'd never have another pet...but oh if I saw this pup in person, I don't know !!

 All over our little town you see lots of this....construction. torn up streets and sidewalks, orange signs and cones.  Hurry up fellows . :):)

  Our one container garden 's crops..Tomatoes and banana peppers.  LOL

 Daughter Karen ( the real gardener of the family) gave us potatoes and green beans . Oh this was so good too. I think she gave everyone in the family some green beans.

    On 4th of July was our family reunion. One brother (# 2) did not make it to the gathering....and lives right in town., go figure.  I always say, "those that care will make an effort and those that don't...won't."  In the back row, George (oldest brother # 1) me (oldest sister # 3), Barbie (youngest sister # 10), Steve (youngest brother # 11)  front row, Brenda # 6, Pam  #  9, Jeanie # 4, and Tom # 5.   We have 9 of us left out of a family of eleven children.  We are blessed.  There's been plenty of health issues in our family...but look we are all standing, ha ,that should count for something. :)

  I had lots of pretty flowers this July.

  Still have some of these growing.

  Got a close up of the crop dusters this month.

  Went to Horton's French Flea Market.  Saw lots of pretties,and actually did not buy a thing...so shocking for me.

Got me some summer loving....LOL...you can see Max looks bored and Luke is trying to escape.  I squeeze them any way.  Love these babies.  I had a busy , fun and very hot July. Now that it is leaving us today, it seems to have gone quickly. We will be into a new month tomorrow. I for one am hoping it's cooler.
  Enjoy your day. Wishing all of you the best. XO

Our Gifts.....

 My daughter Karen, the real gardener of the family, found a Monarch  caterpillar , in her garden..

 A cocoon too...so she left them . Knowing we need to save the Monarch.

  I found a beautiful butterfly feeding in one of my flowerbeds.

  These are the blackeyed Susans  that I brought here from when we lived in town. They struggle  but survive. I need to transplant them .

 Here are the marigolds I planted from seeds.

  I also planted some of those seeds  near a container of yellow marigolds.

 Looking back at the house this morning at 6 :30 , after deciding to get pictures early .

  It was cool and calm outside, so I walked to the road  to look toward the east.  I have enjoyed the few days of cooler mornings here.  I think each day is a gift. Having freedom, a home and being able to get out and about.

  Oh I thought you would like a couple more pictures of  one of my most loved gifts. Great grandson Luke, eating a lunch of spaghetti.

 The next evening having it warmed up , must have been a total bore, for it was lights out at the dinner table. :):) Bless his sweet heart.
   Hope all of you are loving your weekend. Please be safe. XO

Little Ones At The Beach......

  Hey look who's walking !! Well he is not real steady just yet. But you can tell he loves it. Lynzie and Mark took the boys and went on vacation to Florida. They always go with other family members along too.

  Max is getting to be a big boy (oh too soon) , but he is not so big as to run into the ocean. LOL

  He is off with Daddy exploring.

  Went to the light house. I do not know exactly where they went on vacation. Just know it was oceanside Florida.

  Max tried his luck fishing. Oh this made me laugh, I told Ted  that someone was getting ready to be included in his fishing trip to Reelfoot one of these days.

  Luke looks like he isn't sure of the feel of wet sand on his feet.  Can't wait to snuggle this sweet baby.

 The rose bush, that I keep here for my daughter, is blooming again. Must be the miracle  grow.

  I have always loved the color of this rose.  The reason I call it Kathy's rose....she got it for mother's day once when she lived up in the northern part of the state. When she moved, she wanted me to keep it for her, so she dug it up and we planted it here.  It has always given me some wonderful blooms. I take pictures of them and send them to Kathy, to let her know her mother's day rose is still going strong.

 The weather cooled just a bit here. This morning is sweet, cool  and quiet.  I will be meeting my daughter for lunch today. Angie goes back to school soon and we need a day together.  Ted will be home from golfing by then...he can surely get himself lunch. :):) Well I better go get it ready ,so all he has to do is eat. LOL
  Thinking of some of you today and holding you in my heart. My prayers. Enjoy this day. XO