Still Wet.

Yep.  More rain during the night and we just another downpour a little bit ago.  Supposed to be raining all day.

Obviously there is no golf happening today.  No yard work either.  😊

We did have enough dry times between rain in the past couple days that Les got the garage door and shed door painted.  They look very nice.

I've kept busy with small jobs that had been getting pushed off and shoved into the closet.  So I'm all caught up right now, even the ironing and dusting have been done!  And those two chores are way down on the list of things I like to do.

But, life is good!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Next project????

Happy Birthday, Jordan!

Love you!  XO

More Rain!

So. Huh.

We had a thunderstorm come through here last evening.  No surprise there.  We got up this morning, no rain and the sun was coming up.  Les got ready to go to the golf course.  He was back shortly, said the course was closed.  Langley had gotten 5" of rain in the storm.  We did not get that much.  But out there they had flooding and there were fish on the greens.  Poor fish.  I imagine the grounds crew is out doing clean-up right now.

In other news, I'm catching up on some desk work and other odd little chores. 

 Jacquie is getting ready to go to the LifeNet convention and give a speech.  All is well at her house.

Pam has had a quilt accepted to to the Virginia Beach Quilt show in October so we'll get to see her.  The kids have open houses at their schools on Monday and classes start on Wednesday.  I hope all goes well.

Life is good.  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Hey!

It is Friday, the sun is shining, I've had my Starbucks, and life is good!

Les and the guys are out on the course finally getting a round of golf.  It is hot and very humid and it might rain later tonight, but right now, all is well.

I've been doing some chores around here and will soon be scrubbing our large shower.  I've taken care of some desk work and other things.  Angus is sleeping right here in front of me on the desk.  He was a bit miffed for a while because I was paying bills and had my paperwork all spread out in "his" spot.  He was happy when I got everything put away.  Finnigan and Cecil are napping upstairs.

I feel like I should be working on Christmas shopping, usually by August I have made a good start.  Not happening this year yet.  I have been seeing "Christmas in July" ads but nothing has jumped out as a good idea.  We need to get a new tree this year.  We disposed of one of ours last Christmas when we got it un-decorated.  We had repaired the wiring in a couple spots and decided better safe than sorry.  I seem to remember that last Summer there were some sales om trees, but have not seen them yet this year.  I have seen some Halloween things starting to show up in stores though.  😊

Time to go check the laundry, something just beeped.  Stay safe and God Bless America!

The Sun!

Today we have a little break from the rain.  The sun has been out off and on all day so far.  It is supposed to start raining again later though.  But in the meantime, we have taken advantage of the lack of wetness! 

I went to the Commissary and also did a couple errands.  Les got out to the driving range.  Thursdays are usually yard work days.  It is too wet for any of that!  But things do look a lot greener out there.

We've been keeping busy.  There are always things that need to be done around here.  Also books to be read and shows and movies to watch.  Yesterday we went to the shooting range and then out for lunch.  New place for lunch - "Jimmy Da Greek's" Deli.  Wonderful food!  We'll be going back.  Thanks to Lou for telling us about it!

I mentioned the finale of "Colony" in my last post.  It was on last evening.  What a disappointment!  I figure they did not know they were being cancelled in time to do a better job.  As finales go, it was absolutely awful!

Just wanted to check in and say hi.  Stay safe, life is good!  God Bless America!

This Just In........

Another show we like to watch has been cancelled!  The series finale of "Colony" will air next week.  I am wondering if someone knew ahead of time about the cancellation and did some kind of a storyline tie-up.  There are quite a few bad people siding with the aliens that need to be taken care of! Sad.

This and That

We did get the rain yesterday pretty much off and on all day, at times with some wind and some thunder.  There is "stuff" down all over the back yard, mostly leaves and small branches.  The sun was out earlier this morning and then it rained again.  Right now it's cloudy and 80, with 80% humidity. Things are just soaking up the rain when it comes.

Angus seems to be doing okay.

All the usual daily chores are getting done.  Nothing much "extra" planned for today.

In my last post I mentioned a couple shows we have watched.  I forgot to mention that we recently watched all of season one of "Lost in Space".  I admit I didn't care for it that much after the first show, but it "grew" on me.  We usually give new shows a couple chances.  We plan to watch the second season whenever it comes out.  There is another remake, "Magnum P.I." coming.  I was not at all enthused about it because it won't be the same without Tom Selleck in it, but I just read that they plan "crossover" shows with "Hawaii Five-0", so I guess I'll have to try it, too. 

