wouldn't want boredom to settle in.....

Phillip is visiting us for the summer. I didn't want him to get bored, he says he eats when he's bored. Wanting him to stay healthy, we embarked on a few projects around the house.  The first endeavor was actually his idea.  He noticed the poor wilted veggie bushes in the garden and said, "mom, you really need to shade that garden, you need a little greenhouse or something".  So off we went to the hardware store for some greenhouse supplies.  After perusing greenhouse kits online, we found them to be a little pricey, we stocked up on PVC pipe and connectors, to build what became a greenhouse lean-to.  It was coming along nicely, but we underestimated the power of the Oklahoma winds.

We have been back to the drawing board several times to remedy this wind and shade problem, we are still working on it.  Anyway, we moved on to painting around the front door.  It really turned out better than I hoped, brightens the area around the door nicely. 

So yesterday we decided to have a little fun with some booze infusion.  We added strawberries to the Jack....

added a little pineapple to the Vodka...

and made some pretty little bottles of what hopes to be some mellow tastin' cordials.

Stay tuned for the tasting.

Good Morning, everyone!

I love the mornings here in Oklahoma.  Everything still looks fresh and 'spring-like' and not wilted from the unrelenting heat of these hot and dry summers.  There is usually a cool breeze that lures you into a false feeling of 'oooh it's going to be a lovely day for working in the gardens'.  Before you know it the sun is overhead and the dryness of the heat and dust has made the earlier euphoria a daunting memory. 

 This is where I love to spend my mornings.  I call it my meditation garden.  It is a peaceful place to start my day with prayers, coffee and the drone of the morning bees at work doing their job of pollination.  Thank you bees, you are doing a wonderful job, I have beautiful tomatoes and bell peppers.

Hercules is usually on patrol, chasing the birds and exploring the garden.  He doesn't stay out as long as he used to, he is getting older and he does not like the heat.  He doesn't like the cold much either, he was traumatized by the big winter snow we had our first winter here.  Poor guy.  He does manage to find a turtle or two and he likes to dig for the moles that tunnel under the yard, but thankfully he hasn't caught one.  He would freak out if he ever did, no wait, I would totally freak out if he ever caught one.



Frick and Frack stopped by to say hello this morning.  They are usually looking for a handout since I will occasionally throw them a handful of birdseed when I fill the bird feeders.  Sadly I think Frick and Frack are on their way to bigger farms, or ponds, or wherever large ducks go to spend their golden years.  They are getting too big for their little pool and the owners are not willing to upgrade.  Actually we have all gotten a little used to their morning "Quacks, Quacks!"  It is usually early and it is outside Emily's window.  She used to complain about the train, now she complains about the ducks.  Welcome to the country Em.

I'm back in business.

It's been almost two years since I wrote a blog.  So much has changed, so much has happened.  I felt the tug and pull of sharing how my life here in Oklahoma has affected me, from new friendships to how this move impacted our family.  A lot of interesting feelings emerged and bubbled to the surface once we got here and settled.  It might not have been all wine and roses but it has been about Life.  Ups, downs, sadness and pain, to joy and the gift of many blessings, it seems we have experienced it all, and isn't that what life is all about?  We all go through it, and it's not perfect, but what a journey it is, this Life.  I hope to share some of this journey with you and you can get a feel for what it's like to live in this small town we now call home.