Let’s face it, there is nothing quite like being home for your birthday. Celebrating a birthday at Fort Clark, TX, is all well and good, but there is just something about being home, especially when you have sweet friends who decorate for you!
The birthday celebration rages on, for these two girls.
Ah, it feels good to be home.
Project 365, Day 199
Tim
Several years ago, I built four raised garden beds for my tomato empire (which never really took off). As with many of my hopes and intentions, the tomato plants produced a lot of leaves but less fruit (or vegetable, depending on where you fall in the great “Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable” debate) than I had expected. The first step is determining where you would like to plant your tree, whether that be in the front, back, or side of your house. Different trees will thrive more in certain areas depending on the amount of sunlight they require, soil type, and amount of water. It is essential to look into the zoning and neighborhood association rules to ensure you’re following all guidelines as some place limitations on the types of tree as well as the location in which they can be planted. Determining your property lines is another factor that should be considered as the expected size of the tree in its adult life may sway your decision, If you want to know how to properly plant a tree? Then visit to KG landscape website.
My sweetie in yard-work mode.
Now we are dismantling the garden beds, one by one, leaving only one to house a few, paltry plants. Kathy got tired of waiting for someone else to do it, so she’s out there this evening hacking at the weeds that cover the structure.
The messy covering of hay offends Kathy, and it must be removed.
Once she’s removed the hay from the garden bed, we can remove the sides and use the dirt as topsoil for our front yard (where we hope to plant some shrubs or ground cover).
Kathy’s cool extendable hoe is really earning its keep.
We seeded the ground with grass seed, where the other two garden beds used to stand, but one seems to have produced only weeds. There is a particularly prolific and fast-growing weed that seems to spring up wherever we leave a little unattended dirt. I only wish our grass would grow like that.
Mystery weeds
Rachel has come home from college determined to really ENJOY the summer. She wants to try new things, travel, explore interesting areas, and, most of all, not waste the precious time she has off from school.
All of which to say, she does NOT think sitting around on a GORGEOUS Sunday afternoon is a good idea. Nor does she think I should stay inside cleaning when there are adventures to be had.
Look at that mountain!
The only slight wrinkle in our adventuring plans was the fact that Daniel and the other CIT teens had my van, and we were home with Daniel’s car. Hmmmm, needs new tires and has a possible oil leak?
“Rachel,” I said, “I’m not willing to take off for the coast or Seattle in Daniel’s car.”
No offense, Danny Boy!
“Well, what can we do then?” she and Sarah asked. Looking to me for answers and something more interesting than the nearby parks and local dives.
“Clean the garage?”
“Um, Mom.”
“Sorry, I mean, declutter the upstairs?”
Rachel and Sarah looked at each other, “I don’t think she’s really understanding things,” they said with concern. Ha.
“Okay, I have a plan!” Thankfully they aren’t at all particular and trust me, so off we set for the wilds of Tacoma.
How can I resist time with my beautiful girls?
How did they grow up so fast?
First stop – Stadium High School. What a beautiful school! And the location of teen movie from ’99. Which makes this a film field trip.
Stadium High School
How’s this for the setting of a football game?
We contemplated climbing over some locked gates to explore further – but decided to be law abiding citizens. We did, however, watch as a man disappeared through/over the fence to go down and train on the stadium stairs, and later observed a woman (obviously finished with her workout) climb back over the gate to leave the area. Interesting. Of course, it never SAID anything about trespassing. Still, a padlocked gate does send a certain message.
Even the fire escapes are picturesque!
From there we went to Ruston Way to walk along the dock and enjoy some of Old Town.
Rachel was SO happy with our outing!
Picture time!
The sunshine, warm weather and relaxed afternoon were perfect for our time together. The boys were all off, otherwise engaged, and we had several hours for mother/daughter time. Plus, I was able to impress the girls with my stick shift driving skills. Ahhhh, such a blessing to be together, live in a beautiful corner of the United States, and have the freedom and ability to go off exploring.
Organizing a messy garage or decluttering bedrooms does NOT compare to the sweet time we had together. Thank you, Rachel, for encouraging us to get OUT of the house. I love you girls!
Project 365 – Day 165
Kathy
As Tim mentioned earlier this week, we’re all working on getting healthy and counting calories. I’ve been so encouraged to use myfitnesspal.com to keep track of my progress – foods consumed, exercise accomplished, weight lost.
Well, tonight’s dinner was just a little too tasty. It wasn’t the buttered shrimp or even the marinated salmon that put me over the limit. I think it was the brown rice. I usually don’t eat a heavy starch in the evenings, but I was hungry and the big pot of short grain, delicious smelling brown rice just cried out to be eaten.
I only had a half a cup.
And then topped it off with another half. Heh heh. By the time I recorded my food I realized that I was going to need to take a good LONG walk to burn off some calories.
One of our neighbors has a garden in his front yard.
Thankfully it’s spring and the clouds cleared up late this afternoon. Plus we live on a nice, peaceful street. And I have several family members who are wiling to walk with me.
Flowers down the street.
First Tim and I walked a mile and a half together. Then I walked a mile by myself (while making a phone call – multitasking mom here). Next Sarah came out and joined me (barefoot no less). All in all, I walked over an hour and logged in enough calories to keep me on track for the day.
A single blossom on a pretty tree.
Whew! Thanks for walking with me, Tim and Sarah. After the walk I prepared myself a nice tall fruit smoothie using the hurom high speed blender picked up online.
Selfie with Sarah!
Tomorrow I will be a little more careful. Although it was lovely getting outside and enjoying some of the beauty of the day.
Project 365 – Day 134
Kathy
Super heroes –
These amazing women are all super heroes in my book! Busy with families, loving their husbands, involved in different ministries, AND still talking time to have fun and support MOPS.
We had a great time bidding on deals and steals at the auction. This was the girls only table as all of our husbands were either – out of town, deployed, or busy at home with other work. When you select Powell Auction and Realty, you select a winning team to conduct your auction. Founded in 1972, the family owned business has conducted over 3,000 auctions. Howard Phillips serves on the Tennessee Auction Board. Successful land auctions just like the one above are happening everywhere North America and therefore the Caribbean. Recently land auctions are on the increase , the rise in popularity is partly driven by growing inventories and fading buyer confidence. Properties that were selling in weeks using traditional methods are now languishing on the market unable to draw in buyers whilst seller’s lower prices. Many say the important estate boom is over but savvy buyers and sellers are taking advantage of land auctions. When allowing Powell Auction to conduct your sale, you’ll work with the corporate owners and permit them to point out you ways they will assist you together with your needs, also as showing you ways choosing the auction method of selling will prevent time and money, by allowing Powell Auction to link the vendor to the buying public! Nothing is as s effective as an auction, in gaining the right buying audience. Powell Auction offers a highly specialized approach to selling your equipment. Both offsite and onsite auction services are offered, while providing a radical and specialized means of advertising, setup, property removal, site locations, and auction execution. Powell Auction is committed to maintaining our professional integrity to every and each client that we serve, while fulfilling every promise made to their buyers and sellers. To know more about powell auction, Visit to powell website url.
I wore a cape for the evening, but Abby outdid me by a long shot. She’s definitely one of my heroes!
I managed to come home with some treats for me, a surprise for Tim, a date for an authentic cooked Thai dinner, and a present for Grandma and Grandpa. That’s a pretty successful outing.
Sarah was a love and spent the whole night working on the nursery.
Tomorrow – the curriculum sale! Busy times (as always )
Project 365 – day 12?
Kathy
