So, we feel like THIS

is good news for us --

The neighbors across the street are demo-ing much of their existing house and re-building. It's the 2nd [3rd -?]  one done on our street - and for sure, the most extensive one. It will surely help our property values to stay where we want them [or rise!]

Drew - 25 years old - still enjoying the balloons

So, what do y'all traditionally do to welcome summer on Memorial Day weekend? We've enjoyed the Jubilee Hot Air Balloon festival over in Decatur for over twenty years now [Drew was two the first year we went!] For many years [through elementary and middle school] we camped during the week before memorial Day, sometimes driving back / forth for school and work, but mostly hanging out and enjoying the festival. And back then there were so many more activities during the day - flying doves, rocket launches, remote control planes, sheep herding dogs, miniature ponies, even Pokemon tournaments! 

Fun! That, along with a three-day pass to the wave pool, and riding bikes on the trails along the river, always made for a great little get-a-way. but we love the balloons best, so even when our lives got busy with sports [SOCCER] we'd often find ourselves driving back from a tournament early so we could catch at least one flight during the weekend.

And, even now, when we haven't camped [anywhere!] in over two years, we still make the time to get up early [five a.m., anyone?] and head over to enjoy a flight or two...

Afterwards we met my family at Mom's house for one last walk-through to be sure we have what we want before Adam comes in to clean it all out. We enjoyed BBQ with her and then headed over to Craig's  mother's to visit with her, his sister ,& husband for a bit. 

Then we headed back home so we could catch up on some of our household chores - for me that meant working in the garden  -

This photo was actually taken back in April soon after Craig had built these awesome critter covers for me - I'm happy to report that I have uneaten blooms on all the squash plants [small cover] - as well as some surviving brussell sprout plants - doubt they'll make due to the heat - and tomatoes are growing inside the [now covered] tomato arbor. -Yes - we're all about re-purposing - those are screen doors we picked up on the side of the road - I'm thinking of painting it brown so it'll look weathered like the rest of the raised beds. They both open up so I can easily get into care for them. I also have peppers and cucumbers, eggplant, and cantaloupe  - all with blooms... and three basil plants, of course...oh, and there's okra planted where the onions are in this photo --

 I also have a few flowers here and there [this area obviously needs a bit more attention -] Love these pink lilies! Also have tiger lilies blooming in several places in the yard [they are from some that grew near the house where my mom grew up...] I keep moving them around the yard trying to find a great spot for them  - lol

And I enjoyed sitting outside, watching fireflies, and reading [on kindle] by the firepit -

Thanks to this great little contraption --

my own personal bug zapper - LOVE. IT.
It doesn't actually ZAP - but puts out a scent that keeps everything away. Got it at Wal-mart last summer and it's made a wonderful difference in my outdoor experience -

I ended the weekend with a wonderful plate of grilled chicken and grilled veggies with rice thanks to my sweet husband...YUM.

 Hope y'all had a great weekend as well!

So, we've lived here almost nine years...

kind of unbelievable, isn’t it? And, this is the first time we’ve ever seen this little renegade iris – bubbly yellow – so fun. It must be moved. Craig hates iris, and to have them growing with wild abandon in the yard could be one of his worst nightmares – lol. So it will soon find a home in a bed where it will be confined [and loved by me.]

I’ve had a very busy ‘round the house week – lots of little things needed to be tidied up. I’m happy to report that I’m making a dent in the clutter. – I’m much more relaxed when the clutter is put away…life is just 'better' somehow... Still, Emma and I tired to start each day with a little time out on the bright red glider…of course, she’d rather be chasing squirrels…or sitting in the sun. And yes, I’ve turned into my mother and have little stacks of things for the boys to go through when they come home – keep or discard, you know… but I still haven’t unpacked my scrappy stuff from the last retreat – and there’s another coming up soon! [So that equals no art for me this week.]

Craig has been gone on his annual fishing trip. It was a good week for him to get away with his buddies and just relax, do some fishing, and in the mornings ‘eat waffles and swap manly stories’ - that’s a favorite movie line of mine [Shrek -] I doubt they had waffles, but am sure there was lots of manly stories – LOL. And crazy hats...

I have continued the moving of stuff from my office at work, what can I say? I’m a ‘nester’ I like to have little bits of home around me. I’ve even been known to have my own quilts and little framed family photos on the nightstands of my hotel rooms when there is an extended stay… we don’t move into the new office until June, so it’s looking a little bare right now…

I had a nice evening with oldest and his gall Friday night – tried a new recipe for Red Beans and Rice – yum. And the birthday boy came home with his gal this weekend. Always wonderful to have them home! Kids grow up way too fast – 22 and 25 already!! And I feel like I’m just in my thirties – haHAha.

We celebrated with a favorite Thai meal, then a trip to ‘Nothing Bundt Cake’ – fun and then, on to Yogurt Mountain – who knew? This will put your self- control to the test. Yum. It’s unfortunate that it’s so close to home… and I DO need to eat more milk products…

And I had a wonderful time hosting a 'tailgate' couples' shower with these gals for some sweet young friends that are about to tie the knot. We've known Josh since before he was born, seriously - I have a photo of Matt sitting in a baby swing [less than 9 months] and Josh barley standing up and putting a pacifier in his mouth - fun. It was a great evening despite the theme for that other school - lol.

The sinus yuck is hanging on – but still, I have no infection – so I will take meds and carry on…

Garden Update

It's still growing - I missed some zucchini this week and let's just say we could've made some good vegetable dolls out of 'em like we used to do with Mama Moland's overgrown cukes! I chopped up one end and sauteed it anyway - yummy.
I really do love fresh vegetables.



Have harvested some yellow squash and tomatoes and eggplants and beans and peppers. The giant sunflower has gotten so big that it's fallen over - look at the difference between this week and two weeks ago [you can click on topic - garden on the side to see all the garden posts] - wow!
Things grow fast!