How the bright sun shone...

It always surprises me, this bright color of green when the sun shines through the leaves of the tree outside my kitchen window.  No photo can replicate the subtleties of shadow and glossy surface.

Quite often, my kitchen window is my favorite view of the world outside.

A jumble of thoughts on a busy week...

1.  The "Carry On" posters have been everywhere for the last few years...a bit too much popular fad for my taste...but came across this one recently, and the small print gave me a chuckle.

2.  This week is kicking my booty.  I will be VERY glad when one special person gets back to work from maternity leave (that is so selfish of me, because I know how hard it is to leave a sweet baby with a new sitter situation) and another empty staff position is filled.

3.  Added to my crazy schedule this week was Carey having some outpatient surgery yesterday.  We had to be up very early to get to the city on time (right at rush hour I might add), and ended up choosing a route that completely backfired when we came to a low place in the road with fast moving water flowing across it.  Had to turn around and take alternate route.  More storms expected tonight, so the flooding is probably not over.

4.  Speaking of floods...so much destruction and heartbreak nearby.  Prayers for the lost and those who love them.  Prayers for the searchers.  Prayers for those mucking out the mud.  If you have never cleaned up after a flood, the smell...oh the smell.

5.  Must add that Carey is recovering very well, in honor of which I think I should order this: 

image credit: keepcalmandcarryon.com

In memory and appreciation...

left to right: Uncle Red (Raymond), Dad (Gene), Uncle John

I phoned my sister last night, and she said she was looking through a box of old photos for a copy of this one to post on Facebook for Memorial Day.  Since I had it scanned and filed on my computer, it was easy to help her out.

It's such a great photo of my dad (middle, Army) and his two brothers (Navy) in their WWII uniforms standing beside my grandparents' house.  They were all able to be home at the same time before reporting for their assignments.  It speaks to me of what our service members fight and sacrifice for: home and family.

They were lucky.  They all made it home again.

Today we honor the memory of those in all wars who haven't, and honor all who serve and sacrifice.

Girls gone mild...

 We switched out girls yesterday.  Beau came and picked up Chloe and dropped off Caitlyn.

Caitlyn and I went to a late lunch with her Uncle Jared, then stopped on the way home at a new popcorn store that we have both been curious about...so many flavors!  Other than that we spent a pretty quiet time at home.

She did some more sewing on a project we started awhile back.  It had been awhile since we had worked on it, so she needed a bit of help at first, but then got on happily and finished up on her own all that I had pinned and marked for her in advance.

We took a couple of photos, as I had promised her great-grandmother.  I like this one, because it shows the dimple in her chin that she inherited from her mother (who inherited hers from her dad), and because she looks rather mischievous.

I thought Carey's mom would like this photo better, so it's the one I put on a card for Caitlyn to write to her.  Both girls really write quite sweet notes to her, and I'm proud that they have developed the skill of letter writing.  That it continues to earn me daughter-in-law points with their great-grandmother is nice too.  :)

Now her mama has come to pick her up, so the house is quiet, and the laundry is screaming to be sorted and the first load put in the machine.  Since there is a howling thunderstorm keeping me housebound, I have no excuse not to get right on it.

She's a doll...

...of course, I may be  just a little partial.  :)

School's out for a long weekend, so the girls wanted to take turns spending the night at Grandma's.  Chloe had first dibs.

 I promised Carey's mom I would take some photos while the girls are here.  I love this one of Chloe on the sofa, snuggled into a pile of stuffed animals and Raggedy Anns.

And since I always aim to have the girls write a letter to Carey's mom while they are here, I used the photo to make a card for Chloe to write and send.  It's written, enveloped, addressed, and stamped.

Now it's almost time to switch one girlie for another.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

I finished last week's book a couple of hours ago.  Though it started well, it finished poorly.

If anyone is ever interested, I always put a very short review of each book I finish on my Reading List page of the blog.

Next up I will be reading...

The Jump-Off Creek by Molly Gloss

I've read another book by this author this year, and I rated it 10/10.  I'm heading back for another by her as I'm in the mood for something engaging and lyrical, which is how I remember the previous one.

Tales of the old goat...

image credit: Bing clip art

Responding to something on television or a menu (I can't remember the exact setting) my husband stated, "That sounds really good, except for the goat cheese."  

me:  You're just saying that because you're prejudiced against goats.

him:  No, I'm not.

me:  You've eaten goat cheese and liked it, I say.

him:  No, I haven't.

me:  The tortellini salad I make has feta in it.

him:  I know.

me:  Feta is goat cheese.

him:  Mm-hmm.

me:  You like the salad.  

him:  All except the goat cheese.

These conversations with him are frustrating.  He's easy to feed, because he's always grateful and complimentary...to the point of me not knowing that he doesn't like something.  

It makes me a little crazy.  

Thirty.  Nine.  Years.