Belated Happy Fourth

Had a real nice Fourth of July long weekend. I took an extra day off last Thursday and enjoyed every minute of it. Hubby and I went to see the new movie Hancock. It's no Oscar winner, but it was very entertaining. Will Smith makes a funny super hero. Friday was a cookout at Mom's, Saturday was a cookout at the neighbors and Sunday was - about my favorite day of all. Rainy to boot! I gave equal time to both the sofa and my bed and never got out of my jammies. Loved, loved, loved that day! I did manage to cook us a steak for dinner in between rain storms, but that was about the highlight of my day.

The plants and grass are happy not to be burning in the afternoon sun today. The rain yesterday really helped. But it won't last long and I'm sure we could use many more days just like that to get us out of the negative on the rain gauge.

Is it July or August they call the dog days of summer? It sure is humid, I know that. We're thinking of a camping trip at the end of the month. I think we're a little crazy too. But they say it's a really cool campground located on the Chesapeake Bay up on the eastern shore. We'll see - we haven't quite made up our minds yet.

When is the next holiday?

Hello Sunshine!

We finally saw the sun again! Hallelujah! I was beginning to feel like a mushroom because it's been rainy and drizzly for about the past 5 or 6 days. But yesterday, the sun came back to visit. Sure made for a great day and lifted everyones spirits. However, the weather doom and gloom folks on the local news are predicting yet more rain tomorrow (another Saturday shot?) and again the first of the week. At least we're getting some of that rain we were wishing for a few months back

Spring is upon us and we haven't done much of anything around the ol' ponderosa. "Hopefully" we will get to repair the tilted waterfall in the pond tomorrow before the rains set in. And I am really behind in getting all of my potted plants out - I usually have all of that done by Easter. Although, Easter was early this year so I don't feel quite so bad. I am hoping to get it done before the end of the month if the weather will cooperate. I'm going to try and keep it simple this year (that's way I say every year) and just put out my favorites: a few geraniums, maybe some begonias, a pot of basil, a pot of rosemary, some petunias for the front steps and maybe a tomato plant (I'm thinking some cherry tomatoes or sweet 100's this year).

Schatze is really showing her age. She is having a real hard time negotiating the three steps in and out of the house and garage. She likes the front steps better because they're wider and she has more of a landing to get started on. She slipped going up the garage steps the other day and all she could do was just kind of hang there until I could get to her and pick her up - only a matter of seconds, but it must have felt like an eternity to her.

Well - at least if it rains tomorrow we can catch the NCIS marathon on USA Network! Here's hoping for good weather (I think - that's a toss up!).

Rainy days...

Another rainy weekend day - just like I like 'em. But didn't get to relax too much today - it was rather busy around the ol' homestead. We had the carpets cleaned this morning at the same time the groomer showed up for Zip and we decided to give Schatz a bath too. A tad chaotic, but we got through it. But before anyone showed up, it was up early at 6am and moving all of the "small" furniture out of the way. Then there was the vaccuming and when the carpets were done it was mopping the wood floors, cleaning house, dusting, etc. Just entirely too busy for a Saturday. So tomorrow, I'm gonna relax. We're having brunch with a few friends and then we're gonna come home and chill out and watch the Nascar race. Going to relax on my Sunday.

Whoo Hoo - a NCIS marathon today on USA Network. Just gotta love it!

It's only 9pm, but I'm feeling tired. Must be my age showing.

Hump Day

Well, we've made it to mid-week. And again, we're on that weather roller coaster ride. We had 75+ temps yesterday and today it barely reached 60. Will it ever end? I know, I know - I'll be belly aching in a few months that it's too hot, right?

One of my very dear friends at work who broke her wrist just got a new cast this week. She was in a full length arm cast up to her shoulder and now it's just below the elbow. She can actually bend her arm now. And I know she's hurting - maybe trying to do too much? But it's a pretty lime green cast - one that you wouldn't dare write on.

I have spent the last couple of nights looking for a B&B in either NC's Crystal Coast or the Eastern Shore around Cape Charles for a little weekend getaway here sometime soon. But with prices of just about everything out there climbing up and up, we might put that on hold. Maybe a quick flight to NYC - we can fly free and hubby has a cousin in Long Island City - so lodging is not a cost. We'll see. I'm just getting that itch to get away for a few days. It's been a long, tiring winter and I could use a change of scenery.

The pond has been put on hold until it gets a scad warmer...it's rather chilly to be playing around in water that's been sitting outside all winter. Brrrr. Maybe this weekend if it doesn't rain too much. But I love rainy weekend days to just lie around and do nothing.

OK, time to make the coffee for the morning and get ready for bed...4am comes awful early!

Ciao.

Weekend Eve

Well, it IS my weekend as I have taken tomorrow off. Sometimes we just need a "me" day to do whatever we want to do - or not. It's supposed to rain and I love rainy days so I may just lay on the couch and sleep all day with my four legged friends.

Tonight I'm having some friends over for dinner. This is a wonderful group of ladies that I formed a very special bond with. We get together every month for our own little hen party, some adult beverages and a lot of laughter! We usually meet at one of our favorite watering holes but we recently started rotating amongst our homes. I host tonight and they're gonna love it. I made a bit crock pot of Chicken Merlot and we're going to have some wonderful crusty bread from La Bella Italia paired with a plate of yummy EVOO and freshly grated romano cheese. I guess we'll have salad so we can say we ate healthy. And a good glass of nice chilled Pinot Grigio. They'll be here in two hours and I can hardly wait. The smell in the house from the chicken cooking all day is starting to get to me!

The birds are starting to show up in force (grackles and starlings) which means Spring can't be far behind. I know when my bird feeders get raped of all their food in one day, that the black birds are back. But I'm getting some Red Wing Blackbirds which are very pretty in flight. It's really cool to see a whole flock of them take off and the big ribbon of red that follows. I've noticed male Red Bellied Woodpeckers who are in full mating color and the cardinals are as red as ever. We'll have little fledglings before we know it.

The pond for some reason is holding water now. Of course it would - just to torque us a bit. As soon as the weather breaks, we'll drain it completely, trouble shoot the leak situation and get it ready for some new fish. My neighbor says the fish are happy in her pond so I doubt I'll get them back.

OK. I'm off to stir the chicken and get the rest of dinner ready. Bon Apetito!

Rainy Days and Mondays

Well, they aren't all that bad, are they? Actually, my favorite day of the week is a rainy Sunday. Nothing like cranking up the fireplace, putting on good movie and trying to stay awake through it all! Just love, love, love a rainy Sunday.

I found this picture a friend of mine took in the Florida Keys this time last year. Just makes you want to say "ahhhhhhhhhhh" doesn't it?