solo on a sunny day

A day alone in the carwash line.

Pure.

Joy.

spider webs

When was the last time you played like a little kiddo?

A little while back, I tried to introduce the grands to something our own children enjoyed doing. I had some yarn sitting in the going to the thrift store box. Grabbed it out and started building webs. You just string yarn all over the place. Perhaps this was a little too low and should have been higher. I think we used to use a lot more than this, because the cleanup was always a bit of a challenge.

Simple. Easy. Fun.

Sometimes that is all it takes, isn't it?

working toward the fall

October is around the corner and November not far behind.

August is almost over.

September is booked full of goodness.

Does anyone's else life look like this?

Oh my goodness.

Does that mean Christmas is also around the corner?!

I was so blessed to only work one day this week. Not because anyone was out having a good time, rather one of our physicians had surgery and the other is across the country with his ailing mother.

The upside of their downsides is that I got stuff done!!

I've worked on market for just a few hours in this week and managed some things around the house as well. Making myself mop the floor is almost tantamount to torture. Like, seriously, I would much rather be spreading paint, cutting wood or zipping along with the sewing machine.

I don't need to be frantic. That is my own doing. Completely.

I just want stuff done around here!

Use it up is my motto.

Okay. 

Maybe sometimes a box shows up in the mail or a bag comes home from some favorite star starting with an H which requires me to use up some more.

Being as September is full of fun events, I'm not really counting on any crafting time.

The beginning of October has me scheduled for a brand new hip.

Unless you've been where I am .... you probably can't understand my joy.

Today I realized that I've not been on here this week.

Oops.

I do love my chiropractor.

Muscle work to keep me moving at least a little helps.

I am so very bad. I need to be doing yoga. It helps keep those muscles lose and not pulling on that hip as much. But, honestly, the mental therapy of crafting might do just as much good as far as I'm concerned.

Today, right now, I am sort of done in. Yesterday at work wasn't kind to my challenging body parts and it is time to stretch things out for a bit. 

Right. 

Now.

Just for a bit.

grandma memories

Sprinkled everywhere are these small pieces of nature that bring you straight back to childhood.

I saw these flowers and they spoke grandma to me in a most quiet way.

A huge (I now wonder how large it actually was) patch of flowers grew next to her house.

Our house was in the same yard as hers for all of my childhood.

I looked at these flowers and instead saw

grandma sitting on her front porch steps watching grands play or travelers come and go

an elderly woman in one of the same 3 dresses sitting on the wooden swing out in the yard

her toys for the kids that included the metal tops of juice cans 

(we were happy with those little extras that filled our worlds)

the opening of the closet door under the stairs that held her meager wardrobe 

and the scent that came out of that small space each time the door opened

the same kitchen curtains that never changed my entire life

I saw and felt so very many things when I spied these flowers.

It wasn't until I went to write this post that I remembered.

She didn't have these flowers growing next to her house.

What grew there was Black Eyed Susans.

And now I'm not so sure of even that.

Why is it that our memory is capable of conjuring up so many things and then questions others as if in a complete state of confusion.

Does it really matter if the memories that come flooding back with this small piece of nature

are warm and loving ones?

this is real

I usually craft on the back patio, but it's hot out there.
And, to be honest, I really don't feel like hauling tools that way.
Double honest ... I really don't want to be lifting things too far right now.

Friday I had appointments.
In between those things I spent hours outside in the garage.
It wasn't exactly cool, but it was under 100 degrees!
Maybe a wee bit humid, but who really cares.
I have things to get done.
Quickly.

Does your garage look like this?
I actually park in here every day. I do.

Saturday was hours of this business.
Oh my gosh but it feels so good!
I have 3 pieces of furniture that need to be finished in relatively short order.
All 3 (well ... really there are 4) are going to Market in the November and are going white.
I've done many colorful things and find that white sells best.
At least I hope it continues to do that.

Meanwhile, Jari is inside working on the guest room.
We have visitors coming in several weeks so now he has a serious move on.
They are very special people, but the room was on the August To Do List anyway.
No baseboards or flooring is being changed anywhere in the house at this point.
This room lost the popcorn off the ceiling, outlets got moved up to 12" from the floor, texture and paint are in the works.

While Jari and I were both busy doing our respective projecting ... my angel Alyx came over with the boys.
The yard got raked and bagged.
I just did this about a month ago and she had 4 huge trash bags full when she was done!
Bless her heart!

My hubby does not like taping and mudding. Serious. He really doesn't like it at all.

The project is to the point of first coat of mud drying when I have an epiphany.

My epiphany's are equivalent to his "I was thinking ...." moments.

This one went like this: would it make sense to move the closets before we finish the walls and paint?

I'm not sure he's fond of my epiphany's. 

He assessed, measured, did some serious brain wave action thinking and ultimately decided to wait.

We are learning.

Every quick project lately turns into a huge can of worms once we start.

The ultimate plan is to move the closets (this one backs up to another in the 3rd bedroom) into the rooms a bit.

This will open up a hallway and entry from the house into the garage.

Presently, access into the garage is through a side door on the other side of the garage or through the big door.