We had a quiet morning, I cooked breakfast, we watched a movie and read the paper.  Often weird news articles catch my eye.  This morning's eye catchers were one about a man in India getting arrested for smuggling cows.  It was a very short piece and I am sure there must be more to that story.  The other was sad on several counts.  First, a man is dead, admittedly by his own stupidity.  But he was carrying his sword down the steps and tripped and stabbed himself.  I am positive that there are safety instructions around for carrying swords and he wasn't following any of them.  Ah, well, bad time for some.

I had to buy a new garden flag for out front.  Our patriotic one was getting worn and faded.  Couldn't find anything similar, so I went with bright flowers this time. 

Life is good!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Finally! Rain!

For the past month there has been rain in the weather forecasts multiple times.  Sadly, it did not come down on our house but maybe once or twice.  It has been hot and humid, normal Virginia Summer weather.  I am feeling it more this year.  And the lack of rain has been bothering me.

Last night it started to rain.  The forecasts have rain every day for the next week, although I am sure it won't be constant.  I am just happy we are getting some rain.  The grass, trees, and plants all look happier already!  I am sorry for the guys who aren't getting their golf rounds played, but I am sure even they are glad to get the rain.  The latest water bills arrived this week, and around here we have Summer rates, which make the bills even higher.  Keep in mind Les programs our sprinkler system to run at optimum times - not every day - and we do not overwater; just get enough to keep everything alive and growing.

So, it's been another week already; one filled with all the usual things, errands, chores, plus some extra yard work and trips to the vet.

Angus had another antibiotic injection yesterday.  He isn't great yet, but I think he's better.  We're keeping an eye on him.  He is doing all the important things like eating, drinking water, getting to the litter box, playing, and sitting on our laps.  Finnigan and Cecil are doing well.

We did some extra yard work on Thursday.  It was Les' normal day for mowing and other yard work.  The temperatures were down a bit, so after breakfast I covered myself in bug spray and went out to do some clean-up, pruning, and other chores out there.  Our day lilies were done blooming and it was time to cut them back.  The hydrangeas were evidently done blooming, too, so they got a bit of pruning.  In the large mulched area in the backyard, we had a rotting stump that was falling apart.  I had picked up the pieces that had fallen loose.  Les hammered at it with his axe, and it is now almost ground level.  I raked the mulch and spread it around and you can hardly tell the stump was even there.  I got a lot done in all the mulched areas but the far back.  But I know when to quit and it will get done another time.

This is a picture of our new "mole chaser windmill" that we ordered from Lehman's Hardware in Ohio.  We've tried just about everything else to get rid of the moles tearing up the yard, figured it couldn't hurt to try this.  The hard parts were finding an 8' metal 1/2" pole and then Les having to use a ladder to get up high enough to hammer the thing in the ground!

In spite of the all the spray I doused myself with, I again have many itchy bug bites.  It is a mystery.  I never see anything, don't feel anything, and don't even know I've been bitten until itchy spots start appearing about twelve hours later.  I'm using Sarna anti-itch lotion and Benadryl spray.

Les is watching The Open right now.  I like seeing the different courses.  This one looks brutal, but is still pretty.

We have been watching "Yellowstone".  I love the scenery!  Don't care for the story and some of the characters though.  I guess I was spoiled by "Longmire".  "Suits" is back; I don't care for some of those characters either.  "Code Black" had the series finale.  Sad to see it end, but I think the writers did a very good job of ending the story lines.  Speaking of finales and story lines, keep good thoughts for the TV movie for "Timeless" to tie up their stories.  It's another good show that was cancelled.

I finished reading the two books (so far) in the Locked In series by John Scalzi.  I enjoyed them and am hoping he writes more.  He wrote the Old Man's War series we both have read and liked.  I'm not sure what I will start reading next.  I have a stack of books to pick from!

As far as I know, all the family are well.  Life is good!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Where Does the Time Go????

I just realized that I have not posted since last Sunday.  So first, Pam had a birthday and I did not get the post up that I had ready.  I did get a FB post up to her and of course she knows we love her!  She did have a happy day.

