what a day...

first, let's start with the before and afters...

hit the flower bed early this morning...

we could finally work the dirt up...

and some yellow onion sets went in here...

just your basic cutting back, weed pulling and working up the dirt...

it didn't take very long at all...

in the first photo...

this is how we garden here...

carpet samples to sit and kneel on...

and a variety of tools...

the second photo is a 5 gallon bucket of debris...

now, the rest of the photos are just images from around the yard...

as the day went on...

my photo bomber...

aka- my pain in the butt...

he has ruined so many photos!

but today he is going on the blog!

slug...

dianthus...

had this plant for at least 3 years now...

lilies have heads on them already...

green beans and tomatoes...

plowing the field at the end of the street...

this was before noon...

they planted beans in here this afternoon...

peonies are not open in my yard...

but the neighbors were this morning...

I love this combination...

and may do it in other beds soon...

they are going to be so pretty when they open up...

one of the russian blue cats has disappeared...

Snuggles...

he was the one who chased and ate our birds...

but since he has gone...

we have so many more birds!

the others do not stalk them like he did...

and the throats of the iris...

been a cloudy, sunny, cloudy day...

afraid to start anything else...

and it did sprinkle a few times on us...

now the cooler days will be here for a bit...

may even have to go back to sweat shirts for a time...

had the windows open...

did breakfast for supper...

took some walks...

baking a chicken tomorrow...

the green beans are gone...

LOL

they were so good...

got a couple more flower beds to do...

and we need to dead head the iris...

I hope God gives me a good day tomorrow...

I so want to play outside!

;)

blooms and birds...

this was all from our yard yesterday...

I know it needs so much more work...

and there are places that could use some improvement...

but on days, like this one...

you just need to take the time to slow down...

smell the roses...

and enjoy it...

green beans...

it just doesn't get much better than this...

can't wait for these to multiply...

spider wart we bought last year...

I had a couple large plants, but lost them in the flood 5 years ago...

and of course, there's always the birds...

a baby cardinal...

it was a little too wet to work in the beds yesterday...

so we piddle inside most of the day...

made a pot of fresh green beans, potatoes and bacon...

I think they are all gone now...

made some potato salad while I was at it...

can't wait until we get green beans out of the garden...

and fresh tomatoes...

the corn is coming up in the field behind us...

and it looks like rain this morning...

we have some cooler days and nights coming...

have a fun and blessed day...

rejoice in what you have been given...

;)

what we did yesterday...

we started out in the garden...

Craig took the shovel and turned the ground over...

this is after 3 nights of watering..

and then we break it up to this...

made a couple of hills on each side behind the tomatoes...

and planted 4 hills of watermelon...

the small, seedless kind...

I hope they make...

tomatoes are growing good...

and the beans had popped through...

by supper time, they were 4 inches high...

and then I worked on the deck some more...

and someone came to visit...

and she brought a friend...

this is my typical view...

and yes, he is sound asleep...

even Elmer couldn't get him up...

I went back out again later...

and I flipped through several magazines...

I wanted to show you this...

found them in the shed...

I have had these for years...

in my booths...

and no one bought them...

mine now...

;)

and this is not real...

and until I find some little bottles to use...

I stuck the whole thing in the lattice...

and while I was sitting at the potting table flipping through gardening magazines...

the indigo bunting stopped in for a snack...

going to head back out there this morning...

the storms came through here last night, but nothing bad at all...

3/4 of an inch of rain, which we needed...

I watched the radar...

the line had strong storms in front, but as it got here, all the yellow and red turned green...

then on the other side of us, it turned back to yellow and red...

that's exactly what I prayed for...

;)

he does answer them...

still praying for all of those that were in the paths of all the storms since the weekend...

Oklahoma and Kansas...

now it will be more...

the death toll keeps rising...

if your home is not in splinters scattered all over, you have something to be thankful for today...

the things we take for granted...

everything you are able to do today, someone else can't...

that will be in mind all day as I go about the house cleaning and laundry...

;)

just take a moment...

and pray for Oklahoma...

I have family in Oklahoma...

in the Tulsa area...

I lived in Weatherford briefly...

many years ago...

two schools hit with kids in them...

so many homes gone...

deaths are up to 51 now...

and will probably go up...

just take a moment and remember them...

some fun ideas...

found some cute ideas this morning...

thought you might be inspired, too...

love this...

and this...

I wish my shed was like this...

I can see DH rolling his eyes over this one...

fun porch...

really?

all that fuss to bathe the dog?

ok, this one is my size...

I thought this was such a fun idea to get things up off of the counter top...

makes it easy to clean up after food prep...

and, of course, its cute...

this is a nice small space...

fun plantings all lined up to make one big impact...

ok, I thought these were cute...

not so sure about their color choices...

but its fun...

it might also be another option for me on raised gardening...

when I can't get down anymore...

I could do veggie gardens like this...

just remember, He's always watching...

always protecting...

always loving you...

so happy Monday morning and I hope you have a wonderful week...

be thankful to today...

;)