It may take a bit more time than he ('cuz I'm busy doing my other stuffs) has in the next couple weeks .... it will wait.

Do you have any idea how blessed we are to have Home Depot a mere 1.8 miles down the road?
And ... 1.8 miles in each direction on top of that!

sunday afternoon drive

A week ago we took a drive down paths we haven't traveled for a spell.

It was a tad on the warm side, so we sat in air conditioning and gazed at water.

Maybe we even tested it with our fingers and toes, but never jumped in.

A stop at Saguaro Lake to check out boat ramps and parking availability.

A beautiful spot!

The blurred out sign says something about no picnics allowed.

However, it had a table with the pictures so figured it was legal to eat my sandwich in the truck.

I have never tubed the Salt River, nor do I have any plans to do so but we went to take a look.

I didn't get any pictures of that one.

Fast moving and cold was my opinion.

And ... from when Jari was romping out there years ago ... a whole different place.

Next stop was the Verde River.

Now this is my river.

I have personal experience with this deceptively calm piece of nature.

I could kayak here for days.

String a hammock from one side to the other and just chill.

The sunsets during monsoon season are divine.

Dust in the air mixed with clouds ... dreamy.

I still haven't seen more than a few drips of rain this year.

Hope springs eternal!

Sunsets are proof that endings can be beautiful too.

week of simple joys

simple joy might just be using up scraps at the sewing machine

it might be the satisfaction of seeing paint leave a dresser as the temperature rises and the sweat pours

i find it in the blooming of cotton plants

joy is the falling of rain on fields that are so very dry

the joy of His promise to end a day and a week

where do you find simple joy?

family fishing

Two weeks ago today we were at this lovely fishing hole with the kids.

Two weeks?!! 

No wonder those birthdays creep up so fast and often ... if two weeks flies by so fast!

Who would think that almost in the middle of a town there lies this beautiful spot.

Could you just stroll out here and clear your mind?

This is me.

These are mine.

This would be my joy.

Anna & Tia were not able to do any fishing ... 

Hint: don't attempt to get a fishing license the same day you get your ND drivers license .. they won't let you.

Second Hint: if you purchase a non resident 3 day fishing license, check your expiration date. Our 3 day licenses expire in March of 2020. You just never know when you might win!

Should you have any hints on how to score a free airline ticket with Allegiant ... let me know!

I"ll go fishing.

We don't deep fry food at our house, but I might have to start.
Anna & Wylon have some marvelous deep fryer that I might need to look at someday.
Friday night fishing.
Saturday night dining.

I can still taste that walleye!

Now I'm hungry.

the littlest ones

So the other week we spent 6 days in North Dakota. I can't post all the pictures here. I have all too many for that. I'll give you snippets here and there.

These two little people are our littlest grandluvs.

I think it is a Nana's job to sit and rock these little people. Soak up snuggles, smiles, drools and whatever else comes my way. I wish they both lived closer but they don't. I am incredibly thankful that we are able to travel to see them as often as we do.

Meet Princess Sage.

Another piece of living far away is that we often miss celebrations such as baptisms. This time we were able to be there! God's blessings to you dear Elliott.

The love just keeps multiplying!

an early Sunday

Having a yen for the lake but not tolerating the temperatures during the afternoon this summer season. 

The alternative is getting up with the chickens.

If you don't have those critters ... that means early. 

Real early.

We live about an hour away from our favorite water hole. 

There must be a cool spot in that section of road 'cuz that 76 degrees didn't last more than a minute.

Little people joined us with their parents. 

Another reason to be out there early. 

Don't want this little guy overheating.

These guys like the water. A lot. Sebastian was my swimming partner today.
And ... they tolerate sitting on the back seat of the boat!!
Serious progress there!

I have stayed out on the water in the summertime and been croaking hot all nite long so am a wee bit nervous about doing it again.

This morning I was a bit bummed that we didn't stay out there last night.

The air this morning was delicious and the water absolutely perfect.

Kind of like my happy place.

the end of a weekend ...

The sun was shining and drying out all the miniature lakes. Jari was hatless and without sunscreen so we tried to find shade at every opportunity. Beautiful day!

A tour around the grounds with Grandpa and Grandma. What a beautiful way for the older folks to see how large everything was when the walking would have been impossible.

Two years from now I have high hopes of being camped on these grounds in an air conditioned camper. Going to keep the fingers crossed that it works out. If it does ... come over to my porch for coffee!

Homeward we went on Saturday evening. Although it was a bummer to end our time there sooner than the festivities ended, we had a very busy work week coming up. It was rather nice to spend some time at home on Sunday taking a nap before it all started. This getting older business is sometimes challenging for a crazy schedule.

Traveling again tomorrow ... almost before the sun rises. Going to find some little people snuggles this time.

Yes, we are very blessed to be able to do this.

Friday at services

Friday morning we went to Litchfield and Cokato.

Sometimes weekends can be a little hard on the heart strings.

Then to feed our hearts and souls. I have gone back and looked at pictures of my own and online about a million times or more. My heart just wants to be back there.

What a beautiful day. In between some rain drops. We did find an umbrella in Mummu's stuff that we went through so we were set!