Sunday Evening

This time tomorrow, I'll just be getting home from WORK !! (Perish the thought) The week of vacation really flew by, why can't the work week go that fast?  On Friday, my grand daughter and I had a very nice lunch at a quaint little place downtown.  The food is very good and the service is fantastic.  Yesterday, was her official 13th birthday party, complete with pizza, cake, ice cream, balloons and of course birthday presents. 

Today it's cooler and there's rain from time to time here in the Pacific Northwest. At least the lawn and all my plants are getting watered without any assistance from me. I've made a big pot of vegetable soup so will have it for dinner tonight and lunch the rest of the week.

The picture I've included was taken in my yard.  The hydrangea is from a  branch I cut off a friend's plant a couple years ago and just stuck in the ground.  It's finally got one bloom on it.  I spread some ashes around it from my wood stove and it has turned a nice blue color.

My thoughts and prayers continue to be with the people of London, who were savagely attacked on Thursday.  And also to those folks in the path of hurricane Dennis, many of whom have not finished rebuilding from the damage done to their area last year. 

The following was in the program at church this morning and I thought I'd share it with those who read my journal.

"Life is not about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce."               -Anonymous

Friday, last day of my vacation

Well, today is the last day of my vacation.  I did not go to any exciting places, other than a movie one evening.  It was one of those weeks where I was just home (maybe pretending to be retired ?!?)   Working in the yard, the house, getting ready for a carport sale on July 22nd & 23rd, you know ...one of those kind of vacations.  By the way, the movie I saw was "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and it was great.....absolutely a chick flick for chicks of all ages.  Today, I take my grand daughter to her birthday lunch.  Then tomorrow is the party...then her birthday week will be over for another year.  In the local newspaper today there was an article about an interesting website, so I thought I would share it.  It is; http://emilie.halgatewood.com/yawn.html

The idea here is to watch the pictures on this website and not yawn.  The paper called it a "physical challenge."  Well, I didn't yawn, maybe it's because I had just been up about an hour when I checked it out.  So go ahead and have fun with it and see if you can keep from yawning when you watch Emilie yawn and yawn and yawn.  Oh my gosh..I just yawned !!

 

London England

My thoughts and prayers go out to those injured in the horrific afternoon attack on the innocent people going about their business in London. Also, to the families of those who have perished in this vicious attack.  The cowards who have done this are so sick....they only attack those who want to live a peaceful life. May they be found quickly and brought to a swift justice. 

The day after....something to think about

Something to think about the day after July 4th.

Have you ever  wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. 

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. 

Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

 

What kind of men were  they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but  they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the  penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader saw his Ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of  Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and  Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire.  The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember:  Freedom is never free!

 It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball games.

Monday evening, July 4th

I've always disliked the date of my birthday (Jan 4th) right after the holidays and so easy to forget because everyone is all partied out.  When my mom was alive, she always made a big deal out of it.  She loved to celebrte birthday's anyway and I guess I got that from her.  After she passed away, I kept wishing that I could change it to a summertime date....hey maybe the 4th of July instead of the 4th of January. So back in the late 1980's I started celebrating my half birthday on July 4th.  The lady I worked with at the time thought it was a great idea and for several years, she would give me a half of a birthday card every year at this time.  The last 10 years or so, another co-worker has sent me a whole birthday card but always writes a "half birthday" greeting on it.  Well, 13 years ago today, something wonderful happened.  I got a half birthday gift at about 11am on that rainy 4th of July, 1992.  This special gift was my grand daughter, Meghanne.  To make it even better, she's blond and blue eyed like me.  Her mom and dad both have dark hair as does her older brother.  When she was little she'd say "I have "laa low" hair like my grandma.  Anyway, I want to use this opportunity to wish Meghanne a very happy birthday.  She's a very sweet girl and I'm proud to be grandma to her and her brother, Harrison.   Happy birthday Meggy..I love you !!   And Happy 229th Birthday to the USA !

Sunday Morning

Especially for us here in the U.S.A  I include this in honor of Independence Day... July 4th (thanks to a co-worker, Jan , for sending it to me.)

Click on the skyline above Statue of Liberty.  Nice way to celebrate.  Not dangerous, quiet and no litter!
Have a wonderful Fourth.....
(just click on the letters below)

Lady Liberty Fireworks

Saturday Evening

Well, this morning at least one of the baby birds left the bird house.  This is what I observed.....mom & dad came with food over & over again for one little bird.  It was sitting on the opening of the house the whole time.  After many trips with food from his folks, the mom & dad flew over to a near by branch of the cedar tree and the baby followed.  Eventually, it flew away.  Then mom & dad did the same thing with another baby.  I wasn't home long enough to see if it also flew away but will be able to tell in the morning if the bird house is now empty. I wonder if mom & dad birds feel the same when their babies leave the nest as human mom & dad do.  It's been awhile since my "baby birds" left the nest but I don't remember being exactly happy about it.                         

 I got so much done today, I couldn't believe it.  But of course I was gone from 10:30am until almost 4:30pm.  Sunday will be a busy day again.  The church I attend is having their annual picnic after the morning service.  Based on the first letter of my last name, I'm supposed to bring dessert.  I got a yummy looking peach pie at Costco today, so I'm set.  A friend and I made the "sample rounds" at Costco.  They had some yummy stuff.  Who said there's no free lunch ??    Until next time.      Linda

P.S.  One of the things I did today, was go back to my local library  to check out the books that are for sale.  Today I got 8 books for $6.00.  Some are like new, what a deal huh?  I feel like a squirrel gathering nuts for the winter.