where has the week gone???

I can't believe I have written anything since Tuesday. I have been super busy at work and working long hours--a good thing for the money but stressful to me. Wednesday night Sandy and I went to Holland for a play "Suds" which was great. Part of Hope College's Summer Repertory Theatre. It was downtown at the Knickerbocker Theatre. We ate dinner at Kollen park First--a nice night.
I have been busy every spare minute removing stuff from my old computer so I can set up my new one. A huge job as I have a lot of digital photos, art work and digital supplies. I finally finished it tonight and now I am using my new computer. I have a lot to load on yet but at least I can use it and get on Internet.
I mowed the lawn today--had to wait until afternoon because it rained really hard about 6am. Also clipped flower heads and fertilized. Hot and humid today but a nice breeze.
I have been quite upset about Alex my cat as he has been losing weight although he eats and is quite active so I took him to Vet yesterday as he needed his yearly shots anyways. Well since he is an old cat--age 13, it could be diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid or cancer. No sign of his previous cancer. I have to wait until Monday to get results of lab and urine tests done. It is so hard to know what to do and I find it difficult to let go--he is such a part of my life and so lovable.
We will see--I just want him to be comfortable and happy.
I need to set up a printer and scanner yet so I can scan some projects I have been working on.
I even made some cards this week to send out.
We made our flight reservations to go to Arizona in September--also registered for conference and reserved hotel rooms for that. We plan on driving to Grand Canyon and also doing a sunrise balloon ride-one of my dreams.

summer!!!!

It has been very nice for past few days--sunny, warm but not too warm, breezy--perfect. Too bad I have to work but I do enjoy it in the evenings.

I just got done mowing the lawn and watering everything. The beans in the garden are all blooming and zinnas and glads are all coming up. We had to put the big cages on the tomatoes they are so big
The flower of the day in my gardens are lilies--all kinds. They are the absolute easiest and most beautiful to grow. They come in all colors and come up every year. I try to plant more each year.

Here are a few pics of mine......

Fireworks!!!

Fireworks in Kentwood on the 4th

catch up time

Kyle and Emory


feeding ducks at Kollen Park

Grandma Rose and Emory

Abby, Phyllis, Dianne and Molly

Abby, Dianne and Molly

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Friday evening cookout

Miss Abby

Steve and Molly

Grandma and Molly

Barb and Molly

Emory

Feeding pygmy goats at the zoo

Lynn and Abby

Abby meets Molly

Wow last weekend was so fun and I posted about before but now I have a bunch of pictures. I posted a bunch on facebook if you want to see more. We had hot weather and sun so no could be outside

Steve, Sara and Molly were home from AZ so we all got together along with my Mom , Kyle, Stacey and Emory

This week has been busy with work, went to a play at Hope College on Tuesday night called "Room Service" a screwball comedy. It was good but different.

I ended up working on Friday which was official holiday for hospital which was nice as it was quieter and I got a lot done.

Yesterday on the 4th, my day started with breakfast at Bob Evans with Sandy. I then went home and weeded my roses and put on mulch that has been sitting in my garage. I then continued to weed all my flower beds. sandy came over and worked in our vegetable garden. Our tomatoes are getting so bid we had to put bigger cages on them.

-Sandy went home to mow lawn and I cleaned up and monkeyed with my new laptop. I went over to her house and we grilled dinner--- T-bone steak, corn on cob, potato salad and applesauce. we just relaxed until time to go to Kentwood's fireworks--another great display--took pictures and will post shortly.

Now today i am catching up and getting things done as it is back to work tomorrow

Happy 4th of July

I have a lot of catching up to do Finally got pictures from last weekend off camera. Trying to get new computer set up and learn Vista Actually I like it a lot so far.
Hopefully will get caught up with pictures by Sunday. off to bed now as I am going out to breakfast early. The reason is so that I am up and get started with yard work when I get home!!! Ha Ha At least I mowed the grass already.

