July On The Fly

 I thought I'd better check in with my blog as this month has truly flown by.  This last week of the month will bring the warmer weather that many of the southern and western states have been dealing with.  We've really had a fairly nice, normal summer.  We'll get the first real hot weather starting tomorrow but I think it's suppose to slip back into regular temps after the weekend.  I have been busy doing the garden and yard work and thinking about the projects I'm supposed to be doing! We're going to be redoing the living room and painting is involved.  I'll post after pics when I actually get it all done.  I found a couple of people that will take a corner TV cupboard that we've had since we first moved here.

It's a big piece of furniture and it doesn't come apart.  Moving it will be interesting!

You can see it holds a fairly small TV compared to what most folks have these days.  Our boys have been kidding us that it's time to move up!  Since this cupboard doesn't hold anything bigger we have a new console waiting to be put together that will hold a large TV.  As for me, I was fine with this but I guess it's time to move on.  I was given some ideas as to what to do with this piece.  Like making it into storage or a coffee station.  Since we don't drink coffee and I don't have another place big enough for it I'm giving it to a friend. I told her to bring lots of strong men to help move it...and a truck!  We'll see how it goes I guess.  In other news from the Pines the garden is slowly producing.  I froze peppers and blueberries and I know more is on the way.

I like  having the peppers already sliced and ready for recipes.  Those blueberries will taste great in pancakes or perhaps a pie?  Speaking of recipes, I made homemade pop tarts:

They were fun to do and they tasted pretty good. I would modify the recipe if I do it again by adding more filling than what it called for.  Other than that it was a fun experiment!  We finally got to the farmer's market and I got a new wreath for the front door that will go on in August.

One of the nurses I used to work with makes wreaths and other things and sells them at the market. I think this will be good on the front door as we slowly slip into Autumn.  I know, I know, it's still Summer but once July is done I start thinking of  the next season.   But Summer is the time for reunions and we had a reunion over the weekend of folks that used to go to our Church over 20yrs ago and have moved away.  We had a group that came from all over to gather and reminisce.  Most live out of state and some were just kiddos when they left and are now grown up with kids and even grandkids of their own.

This is my friend Carol who was the one that suggested we do this.  At first she wanted to do it in 2024 but I said we need to do it this year.  As we age you never know what we will be dealing with in another year.  It went off great and we had a good time laughing, sharing stories, sharing photos of our kids, and just having a good time as if we hadn't been apart for all those years!

The silly selfie! Can you find YaYa?   

Jack (on the right) had a nice time with his good buddy, Tom. They used to do scouts together and I know he misses his old friend.  I'm glad he and his family came.  Even his oldest came up from Florida with his family.  So good to see them.   So this month is drifting away like the many balloons we've seen in the air lately.

These were last weeks.

This one was  up tonight, even in the murky air! Not a great shot but you can see how the air is not so good right now.   One last pic that will remind us that Autumn will be here soon:

I took this pic the other day in the cemetery. See the red leaves? Already!  Plus I found a few things to get for our Halloween party in October.

Isn't she just adorable? Ha!  Merry Christmas in July everyone!  

Good Ol' Summer Time

 The official Summer season start was in June but for some reason it really feels like the good ol' Summer time when July 4th arrives.   This past week I didn't have to work and Jack and I did some yard work here and there amongst the rain and heat and humidity that is Ohio this time of year.  Along with that comes the mosquitoes that I was so hoping would not appear.  Last year wasn't bad in the bug department but this year is a different story.  Jack bought us some outdoor wear for the mosquito invasion a couple of years ago and he's put it on a few times.  I resorted to spraying down or just staying  inside!  Taking Annabelle for walks down our country road is pretty impossible with these critters attacking us so we head to the cemetery in town for our walks.  They spray in town so we don't encounter these nasty biters!

Annabelle isn't crazy about the car ride into town but does enjoy the walk amongst the...well...the dead!

We think of them as sleeping citizens! 

You can tell we've had lots of rain by how green the grass is here. I think God was shining His light down on us this night!  Or it could look a little like mountains in the background. 

Driving home from our walk we spied this above Main Street.  See it?

I was hoping it was heading for the Pines as it seemed to be on our path toward home.  But nope, it was heading for an open field to land.

A little closer to that red chili pepper balloon!  They happened to pick a nice evening for a flight.  I thought I would close here with a few final pics of my patriotic decor before it's time to take it down.  I like to leave it up for most of the Summer but some will be put away at the end of the month.

The kitchen fireplace will be getting relined sometime this Summer when the chimney guy can do it so I think these will be gone when that happens.

The bench in the corner of the kitchen is draped with a 48 star flag I scored at a garage sale years ago. Annabelle is hanging out at one of her favorite napping spots. When the weather is nice this Dutch door can have the top open and she can rest with the bottom closed. 

The blue and white tablecloth was a gift from a friend.  She knew I collect vintage tablecloths and this one matches the navy blue in the dining room perfectly.  Goes with the patriotic theme too!  Well, I have a few more days off until I work the middle of next week. I have some  painting projects to start so maybe I'll have a few more pics to share of that work in these "Good Ol' Summer Times!"

4th Of July...BOOM!

 Hello July and Happy Independence Day to this wonderful country!  It was a quiet celebration here at the Pines.  We stayed home and just hung out.  The weather was nice and sunny but hot and humid and the mosquitoes were relentless!  They were the real reason nothing got accomplished.  Too buggy!!  But we did grill some burgers and dogs and Phil stopped over for dinner and we had a nice visit with him.  Although we didn't go to the fireworks we could hear them.  The neighbors also were blasting away.  Thankfully Annabelle didn't seem to hear them tonight.  Last night had them blasting away also and she hid under a cabinet in the dining room.  I know many dogs hate the booms and will run away.  I hope folks would keep them inside and safe but I know the shelters will be filled tomorrow!  So here's just a few pics from previous celebrations.  I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful holiday.  Perhaps you're even off work the rest of the week...I know I am!  BOOM!!

I've shared this before but I really like this pic of me and Midge.   It's 1959.  The year Hawaii became a state.  I'm 6 and Midge is 4.  She's looking like she wants to slug someone! Makes me laugh when I see it! 

Jack looking cool in his sunglasses and patriotic shirt a couple of years ago at my sister's house.  We spent the 4th there and the neighborhood parade went by her house.  Fun time!

The year my Mom was in the parade as one of the oldest original residents of their neighborhood. Her last July 4th.  Sure miss her.

For 30 years Jack spent July 4th week at Scout camp.  This pic was taken on a scout high adventure trip.  Every July 4th I know he thinks fondly of those camp days.  This year as I said we spent it quietly and really didn't do any big parties or picnics.  But that's OK.  It was a good day.

The flowers on my kitchen table!  Happy July 4th everyone!