I Like Thursdays: July 18, 2024

 

It's time for "I like Thursday" hosted by LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color!

We've been getting rain in the form of storms but some rain is better than none.  Tuesday's storms left our neighborhood a mess.  Many trees fell (some on houses) and our street was blocked by a tree until yesterday morning.  I think the trees are just bone tired.  Too much dryness and heat has left the trees vulnerable.  It's disheartening to see the trees like this but we do desperately need the rain.

I like that the temperatures are lower today and will be for a few days!  

I like taking Lucky for walks at various parks.  The other day we were at a local park that has a walking path outside the playground and sports courts.  This part of the park is fenced in.  Dogs are not allowed in the interior but welcomed at the walking path that surrounds it.

I didn't get a photo of this but I have to tell you that on Tuesday it was a fun walk.  There were two fawn and a mama inside the park.  All along the fence that surrounds the park, dogs stopped to watch the fawns who appeared completely unafraid of the dogs.  The dogs didn't bark at the animals--although their noses were madly sniffing.  It amused the heck out of me but surprised me that none of the dogs barked.  It was like the dogs were going to a special dog zoo and observing wildlife!  

Eventually, Mama deer collected her young-uns and left the park.

House sparrows are a real nuisance bird.  They chase other birds from the feeders and can be aggressive as well.  

Hughie loves watching the birds and feeding the birds but he's having a problem with the sparrows.  One day while he was at a grandchild's game, the sparrows did a number on his bird feeder.  He came home to find the above nest complete with some eggs.  I guess this is one way the sparrows will keep other birds from the feeder...but Hughie will NOT feed the birds again until he can dispose of the nest.  😂😂

This week's prompt is do we like to go to outdoor performances like concerts or plays.  When we were young, we would attend outside band concerts near my Nana's house.  Some local parks still sponsor concerts with local musicians.  I don't really care for going outside anymore.  Perhaps it's the heat this summer.  I just want to stay cool!

Wishing you a safe and happy weekend!

I Like Thursdays: July 11, 2024

 

Good morning and welcome to another addition of "I like Thursdays" hosted by LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color.

Well we got rain last night and that is something we are grateful for today.  It wasn't a whole lot of rain but it was enough.  Down at the park this morning, some of the paths are still full of water!

Lately a mother duck has been bringing her babies to the pond we walk by.  The ducklings love to play on the waterlilies and I get such a kick watching them! 

It's not a great photo but I was trying to be respectful.  Mother Duck was sitting on the side of the pond keeping an eye on everything.  Then we realized this is what she watching:

Blue Heron

Even Lucky was apprehensive about that big feller!

He decided to watch him from afar!

This week's prompt is what kind of beverage we like during the summer.  I drink water and occasionally lemonade.  I don't make my own lemonade anymore but I found one that is tart enough  and that is called Lively Lemonade by Tropicana.  

The temperature is pretty good right now so I'm off to the garden to weed.  

Have a safe and happy weekend!

Happy Fourth!

 

Have a safe and happy day!

I Like Thursday: June 20, 2024

 

Happy Thursday!

Well, it's "I like Thursday" again and time to express all that is right in our world.  For more posts, visit Lana at  Not Afraid of Color and check out all the participants.

This week we have a heat wave.  But fortunately, the mornings are tolerable in the shade and Lucky is enjoying his sprinkler pool most mornings.  He wasn't sure of it at first but now he loves the pool.  All our activities begin at daybreak (long walk) and then breakfast, visiting mom (we put the pool at her house) and she sits outside in the shade laughing at the dog.  Home before noon and time to hibernate.

I like that our Phillies are winning again!

This week's prompt from Lana is about camping.  Well I did plenty of camping growing up.  So did my husband.  That's why we prefer hotel accommodations! 

We were both members of the scouts.  I attended G.S. camp every summer, sometimes the overnight variety (2 weeks away from home).  Mostly I attended day camp (Monday through Thursday).  When I was a teenager, I worked at camp as young teenager.  My pay was $1/day.

