Friday

 It's been a busy day.  Something has pulled my chain all day long.  So here goes the day!

    Straw flowers starting to bloom.  My neighbor down the street allowed me to pick some last fall.                          I found the seeds in the flower and planted them this spring.  I love straw flowers. 

The first hour was all about getting up and getting going.  And then of course a garden check came along.  All seemed to be in place, but I knew the deer were visiting because their foot tracks were seen in various places.  There is always a clue. Neighbor Gina stopped in having just taken Wylan on a walk around the block.  Bill and Kathy were out again continuing their lawn spruce up job.   I pulled weeds and filled the garden cart with stuff.  Some watering happened.  Bill said we should look for rain tomorrow, maybe on their annual thank you party.  That happened last year but the rain didn't shut the party down.  There is a yearly thank you to friends and those who support Bill's endeavor to provide pure drinking water in third world countries. There are many more trips planned to Africa this summer. He will be in Kenya for the whole month of August.  Rain has been predicted here for the last four days of the weekend and so far, we've been dry.  I worked till lunch in the garden and on the patio plants.  

So pretty but waiting for more.  It would seem the bunnies have done more damage than I thoought.

The first thing I tackled in the afternoon was a blow out of the garage.  That hasn't happened for a while.  It's always a collection of leaves and twigs that blow in from everywhere.  That took a while and a big clean up shower for me happened when I finished that job. Hum. Is it finished or did I just quit. 

Then came a trip to the grocery with cake and ice cream and a few other things for visitors who are coming for the weekend. .  Then it was off to IU North for my monthly shots concluding with a stop at the drugstore.  The car stopped in the blown out garage and I was happy to be home again.  

                                    Cleome flowers are on the way.  The common color is purple.                                                              I'm hoping for a white or pink blooming somewhere in the garden.  

Yes, visitors.  Jared called last night asking if we would be home.  Of course.  We're home bodies.  So they are on their way tonight after work for the weekend picking up some extra camping things we won't be needing this year.  I'm happy the beat goes on for them.  The main item is the dining fly that we have used for all of the years we camped and was given to us by Doug's uncle, the second year of our camping life after he was finished using it.  It's a favorite item other camping folks look for at Fort Wilkins. The word is...they are back when we have used it.  The next generation of grandsons will be using it on their camp site.  That's a three-generation item.  The material has got to be tough to last for more than 60 years of camping in total.

                                            Another beautiful fern that gets some afternoon shade.                                              A lot of burned Hosta leaves made it to the garden cart this morning. 
And yes, the weekend will include the best ever birthday party just with the two sons and their wives.                          ALL five grandsons are AWOL.  Just gone! Yes, all of them off doing other things.                            I'm surprised it hasn't happened before. 

Around 4:30 Doug reported two baby deer in the path around the patio.  Sure enough those two little spotted creatures were just nosing around.  

                                                    There is big ears number one.

                          And then along comes number two.  They are a big gray hound dog size.                                                              Every once in a while, we see a number three, the same size.                                                                                         I think a baby from another mother. 

                    Neighbor Gina saw three young bucks walking down the road a few days ago.

So, the sweeper is getting a run, and we are ready for a great weekend.  The refrigerator is full.  Anticipation is high.  Another blessing beyond measure.  How sweet it is. Blessings abound.