the heat was not fun, so I stayed in all afternoon...

Craig and I went out early and watered...

I have one glad blooming now...

and checked things out before heading out for a country drive...

the green beans are really growing...

I finally got to pick a few tomatoes!

got them on the counter to ripen up the rest of the way...

this time of year, its all about the garden...

and the central air...

isolated thunder storm moved through late afternoon...

but we just got a few sprinkles...

other areas got a mini downpour...

we could use the rain...

;0)

I have got 3 home alone days in a row here...

got some baby time going to happen and hopefully get a photo or two when he is not squirming so much...

the older 4 are ready to get their photos and put up on facebook looking for their new families...

then, maybe we can get the kitchen finished...

been all summer trying to get the time to do it with no babies...

;0)

I need to check the forecast again...

seems they change it every couple of hours...

hope you all have good days!

got a hot one today...

we are under a heat warning with the index today...

1pm- 8pm tonight...

guess where I am going to be...

coleus...

I do want to get out really early this morning and get some things watered so they make it through the heat...

we had 2 tomatoes blushing last night...

and we picked the 2nd pepper...

one lonesome pretty white bloom...

we need rain...

after all we got before, we are on day 10, I think...

without a drop...

I loved playing on our golf course here in town...

but that was years ago now...

we had a fire in the bus garage earlier in the year...

but its all rebuilt and new buses are ready to go...

won't be long...

just 3 weeks and the kids will be back in the classrooms...

just a simple little town street...

heading east from the square...

stay in and stay cool today...

;0)

yesterday was a bit hot, but nothing like its going to be today...

can't wait for the cooler temps to come back in a couple days...

super humid out there yesterday morning...

but we worked on one of the front beds...

the lilies are not well, so trimmed back the outer layer allowing air flow to the center of them...

the sedum are blushing all over town, but not mine- yet...

watered yesterday, too...

looked like rain for much of the day but didn't get but a few drops...

the new batch of green beans have broke ground...

just waiting on that first red one...

rose of sharon is still going...

grandma's old tub has been very useful through the years...

the hydrangea and ferns looks bad...

just too much rain even for them...

we ran over to the pool for an ice cream cone and drove by the golf course...

there's a pond on #3 that I just love...

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the forecast, look downright miserable...

so will spend my days inside with this new baby...

he is doing very good...

have a good day and stay our of trouble...

;0)

been working...

a trip to the doctor and cleared to go...

so we have been working in the yard today...

all the rain and critters are doing some damage in the flower beds...

so spent this morning in the side yard...

pulling and cutting back...

praying mantis babies are eating quite a bit...

picked the first green pepper...

some things are doing ok and hanging on, though...

there was a lot more than that...

had to cut the lilies way back...

fungus...

the second batch of green beans is just under the surface and should pop through by tomorrow...

back side of the garden...

the goal today was clean up...

and...

air flow and more sunlight to dry things up and kill off the fungus...

the plants are far from perfect this year...

a cleared area to allow air flow back in here...

and we trimmed some small trees and the rose of sharon, too...

baby watermelon...

they will probably all come on at the same time...

so will be giving them away if they make...

hope you are having a good weekend...

;0)

let's take a drive...

there are open places on the prairie even with the crops in and up...

the corn tends to hide things...

and there are fun things in this small town that people do that just make you grin...

and of course, there is corn...

miles and miles of corn...

but not all the land is tilled and planted, as much as it seems like it is sometimes...

we do have spaces for fun...

that old scoreboard was the last improvement that I did as president of the little league many years ago...

but the new leaders have moved on and kept it going...

and this year they are adding roofs on the dugouts...

the 4x4s replaced a chain link fence and the roofs are going on now...

and they have had a sign like this...

(if not this one)

for as long as I can remember...

there is a state highway, quaint brick streets, old country roads and everything in between within a couple miles of our home...

the dam holds back the town's lake...

our water supply used to come from there, but now comes from way up north...

piped in underground...

from a huge underground lake...

and there are places that some people reserve for preservation...

this area has all original prairie plants that would have covered the ground 100 or more years ago...

we have serious people and then those who have a sense of humor...

(yes, its a mailbox)

we have professionals who work out of town, around town, retired folks winding down their years and a whole lot of farmers...

and when someone is grateful, they let you know it...

like one of our little cafes here...

its their customer appreciation week...

and there is a new special every day just to say thanks for keeping your business at home...

and we are not so different from any little town around America...

we love living in our home town...

and we love those who protect us from anyone who wound want to take that away...

prayers for all the men and women who wear a uniform and their families...

and thank you for keeping us safe every single day...

these small towns are worth fighting for...

;0)