There Was a Tea Party and a Birthday

Years ago, when I first started cardmaking I found a challenge on Splitcoaststampers that I used to take part in - Teapot Tuesdays.  The hostess at the time was Cindy from Colorado and there were regulars who we all got to know through Cindy's humorous way of making a story up about the teapot that she was featuring that week.  The challenge grew and some changes were made - more people shared the hostessing for instance, and people could request a "tea party" destination for a particular week.  I remember requesting a couple of tea parties myself and always had such great participation.  This time there was a "tea party" requested for me by my blogging friend and teapotter Sabrina who knew that I've been going through some emotional and challenging times since Thad passed away in October.  

As is the custom for "tea parties" Sabrina provided the hostess with some information about me/us.  She mentioned that we liked to visit lighthouses knowing that we had done the yearly NJ Lighthouse Challenge many times, most recently the weekend before he passed.  So the hostess chose a nautical theme and this is the teapot that was featured -

I should say here that I did not know about this ahead of time and was surprised when the cards started arriving.  I also belong to a RAK group on Splitcoast and I've neglected to take my name off the birthday RAK list and still receive birthday RAK's during March.  However, it became evident that these were not that when I started to notice a theme and some of the messages that were included were so heartwarming and thoughtful.  I know that I'm not alone in grieving for a loss of a spouse having had local friends express their sympathies and understanding, but hearing from strangers, some of whom have lost their husbands and have used their creative side to help keep them going was both touching and a kick in the pants to get back to doing what I love.  I have to get past the feeling of guilt for not getting everything taken care of before I can do the things that I enjoy.  But it will be in baby steps.

Monday was Thad's 71st birthday and it felt strange not making him a card.  He had said that he would be retiring this month but most people that knew him well doubted that he would because he loved what he was doing.  He was very good at what he did and knowing that he didn't need to work or "get ahead" anymore gave him a certain sense of pride as he became a mentor and confidant for those he worked with choosing to guide them to be the best at their jobs so they could get ahead.  I know this because I could hear him "coaching" his co-workers, including his bosses, and unselfishly offering them his expertise and letting them know that it was up to them whether they chose to use it or not.  He was greatly respected - I know this also because of the outpouring of condolences that I got from not only his current job, but for the coworkers he had for 30 years prior to this one.  

So on his birthday I posted pictures of the cards that I had received on Facebook and tagged him and also included the last picture of us taken together - a selfie in front of Old Barney on Saturday of the Lighthouse Challenge this past year.  And I'll share them here also.

I'm still in the paperwork state but a little less overwhelmed having hired an attorney to help with my mother's estate, and I know that things will not be "normal" again, but I'm trying to carve out a little time for myself when I'm not mentally and physically exhausted.  I have been reminded by many that I deserve my "me time" too.

Thank you Sabrina - I'm pretty sure you'll see this, but I will also e-mail you.  You truly have helped to lift my spirits.  And to those of you who regularly visit me here, I have been remiss in leaving comments, but I am still enjoying your posts and will try to be better about showing my appreciation for the time that you put into sharing your content.  

January Birthdays and Shedding Some Light

January has come and gone and in addition to paperwork I'm trying to dig through, we've had a couple of "snow events" that have added to my challenge of being alone.  I have secured a landscaping company to do the heavy plowing but they only come if more than 3" has fallen.  Otherwise, it's the broom and the shovel being pushed by yours truly.  No, I am not doing any lifting - just sweeping and pushing enough to get back and forth from the house to the garage to get the car out, and if it's light enough, pushing a path down the hill to the mailbox and up the hill on the other side of the driveway for the garbage and recycling cans.  Anyway, enough about the weather.  We have two family birthdays in January - Ryan's and Rachel's and I have gone the easy route with very simple cards.  

Ryan is a Cowboys fan and I used some background paper I recently picked up at $Tree for the background, added a glittered star and Happy Birthday in silver as those are the Cowboys colors.  Maverick and I put together a card for his dad when I was there at Christmas but I forgot to take a picture of it.  We had picked out a piece of scrapbook paper with footballs on it at Hobby Lobby and he had me cut out the footballs and he decorated the card with them.  He really enjoys doing art projects and I'm glad that Rachel is not squeamish about him making an artistic mess.