On the weekends or when camp was over, my brother and I spent most of our time at our grandparents.

Anyway, it was fun but I don't miss it now.  I'd rather be comfortable 

Wishing you a safe and happy weekend!

I like Thursday: June 13, 2024

 

Good morning and welcome to this week's version of "I like Thursdays" hosted by LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color!

What are you grateful for this week?

I'm happy that Lucky is well on the road to recovery and even likes his prescription dog food.  It seems to be helping him.  He's even taking time to smell the flowers!

I like that the weather has been cool.  We haven't need to put on the a/c and I've gotten a lot of things done in the garden!  In the backyard, my trusty partner keeps the chipmunks and squirrels at bay.

I also finished reading this book:

I enjoyed parts of this book and other parts were just too detailed.  Anyway, I'm glad I finished it.

I haven't done much sewing this spring but I did work out the layout of the quilt I'm making for my neighbor!  It's a relief to know the set up of the quilt so I can finish the top (more on that later).

Lana's prompt for this week was do remember the beginning of the summer?  The best of the summer for my brother and I was being sent to my grandmother's for longer than a weekend.  Nana and Pop had 3 kids our age and lived in a nice neighborhood in a small nearby city.  Lots of kids, lots of games, and my sister-aunt was my best friend growing up.  We had carefree times there like kids should!

There was no structure to our days there.  No one had air conditioning and we could stay up as late as we wanted on the front porch.  One of my favorite things was swaying on the glider with my Nana.  Neighbors visited the front porch in the cool of the evenings and occasionally in the late hours, something exciting would happen.  Occasionally we would hear an accident on the main boulevard and once someone even drove into the drugstore around the corner (the driver was fine and I think he was drunk).

We didn't need much to make us happy back then.  They were great times!

Wishing you a safe and happy weekend!

Hello Again

 

Happy "I like Thursdays" to you!

It's been a long blog break due to family deaths, illness and other things that needed to be addressed.  I'm back and hope to visit all my favorite blogs now that things are slowing down.

I like Lucky.  We adopted a puppy from the local shelter.  He's a miniature poodle.  My husband named him "Lucky" because no one can believe he survived in our city without being hit by a car or attacked by another dog.  He's a handful and a little wild but during the last nine months, he's been a real comfort to the family.  I adore him and love being able to pick him up and pet him on my lap.  My mother and brother also love him and are always asking to babysit him.

Lucky at the pound, matted and underweight.

Lucky, master of the garden and anything else he wants.

Lucky's favorite person is my brother Jim who taught him how to play with toys.  Once Jim is around, Lucky ignores everyone and follows Jim everywhere--always prancing as he walks with a big smile on his face.

It's funny how such a little puppy can bring so much joy to an entire family.

Now for other things...

LeeAnna's prompt this week is do I feel as if I have to do anything all the time.  Do I have a problem relaxing?  

Well I'm older now.  The energy isn't what it once was and I've learned to let some of my standards slide as I get older.  The house is still acceptably clean and the garden chores are getting done.  But I'm taking things slower these days and giving myself more leeway.  

I like naps and Lucky tend to take one each day around 2 or 3 in the afternoon.  All I need is 30 minutes of a nap and I'm ready to go again.

Here is a saying I like very much these days:

Have a safe and restful weekend!

Blog Break

I'm taking a blog break while I care for my mom's dog Kerry.  Kerry was diagnosed with cancer last week (on her third birthday).  My husband and I are providing hospice for her at our home.  She is not in pain and enjoying what time she has left with us and her (our) many dog friends here.

Kerry 6 weeks ago.

I'm trying to keep up on my Pennsylvania Piecemaker blog but for right now, I need to take a break from the 3 poodles blog.  

Thanks a bunch for understanding.  

Have a safe and happy day.

I Like Thursdays: August 10, 2023

 

Good morning and happy Thursday!