The week has flown by here with a lot going on, and some of it stressful.  I noticed Angus having some problems and took him right in to see the doctor.  He has the urinary problem cats can get that causes crystals and stones to develop and cause blockage.  It is not something you want to leave untreated.  The doctor determined he was not blocked but did have a bad case of cystitis and inflammation.  We had a couple visits to the clinic and had to work out some issues with his medicines.  Namely the fact that Les and I could not get the liquid medicine in him.  We did get it on him, on us, on the floor and furniture!  That was just from the first dose he was to have.  The next day I took him back and they gave him an antibiotic injection and changed the other meds to pills.  So far, so good on that.  I think he is doing okay and getting better.   We're keeping an eye on him.

Let me just add that this has also caused more cleaning and more litter box scooping.  😊

We are enjoying our new TV.  However, while watching an HD movie on VuDu the WiFi kept cutting out.  And then I noticed it had cut out on our phones also.  Well, that is not acceptable!  So I put in a call to our Geek Squad guys, Victor and Dillon.  They came and checked things out.  The TV and equipment were fine, but there was a question about our router.  And also Verizon things didn't look right, so they suggested we call them to check the lines and router.  So the next day the Verizon man came and stayed a couple hours checking out each TV and box and checking lines, the equipment that is in the garage, the router, etc.  He found several things not right and worked on them.  And he also installed a new router for us. 

There is a story on that....Les had already ordered one from Verizon that was being shipped to us.  It had not arrived yet, but the man had the same one in his truck.  So he got the okay to install that one and then we are to ship the one we had ordered back.  It has arrived and I will send it tomorrow.  They included a shipping label, so no problems.  As of right now, everything is working and all is good!  But it involved a lot of going in and out and people in the house and again, more little things to clean up.

I had gotten out in the yard to do some clean-up out there and evidently was bitten by something.  The next day I had red, very itchy spots in a couple places.  Based on my reaction, I am guessing a spider got me.  I never felt anything biting or saw anything.  The spots are slowly getting better.

Our weather remains hot and humid.  We need rain.  It is Summer in Virginia.

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

Busy Day!

Hey, all!  I hope you've all had a great day!

We finally got that little bit of rain the other night and that was it.  But it has cooled off just a little.  I think there is rain in the forecast for later in the week.  Of course, the temperatures are going back up, too.  Ah, well, it is Summer.  At least the yard and plants are looking better since the rain.

I did several small jobs around the house that had been getting pushed off.  So it was a productive weekend here.  One of those was to hem three pair of pants for me.  I had some issues with my sewing machine and almost called Pam for support, but I got it worked out and everything is done, pressed, and hanging in the closet.  Also did the laundry, did a few errands, and went to the Commissary today.  Supper is done and the kitchen is cleaned up.  Almost time to shower and get all comfy and try to stay awake for some TV!

Les continues the battle of the moles.  Some days there is progress and some there isn't.  He just bought new supplies and also ordered something from Lehman's, the large - very large - hardware store in Ohio.  When it comes and we get it installed I'll take a picture.  Wish us luck!

Haven't heard from Pam but based on comments, posts, etc. it sounds like all is well there with her.

Jacquie has been working since getting back from Chris' mom's so I have not seen her yet.  But she says they are all okay.  Jordan took Cutie Girl to a Dino Pajama Jam at the Virginia Living Museum.  I have heard a good time was had even though it was crowded with a lot of kids.  But Jordan and Cutie Girl hung out in the aquarium area for a while where it was quieter and all was well.  There was even some dancing by Cutie Girl when the music got going.  And this picture is just too cute to not share!  Notice the dinos on the PJ's 😊  She loves the aquarium.

So, life is good!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Hooray! Rain!

Finally, we have gotten some rain!  It's been in the weather forecasts a few times, but never hit here.  Even with the sprinkler system, things were looking dry.  But last evening and during the night we finally got some rain.  Things look greener already!

Because of the rain Les decided to not play golf, so we are just "potting around" the house today.  Watched a movie, spent time on the computer, I did the usual stuff.  We went to Mission Barbecue for lunch and had some delicious sandwiches.

Pam sent us a belated anniversary gift of two lovely quilted pillow covers.  We love them!  My Mom always said it was nice to spread out special occasions.  😊

Life is good!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Ominous Horrors of Modern Technology

We went to see Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom yesterday.  Very good movie!  Love the dinosaurs!  But there is a message there - - - - - - just because you can do something does not mean you should.  I don't want to give away any spoilers but will say there is a lot to think about.  The next movie comes out in 2021 and I am anxious already!