Rachel's card was made using some extra die cuts that I had from a card I made for a friend a few months ago.  I found these little star nail jewels in my stash which already had adhesive on the back and added them to the card to sparkle it up.  I did have plans in my head to do more elaborate cards for both of them, but my creative mojo is at an all-time low right now.  There were several artistic challenges that I wanted to do in January, but the life challenges that I've had lately have been draining me so I've put the art on hold temporarily.

One of those challenges seems like it should be pretty easy - replacing lightbulbs - but trust me, it was not.  This is our light fixture in our dining area where I spend most of my time as I have full view of the kitchen, living room (and television), and the stairway to the second floor as well as the hallway and bathroom.  I also get the view of the backyard through the sliding glass doors from here.  During the day, because I don't have any elaborate window treatments, the sun provides me with great light but once the sun goes down, the light has to come on.  We had been ordering lightbulbs online the last couple of years because they no longer carry halogen lightbulbs in the stores and have gone to LEDs.  Well, that phasing out has reached all the online sources also by now and I probably could get halogen bulbs for this fixture if I wanted to pay $20 or more for each bulb which I didn't want to do.  So it was time to switch to LED lights.

Finding the right intensity of the LED's was the issue - there are 5 different "levels" of intensity and all I really wanted was something that would give me the same effect as what I had.  I went to Home Depot and after checking out the plant section first as we would always do, I asked a salesperson where the lightbulbs were thinking that he'd tell me the aisle number and I would just go and take a look at what they had.  But instead of telling me the aisle number he said "follow me" which I now was obliged to do as he took off with me following with my cart.  Then, instead of leaving me on my own, he started to explain the display, clicking the switches as the lights showed the different intensities.  I decided to go with the one in the middle thinking that that would be best and he asked me how many I needed.  I told him that my light fixture needed 5 bulbs whereby he informed me that they came in a box of 4.  I said okay, I guess I'll need two boxes then.  And his comeback was - but you'll have 3 extra.  As this gentleman appeared older than me and said this with a deadpan face, I held back a snarky comment about being able to do math and told him that I had no intention of only replacing the two that were out and wanted the fixture to have all of the same kind, so I guess I'll just have some extra,  He proceeded to further tell me that I should know that the new LED lights last a long time and I told them that I was sure I would be able to find a use for them in another lamp in the future.  Then I made the mistake of asking him where something else was and after looking it up on his phone said "follow me".  

He got distracted in that aisle by a couple who were looking for something and I thought I was free, but I wasn't fast enough and he was back to my cart in a flash as I pointed out to him that I had found what I needed.  At this point he asked me if I knew how to use it - it was a siphon hose that I was getting to use on the pool cover.  I said yes, I had seen my husband use it many times and knew how to use it whereby he proceeded to read the directions out loud to me before he put it back in my cart.  Then I had to ask one more question - where do I get a key made here?.  He told me that there was a kiosk near the check-outs where you could do it yourself but suggested that I ask the cashiers to do it for me.  

I went over to the kiosk and there was another couple there making a key so I turned to go find the next thing on my list and nearly ran the sales guy over with my cart.  He decided to follow me this time as I looked for a cheap solar light which they didn't have.  I thanked him for his assistance and went back towards the check out.  Since the key kiosk was free, I pulled up along side it, read the directions and proceeded to make my key only to turn around when Paul (it was at this point that I noticed he had his name written in Sharpy on his orange HD apron) the saleguy said - I guess you decided to do it yourself.  I wanted to say yes, just because I don't know where things are doesn't mean that I don't know how to use them.  I ran a school for crying out loud - I can do math, I can learn by observation, and I sure can read directions, but instead mumbled something about it being easy and that I had to go.

It wasn't until I got home that I noticed that the filaments in the clear bulbs that I needed for this particular fixture were not clear or white, but yellow and was not pleased with that at all so I new I was going to have to return them.  I tried ordering some from Amazon that said they had white filaments, but the ones that came had the same yellow.  After looking it up on the Home Depot website, I found that they did have bulbs with white filaments that came 2 to a box which were a little more expensive per bulb but I'd only need 3 boxes and have one extra which was less than the 4 to a box - see I can do math.  The only problem was that I did not want to go back and encounter that salesguy again so I made sure not to go back on the same day of the week in hopes of not running into him.  