Fun weekend

Wow I have so much to say, I don't know where to start.
Last week remained hot and humid so air conditioning was nice and a necessity !!!
We had a fun weekend--it all started when Phyllis and I met Dianne, Lynn and Abby at the airport (coming from MN) and went back to Phyllis' house to get settled and for some lunch. It was so fun to meet Abby age 18mos and re-connect with Dianne and get to know a grown up Lynn. I felt an immediate family connection to all 3 of them. We sat around, talked, laughed. shared stories, and watched Abby play. Stacey, Kyle and Emory came along with Sara and Molly then we got Mom, Sherwin went to get Steve from his 10 day police certification class. we had burgers on the grille and ate outside--it turned into a pleasant evening. Before we knew it, it was time for bath and Abby to go to bed. We took Mom on home and I went home to sleep.
Saturday, Sandy and I arrived at Kuiper residence at 830 for breakfast-lots of more good food. We then all went to John Ball Park Zoo. we took along Steph and her friend Jess also. It was pretty hot but we managed to see new monkey island, chimps and new lion habitat. One of the female lions sat on a rock right in front of the window--very cool. Abby got to Pet the pygmy goats and go to the petting zoo.
Sandy and I then went home as we had lawns to mow and yard work that needed to be done. Phyllis took the others home for lunch and then to Grandma Rose's house to visit. Heidi and Kelli and their kids stopped by also to see Dianne, Lynn and Abby. We all met back at Kuipers and went in 2 vehicles to Kollen Park in Holland for a picnic. It was a perfect evening--not too hot and sunny with a little breeze. We just hung out there. Abby got to feed some ducks and we just talked. Dianne introduced us to a olive spread which we then put on everything!!!
Sunday I went over to Kuipers to visit and look at photo albums. Stacey, Kyle and Emory had come in from the lake where they were camping for the day. We got to hear all about Emily and all the details about her death and what they have been doing since. We all loved to hear this and be part of her live and theirs. We took a ton of pictures of course.
Phyllis made a big Sunday dinner with beef kabobs and bar-b-g chicken and all the fixings. We were going to watch Emily's DVD but Lynn brought an empty case so no DVD--sounds like something I would do. We just hung out until it was time to go to the airport then Phyllis' dropped them at airport and I took Mom home. I was tired when I got home but a very happy
tired--so much fun, laughter, tears and sharing in such a short time. Phyllis and I are making plans to visit them sometime.
Today was back to reality and to work--usual busy Monday and now tonight, just as I finished sprinkling, it started raining!!! Much cooler now too.
Other big news is that I got my new laptop so need to get it all set up and learn how to use Windows Vista. It is a very cool purple!!!
I need to get some pictures off my cameras and post them soon

Hot Hot Hot

It has been so hot and humid the last few days--92 degrees when I left work today. Monday night I did a bunch of stuff for my Mom then came home and mowed the lawn--thought I was going to melt away from sweat. Tuesday night Sandy and I picked up Chinese food and took it to Judi and Sue's house and we ate with them on their deck. It was hot but shaded--we did end up in the air conditioning. We stopped at Lowes on the way home and I bought some new lilies and a new plant called Lollipop Gerbera--very cool. Need to plant the lilies now.
Tonight we went to Sam's Club then I came home and watered garden and flowers, made a big batch of fresh salsa for our company this weekend and got caught up on newspapers, etc.
The lilies are starting to bloom along with continued bloom of the roses. My zucchini in a pot on the deck has a bloom!!!
I am hoping it is a little cooler when Lynn, Dianne and Abby come visiting on Friday--makes for a more pleasant time for people like me that sweat a lot!! LOL

Babies, rain, and sunshine

I finally got to meet Miss Molly Anne from Arizona the other night along with her parents of course. I took a few shots. She had just got up from a nap and Sandy got to feed her while I held Emory.....

Molly and Sara

Sandy and I playing "Grandma"

Of course Emory was a cute as ever....

Thursday night into Friday, we had lots of rain, etc. It dried out during the day Friday and last night came back worse than ever. It rained for hours with constant lightening and thunder-one storm after another. It seemed to be lighter after 11pm. I was worn out by then. I ended up with a huge pond out back but thankfully my basement stayed dry. The garden was under water at one end but looks fine today. At least I don't have to water for a few days.

Today it warm and humid but very breezy.

Happy Birthday Alex!!!

My oldest cat Alexander turned 13 years old today. He got his birthday because I rescued him on this date and he was about a year old so he has been with me 12 years. According to Sandy he is a perfect cat and he has his moments but he was quite a stinker when he was younger. His favorite thing to do was run very fast and dive into a large plant I had --a Hawaiian Schefflera. After quite a bit if that, the plant didn't look real good or survive. He came to me when I had lost Stormy and just had Nicholas and we both were lonely and sad. It took a while for Nicholas to became friends with him but they did. Then I got Max 11 years ago and because he is such a naughty cat, Alex looks perfect!!!