Before the movie, we spent the morning doing some yard work.  Les got the mowing, and trimming done.  I got things swept/blown and cleaned up, pulled up a few weeds and filled the bird feeder.

And before that work happened, we dealt with an attack by a swarm of itty bitty ants.  ICK!  Usual area in the kitchen.  I discovered them while cleaning up after breakfast.  I keep things on hand and immediately sprayed and then cleaned.  Les sprayed the foundation outside and under the window. So far, so good.  The regular quarterly pest control visit is next month but I'll call sooner if I need to.

Our weather is pretty much the same, HOT and MUGGY.  There has been a "chance" of rain in the forecasts but so far we haven't even gotten enough to get things good and wet.  But maybe later today there is another chance.  We certainly need some rain.  Even with the sprinkler system things just look dry.

Jacquie, Chris and the girls are safely home and are busy catching up.  Jacquie is back to work.  Everyone is busy.  The Littles are happy to be back with their toys.  Jordan is getting ready for her next semester of classes.

Pam says everyone is good there.  Boxer and Bloomer got new glasses, first pair for her.  Both looked good and it won't be long before their school starts up again.  Still working on wrapping my head around high school for Boxer!

Life is good!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Happy July 4th!

Have a safe and happy day!  God Bless America!

Huh. Just Huh.

I hope everyone is having a good day today.  Some have probably started the middle-of-the-week holiday early.  So stay safe and be careful!

We had not been to breakfast in a while so I suggested we go this morning.  We headed to Byrd's and discovered they are closed today and tomorrow for the 4th.  We ended up at Poquoson Diner.  Nice people but they were short staffed and breakfast was not what I was expecting.  Oh, well.

We came home and I finished up the usual morning stuff and Les went to the "Y".  After he got back home we went to the shooting range.

Remember how several months ago I wrote about the antique gun that was Mom's?  And we had taken it to be repaired?  Bullets for the gun are not available easily because the gun is so old, and we had to order some.  We've had them for a while along with a "Groupon" for the Marksman shooting range, so off we went.  That did not go as planned either.  The young lady checking us in said we couldn't use the bullets, they don't allow lead on the range.  Air quality, pollutants, etc. etc.   The key thing is I have Mom's gun, it's been fixed, we bought bullets, and there is no place to try it.  Definitely disappointing.

The "Groupon" was for a rental and she was trying to be helpful and was very nice.  We ended up with a newer revolver to try.  Nice, but "no".  I shot five bullets and I was done.  It felt like I had broken my hand.  Les shot the rest of the box.  We have some alternate plans for next time.  As a side note though, out of my five bullets, I had two 9's, two 8's, and one was a warning shot off the side of target's head!  Les did a lot better.

So we came home, had some lunch, I've done some laundry, cleaned the floors, and caught up on the shows I slept through.  Les has gone to the chiropractor.

It's mid 90's and about 50% humidity today and the heat index is just wavering above 100.  Better than the 110 yesterday.  Still too hot for any yard work.  Yesterday I was out about 6:15 a.m. watering the flowers and filling the bird feeder.  Wanted to do it before it got too awful out there.  The heat and humidity seem to bother me more this year.  I'm blaming lack of gallbladder!  There is probably no connection but it sounds better than age.  😊

We have started watching the new version of "Lost in Space".  It is different.  I have already decided the children are smarter than the adults.

So, life is good, even with minor disappointments.  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Hey!

And WHEW!!  Or as Les put it, "it's Africa hot out there!"

I went over and took care of Jacquie's and Chris' garden.  Got everything watered.  Checked on the furry boys and they were good.  Had to email Jacquie and tell her they need to get something to treat "blossom end rot" on their tomatoes.  It's caused by a calcium deficiency and is treatable and then they will still have some good tomatoes.  Here is the one good tomato I picked this morning!

Les went to the golf course for a little while.  We are now both showered and inside with the A/C and fans.

The power is finally back on at Chris' Mom's house after the storm a few days ago.  They are spending the day cleaning out the spoiled food.  It is also very hot there.  Sounded like everyone was tired.

Pam says things are going okay there and everyone is busy.  School will start in a month for the kids!

There are probably a couple things that could be done outside, but they are not happening today.  😊

Stay safe!  Life is Good!  God Bless America!