The return went without a hitch and I found the right bulbs and actually bought them in two different intensities so that I could try them and see which was best knowing that I would have to return the ones that I didn't like.  It took me three weeks to make that return - I just could not bring myself to go in there but I did.  

Since then, I have another light (one of three) out over the sink and when Rachel and the boys were here last weekend one of four blew out in the kitchen fan/light.  I think there are spares for them in the cabinet but since there's plenty of light right now and I want to take a lightbulb break for now.

But as I'm writing about light, I thought I'd share some sunlight phenomena of late like the way the sun lit up the head of this angel I have hanging on my gypsyrod.

And the beautiful rainbow halo around the sun I noticed after getting out of PT one day.

And as if this post wasn't long enough - I had another light experience this week.  I haven't been able to get to sleep very well at night which keeps me up even later than my normal late night and it was just about 2 a.m. when I went into the upstairs bathroom and took a look outside.  When I looked over at the garage I could see that there was a light on which was very strange.  I had put the car away in the early afternoon and I know that I didn't put any lights on other than the light that automatically goes on when you open the garage door and closes several minutes later and it was daylight then so I didn't see any light on after that and hadn't really looked at the garage since then.  So immediately I thought that either I left the door to the car slightly ajar or the headlights on (I do put the headlights on when I pull in because they help me to know how far to pull in when I can no longer see the light line on what's in front of the car).  In my mind I knew though that the car would let me know if the headlights were on, so it was more likely to be that I may have brushed the button for the inside light when I was getting out.  

Not wanting to run down the battery in any case,  I went back downstairs and got my coat on and went outside to investigate.  But when I got in the garage I could see that it was neither the headlights or the car light.  I had to sit in the car for a few minutes and wait for the automatic light to shut off so I could see what was on.  When both of the bay lights went out I could see that the light was coming from the storage attic above.  

Now, I didn't even know how to turn that light on so it became a great puzzlement to me.  But at 2 in the morning, I was not about to do any more investigating.  I went out yesterday and pulled the car out and checked the windows to make sure they were locked and the sliding barn door to Thad's workshop was locked so no one could get in.  Rachel said that "Dad must have been working up there last night" when I asked her if she'd been in there when she was here last weekend (although I would have noticed the light on before that I'm sure).  So then I went looking for light switches and found two switches near where we keep the recycling cans.  One was for the attic and I couldn't tell what the other one was for, but the attic switch was up so I think that I must have inadvertently brushed up against it when I was putting the recycling in early that day.  I'm so glad that I did not call the police to tell them that I thought someone was hiding in my garage.  

The title of this post references January and it is now February 23 when I am finally finishing writing and posting.  Today is supposed to start the 100 Day Project and I am still deciding on what I want to do so I may be starting a couple days behind but my intention is to actually do and try to find my artistic mojo again.  

Happy New Year with a 2024 Memory

I’ve seen a lot of people posting pictures of their most memorable moments from 2024 and for the most part, we had a lot of them spending time with our grandchildren, visiting our son and his family in their new home in Tennessee, our Table 7 get togethers, and more until a different kind of memory took over.  But this picture represents a moment in time that I never want to forget.  It was the second day of the Lighthouse Challenge and we were at the Twin Towers in Atlantic Highlands where we finished up our two-day adventure together before returning home.  This is the last picture that I took that day.  Looking up to the north tower, the sun was making it impossible to get a good photo.  There is still some glare in this picture, but what you don’t see is what transpired.  There were people milling about all around us taking their own pictures and I stepped towards my husband who stood a good 5 inches taller than I so I could, admittedly, use him as a sun shield.  He laughed as he got even closer to me and said “I know what you’re doing” , put his arms around me drawing me still closer and then our eyes met and right then, in front of whoever was there, kissed me.  Two senior citizens sharing a lovely impromptu intimate moment….if it were a Hallmark movie you could cue the music, though I’m sure it went unnoticed by most.  I want to remember that embrace that I will never have again.  That playful kiss. That laughter.  That shared loving experience.  I want it to, I need it to replace the haunting memory I have of less than two days later when my touch no longer got a response. Someday I hope to remember it without the tears.  Make the most of the time you have with the ones you love.  Remember those somewhat fleeting moments that brought you love and joy.  Those are the ones that far outweigh the negative ones of your time together.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out in the comments and by other means - these last few months have been very overwhelming to me but I plan on getting back to blogging more regularly. I wish everyone a very Happy New Year in which to make many memories and fill your hearts with love.