His favorite things are sleeping, sitting on laps, sleeping, playing with twist ties, sleeping, etc. He occasionally has to show the other cats who is boss but is very tolerant and will go for a good belly rub. He likes people and if not sleeping will be out to visit.

He has white on all four paws and on belly.

He had surgery this past winter for a cancerous tumor on his leg and so we cherish every day

with him.

What a great cat!!!

Roses and peonies

I put a new picture up of the side of my house where I grow most of my roses--almost all are blooming or at least have buds--a sight to behold on a June day. The peony is in full bloom also

These pictures were taken at different times in the day .....

We had a lot of rain Friday night into Saturday morning so everything is lush plus no extra watering. The vegetable garden is looking a lot better with all the beans up and tomatoes improving. It looks like most of the zinnias are coming also. The glads were started late so nothing yet--we have more to plant.

All the flowers on the back deck are growing so makes for a nice place to sit and relax.

Saturday I got up early and was over at Sandy's house by 8am as we had to haul all of our recycle stuff to the center then we went to get shredded bark and Sandy bought some new roses. She had to be home before 11am to go babysit. Of course it sprinkled the whole time we were doing this. Later sun came out and it was a nice day. I got a lot of little jobs done around the house and continued on my cleaning out of clothes, shows, etc--got another box filled.

I then spent a lot of time cleaning up and organizing stuff on my computer plus going through vacation pictures and sharpening some, etc.

I did order a new laptap--Yahoo!@!! I got a purple one with a matching mouse--why not I thought --I deserve it. It is a Dell Studio 15. I used my work discount and really ended saving over $500 as I also order a 3 in1 printer and new bag--all a good deal plus everything for only $7.99 shipping through discount program. Should be here the week of the 21st

I got a fatbook swap back in the mail Theme was "odd girls" and it is full of them...

I also finished my pages of my new altered book Round Robin and sent if off to next person to work on..

Opening page of book

Signin pages

I found some panda stamps and made these pages.

Here are some rose pictures..................

tuesday

You may have noticed I made a new blog header I used a new digital kit by Irene Alexeena who is my favorite designer and sells at Scrap Orchard. I own all her kits I love her whimsical look and colors. This is her latest kit called Juicy Avenue. Her blog is http://irenealexeeva.blogspot.com/ check it out.

The week is going pretty well--very busy but way better than last week at work.

I did buy 2 shrub rose bushes tonight and planted them-will see if they do better on the back corner by my deck as I have replaced tea roses several times there. It does get the brunt of the winter weather. Kind of cool tonight but sun came out after all the rain and storms yesterday. It was nice to not have to sprinkle.

Latest pictures of the newest family members.....

Emory

Molly

I love this picture as she looks like she is thinking about a secret--way cute.

Sunday again

Sunday comes way too quick!!! It has been pretty nice here-in the 70s-mostly cloudy yesterday and today but peeks of sun---- seems humid today. I have been watering every day because the rain seems to miss my house. The garden is doing fairly well--beans and zinnias are up, I put in 2 new peppers, tomatoes may need to been replaced-I think it got a little cold for them one night, weeds are growing!!!

My flowers are doing great--iris' finishing up, peony just starting to bloom and roses are blooming....

Yesterday I worked outside weeding, fertilized all my annuals and the garden and watered. I cleaned out my dresser which hasn't been done well in years--filled another box for Goodwill. I do want to know why I had 6-8 pairs if shoulder pads in the back of one drawer?????? It is amazing how much extra room I have now.

It has been so relaxing to sit on deck and listen to the birds at various times of the day. I can also hear the people over in the park behind me which is kind of nice. Great place to drink coffee and surf the net on my laptop.

I am looking at new laptops--found I could get a discount through work on Dells so will look into those. I need a faster one. I am going to sell the one I have to Phyllis for Stephanie to use for school.

Those cats have done nothing but sleep for 2 days--I did capture some pics plus some closeups of Alex and Max on my lap....

Fritz in front, Alex in back

Max covering his eyes up

Alex on my lap by computer

Max up close

I am worried about Max as he has a swollen spot by his upper right eye. Not sure what it is but probably need to get it checked out. With his history of fibrosarcoma, it can show up anywhere again. He doesn't like me to feel it but I see him washing that spot without a problem.

I have been working on my PhotoARt Journal swap--theme is "discarded" and I took some pics of our rusty old fence--they came out well

I also made some cards today and am working on my new altered book RR--my theme is anything using postage stamps. I'll scan when ink and paint are dry. It needs to go out this week.

Well back to work tomorrow--can't say I am looking forward to it