Oh, No! Pumpkin Spice Has Returned!

Yes!  It is still August and Pumpkin Spice has returned for the Fall!  There have been many discussions about how it is too soon and too hot, but here it is.  Today is the day Starbucks brings it out.  I will not be having any though.  I like the smell; can't stand the taste.  It just does not sit well with my digestive system.  But for those of you who do love it - - - -Enjoy!

In other news, it's been cloudy and dark with off and on rain here.  It's cooled off a bit but the humidity is still high.  Sticky out there.

I have mentioned that I am starting the Fall cleaning.  Two rooms are all done and shiny, more to go!  I am pacing myself.  😊  And the outside chores are waiting until it is less hot, humid, and buggy.

School starts around here next Tuesday.  Then after the "Y" gets a good scrub and disinfecting, I hope to get back into a somewhat "normal" routine of going again.  Remember that the "normal" part is a moving target here.  (got to keep my sense of humor)

Please stay safe and take care of yourselves.  Life is great!  And God Bless America!

Hello, Again!

I hope everyone is well and happy!

We have had several thunderstorms this past week, but no more rainbows that I could see.  Les got the yard work done with some difficulty.  Our regular mower has gone in for repairs.  When Les went to start it, the cord broke.  He always uses it first for all the edges of the yard before he gets on the riding mower.  The repair shop called a couple times and said they would have to special order what they needed.  The mower is a good one that Les has taken very good care of, but it is over thirty years old.  Parts for it are not stocked or not available at all.  They will call when it is ready for pick-up.  But the yard is looking pretty good.  There are a couple areas that need work, but it is almost time for the yard guys to come to aerate and seed, etc. so that will help those areas.

Because of one medical thing after another, I never did get to the Spring cleaning that I usually do.  So, I have decided to get a jump on the Fall cleaning and started on that this past week.  I need to be always on guard against over-doing, so I am careful.  I decided focus on one area at a time.  Feels good to get some things done.  The outdoor chores on my "list" are going to wait until it is a lot cooler and less buggy.  But inside I am making progress!

Victor, one of our Geek Squad guys, came this morning and installed our new speakers and adjusted our sound system.  It is so much better now!  I am getting used to the way they look.  Our furry boys are getting used to the way they sound.  😊  Angus and Finnigan are giving the speakers a lot of "side eyes" every time they pass one.

Boxer and Bloomer are doing well adjusting to the new school year and they are keeping busy.  Cutie Girl will start first grade the day after Labor Day.  Shortly after that Little Miss E will start preschool.  And Jordan is starting her classes at ODU.

Someone told me I haven't posted kids' pictures in a long time.  So here you go!  Cutie Girl wearing her Godzilla mask while playing Minecraft and Little Miss E dancing in her dinosaur mask!

As always, life is good, even when we have things to worry about.  Stay safe and God Bless America!

The Week's Updates

Like I've said before, time moves fast.  But life is great!

I started out the week with my annual visit to the ear specialist.  The Audiologist said my tests this year were not much different than last year's results, with the exception of the highest frequency.  That was just a couple points better.  Go figure!  Unfortunately, that is not the frequency of Les' voice.  😊

We've had several thunderstorms and downpours this week.  One of those produced a beautiful double rainbow!

We needed the rain and everything in the yard is looking happier and greener.  It's been hot and really humid, and the ground is soft from the rain, so not much yard work is being done.  And these are all conditions that encourage the mosquitoes!  !#@^%&*!!  Also encourages the weeds.  We were backing out of the driveway earlier and I looked over and there was a huge weedy thing growing up out of the azalea at the corner of the porch!  It's gone now.  Put on my gloves and yanked it up when we got home.

I've kept up with the chores and household "stuff", done some errands, and gotten to the Commissary.

I have also had a check-up with my Ortho Doc.  He says keep doing what I've been doing and if I need him, call.  Said I knew where he was.  Yep.

This morning we had our Geek Squad guys come to check out the problem with our sound system.  These same guys have been here often to help us with set-ups and with problems, so I always request them.  Sadly, our large Bose speakers that Les bought when he was stationed in Dhahran in 1983 have died.  They had a good life.   Victor is going to email us some suggestions on which speakers to get and then they will come back.  In the meantime, they fiddled with settings after disconnecting the Bose units and the sound is better for now.  It's just  not the surround sound.

Stay safe, people!  And God Bless America!

And I'll close with a "smile".

Saturday Again....Already!!

My! How time flies!

Our week started out with a rainy Monday, so Les did not play golf.  Instead, we went to check out the new IKEA store that opened a few months ago.  Huge store, lots of stuff to look at!  Wear comfortable shoes and be ready to walk a lot.  We bought some towels.  Then went to Doumar's Drive-In for lunch.  Yum!

Tuesday was filled up with dropping off the MDX for service and annual safety inspection, going to breakfast, going to my PT and the "Y", picking up our MDX, and keeping up with other chores.

The rest of the week had a visit from our pest control guy to do the quarterly visit and keep the ants and spiders under control.  Another PT session for me with an evaluation.  I passed the tests and was released to now do the exercises on my own at home. So.. been there, done that, and got the tee shirt!  (really)  In just a couple more weeks the "Y" will calm down and not be full of loud camp children and I can get back to a "normal" routine.

I did some more yard work that needed attention and felt good about getting that done.  The yard looks better.  We had some rain, too, so that helped.  No matter how much the sprinkler system runs, it's always better to get some rain on things.

After I worked in the yard, I made sure the feeder was full for the birds.  They must have had a scout keeping an eye on things because by the time I was back inside and looking out the window there were several kinds of birds having snacks.  All were beautiful, but I love that we have started to have a blue bird visit now and then.  Picture was taken from the office window. 

The coming week has a couple doctor appointments and next Sunday a visit by Geek Squad.  The sound is going wonky on the TV.  Les checked all the connections and cables and everything seems secure.  The other TV in the bedroom is fine, so I set up a visit.

I hope all are well and happy.  Life is great!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Happy Birthday, Les!

Love you! XOXO

Happy Birthday, Garrett!

Have a great day!

Busy, Busy Week!

I hope everyone is doing well!  It's been pretty busy around here this week.

We started off the week finding out our dermatologist was closing up the practice.  Found that out when Les called to make an appointment.  He was offered one at their other location in Gloucester, but we are not interested in traveling over the Coleman Bridge for appointments.  So we found a new Dermatology Clinic.  Les has already been to see them and likes the doctor he saw.

I had PT on Monday and right after I got home I got a call from Walgreen's saying I needed to come in ASAP to get my second Shingrix vaccination.  That made a couple days of soreness and increased achiness.  Better now.

That same day we got license plates for our new TLX that we were not expecting, and that caused a trip to the DMV.  Les was okay with what they told him and eventually we will have our license plates where and how we want them.

We had a new back door installed.  Looks good and is very nice.  Really blocks out noise!

The shade is between the glass.  We really like it!  The board under the door on the outside will be painted gray to match the trim wrap.  But it is pressure treated wood and has to "age" or dry out or something for a while before it's painted. 

The computer started acting wonky and Les ran the needed update.  When that was done the printer wouldn't work.  He tried and tried but the computer just wouldn't recognize the printer so we bought a new one.  We had been warned recently by HP that the old printer might not be supported by Windows soon. 

I've been keeping up with the usual household chores and errands.  Today was a big Commissary trip, and everything is in and put away.  Some laundry is happening and that's about it for plans for the day.  I plan to sit and read for a while. 😊

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

Just a Funny!

😊