Photo shoot from the front porch

Baby yellow finch.  So happy to see that Mom and Dad had a baby.  I will have to keep an eye out for more.

More blooms in the flower garden.

My new addition to the flower bed is blooming wonderfully.

I almost had a close up photo of a Boston Oriole, but by the time I got my gimmpie rear to get my camera, he/she flew off.  Hubby and I got to see it though while playing cards on the front porch last night.  That's about all I accomplished, other than watering everything.

Happy Homemaker Monday

We had another weekend retreat at our favorite island.  It was the best weekend ever.  We went alone this time.  We met more islanders and laughed and laughed and laughed.  Tried a Storm Cloud shot for the first time.  Hubby didn't like it so much, but I did.  Sort of on the sweet side.

It was pretty busy on the island and the place we rent is now booked until mid August already.  Our friends that own it, have a machine that they set inside and put a timer on and it kills anything.  Sort of like what the UV machines do, but different.

We were home early, unpacked, laundry started, lawn mowed, garden checked, catnip went into the dehydrator and potted plants watered. Sage went into another dehydrator.  It was hotter here than at the island (beautiful weather and nice breeze at the island).

We have six acres, but not all is mowed.  Our old goat pasture looks like this now.  Hm.  Time to locate people to bring the goats in to eat it down?  When our buck was in this area, he ate it down regularly for us.

We did some flower bed weeding, and cleaned one of the air conditioner filters too.  It's probably a good thing we did work on Sunday.  By evening, I figured out my sciatica was back.  At first I thought it was just a pulled muscle.  Not a good time to happen.  I'm digging out my papers on stretching exercises and will start on that first.  I will have to have the girls do my garden work for a few days until I can get back to feeling better.  I didn't sleep good at all last night due to the pain.  It's a horrible pain.

Here are my biker gnomes.  They are going back out. I'm just not sure where yet.

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The weather . . .
89°F/63°F.  No chance of rain.  Sunny.

How I am feeling this morning. . .
In serious pain.  Frustrated this happened, but I succumbed to this awful, off and on problem, due to falling on ice and landing on my back and hitting my head on cement over 13-14 years ago. It comes and goes when it feels like.


On my mind . . .
How am I going to get my work done today?  The timing is awful. Also, the health store where we buy our true organic/non-gmo meat from has closed permanently.  The produce stand where we buy our sweet corn announced yesterday they are also closing permanently.  What's not getting destroyed from idiot rioters, is closing due to lack of income (from being forced to close).


On the breakfast plate . . .

Sweet potato and black bean frittata with fresh cilantro from the herb garden.


On the reading pile . . .
Nothing this week.  I took the week off.


On the TV . . .
Whatever we find interesting on Amazon Prime.


On the menu this week . . .
Well, first I have to make out a grocery list, after checking the pantry and fridge.  
-Stuffed Shells, veggie
-Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn
-Chicken/veggie kabobs on the grill


From the camera . . .

I picked shell peas this morning.  They are doing great.  I missed these last year.  Lots more on the vines, and that makes this gal happy.


Looking around the house . . . 
It was cleaned up yesterday by one daughter so she could have a backyard cookout with some friends last night.  I will need to get the herbs out of the dehydrators and refill one with mullein leaves and flowers.  My wild mullein is 6 feet tall right now.


Chore I am not looking forward to this week . . .
Everything and anything I can manage to get done, like watering everything.  I will resort to my sprinkler for the vegetable garden, but I hate to run the water pump that long.


To relax I will . . .
Stay off any news on the TV, stay off any social media (getting so sick of it), crochet and maybe watch cooking shows to stay off my feet.  Although movement helps.  I will do my stretches however.  It's the only thing that helps get rid of the pain.

On my prayer list . . .
Well, for starters for this pain of mine to go away.  Our country, our President,  and law enforcement. 

Garden Goodness ~ Happy Heart

Pea picking is daily right now.  Shell peas are now on thanks to the goodness of rain.

Oregano is abundant this year (unlike my thyme and rosemary), but I'll take anything this year.  I filled the dehydrator, and may do it once more.

Although there are a lot of sugar snap pea recipes, I went with what I had - used homemade garlic scape pesto, tossed in pasta and snap peas, topped with grated Parmesan cheese.

Rain and other tidbits

Tuesday morning we finally got some of Mother Nature's medicine for the gardens.  It was very much welcomed.

