Loving days like This!

Couldn't go to Costco this afternoon without stopping in

at Home Goods. I just can't. I haven't tried, but I already know

I can't. I'm glad I did because a new St. Francis was there waiting for

me! T returned the last one I bought. He said the scale was all wrong for

his Garden. I knew he was right so I let it go... We agree this is Much better! 

It's days like this one that make me Forget that

it's been raining off and on for Three weeks!

My fish didn't mind the Rain as much as I did!

St. Francis would want me to Forgive the weather. So I shall.

Besides, rain makes for great Green!

And, this is Pretty great green!

I hardly Complain at all on days like this!

Hardly...

You can't see them but Four ducks just flew into the

area by the pond. It's their Dinnertime now

This afternoon I learned that the Spiky yellow

plant is Carolina Lupine, which I find is divine!

I think those are the Last two blooms on the clematis by

the fountain. The next time it Blooms will be late summer...

I'm in no particular Hurry for it, believe me! 

What a beautiful Day this was today! 

We took dinner out on the Deck this evening and the whole

time we were Watched by that squirrel on that chair down there

(click to enlarge)

Pretty Fantastic!

and, no Piggy after-taste!

84!

Order of the day...

Got my 84 early this morning so this was pretty Much the plan for today!

Oh! And, this! Ever since I picked up the Crock Pot BBQ Pit I have wanted to try

making Babyback ribs. Despite the fact that I don't care for Pork or meat on a bone

So as I floated around in the Perfect 84 degrees, I began thinking about what else

I might prepare for Dinner that doesn't have that Piggy after-taste I so dislike

As much as I hated to leave my spot and all the beautiful Sunshine, we did. It was 

the Quickest trip to Costco I think we've ever made! One new cordless Phone set, two

boxes of trash can liners, three bottles of Clorox II, one massive bucket of

Chlorine tablets and this marinated Flank steak later, we were Out of there! 

The pool was Calling my name so this prep took all of Ten seconds

And, while I did More of this...

Our flank Steak did this...

Yum!

As soon as the Peppers and onion cook down it'll be Dinnertime!

A big Break!

After far too many weeks of spring Rain we finally got a big break today. Bright sunshine and not a Cloud in the sky! So you know Where I spent the day... Outside, of course! At first, it was just a lot of me outside Shuttling things over to William's new apartment. But eventually, Me-time did arrive. And, it was Fantastic!

The sky pencils by the Pool doubled in height this Spring

I prefer the pool at 84 degrees but I was

more than Happy for the 82 it was today!

I was against Sky pencils when he planted them. I thought

they were all Wrong for this spot

But once again, the one of us that knows Gardening knew best

His delphinium Deserves another look today!

Such a beautiful Lavender color

This yellow-Spiky plants seems to have come Up overnight!

I don't know what This plant is... But I like it!

Saturday Morning with my Bing!

Good Morning!

Some people have guard Dogs. We have Bing. He growls at the FedEx guy,

and, he's growling in bed this morning because someone just Pulled into

the neighbors Driveway across the street. It's not ADT that keeps us safe...

I think I'm about to be Pounced!

Come on, Bing! Let's get our Day started and go watch

the Birdies from the solarium over a little breakfast. I'm

guessing you'd like to have some Fancy Feast...

Finally Friday!

This will be a Strange weekend for me... It's the weekend we become Empty nesters. The first weekend in Twenty-one years that our house will Sleep only two. I am exactly the same age my Mom was when I moved out at Eighteen. Feels strange... 

Looks like I'm not the only one about to Clear the nest...

These teenagers are on their Way out too! I bet that when I

peek in on this Nesting box tomorrow it'll be empty. Kinda like

the third Bedroom upstairs that Overlooks this beautiful garden

Man! For some reason, this was a Long, short week! I'm not the only one

that Feels this way either... Everyone at the Office was feeling it too. Can't say

why the week seemed to Drag but it did. Now that the week is Behind me it's time

to unwind in the Garden. Nothing relaxes me Better than seeing my ducks enjoying

their Dinner by the pond! Some people Relax with wine, for me it's this!

Seeing bloomers Helps too!

Fortunately for me... There are Lots to see!

Everywhere and all Around!

I get why people Love azaleas so much...

Is there anything Better than these late-Blooming azaleas?

I enjoy how this red Azalea hugs the Corner of this garden bed

Oh my! The fire Lily has decided to Join us!

I love Delphinium, especially this Lavender color!

Delphinium is part of the Buttercup family - too Cute

As you can See... I have not yet Won the battle of the two Pine

trees to be planted. Nevertheless, I love coming home to this View!

There was a Saturday!

After running some Errands together on Saturday morning, Brandon let us know he intended to spend the afternoon and evening with some of his Friends from ASU. As difficult as it was not to tell him that I wished he would spend Every minute of his weekend pass at home with us, and as much as I wanted to ask him to tell his friends Not to travel down, over and from All around to come see him, I kept quiet and let Brandon go. But I won't lie. It sucked. Sure, I got to cook him Dinner and we went to see the new Terminator movie together on Friday night but I wanted ALL of the long weekend with Brandon... I imagined hanging out at the pool, grilling lunch and dinners on the BBQ and late-afternoon Badminton marathons in the front yard. But when it didn't Happen, we made other plans.

We decided to have lunch at the Blue Bird Diner in Mt. Airy and then head into Hillsville, Virginia to roam the antiques Fair and flea market going on up there. On the way home we stopped at Several of our favorite produce stands in Cana for farm-Fresh fruit and Veggies. We both missed Brandon and weren't quite in the Mood, but we made the most of our day together. Last night when Brandon called he said that he Wished he'd stayed with us on Saturday instead of going out with his friends. Hum...

On the way to Mt. Airy 

I know they call this Pilot Mountain but I can't help but think of

the mountain Richard Dreyfus made in the movie Close Encounters

So to me, this will always be Mashed Potato Mountain

Since there was no one at this Booth I wanted to leave

a note that said, Be here or Miss the sale! 

Then there was the Guy... First of all, I have to say that I could smell his Potions before

I ever saw his booth... I smelled them from Four booths away and over the Kettle Corn couple

from South Carolina too! So his claim there of, Pain relief without the stinky smell seemed

a bit Ridiculous to me. I hope that sucker, I mean, Customer didn't buy too Much of it! 

I know it's 2009, but I imagine this is what the snake Oil salesman of the 1800's might

have looked like. Without the Modern-day marketing tools such as the surgical Scrubs and

catchy, "Dr. Feelgood" tagline employed by this one. I wondered if he has Something that might

help improve his Vision to perhaps eliminate the need for the Two pair of glasses he's wearing  

On the way home we stopped to watch this Little family cross the road

Fortunately, they all made it Across to safety!