Monarch Butterflies

Every year the Monarch Butterflies come for a visit.We don't have as many this year; perhaps the others haven't caught up yet.

We like to stand outside and just watch them fly by.

They're so pretty and graceful.

A Cartoon Sketch

The fair is here once again and this year we caved and paid to have a cartoon sketch of Jonathan and Elizabeth.The artist was really fast at both drawing and adding color.

Our final cost was a whopping $35 but it's fun to splurge from time to time.

Brother Sister Duo

When Elizabeth began piano she was anxious to be able to play with Jonathan. Here is a little song they played together recently.

Elizabeth only practiced about 5-minutes before I began recording this. She was pretty excited with how the song turned out; I wish Jonathan had more time to play music with her.

I Love Sundays

I love Sundays, it's such a slow moving day. Normally I take a nap when we get home from church, but not today. Today we worked in the yard gathering up dead branches; it seems we never run out of branches that need burning.
I love how a fire looks when first started;
But I love it more as it burns down.

When I stand near a fire and listen to the crackling I think of camping. When I was young we camped all the time and roasted marshmallows over a hot fire.

As soon as the weather is cooler I plan to roast hot dogs and marshmallows over a nice warm fire. Hummm, or maybe I'll just cook a full meal over the fire.

An Old Park Bench

Look at my new park bench. It's old, all metal and very sturdy.I'm going to paint it John Deere Green.

Blackie and Whitie

Meet Blackie...one of two dogs Pat decided to bring home earlier in the summer. Blackie has a brother;

His name is Whitie....Whitie doesn't listen when you tell him to stay off the road.

Earlier this morning Whitie was hit by a pickup; I wonder if he has learned a lesson. I guess time will tell; for now he is sleeping off his traumatic experience.

The Blue Bowl

Yesterday, after Elizabeth's piano lesson, I decided to visit some antique stores instead of going straight home to finish Elizabeth's closet; shopping just seemed like more fun.

Seldom do I buy, normally I just window shop but yesterday I found a "just had to have" item...an enamel pan. I love these so. Over the years I have picked up a few here and there but this is the cheapest one I have ever seen.

$7.50! On e-bay I saw one slightly smaller in light blue for $29.99 plus $10 shipping.

I use enamel pans for washing dishes, cleaning garden produce and to just look at.

Elizabeth's Closet pt. 2

An anonymous commenter asked me if I was lost in Elizabeth's closet. It sure feels like it since progress is coming along at a snails pace but I'm getting there. I have managed to empty the top shelves and sort most of the clothes.

I buy a lot of clothing for Elizabeth to grow into and I now have them sorted, boxed and labeled by sizes. Once the boxes were filled I noticed there were too many size 10/12 so I will be sure not to buy anymore of this size.

The bottom of the closet is still a big mess but I think I have reached the half way mark on progress.

How silly of me to think I could clean the closet in one day!

Elizabeth's Closet

Today I will be working in here.How can a sweet little girl make such a mess?!

Hopefully I will have it completed today;

But I'm not holding my breath!

And hopefully I will be taking a lot of it to the Goodwill so it can clutter another sweet little girl's closet.

Like Mother Like Daughter

Today I was hot and thirsty and needed a "big" glass of ice tea. A normal size glass just wouldn't do so I grabbed a wide mouth canning jar.When Elizabeth saw this she just had to have one too;

So she grabbed a small wide mouth jelly jar, only she doesn't like ice in her tea.

Story Time

Today the local Barnes and Noble bookstore had story time geared for the deaf. Jonathan, being an officer of the local college deaf club, was planning on attending and since Elizabeth wants to learn to sign we went too.

We recognized several people from other events we have attended.

Our story teller, I cannot remember her name, was very good at signing the story of Hansel and Gretel.

She not only used her hands but her whole body too.

We had a nice time and look forward to the next story time.

My New Best Friend

Meet my new best friend...we have spent a couple of days together and are getting along very well.We began having trouble with the other mower soon after attempting to fix it. I began searching for another mower but each time I located one and would call it was sold. The weeds in the front yard kept getting taller and thicker and I was getting desperate!

Thank goodness Pat found us a nice used mower at an affordable price! Now the yard is looking better and I no longer feel like we live in the middle of a weed patch.

While working in the yard Pat cut some cedar chips to put in the house; they smell wonderful!

The cedar chips came from this big cedar tree that is in our front yard. I have never liked how this tree looks but it sure smell good.

My favorite part about working in the yard is hauling dead branches to be burned.

I love how a fire looks and smells.

Apple Season

Making a pie has been on my mind since going to the apple orchard last week. For years I have used the same recipe which was given to me by my sister-in-law who got it from her grandma.

Start by making a double crust pastry.

Peel and core 4 to 6 medium sized tart apples; combine 1/4 cup white sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Place both in a plastic bag and shake to coat well. Pour into a pie pan.

Mix well 1/4 cup butter or margarine, 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup flour. Sprinkle this on top of the apples.

In the past I would cut slits into the top of my pies; until I found this fun pie stencil.

I just love the miniature apples!

Back to the recipe.....Cover the apples with the pie dough and crimp the edges.

Bake in a 425-degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes.

Serve plain or with ice cream.

Yummy, I so need to make pies more often but I usually don't think about it unless it's Thanksgiving or Christmas.