de- cluttering the porch and weeding...

it's another hot day and this area is in the sun fast...

so we started here...

the shelf I got at the city wide fits in this little hole and holds more bloomers..

enclosed the tomatoes and pepper plant...

we can still water just fine and we can open it up to pick later...

moved the door out here... 

got out the blue paint again...

watered it down and blue washed the window frame and birdhouse...

grabbed the hammer and a couple of nails and made a little clothes line for the garden gloves on my potting bench...

dead headed and watered...

weeded and cut down the tulips...

moved the bike and watering can to the front of the house...

the guys cooked brats and hot dogs for lunch...

not sure if I'm going to rock this little area or plant it...

marigolds would help keep the skeeters away...

can't wait until we get the fence put in permanently...

3x3 posts and pickets on both sides...

more plantings...

we did these yesterday...

all that's left of the old bird bath...

we have used this area so much already...

it's where we take all our breaks...

I was out here so much yesterday and last night...

late last night...

it was so nice, I almost fell asleep out here...

I came in and went right to bed...

our banner...

there are 2 more in the shed somewhere...

I am really happy with the pansies this year...

it's a flower I usually bypass...

we need to clean the shed out tomorrow...

everything is coming out...

sorted...

pitched and put back in...

we decided to wait since we have a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon...

not a big chance...

but just as sure as we have it all out and all over the yard...

it would rain...

homemade taco pizza tonight...

have a great day!

Improvements...

after visiting Debbie at the Lakehouse and seeing her tinted angel statue...

I grabbed a bottle of paint, a glass of water and a brush...

and I blue washed my little girl...

I love her!

and we moved her out from under the bush...

the azalea is blooming now...

and growing...

and it has finally come back full from the flood...

I almost lost it...

and everything was so pretty working out here today...

and we had a butterfly come to visit...

a beautiful swallowtail...

this is what we have been working on for the last 2 days...

this is where the loungers were...

and we took down both fire pits to make one...

after we have another good rain...

it will all settle and then we will go back and level it all up...

and this is where the fire pit was...

there is more shade here...

so it made sense that we move the loungers so they are in the shade most of the time...

because we don't need the shade at night when we have a sit around the fire pit...

Sherry from Country Wings in Phoenix gave me the idea of using burlap, but instead of using it in the old chair, I'm going to use it in my little wagon...

and then it will be full of flowers, too...

the old chair that was the bird bath, for those of you who have followed me for awhile, was so brittle...

when we tried to take it apart to use for a trellis...

the legs just snapped like match sticks...

so hanging behind the bench is what I could save...

and we blue washed it, too, while we were at it...

I am so tired...

we had farmer's pie for supper and I took a nap and still am wiped out...

hurt all over...

and I took the last dose of medicine last night- yippee!

but still have a bad tummy today...

it got almost to 90 and not used to the heat yet...

not after having a high of 63 last week!

so, enjoy the rest of the weekend and have a great night....

Take a moment...

to honor...

to thank...

to say a prayer...

to shed a tear...

to be grateful...

and to remember...

that freedom isn't free...

Love is ...

Praying for peace...

so we do not have to mourn another soul lost to war...

that all soldiers grow to old age...

and that we can learn to live in harmony...

remembering those who gave all they had to keep us free...

Joining Marydon for a Love Is love fest!

go check out this sweet lady...

and our day was fruitful...

trimmed dead limbs off of the hybrid poplular...

which was a major undertaking...

and my guys cut them all down with hand saws...

and the clean up was massive...

2 loads hauled to the burn pile...

and a cart full to start fires with...

getting ready to move the fire pit here...

so we had to move the bricks out a bit for it to fit...

and Robbie loved helping Craig dig out roots to lay the bricks level...

we will level the blocks tomorrow and then finish the lounger area...

the warm front came through last night and we had a high of 87 today...

90's coming...

but it wasn't too bad in the shade and we had a nice breeze...

I had a slower day...

and took it easy...

yesterday left me sore and stiff...

but I puttered and bossed the guys around...

which is my favorite job anyway...

I pupt out early and after supper and a shower...

I took a nap...

so hoping tomorrow is a good day and we can get this part of the yard finished so we can move on to the other jobs on the list...

have a great evening!

our heroes...

the veteran's memorial is in the middle of the square...

and all around it are the names of our towns heroes from various wars...

some who came home in a box...

but all are honored here in the quiet of the center...

and the VFW places flags all around the square...

and today was a special Memorial Day service...

to honor one of our boys...

who was KIA in 2009...

he was my son's, Doug's, age...

a granite bench was placed on the square across from the church that he attended with his family...

a soldier, a son, a husband, a father of 4, a friend...

http://illinoishomepage.net/fulltext/?nxd_id=254277

this is what our local tv stationed aired tonight on the news...

we got up this morning and went to the grocery store...

we went to park on the square to watch the services...

and couldn't find a place to park...

it was full!

that has never happened before...

maybe 20-25 people show up...

and I wasn't sure we could navigate this area with my wheel chair...

so DH brought me home and went back up with Craig and parked behind the furniture store and walked...

so this afternoon...

after it was all over and everyone had left...

in the solitude...

DH and I went back up...

and we went through the park in the center of the square and then around the perimeter...

and paid our own homage to those no longer with us...

who gave all they had for their country...

their neighbors...

their friends...

the square is a peaceful place in the middle of our town...

and our buildings are old and are full of history...

and way too many of them sit empty now... 

and while we were there...

we stopped and got the mail...

and I waited outside while DH went in...

waving at those who passed by...

because that's what we do in a small town...

and there are flowers in barrels...

and flags flying...

and then we passed back through the center one more time...

we then drove through the cemetery and past all the decorated graves...

and the old part where no one comes to anymore...

and at home again...

I deheaded some of the potted plants...

they took a beating in the storms lately...

and we went out to the center of our world...

and the roses were in full bloom...

in our memorial garden for our parents...

and the smell was so great...

and we remembered our parents, grandparents, friends...

who are no longer with us...

and my peonies are trying so hard to open...

the only time the sun was out today was for the memorial service on the square...

:)

the rest of the day was cloudy and overcast...

our mower guys came at 3pm...

as soon as they were finished...

it poured...

it is supposed to be in the 80s for the next 7 days...

some days close to 90...

and no more rain...

Doug is staying here for the week and DH is on vacation...

there is going to be some serious yard work done...

and a shed cleaned out...

and some rearranging of the junk that we have in the yard...

it's time to declutter!

hope your weekend is a peaceful one...

a fun one...

and one that's filled with all the great things that America is...

One Nation, Under God...

May God bless us all...