4th of July Preparations

We are hosting the family's 4th of July celebration. I love to host. It's a challenge with Nan not feeling so very well, but it's much easier for her to be home. As I've explained to her, we are not going to allow old age and infirmity to dictate whether we gather together. Period. The family is helping, of course. That's what families do.

Both John and I have been quite busy. If hosting, I wanted the steps to be painted...both sets front and side. We've been "spoken to" about our lack of a house number so John set about fixing that.

There! A house number and soon another larger one will be on the garage. This was a set that my sister purchased while she was here. Lucky for me, her house number doesn't match mine so I inherited.

I love astilbes. A lighter pink one hasn't yet bloomed and you can be assured that when it does, I'll be showing it.

This was my best deal of the past few days. I love having a tablecloth for the umbrella table. This one is a fabric, not vinyl, and the best part was that it was on sale for $2 at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. They had lots more and lots of variety. The cashier asked, "You understand that this has a hole in the center? Lots of people bring these back when they realize that." LOL!

Gotta have some bubbly at our party.

Just liked the "new" light on the fence this morning. Made the lobster buoys pop.

I made a teepee for the grands.

I apologize for being a bit ditzy about color coordination. It's not my strong suit. :D Now, I've got to get busy baking lawnmower cupcakes and tossing together a killer potato salad.

Hope that all your preparations are going very well! How are they going?

Moose

If you take a trip to M*oosehead Lake, you should get to see a moose.

My daughter did and shared her pictures.  Gotta love days like that.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

Happy Canada Day!

I had the most delightful surprise a few days ago when the weeds growing in an abandoned pot began blooming. They're not weeds at all, but petunias. Guess that they reseeded themselves from last summer's plant. Works for me

In a moment of serendipity last night, I found "O Canada" in one of my childhood books, specifically "The Bookshelf for Boys and Girls" Volume 4 called "Pictures, Stories, and Music."



O Canada, my country vast and free
Dower'd art thou by Nature lavishly.
All the wealth is thine of stream and hill,
Of forest lake and plain,
Thine the fruitful soil that freemen till
And treasure of the main.
O land beloved, whate'er betide
For home and Empire stand with God thy guide
For home and Empire stand with God thy guide

O Canada, no sordid dream beguiled
Thy pioneers to seek the forest wild
With devoted hearts and purpose pure
Their lives they gave to thee,
That thy broad domain, from foes secure,
Should Freedom's dwelling be.
O land beloved, whate'er betide,
For home and Empire stand with God thy guide,
For home and Empire stand with God thy guide.

O Canada, with boundless faith in thee,
Thy people hail thy glorious destiny.
May the circling years thy pow'r expand,
Thy sway and fame increase;
May loyal sons united stand
For brotherhood and peace.
O land beloved, whate'er betide,
For home and Empire stand with God thy guide,
For home and Empire stand with God thy guide.

I've not heard these words exactly this way; I soon learned that the anthem has undergone a few changes. I rather like these lyrics, though. Anyway, wishing all Canadians a very happy Canada Day!

Mama, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Tree Wranglers

Soooo, did you guess that the boleros went down because of this man? What? With all the clues that were there, too: sawdust, fallen branches, leaves in the background. Guess that we won't be calling you "Sherlock" any time soon. ;>

We've been chatting about opening up the tree canopy, John and I. Very easy for me since I wouldn't be up and down that ladder 79 times. Nor would I be climbing about in the treetops, swinging ropes, tying off ladders, moving ladders, getting chainsaws up and down ladders, cranking on tree limbs, hauling them away and all the other things that went into opening up our view to the sky.

As our neighbor was on vacation, John thought it a great time to do this knowing that we already had his permission and knowing that if he were home he'd want to help. John prefers to work alone as he feels safer.

Here's the story in mosaic photos...if you can take it. (Yes, John is an expert. People actually pay him to take down trees. I do hope that he'll not be doing this kind of work much longer, though. It's a rough job!)