We also celebrated our one daughter's 21st birthday (she baked and frosted her own cake), and we celebrated it by going out to eat and buying her first adult drink.

Daughter and I went to the "Big City" to get our licenses renewed.  Her renewal was easy, but because mine expired during this virus mess, I had to have all sorts of information brought with me.  I dug through paperwork and actually found every single thing I needed for my renewal.  It took us an hour to get through the process.  We timed it right, with only 17 people ahead of us, but a very long line behind us.

We have purchased one car thankfully too.  However, we need 2 more to be completely functional, so we are car shopping for the daughter who turned 21.

View from our front porch last evening.  

Slim Pickin's

I had access to a car for a quick blink of the eye.  I ran into Wal-mart to get some items, and this is the area where crochet hooks and needles are sold.  The yarn is so slim.  See that shelf at the bottom of the photo?  Hardly any #10 cotton thread.  Literally nothing but one "I" hook left.  I needed an H and some needles for a gift for a family member.

I am putting together an Emergency Crochet kit for her.  I found tape measures, but not the retractable ones (that section was slim as well.  I found pencils, notebook and scissors.  Good gravy on the shopping trip.  I am told I have to drive further out to find a fully stocked store.  Geeze o' pete.  I'm told that Wal-Mart stopped stocking anything that wasn't "essential" and to me crochet while stuck home is mentally essential.  Crazy times for sure.

I came home and spent a while scrubbing my outdoor cushions with upholstery cleaner.  At least I was productive in that way.

Happy Homemaker Monday

We had a Father's Day cookout to go to yesterday.  It was nice to see family, but there were people there I didn't even know and we all sort of didn't mingle that much.  I talked to some, but not all.  It was also very hot outside.

I also took a cold fruit salad (homemade, not store bought), but when I went inside it wasn't put out. When I asked about it, I was told that there was more dessert so mine wasn't needed basically.  So why bother making something I thought?   Why ask us to all bring a side dish?  I put it out anyway, and it was basically gone by the time we left.  

We later went to test drive a car. My car is toast.  It will require a new engine.  So tired of the car situation, but hopefully it will change if we find one (need 2 more vehicles).

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.


The weather . . .
Well, it was to rain all day yesterday.  We got a 10 second rain shower.  Rain is in the forecast today.  Not sure I want to even trust their forecast anymore.


How I am feeling this morning . . .
Tired.  I need to stay accountable today.  My to-do list isn't even written out yet, but so far this is on the list...
-make garlic scape pesto
-make garlic scape-radish spread
-depending on weather, dehydrate oregano and sage
-total kitchen clean up
-check on laundry
-shampoo hallway
-clean up hearth area
-check snap peas
-errands if I have a vehicle (I need stamps like 2 weeks ago)
-clean up office area


On my mind . . .
Our one daughter's birthday.  She'll turn 21.  Trying to figure out how to celebrate it.


On the breakfast plate . . .
Have no idea.  We have one egg right now, ha ha!  It's gonna be a challenge depending on how many eggs are in the coop.  I have no vehicle to go to the store this morning.


On my reading pile . . .

On the TV . . .
The Reliant.  If you are concerned about what will happen if the government fails, this movie is spot on.  Scary, but makes you really think if you have prepped enough for something like this.


On the menu this week . . .
Pork tenderloin, snap peas with asparagus
Spaghetti, corn
Meatballs with sauce, quinoa or rice, veggie
Salmon patties, veggie
(just ideas, and have no idea if this will happen)


From the camera . . .

My wild growing mullein is about 4 feet tall and blooming now.

Looking around the house . . .
Lots to do. Lots to do....


Chore I am not looking forward to this week . . .
Have no idea yet.  I haven't written out my to-do list yet.


To relax I will . . .
Crochet

On my prayer list . . .
A family friend, who lost her son to an overdose. Everyone in law enforcement.  

Productive Day

Saturday was a very productive day.  House was partially (finishing up today) power washed, we picked up my new treadmill and put the old one by the road (which was picked up within 10 minutes by someone driving by thankfully), more zinnias planted, a few more flowers planted, and a meal was baked for our friends (just had a heart attack) and made a cold strawberry pie for them too.

Peas are starting to roll in.  I have enough to saute with some asparagus, and many more on the plants.