Perfect Weather!

Why can't everyday in summer feel like today?  Its a high of 75 and breezy.  I'm so jealous of San Diegans.  I hear its an average 75 there year round.  I sure hope they understand how good they have it.  It should be in the 50s tonight.  Maybe I can talk hubby into a fire. 

Ah, I opened the screen door to let the breezy morning air fill the house.  This is my opportunity to take a walk now before the muggy, heat is sure to return.  I left Sammy at home and off Ethan, Fenway and I went.  Along the way we always pass this area of Queen Annes Lace also known as "Wild Carrot".  It looks so pretty and actually smells like carrots.  Have you heard the story behind the flower's name Queen Annes Lace?     Queen Anne was known for making delicate lace and she pricked her finger and a drop of blood landed on the lace.  If you look at the center of most of the blooms there is a purplish or reddish dot in the center.  Something I didn't know until lately was that it is actually edible.  According to ediblewildfood.com 

I also passed this at our next door neighbors house.  Pretty sunflowers huh?  We can thank the local birds for taking some of the sunflower seeds from our bird feeder over to the neighbors yard.  They randomly grow in our backyard as well.  A nice by-product of taking care of nature.  I'm sure the neighbors don't mind either.

My walking buddy today.  I left him off his leash since he does so well.  Poor Sammy, he is probably unhappy we left him at home.

The start of another rather expensive pitcher of tea.  Looking forward to a tall glass of it tomorrow.   Cold brewing really is the way to go.  No cleanup involved.

Chris brought this little wireless speaker home from work the other day.  I didn't hesitate to find a use for it.  If I haven't shared this already, I'm a huge Jazz lover, well that and classical.  Basically any relaxing music genres i.e. zen, chill etc.  I like that it is wireless, so I put my iPhone on the XM app and enjoyed some relaxing Jazz while I fixed tonight's dinner.

Little man was feeling pretty mellow today.  So we captured his little footprints.  I kind of fudged the left foot a bit so it now looks like he has six toes.  Oh well.  I used some non-toxic ink sheets I got off amazon and they did turn out pretty good.  The ink doesn't come off as easy as the instructions say though so he looks like he's ran around on asphalt all day.   I've been meaning to get back on Pinterest and find the salt dough recipe to make some foot and hand impressions.

Off for another stroll.  Happy Hump Day!

Dirt Diggin' Kind of Day

It's a play it by ear Sunday.  I wasn't feeling the greatest this morning so we slept in for a while.   Since it is another smokin' hot day, outside activity will be limited.  A couple new magazines came in the mail yesterday so I thought I would relax and do some reading.  I have such ADD though when it comes to magazines.  They get me so motivated with all the awesome healthy recipes or personal journeys of weight loss related topics but unfortunately the sparkle is short lived.  I really should force myself to follow through.

One thing I have been asking Chris to do for a while is fill the bird feeders.  I would do it myself but when he first constructed the bird feeder stand he made it way to tall for me.   He really came through for me.  Not only did he fill them, he put some concrete at the base to stabilize it and also shortened the pole so little ole me can do it whenever I feel the need.

The funniest part of this was his first stomp of the shovel, it bent.  The scoop area of it, as if it was made of aluminum or something.   We just bought that thing too.  That's the thing about this area is the amount of rock in the ground.   Anyways, he was able to bend it back and finish the job. 

It looks great now.  We usually have boatloads of yellow finches, robins, blue birds, tufted tit mice, all kinds of wood peckers and many others I can't remember the names of.  

Why stop at the bird feeder.  While he was feeling active, I thought maybe he could chop up that limb that fell in our backyard early this spring after a storm went through.  Oh and if you look hard enough, you will see a little Gussy hanging out in the grass.

I shouldn't have opened my mouth because he said he didn't have a chainsaw to do that.  After a long, drawn out explanation of how we would benefit from one, I caved and told him to get one.   Okay so I thought he would pick one up sometime this week on his way home from work.  Nope, he shot straight up and said he was headed to Lowes.  

He was so excited up until he ate dinner and passed out on the sofa.  I guess the limb can wait another day.  

I did make a decision on the stroller last night.  We didn't make the trip to St. Louis to test them out so I am going solely on the reviews and research I did.  I purchased the UPPAbaby G-Luxe Umbrella Stroller.  It should arrive on Wednesday and I am so excited!  The great part about this particular umbrella stroller is that it has a full recline and can accommodate a child from birth to 55 pounds. 

Off to get a work-out in tonight.