The Hardest Thing I've Had to Share

I don't quite know how to start..........I hadn't yet posted about the 25th Anniversary Lighthouse Challenge we completed because we were planning to be away for a few days visiting friends that had moved last summer to their new home in Pennsylvania.  I had worked ahead a couple days on the birds of Birdtober and we had just finished a project that we were going to take with us as the whimsical part of a housewarming gift.  Most of our things were ready to go in the car the next morning, but during the night, HWNSNBP - Thad, my husband and love of my life had a heart attack and passed away.  I won't go into the details of the emergency call and everything that happened here early that morning.  It was distressing and heartbreaking and I still haven't accepted it.  There were so many plans that he/we had for the future.  He was only 70 and none of us, family, friends, coworkers have been anything less than shocked.  He was unselfish in the love and caring he gave all of us, thinking of others always before himself.  He was my best friend, lover, confidant, care giver, and jokingly my box man, pool boy, and gardener.  There was very little that he wouldn't do for me if anything.  I miss the kiss in the morning when I came down the stairs and him saying "I'll be waiting for you" when he went up at night.  And so much more.

The kids came up right away and helped with as much as they could before they had to go home.  Telling the oldest grandsons was the hardest for them - they loved their dad and papa immensely and knew he loved them.  They helped to plan a pizza party celebration of his life at a favorite restaurant with our very closest friends and family members - something he would have loved.  Many came back to the house afterwards and shared stories that made us all both laugh and cry.  And all of them reminded us of how much he was loved and will be missed.

I'm muddling my way through paperwork and getting all those loose ends tied up.  It's been quite mind-numbing, especially since I also have to take care of settling my mother's affairs - she passed away three days after Thad did.  She was 93 and had had a stroke several months ago.  She died peacefully at home where she lived with my brothers who had been attending to her since she came home from rehab.  

My children check in with me regularly and my friends have been so supportive and are helping me with a lot.   I am lucky to have such a great network surrounding me right now as I begin to navigate through this hole in my life.  

On Tuesday morning - one week after he had passed - I had to get up early so that my son and I could go to the Social Security office to attend to the survivor benefits.  Normally I'm not up and dressed that early unless I have somewhere to go.  I happened to be standing by the kitchen sink quickly having something to eat before we left and looked out into the back yard.  One of the things on our "bucket list" of living here was to see an eagle in our yard.  That morning I did.

He flew from a tree in our yard to the neighbor's and stayed there long enough for me to get my good camera with the zoom to take pictures.  It was the white tail and head that caught my attention. Do you believe in signs?  I think this was a gift from him.  My grandsons will remember him when they see a cardinal - the red bird they said to me.  Those that knew him will remember the time he spent volunteering at The Raptor Trust and the way he lit up when he told people about the bluebirds nesting in our yard.  They, the bluebirds,  have been tapping on the windows looking for him.

I have no more words right now - I just want one more hug and to be able to tell him again that I love him.

Obituary

This was the last project we worked on together - I decided to keep it.

Northern Lights - Bucket List √

These pictures were taken from the back porch of the condo in Barnegat on Thursday 10/10 around 10:18 p.m.  I had seen people posting pictures of the Northern Lights on Tuesday and Wednesday night both from Barnegat and Branchburg but they seemed to be fleeting and not many caught them.  I even went outside on Wednesday night in Branchburg, but nothing was visible with the naked eye. 

With the prediction of visibility being more certain on Thursday night, tips were posted on how to view them with your cell phone camera - the settings to use to get the longer exposure and basically making sure that you were in night mode so the camera could pick up the low level light that the eye cannot see.

