vintage humor...

I don't think any cat that I have ever had would have stood still long enough to have this done to them...

but if you lived in a family like this, it might be more normal than you think...

I would have liked to have seen the after shot...

black...

in mourning?

boxing gloves might mean her husband isn't around any more...

yeah, that's cute...

how many times have you wanted to do this to your hubby???

nothing much to do and I have changed my background so many times my eyes crossed...

so I just went looking around...

maybe on my way to bed...

not sure...

have a good night!

welcome to limbo land...

we are about 10 out of the deck being started...

and there are a few things to do for prep work...

but that's what the weekends are for...

so right now, there aren't many weeds at all...

not enough to grab the tools and have a seat for...

so we are just making lists...

and cleaning house...

here is the dusty miller about to bloom...

I have worked with this plant off and on for about 40 years now and have never seen one bloom...

but this is the first year I have ever had them carry over through the winter from the last growing season...

so I am sure we are about to see other things in our area that we haven't before...

the knock out rose grew another foot and a half and is starting to bloom on the new growth...

it has become entwined in the old rusty gate for support...

just like I wanted it to...

peonies are full force now...

and they are so special because they came from an old neighbor...

there are things around here that come from people who may have only been in our lives for a season or two...

but we have something daily to remind us of those who have either passed onto the other side or just simply moved on...

this particular old neighbor stopped by Saturday after he toured the old high school...

his dad used to be the principal here so many years ago...

when his sister moved from here to Chucktown...

we swapped some things...

I gave him a willow that I had started and some of my iris...

he gave me peonies and yucca...

and his sister gave me daisies..

I have found that the more you share the more comes back...

and...

if something major happens...

like our flood...

you can always go back to them for starts if you lost all you had in your yard...

call it bloom insurance...

well, we are much warmer today and the weekend is going to be a scorcher for us...

highs of 88...

not real bad, but when you have been between 68 and 73 for a couple weeks, its going to take some getting used to...

have a great day!

images...

what is your gift?

are you aware of what God has placed inside you?

what gift did you receive?

note this says to in the service to others...

who have you helped today?

sometimes the gifts are as simple as prayer for each other...

some have other abilities to feed and clothe thousands, or just one...

no gift is too small...

they are all important in this world...

do you use your gift?

do you use it well?

God has given me many gifts over the years...

they change as I change...

they grow as I grow...

and they stood stagnant when I failed to move forward...

we so often send up prayers asking for tons of things...

but how many times do we fail to pay back the loan?

are we earning our keep?

some are...

and some are doing just a tad...

very few give all they have...

but if we change...

and become more focused on the BIGGER picture...

maybe we could change the world...

is there something that you have noticed around you that you do not like or you think is wrong?

well, maybe that's God opening your eyes to something He thinks you could change...

God puts on our hearts what He needs done...

you could very well be the answer to someone else's prayer...

so instead of all of us sitting around complaining about how bad things are...

we need to get up and move...

sit and talk with someone...

lend a hand...

give away some of what you have been so blessed with...

make a change...

you think you have nothing to offer?

no skills?

well, guess who that is telling you that you are unworthy?

tell him to shut his mouth and leave you alone...

you have things to do...

BIG things...

and to get out of your way...

with God's power...

nothing can stop you but yourself... 

look what opened up today...

mom always called these Tiger Lilies...

so that's what I still call them...

and the grape vine is making a comeback...

see how tall the lilies are?

I am 5'3''...

so there are pretty big...

there will be more in the next few days...

I love the pink ones...

we had orange on the farm...

pretty...

this new rose is going to be fun having...

the first petals were yellow and white marbled...

the next few rows look like they are a peach color...

tomorrow will show the center...

and the birds are now yellow...

I changed my mind...

looks so much better and may not scare the birds away now...