I hope you are having a pleasant week!  It's time for another edition of "I like Thursdays" when bloggers share happiness and fill the internet with positive energy.  For more happy posts, be sure to visit our hostess LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color!

This week I like the power of love!  Many of you know that we are avid Phillies baseball fans.  This year has been a rollercoaster of emotions as our team surprises us at various times and other times falls short.  But there is a new member on our team, Trea Turner, who joined the team this year.  I told my husband I wasn't impressed with his work early in our season.  My husband retorted with Trea's stats from last year like I didn't know what I was relaying.  But hubby had been on the road and not able to watch the games.  As he recovered from surgery, he admitted, "Turner is the biggest disappointment this year."  The sentiment was echoed by our Phillies-loving friends.

And then something happened during last Friday's game.  The announcer relayed that the team had come together to give Turner support.  Someone (I think Bryson Stott) made Trea t-shirts and the team worked with him before the game commenced.  When Turner came up to bat, the whole team stood up and clapped and then the fans followed; the stadium (packed to the brim) began to clap; fans expressed love in a huge way (imagine about 39,000 folks there). 

 

Things didn't change much for Turner that night but the love continued.  My husband and I wondered if he felt even more pressure.  I have since read that fans even donated to Turner's cancer charity as a sign of support.

But Saturday, Turner came back.  He hit a home run that scored 3 points for our team.  The fans when nuts!  The standing ovation was so loud, we couldn't hear the announcers; the manager made Turner take a curtain call. and he waved his hat at the fans to thank them.  EVERYONE HAD GOOSEBUMPS!  Turner had a spectacular evening and it was so apparent from his body language and his facial expressions that he was a different man.  His game has been on point since then!

And Turner responded as well, posting huge billboards of his appreciation:

Sometimes things like this happen and it reminds me of how strong and important the power of love is.  It may have been just a baseball game but it's an excellent lesson for all of us.

I hope you have a week filled with the power of love!

I Like Thursdays: August 3, 2023

 

Good morning!  

It's "I like Thursday" and time to celebrate the good in life!  Each Thursday we try to post happy things on Thursday.  If you are in need of some positive energy, look up more of the posts by visiting LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color!

Things I like this week include residents in my garden.  I have a few baby bunnies living in the front and back yard.  My backyard bunny is smaller than a softball.  

My husband and I  love watching the hummingbirds and butterflies out back these days.  

We even had a very young hummingbird (no, not a hummingbird moth--we know the difference).  Anyway, the young hummer flitted about while Brad and I enjoyed watching it.  It was about 1.5 inches tall.  It was wonderful!

***

I took a day off....from everything last Saturday.  I can't remember when I had a day like this.  I didn't see my mom.  I didn't walk the dog (who is back at mom's).  I didn't even worry about cooking or cleaning.  I just stayed at home and didn't rush to care for everyone as I normally do.  I stayed in my pajamas for an hour longer than normal.  I said "yes!" when my hubby asked if he could make me breakfast.  I played in the sewing room and didn't make anything important.  I just played.   And then...I got another day off unexpectedly on Wednesday when my husband attended mandatory safety training at his company.   After we gave my stepson my car, we decided to only have one car and this is a benefit.

***

Every year we go through a summer ritual of cleaning debris off the back patio.  At first it is needles from the Cedar tree in early summer.  When then ends, the Arborvitae starts depositing seeds everywhere.  Either time the house becomes full of garden litter that is tracked in by us and especially my mom's dog.  It takes about 25 minutes to sweep the mess off the patio and 15 minutes later it doesn't look like we did anything at all.  My brother was over one morning and said, "You need a blower for this patio."  So I bought one and this week it arrived.  It's such a wonderful tool!  The patio is cleared in 3 minutes and I don't have to vacuum a few times a day.

I LOVE IT!  We call it "little Bess" because we love it so much!

***

Wishing you a safe and happy weekend!