We had arrived at the condo on Thursday night to prepare for the kids to visit on the weekend (since cancelled) so I knew I was going ot have an unobstructed view from the back of the condo that faces north.  I waited til a little past sundown but apparently too long because at that time they were very faint.  I had all but given up but saw someone post on FB to "go outside now - they're back" and the post was only 2 mins. old so I had to try again and this time the results were great.

Back in the 60's (the 1960's not my 60's) we were visiting relatives on a Sunday night and when it came time to leave, my uncle walked us out the door and I remember that that was the first time that I had heard of the aurora borealis - the northern lights because he happened to look at the sky and he said that he saw them then.  I'm sure I looked at the sky but I don't remember seeing them - I would have been around 10 at the time.  But I did remember what they were called and as I grew older, after seeing pictures in books and on the internet, always wanted to have that experience of seeing them in real life.  Well, thanks to my iphone I have been able to √ that off my bucket list.  

What's Been Showing Up

I took this picture on our way back from our lunch at Hens & Honey a couple of weeks ago. That one red tree stood out amongst all the green ones lining the highway.  There's a lot more color that's been showing up in the time since.

Some other things that have been showing up..........

This toad jumped out of the planter when HWNSNBP was watering recently.  I'm sure he was very cozy hidden there until that point.  

And last week, as I was getting ready to leave the house in the morning for my PT session, I caught this guy going through the yard.  He doubled back towards the car in the driveway before moseying over to the neighbor's yard.  This is not the same fox we've been periodically seeing the last few months as that one was very scraggly and had lost all of the hair on it's tail to mange.  Not sure it's still around because it looked to be in very bad shape.

Another find whilst watering.  This foot-long cucumber coming out the back of the planter.  Don't know how that was missed.

Arriving at the condo a couple of weekends ago I glanced out the back and saw this fella hanging out in the tall grass.  I managed to get the screen open and get a few snaps before he heard me and flew away.  But it wasn't long after that we noticed it had returned to the same place.  After that we didn't see it again in that spot.

Oh, but on our way to the condo that day we stopped at Anna Banana's Bakery because they were celebrating Harry Potter Week again and I wanted to get a ButtaBeer and a Sorting Hat Cupcake.

Seems I've been sorted into Gryffindor yet again.

Although this was not the last night of summer, this was the last summer sunset picture that I took.

This little guy is getting ready for Halloween.  Can you tell what/who he's going to be?

And this very happy kindergartener has earned his first Paw Certificate at school for outstanding sportsmanship during gym class.   

I've finished my Fall Into Fall Tangles and will post them soon.  Inktober starts in a few days and I've been contemplating how I will be doing that.  It will also be the start of Birdtober and I've seen the prompt list and have set myself up with reference pictures for all the birds.  There were two lists to choose from this time - and International list and a North American list.  I chose the the North American list to go with.  I ordered (and received) an 8"x8" watercolor pad with 34 pages in it so I could work a little bigger this year.  I enjoyed last year's work in the smaller pad, but at times did find it a little restricting with getting the bird on that size page.  This should be a little easier.  

And my physical therapist reminded me today that it's just 3 months until Christmas, so there are projects and cards to get moving on also.  It's going to be a busy October.

Backyard Redo

It actually started about 5 years ago with a picture that I drew for HWNSNBP of what I wanted the back to look like as you walked up the hill near where the bird tree was.  He decided this May to go and get a load of rocks to start working on building the short wall that would be behind the sitting area.  These are the rocks that GS2 was having so much fun climbing on in May of this year.  It didn't take long for HWNSNBP to realize (as I kept trying to diplomatically point out to him) that this was not the work for a 70-yr-old.  So, thankfully, we started looking for a landscaper to work with. 

We had one guy in mind and while getting an estimate for the removal of some trees (including the bird tree) our tree guy recommended someone else who turned out to be just what we needed.  It did take a couple of weeks to get the project in motion, and there were a few changes (additions) along the way, but we are totally pleased with the results.

