Just Something I Thought Was Pretty

Usually when I post sky pictures they are of sunrises, rainbows, or an occasional sunset.  But this afternoon I was outside getting the mail and filling the bird feeder and, as always, I looked up and saw this beautiful sky.  Thanks God!

Life is still great.  Stay safe and be grateful.  God Bless America!

Hey!

I hope you are all well and staying safe!

Les and I are doing okay.  Keeping up with things.  We had a grocery pick-up and actually got some meat this time.  We had our annual dryer vent and duct work cleaning done.  Les has a couple appointments this week.

We are staying in and distancing.  Governor Northam had a press conference yesterday and announced new regulations and restrictions because Hampton Roads is a real hot spot now for Covid-19 cases.  No gatherings larger than 50, everyone to wear masks, distance, restaurants and bars closing earlier and having reduced occupancy.  Basically he said this increase in cases has been caused by selfish young people who have gone out in groups, had large gatherings, partied, and made bad decisions and have not taken precautions, worn masks, or distanced.  Honestly, I am fine with the new restrictions.  We are not young, don't party, are not going to restaurants and bars, and we are smart.  And the younger people in our family are also smart and doing what they are supposed to do.

Les did the yard work today.  We have had some ghastly hot days with heat indexes well over 100, but today was a tiny bit better.  And it's good he got the yard mowed since we just got a call saying the yard people are coming to apply the grub control tomorrow.

Les arranged  a beer delivery.  Reminded us of living in Germany!  Don't know if they still do it, but when we lived there, there were home beer deliveries like there used to be milk deliveries here in the USA.  His beer arrived early, cold, and is in the fridge.  😊  (It was left on the porch and the man rang the doorbell)  (like pizza) 

Our girls say things are okay with them.

Life goes on.  Stay safe and God Bless America!

p.s. Even though the exchange rate was low, the gasoline rationed, and we didn't have a lot of money, we have great memories of living in Germany.

Hey! Just Saying Hello....

I hope everyone is well and doing okay.  Les and I are still distancing and wearing masks and trying to stay safe.  News reports are not good and cases of Covid are rising everywhere.  And enough said  of that.

It's hot and humid here.  We could use a good soaker rain.  Our sprinkler system runs several times a week but it's just not the same as a good soaker.  It's like that every Summer here, so no surprise.

We can still only get on the bases on Mondays, Tuesday, and Fridays.  Doesn't look like that is going to change any time soon.  The worst part is how that affects Les playing golf.  Golf is one of the safer activities/exercise that can be done.  The guys are outside, one to a cart, and taking precautions.  But if he can't get on base, he can't play there.  Other courses in the area are not taking enough precautions.

On a happier note, I got a haircut yesterday!  Feels and looks so much better.  It was the first one since late February.  There were precautions taken there and we both wore masks in Elisha's private work space.  I will be honest, my hair was really looking like "old lady hair" and I did not care for it. 😊 We had a discussion on the changes from the surgery drugs.  This always happens and is something patients are not told about before surgery.  Wouldn't have made a difference even if they had told me, it needed to be done.  Anyway, I feel better.

Boxer and Bloomer will be starting back to school very soon, in classrooms.  Masks and precautions there.  Both will be in high school.  How can that be?!?!?!?!?  They were both just babies!  Jordan's ODU classes will start soon also, and all be online for her.  Still no decisions made yet on Cutie Girl's school or Little Miss E's preschool.

We've been keeping up with things around the house and doing some chores and odd jobs.  We had the electrician here on Monday and Tuesday.  Had to be two days because it was just so darn hot in the attic he couldn't stay up there any longer. Heat index that day was 115, and the actual temperature broke a long standing record.  But it is all done now in both bathrooms.  The ceiling in the smaller bath now needs to be painted.  That wasn't really planned, but it needs to be done after all the other work in there.  Once that is done I will get the bathroom "back to together" and take pictures.

There is some yard work that needs to be done and I'm holding off on that until it cools a little.  And Les wants to repair the shed door when he can.

Life remains good.  Stay safe and take care of yourselves.  God Bless America!

Here is something that made me smile this morning.  Thank you "I Can Haz Cheezburger" site.

Happy World Emoji Day!

Alexa informed me this morning that it is World Emoji Day.  Or as they said in the old days, "Colon, Parenthesis". 

😷😊😷😊😷😊

Take care of yourselves and stay safe.  Life is great and God Bless America!

Huh.

I hope everyone is well and staying safe.  Wear your masks!

It seems like the Internet is having a bad day today.  We heard about the attack on Twitter this morning and the Bitcoin scam.

Then, something that I totally expected, the Vera Bradley website shut down.  They have been hyping a new "Harry Potter" line for months.  This morning was the release time when the items would be shown and available for purchase.  I love Harry Potter and also Vera Bradley, but never intended to try seeing the items first thing.  So I was not disappointed.  But if you read the comments on Facebook, a lot of people were upset and angry.  What did they think would happen????  I have seen a couple pictures of some items and I have to say I am NOT impressed, and will not be spending what they ask for the style of purse that I like.  So that is that.

In other news, I decided today was a cleaning day.  The floors are done, the bed changed, laundry done, bathrooms scrubbed.  Les changed the air filters in the hallway and at the top of the stairs.  I even cleaned the filter over the stove.  A couple other little chores got done, too.

The temperature is in the upper 80's and it's about 70% humidity today.  Hot and humid as usual for this time of the year here.

Our Governor has increased enforcing wearing masks, so we'll see how that goes.  Something has to be done as the Covid 19 cases just keep rising.  According to the morning news, they are rising in almost every state now.  We continue to try to stay safe and take care of ourselves.  Some days seem to be easier than others.