Did you notice our friendly neighbor up there? No? I just knew that you're not quite ready for detective school. (He had arrived home the day before John started this chore unbeknownst to us. Ha! Some things are just too funny. I could read John's mind as Mr. Friendly Neighbor arrived to help.)

Ahhhh, yes! We can see the vultures wheeling overhead.

A gal's got to have some diversions. There are so many pictures that I took from the house that I'm not showing. I called it my "coward's view." Anyway, my "oh, look at thats" are 1. that tenacious poinsettia that refuses to give up the ghost though it's been tossed over the banking 2. a black butterfly perched on Claudi's hat 3. my *pumpkin muffin* ...when the going gets tough — eat!

There were only three casualties: the fence, the well house, and the boleros. I am praising God that my hubby is on terra firma.

And this is where we began yesterday morning. Only now, what remains of the lilies is right here brightening my kitchen windowsill.

One day soon, I'll share what my opened canopy looks like. Lots more sun and breeze, which is such a relief.

Happy Wednesday to you!

Sing

It was a rainy morning followed by an overcast day with oxygen-sucking humidity levels that would make a lesser woman tear off her clothes and jump in the river. You'll be happy to know that I exercised great restraint.

I've decided that my new word should be "sing."

When things don't quite work out — sing! Try it and see if it doesn't work. Report back.

For example, what if I told you that shortly after taking my header photo, my bolero lilies looked like this?

Sigh Sing! Check back tomorrow and I'll share all. Today, the hospital bed arrives and the whole house is upside down. La-la-la-la-la...

You have a happy Tuesday!

Rhubarb Custard Pie~Mosaic Monday

Hi!

It finally cooled down enough to bake the rhubarb custard pie I've been wanting to try for weeks. My apologies to all I've told that I was baking it. I lied. This was the first time I've made rhubarb custard.

The mosaic probably tells the story far better than words, but for my dear friend who needs words, I'll explain.

Top row left to right:

1. Spindly little rhubarb stalks

2. Pie crust made and chopped rhubarb inside

3. The custard filling is added

4. A lattice top...ohhh, fancy schmancy for me...oops, forgot the butter so added it atop the lattice holes

Second row two small photos:

1. Pie baked for 55 minutes total

2. The mess that remains on the pastry board

Third row two small photos:

1. Cinnamon swirls with leftover crust, but of course!

2. Ditto

Fourth row left to right:

1. Pie fresh from the oven

2. Pie picnic on the deck

3. An unattractive piece of pie waiting for sampling

4. John waiting for his cue

Middle Photo:

Hubby giving this pie two thumbs up, trust me! :D Isn't he a good boy?

If you'd like, you can find this recipe right *here.* We'll be keeping this one.

Again, many thanks to Mary @ Little Red House.

P.S. Comments are still off...enjoy those mosaics!

Nice? I Don't Think So...

A while ago now, a commenter said, "If you are as nice as you seem to be, you'll..." As nice as you seem to be? That was pretty surprising because if there's anything I try hard to do it's be real in this blog. I mean really, I ran over a detour sign just yesterday...on purpose!  Some of you have read from the beginning and I daresay that you haven't found me especially "nice." And, further, nice is not a word that I'd use to describe who I am.

If pressed to describe myself, I'd fall back on that old line so many Christians use: I'm just a sinner saved by grace. Though that mindset is the very one that has kept me focused on my sins for most of my adult life instead of on the Lord. What I'd far rather say is that I'm a new creature because of what He did on the cross for me. (It's just that I have so much evidence of that old nature. Needless to say, that former nature keeps me well reminded that I am anything but nice.)

This is what Bob George has to say about it in Classic Christianity: A Christian like this will never mature. He will never, as long as he is held in the bondage of guilt over a past sin, experience all that Christ has intended for us to experience through His indwelling life...Until you rest in the finality of the cross, you will never experience the reality of the resurrection. (used by permission of the author)

The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. ~Romans 6:10

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit. ~ I Peter 3:18

Let us grab hold of all that God has for us by recognizing the incredible price He paid once for all.

Many blessings this Sunday...

As always, Sunday comments are closed.