Friday is here

Not really a big deal when you are retired. Someone asked if I like being retired....After working many years, many years of an alarm clock telling to get up and get ready to be someplace all day then the driving to and from said place.... of course I like being retired. I did enjoy it better with My Denny being around, but I am making adjustments..... right AnnB? Yesterday I had a wonderful long conversation with cousin AnnB. It was by accident…. glad that I am not the only one learning to be a modern women with new phones at "our age". It started because when she was entering my new number in her phone somehow she hit the call button so of course we had to chat. Lots of laughs and a loving talk as cousin can do. We may have 2,519 miles between us but the chat was like we were sharing a cup of coffee. It is our generation that is up now. Of all the cousins I am (of course sis Lyn and The Brother Alan) the only one with a parent left.... and she is an in-law. Ann leads us with me coming in third age-wise. Of the twelve of us, 2 are now gone leaving 10 of us.

The baby Doves are doing well. Now that they are moving about, the parents leave them so they can get more feeding time for them. One day they will be too big to stay in the Clock Nest.....
Laundry is swishing and more to do. I have not gone into the garden yet...need to water the Plumeria and herbs. Due the fact that I received an injection in my right ankle yesterday and can not risk a site infection with the dust and such., sweeping the garden will wait. Yesterday was the Foot/Ankle doctor. He is a nice man who was quite attentive and gentle...key word. I did not even realize that the needle and med was injected until he applied the band-aid! My kind of Doc! While waiting for the x-rays ad exam, one of the nurses and I talked ...she is from Rhode Island too! So it was fun reminiscing about the place and who we know...in RI everyone knows everyone...almost everyone is related to someone you know. The diagnosis, is my ankle is full of arthritis …. which is part of aging. I return in 2 weeks to see how this injection helps or not. That about covers what is going on here. No plans for the day....and I like it! I think reading would be nice.
Thank you for stopping by and for the kind words and most of all your friendship.
***An Update on EvaP the mom.... she is out of hospital in in re-hab. So far all is well.

Another tatted snowflake

The doors are open.... for now. The temp will be hot soon but I cannot resist having the doors open early in the day. The breeze is beginning to ring the Buoy Bell and the chimes a bit more so  the umbrellas will stay closed. Laundry is finished but not the housework. The Faery Cleaners once again skipped my house. So, I plan to meet up with Bissell and Swiffer and get it done myself.
First, meet Lynn.....

again a snowflake from Jennifer Williams book. This may be the last for now as I want to make a beaded bauble and of course want to try a Wire Wrapped Cabochon. Both projects require a few more supplies. I think since I will be out to the doctor on Thursday I will stop at Jo-Anns to see if I can get them there. So glad my hand is cooperating. Now we just need the ankle to behave.
All is well in the garden area. My herb pot is not on the watering system... yet.... so I must remember to get out there daily to give it water. So far so good. I do not mind the various birds who stop by the pond to bath or drink but I really wish they would take the feathers they drop with them when they leave. Tomorrow will be skim the pond day. For the rest of this day I will read and relax. I was not having a very good day yesterday when The Brother Alan gave me a call just at the right time. After a chat and a few tears (my tears) I felt much better. Later we Skyped and that too was a nice way to end my day.

Miss Lady Bug is sitting in the white chair for the season. I miss seeing ladybugs in the garden.... never have I seen them here in Arizona. In a way that is a good thing because they are usually around when plants have mites. I do plan on getting a rose bush when The Brother Alan returns in September and that may bring the mites. Not to think about it yet.
Recently, Lisa sent me a picture of herself at a riding lesson. She takes English riding lessons....

Her instructor took this lovely photo in almost complete silhouette. I won't mention that she recently had a tumble off the horse..... bad Lisa tried to get him to take a jump but he decided it was not to be. Just a few colorful bruises for Lisa and probably snickering form the horse. I would suggest the next time she wants a horse to jump....did I tell you that the jump was only about 12 inches... the horse should be asked first!
Glad to have you visit with me and thank you for your kind words and most of all for your friendship. 

Busy hands

The hotter temps are returning...guess the cool down is over. By next week these 90s will become the 100s again. So I decided to get a few plants ....

Added to my Geraniums out front a bright yellow African Marigold and a welcome flag. The rock is new to the garden.

Toward the front of the garden is mixed Celosia. Just some color to fill the pots. This area is newly planted with a few grasses also the hopefully will begin to grow and fill out the area a bit.
I also planted in the back garden...

a new cherry tomato plant and herbs; basil, lemon thyme and Italian oregano. I prefer to have the tomato during the winter when the temps are not so hot but sometimes it does well at this time of year....we shall see.

I found this Southwest flag for the back garden....
I cut back the Penstemon and have the pods to dry for seeds. They do reseed themselves anywhere they like but I thought a few seeds to add here and there.
On Friday I went for an individual class for wire wrapping a cabochon....

I had wanted to wrap it in silver but the teacher who supplied the wire did not have silver with her. I think it looks good anyway. Now to try one on my own. I also want to learn to wrap a stone differently, more like freeform wrapping. Now that I have the basic lesson I will check out U-tube for directions...this was the only wire wrap class she teaches.
How about a reveal?

I found a moment when the parent left so I could take the picture. They are about a week old...I think. I just happened to see a little head pop up before I took the picture. Once they are about a week old the parents can skip away for a bit. If this season is like last year, these parents will continue to nest here for a few more times.
I have been tatting! That will be tomorrow's show and tell. For now, this is what has been going on around here. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words. Most of all thank you for your encouragement regarding my last post. Your friendship means so much. Off I go now to do.... not sure what but something.