We had our annual generator service and it is all checked out and ready for another year.  We have an electrician coming on Monday to do the work in the bathrooms.  We have a couple appointments scheduled for next week.  Hopefully, the one for my haircut will happen!

So, here we are.  Take care of yourselves and stay safe.  Life is great and God Bless America!

Just a pretty picture of Bellows Beach that makes me smile with good memories.

Theme for Today: Watermelon

I bought a watermelon at Kroger yesterday morning.  The label said it was grown in Georgia.  It's pretty good!

One of my favorite movies is "Dirty Dancing".  We all know nobody puts Baby in the corner, but do you remember when she said "I carried the watermelon"? 

Anyway, girls and watermelons, a favorite fruit in the family.  Enjoy!

Always good to be helpful when Mom is getting groceries.  And someone needs to guard the melon.  

Just seeing if it could be used as a soccer ball.

Picture is not recent, but cute anyway when dressed as a watermelon.

Like I said, always good to help Mom with the groceries!

I love them all!  Stay safe!  God Bless America!  Life is good!

Just Saying Hi

I hope you are all safe and doing well.  Les and I are doing okay and trying to stay safe.

He did yard work yesterday.  The push power mower didn't want to work.  So he had to do everything with the riding mower and trimmer.  Then he took the push mower to the shop.  Turns out it had bad gas in it and some sort of gel had accumulated inside.  They kept it for a couple hours and then called us.  The mower is back home now, but hasn't been used yet.  New gas cans have been ordered and the old bad gas will be disposed of. 

In the process of getting the mower in and out of the MDX, Les discovered he had left his club covers in the golf cart on Monday.  Fortunately, yesterday was Tuesday and he could get on base, so he ran out and checked and got them back!

I did some clean-up outside.  It's been hot and humid and we have the sprinkler system running several days a week.  The yard guys came yesterday right after Les mowed and they put down some fertilizer and weed killer. 

The other activity yesterday was picking up our grocery order.  No huge surprises this time.

Our day lilies have been blooming.  Very pretty, but focus on the "day" part of the name.  The pretty blooms last a day, then they are done.

Stay safe and be careful!  God Bless America!

Have a Safe July 4th

God Bless America!

The News in Review

This post will be a review of what's been going on in "our world", both personal and in general, for this year so far. Keep in mind I have always tried to have a happy, positive attitude.  Some days this is a tough thing to do.

The year started out with Les and I both getting sick starting with him right before Christmas and me right after New Year's. 

When we were getting better we started making plans and arrangements for the work on our bathrooms.

This got us to late February/early March when I got the diagnosis that I would need a new hip to stop the severe pain I was in.

About the time we were getting ready for my surgery, the Corona virus was starting to move across the country.  As I was being taken out of recovery and into a room, the hospital shut down for all visitors and they got me out of there the next day.

Recovery and physical therapy started at home.  PT continued for a short time at a clinic, then moved to me doing it on my own at home.  BTW, I feel like I am doing well and the severe pain is gone.

All work and plans for the bathrooms were put on hold. Shelter in place orders happened.  Businesses closed up. We distanced ourselves and still are.  It's been months since we have hugged our daughters and grandchildren. We are trying to be very careful and stay safe.  No one wants to die alone in a hospital.

Murder hornets made an appearance in some areas.

We had to say good-bye to our sweet Cecil when his kidney disease worsened.  We miss him.

Roving "herds" of wild boars were gorging themselves on pot fields and wreaking havoc.

Saharan dust clouds came across the world and caused mud rain in some areas of the South.

Reopening started and we were all told to stay vigilant, wear masks, use sanitizers, keep distancing.

We have gotten used to ordering our groceries and picking them up.  Of course, we only a choice of three days for that with the Commissary due to the restricted base access for Retirees.  That also cuts into golf time now that the course has reopened.  If you can't get on the base, you can't get to the course.

Some of our contractors wanted to come start working.  We said okay, but you need to be careful and wear masks, and don't come if you're sick.  We all wore masks as they worked.

Les and I celebrated our 53rd anniversary very quietly.

The Master bath is finished except for a new exhaust fan.  Our electrician is away this week.  A couple things still need to be done in the smaller bathroom.  They are looking good though.

Sadly, other bad things happened in the world.  Protests happened.  Destruction and violence happened.

People are selfish and irresponsible and started ignoring the rules and advice to stay safe and keep distancing and wear a mask.  More people are getting sick, more are dying. 

We have a "new normal". 

So, stay safe people.  Be smart and protect yourselves and others.  Life is still great.

God Bless America!

Just the Usual

The news remains scary.  Covid 19 cases are rising.  Virginia is into Phase 3 of reopening now, in spite of the increased cases.  Masks are required, but so many are not following the laws for reopening.

But as for us, we are still being careful and trying to stay safe.  I devoted my time yesterday to some major cleaning.  In case any of you have never had any re-do work or drywall work done in your home, it makes a mess.  The dust goes everywhere!  No matter how careful everyone is and how much the workers clean after themselves.  But the cleaning is coming along.  I probably pushed myself a little too much yesterday, so I am making this a "lighter" day.  Still getting some things done though.

It's hot and humid, might rain later.  No golf for Les today since the base access for retirees was not increased due to the increase in Covid cases.  For now it is still M-T-F for base access for us.

It's a couple days early, but I hope everyone has a safe, and pleasant Fourth of July!  We have new pillow covers!  Thanks, Pam!

Stay safe!  Life is great!  And God Bless America!