I think we’re just about finished

Today was just a day of relaxation for me. It was another hot day, 82 degrees, and I decided that I wasn’t gardening today. So I stayed inside mostly and took care of house business with occasional sits on the porch swing to enjoy the warm (ok, the hot) breeze coming through the breezeway. Our help came and carried some of the wood up to the burning pile. It needs to dry out so that we can begin to burn it up. It was old cut wood that had been there for a long time and wasn’t good for anything else.
    We have no plans for the weekend and I’m really happy about that. I’ve got to rest up for my onslaught of company coming. Linda will be here Friday night and then Ryan and family are coming on Wednesday. If I’m not blogging as much you will know that I’ll be busy.
  I hope that you all enjoy this lovely weekend and the start to our summer.

A cool place to sit

Did I mention how hot it is? I'm so grateful for our window air conditioner in the sunroom.  Those of you in the south who take central air for granted should know about our crazy temperatures and how during a heat wave we appreciate even one cool room in the house. 

Mrs. Greenthumb

Even though it was hot and muggy today I filled my planters with flowers. I stopped at our local fruit market and picked out dusty miller, zinnias, sweet potato vine, tuberous begonias, and English ivy. I filled three window boxes and six containers. I am partial to blues and pinks for their cooing looks. Out front I filled the window boxes with yellow begonias, orange zinnias, and sweet potato vines. I also planted all the new perennials on the bank by the pond. 

Sketchbook

Trying out a drawing app called sketchbook express. It's really fun and brings out the artist in me. 

Questions

Have you ever watched Inside the Actor's Studio?  It is a tv show where James Lipton interviews one famous actor and at the end he always asks the same questions of each and every one of them.  So I though I'd try answering them too. I'd love for you to play along and answer them too in the comment section of the blog. 

What is your favorite word?  Creative 

What is your least favorite word? Bees

What turns you on?  A gathering of friends or family

What turns you off?  Family feuds   

What sound do you love?  The squeak of a porch swing in motion

What sound do you hate?  Glass breaking

What is your favorite curse word?   Shit

What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?  Watercolor artist

What profession would you not want to do?  Accounting

If Heaven exists what would you like to hear God say when you reached the Pearly GAtes?  Honey, you did a good job down there. 

Happy birthday!

My friends and I have a tradition of going out for our birthdays. Today was Linda's birthday and we went to theOlive Garden in Jamestown. Good food and good shopping and great company. 

More wise words

Trying out a new app

I'm trying out an app called Artist's Touch. I still need. Little practice but its fun to use. 

Happiness is free, take all you want

Memorial Day

We covered the flowers and the Japanese Maple again last night we had a hard frost this morning. And the low tonight will be 24. This should be the final night of frost and then we should be able to plant our summer annuals. It seems more like winter than summer this morning. 

Friends

We all have those in our lives. People who put a smile on our face. They are there for you when things aren't going as planned. They boost you up when you need it and are a shoulder to cry on when you are in pain. When you are happy they share your joy. They are encouragers and want you to succeed. They make you want to be a better person. Be thankful for your friends. 

Love this!

Lupines

LIt seems all the flowers this year have been more than generous with their blooms. These lupines spread easily and are so pretty. There are pink as well as blue flowers. 

In this herb bed the little blue wild flowers have taken over. I know they are wild but they're so pretty I couldn't pull them up. 

Good old reliable chives. They always come back year after year. 

 The table is ready, come on over for a visit!

Playing with pictures

I have a few photography apps for my ipad. For this I first took the picture with Procamera. Then used Sketchy and Picshop to finish it. I'm having fun using these quick and easy programs to edit my photos.

C..c..cold

We covered our plants tonight since the temperatures are dropping and it's getting colder.  We didn't cover last week and the frost killed many of the leaves on our Japanese Maple tree. I threw a sheet over the lupine just to be on the safe side. 

  Today Don and I had a play date and went to the "big city" of Erie. We had lunch and I visited my favorite stores. At Lowes I found some flowers but will put off planting till Monday. After tonight our temperatures should go back up. Isn't our weather crazy?  Just a few days ago it was ninety. 

Mulch time

"Today the gardener is here edging and mulching outdoors. It looks so nice. 

Orchid

Chris gave me a beautiful orchid for Mother's Day. I have never had an orchid before and thought of them as delicate and hard to care for. To my surprise the directions said to add three ice cubes once a week and set it in filtered light. Really? It couldn't be easier. The blooms are lasting very long and I love it. 

Blame it on the rain

,Today I stopped at an estate sale on my way home from my morning coffee get together with my friends. After our really warm days a few days ago it has gotten colder...forty one degrees this morning with rain. The house was small but had the usual assortment of kitchen items, furniture, bedding, and decorations. Since I am currently on a mission not to add to my household belongings I carefully perused through the rooms. I quickly walked past the Christmas decorations knowing full well that my attic is already storing way more than I need. And no more cooking items are needed either. But then I spotted this gem. 

What could this be?

Oh, it's an umbrella in its own case. 

How beautiful!

And look at this. The case can be turned inside out to make a tote and the umbrella can be zipped into the bottom. How clever..

More chores

It seems the list of chores goes on. Today Don power washed the siding while I cleaned the spare bedroom in anticipation of company. We have a pile of clippings and wood to burn.  We are looking for a strong young man to help us with it. I think we are learning our limitations as we get older. 

Long Island medium

Do you watch Theresa Caputo the Long Island medium?  I've always believed in life after death but I think she proves it. You may be a sceptic and that's all right but I am convinced that the dead are able to communicate with some tuned in people. And I definitely know that my deceased father opened a bottle of wine for me and my sisters. We were debating weather or not to drink one of the few remaining bottles of his homemade wine. And a few minutes later we heard a crash. When I went inside my last bottle which had been sitting in the wine rack had been popped open and nary a bit spilled. Dad always loved it when the three sisters were having a good time together and we think it was his way of saying...enjoy the moment. 

Leader luncheon

Today my friends and I attended the Sixteenth Leader Luncheon to support our friend Judy Yorks who was one of the recipients. Judy and I first met when she began teaching in Bradford. We became good friends and traveled together to Clarion University to get our Master's degree. One summer we even roomed together down there. Judy and I were both in a local social sorority, Beta Sigma Phi. We also taught in the same school at times. Judy is currently president of our school retiree's group. She is very active in our local Landmark Society. She is very deserving of this honor. 

A quote from Oscar Wilde

Each day it seems that I discover more things to do with my ipad. Yesterday I downloaded a new app called Procamera. It turns your ipad  into a better camera and allows you better control over the focus and exposure. I also used another app called Your Moments to create this collage. Using the ipad is so easy that I've practically abandoned my old computer and camera.