After removing the stone and macadam from the part of the driveway and walkway in the back, pavers were laid.  They pitched the whole area right up to the back doors, eliminating the stoops that were there.  HWNSNBP insisted on drains at both of the doorways (you'll see why soon), and we wanted to have a light for the path part, so we worked with the mason to make sure that the width of the path was wide enough for a walker or wheel chair in case of future need.  We made it a triangle.  You can also see that the cement pad that covers our water tank adjacent to the basement had to remain for the present until we can have the tank moved into the actual basement below and not in this little closet type room.  

Everything that we had planted, and some of it that was still waiting to be potted up, was moved to the farthest part of this area where we used to have a partial basketball court when our kids were still at home while the project was being worked on.  Since they have moved out, we added the fences to make it more secluded as it was open to our neighbors "parking" area and we really didn't have any privacy on that side.  We are still using that part for our raised bed planter and the tomato cages that HWNSNBP has constructed, along with barrels that have dahlias, zinnias, and our moonflower vine in them.  Oh, and the outdoor grill and table with it's umbrella and bug netting.

This is the view of the finished project looking from the back of the house up the hill.  HWNSNBP made those chairs which are similar but not as deep as adirondack chairs.  I have to get cushions for them next spring.  I had originally bought one set when we only had one chair, but of course, now I need two and would prefer that they matched.  This isn't exactly as the picture I had drawn (which he still can't put his hands on), but it's close.  The plant/feeder pole will have matching pots next year also and there will be more flowers along that lower wall in and amongst the hellebores that we were able to save.  (I lost a beautiful snapdragon plant that had become somewhat perennial that was at the base of the tree we removed, but it might just show up in grass behind the chair wall like the cleomes did because they moved the soil from around the tree to that area while they were working.

We replaced the old wooden steps with these and had a wrought iron railing installed because this old person needs to hold onto something going up and down the stairs.  

A more recent view of the chair area - you can see the volunteer cleome that came up in the grass behind the chairs.  And the frog planter that got knocked over is in its place next to the chair on the right.

You can just barely see the birdbath with the solar fountain behind the tall zinnias.  Those zinnias look a little scraggly this year (not as full as in previous years).  We bought that pot of zinnias on the wall in front of the tall ones last weekend and I noticed this morning that something ate all the flowers overnight.  Not happy about that.

The grill and table off to the side.  The netting is supposed to keep the bugs away, however, this one that I got to replace our older one that had disintegrated with age didn't come with the inflatable ring at the bottom to hold the net in place from the wind.  We didn't open the package within the 30-day return period as it was bought late winter, so we couldn't return it.  I need to add washers or something to the bottom to make it more usable in the future.  You might be able to see the fishing line that HWNSNBP added to the top of the moonflower cage that goes to the worm feeder giving the moonflower more area to climb.  It doesn't seem to want to flower until it gets to a certain height we had noticed in the past.  And it's still not flowering.

Looking out the back door to the left - the tomato cages and the raised bed planted against the fence.  The other birdbatch and my lemon tree just outside the sliding glass doors in our dining room.  (I painted that flowerpot with the sunflowers ages ago and have asked him not to use it, but he insists.)

Looking out from the back door area - see the drain in the lower right corner.  And some more fishing line tied to the light fixture for the plant to trail up.

We covered the well covering with potted plants as we have done every summer for the past decade or more.  They are filled with vinca (periwinkle) and the taller angelonia - both are deer resistant and we have multiple pots all over with them in various shades of pink and white.  The chair in the lower right corner is one of two with a table to match that we have in that area (I forgot to get a picture).  The nights have been cool this last week and I've been able to spend a little time outside reading in the early evening.  The birds usually come to the feeders around that time so I've found myself using this sitting area so I watch them and they are more comfortable without me in their space above.

We filled the light triangle with broken glass pieces in shades of blue that we ordered online and added the flattened glass marbles as filler.  The bigger pieces were quite expensive compared to the $1.25 bags of the smaller filler that I got at $Tree.  I just couldn't justify getting any more of the big stuff.

With the light on.

An early picture of the back with the new lighting (before we added the finishing touches).

A few days after they finished with the pavers, on June 30 we had a rainstorm when 2.5 inches of rain fell in 10 minutes.  Even with the drains at the top of the steps at both levels, the water cascaded over the steps, however, instead of coming up toward the house it was flowing down the driveway.  There are drain pipes that are in the ground on each of the levels buried in the ground to divert the flow of water from the hill in these instances.  Thankfully it worked, and thankfully they had installed the pavers and the basework of stone and sand was covered or that would have washed away.

This shows where the buried drains/perforated piping comes out and does not approach the house.  Even still, HWNSNBP was adamant to have the drains outside the back doors in case of a heavier rain.  We have had storms (hurricanes) that have dropped 5 or more inches of rain in a short amount of time and know how that back can become a waterfall and get very close to the house.

I said earlier that there were additions along the way.  Originally the driveway was supposed to remain between the back door and the wall in the back, but the mason suggested extending the pavers for the whole area so that we could get the pitch for the water and we decided to go for it, and we're glad that we did.  It took a little more work in the back than was first planned - the bottom two rows of siding had to be temporarily removed so a double water barrier could be installed under them so we could bring the pavers up to the bottom of the siding.  It took less that a day for that to happen.  

And HWNSNBP decided to have the pathway on the side of the house that goes to the front door paved along with the front stoop.  There is a temporary pole there for us to get a lamp post for that area.

(Not sure that the video I added is working.  I've tried to upload it several times.  Apologies if you're unable to see it.  I don't know what else to do as it has worked in the past - before this week.)

Frogs, Fish, Little Boys and More - Ending August and Beginning September

I had a really cute video of GS3 with this little tree frog he found on one of the toys at his daycare, but I can't seem to get it to upload.  So I did a screenshot.  He played with it back and forth for a while and did try to pick it up.  Then the frog jumped to the ground next to him and hopped under the equipment at which point GS3 lost interest.  We were all wondering if he had managed to keep in it his hand before it hopped away if he would have tried to eat it, but we'll never know.

Meanwhile, "back at the ranch" this is our "newish" frog planter that got knocked over by a hungry deer trying to munch on the plant.  You can see that there was some damage, but we were able to find the pieces and I was able to perform some repair to the lip. 

I was glad that I was able to fix it as it was an impulse purchase that cost a little more than I would have liked to have paid.  

I followed along with a YouTube video by etuko_works of this Cherry Blossom Blooming.

And here is another sketchbook page inspired by something I saw on IG and forgot to write down the source.  

After a recent trip to Costco, I put together a personal charcuterie platter of some summer treats.  A mediterranean pasta salad, some spinach artichoke dip with pretzel sticks (should have had the dipping sticks a size larger), a new to me apple I've been wanting to try - Honeybee which was sweet, and some Babybel cheese rounds which paired with the apple quite nicely.  I had this while sitting on the balcony at the condo and listening to the concert a couple of weeks ago.

This is the new post/bird station that I designed and HWNSNBP created for our backyard update.  It stands about 9-10' high.  Currently it has the planters at the top and on the next level down are the suet and seed feeders.   How many birds can you see waiting to take their turn at the suet cake?  BTW, next year the hanging planters will match.  We got the one on the left and put together the one on the right kind of later in the season.  We've already changed out the terra cotta pots to fall pansies also, and may add more.  I''ll post more pictures of the whole project soon.

Speaking of pictures, Rachel reminded us how cute this shirt has been for all three of our grandsons now.  All pictured a few months after their first birthday.

We had GS2 and GS3 and their parents with us this past weekend and had some fun in the pool and fishing on the dock.  GS2 will be starting Kindergarten this year and is very much looking forward to it.

Maverick at Meet The Teacher Night

Goofing around on the dock.

We let him reel in every fish that was caught (there were four).

I knew he couldn't fit between the bars, but just in case...........

Listening to "Miss Rachel" and doing the motions.

He doesn't sit still long, but when this show is on he is mesmerized.

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I've got some projects in the works and a few more to get started soon.  Fortunately, I'm getting more in the mood to return to card making.  HWNSNBP helped me clear up some space in the stamp cave and with a little more organization, I think I won't be as reluctant to go up there.  I've got some anniversaries coming up and of course, I'm very behind on Christmas cards.  So this month will hopefully be productive on that front.