It’s “Hey Rene J” Today!

This is not an apt description, but I do enjoy setting off fireworks somewhere in the vicinity of the Fourth of July. And I have a stash of sparklers in the basement ready for any celebratory event – like a birthday, New Year’s Eve, Christmas, etc…

The Phantom Fireworks people sent me a tantalizing coupon – but they want me to drive to another state to purchase their wares. This made me wonder how I got on their mailing list…until I recalled a time I did actually make an out-of-state purchase while driving back to The Good Life. Even though it was years ago, and this coupon is addressed to my daughter’s friend who frequented our home in the high school years, I was tempted to consider the journey. These coupons are really good deals!

Alas. I failed to secure my fireworks for this year at the end of last year – when you really do get the best deals as the tents close up and you can bargain with the people who do not want to haul anything back to a storage unit. And you offer cold hard cash. Thus, I will be paying the price this year because I do enjoy watching the dazzling fountains, colorful smoke bombs, and hearing the shooting and screaming of the displays. Hopefully my neighbors try to outdo each other again this year. (Apparently they travel out of state. They have the big off-the-ground wonders.)

Seven minutes and the stands open for business. I’m off!

My brother-in-law texted me recently with a “do you remember” question. It was about the songs we dutifully learned as children in the parochial education sector. This led to cheerful texting banter about those cherished songs which we still remember and to which we know the words! How many years later?

That’s why I laughed when I saw this delightful comment on musical education of yore. I never did learn the recorder, but there are two of them in my piano bench – or there were – from my own children’s elementary years. (Where are they now? They might still be there. Another place I should investigate one of these days.)

So I can’t play a tune for you, but I can sing all the verses of “Joy is Like the Rain.” Here’s to good memories.

This is why my ferns took a big nose dive and failed. Now there are hooks to hang my silk lanterns from Hoi An’s ancient city in Vietnam!

It is way more fun to look out from the kitchen and see these beauties dancing in the morning breeze. They belong in the wind and elements, sending their love and joy throughout the land. It makes me remember the people who shared their culture and time with us foreign travelers, ignorant of life in their country, yet willing to learn.

Thank you, fickle ferns.

Those torrential rains of a few weeks ago brought the annual vacationers to our neighborhood ditch. They stayed longer than usual, enjoyable to see every day. They have since departed, seeking water deeper than eight inches.

Alas, no photos of the neighbor’s hawk hunting. I spied him on the ground as I was walking to retrieve my antiquated form of daily communication at the end of our driveway. I stood for minutes and watched as the magpie brigade squawked boisterously above. He had something in his talons. I deduced it was a baby bird as he alighted and the dozen or so adults followed in a nasty chorus. It was pretty cool.

Then the magpies made their presence known again early Sunday morning when I opened the draperies. A gorgeous fox ambled across the backyard hunting rabbits, and then trailed through to the front nosing under the bushes. Those birds were giving ample warning, apparently. The fox left empty-pawed.

As it’s Wednesday and the estrogen flow will begin, we will also be hyper-vigilant as a pair of coyotes have been spotted frequently roaming the ‘hood, even daring to cross our backyard. It’s the return of the rabbit population bringing all of these hunters around. Perhaps the hawk had a baby rabbit that the magpies wanted?

It’s always a delight to be allowed these snippets of Mother Nature at work.

Apparently you have to pay your bill for your site to be active. I’ve missed a few days as I assumed auto-pay was still working its magic. Additionally, I learned the credit card was expired, so it was an educational morning.

Aside from that, I have absconded my friend, “Pristina’s”, idea of repurposing former dog items.

It looks like nasty weather could descend again and I will be enjoying bridge, unable to properly protect my gorgeous flowers. Thus, I rummaged through the attic and found the old dog gate we had – a metal contraption for containing puppies in a small space. With it separated in half it has made a lovely cage around two of my larger containers. Covered with old fitted sheets makes it look perfectly white trashy enough to work.

The key to hail protection is to anticipate it and assume the worst. If all goes well, I’ll return home with the sun shining and no torrential rain or hail decimating the things I cannot protect.

Exciting times in this ‘hood!

Remember the journey from yesterday to the Rescue Mission? It is a bit of a hike and the facility has terrible parking. I was just praying no one was there so I could maneuver safely in their limited area with the truck. Imagine my delight when I was rewarded with an empty lot and this gift!

Apparently a florist delivers “leftover” bouquets to the Mission on occasion. These are just beautiful though, not wilted or droopy. What a lovely way to start a day. (And I was able to safely back in and get out of the lot with nary a scratch!)

Since I was making a run for the Rescue Mission’s warehouse site, I decided to clean the oft-forgotten linen closet.

There is no order in there, other than a small pile of pillow cases which are easy to identify. Sheets of varying sizes? Who or what was stuffing them in there?

It’s my own fault, and my own far-sighted thinking that maybe I’ll need a flat sheet from an XL twin sized bed one day, sans the fitted mate. I used to use worn sheets for painting purposes, but did you know that paint can seep through them? Surprise!

Anyway, my day began with a much needed clean out. Toodling along…

Okay – not my title, so clever, and not my idea, genius! “Pristina,” pissed at the amount of money a “cone of shame” cost her when the dogs were gracing her yard, decided to prevent hail damage with this absolutely brilliant idea! A second life for these plastic wonders.

My cone is the size of a cereal bowl since we had small dogs. I could possibly prevent hail on one marigold? Regardless, with permission I am sharing this inventor’s idea. (She has a patent, by the way, for another amazing idea.)

“MacGyvering” at its finest.

My Pinterest page thought I might just “vibe with this.” I didn’t read the suggestion, but considered the statement worthy of a topic heading.

Many vibes these past few days of travel to the “Good Life.” My aunt turned 85 and we celebrated, the slew of cousins commenting on how nice it was to see each other at a non-funereal event. Once again I relished the resort-like feel of my brother’s home on the lake, even taking a spin in the boat one late evening. We enjoyed a stogie, my new consideration for a retirement hobby. I was able to do a little mending for my SIL, always a joy when the needle and thread can be of service. The uneventful drive (a blessing, though boring) did bring a smile when a field with goats and adorable kids came into view. I wanted to stop on the interstate and watch them, they were so darn cute. (!) My acquired habit of not listening to the radio on my drive home continued. I’m not sure why, but the quiet and calm do more for me on my returns than any song. Me, myself and I have lovely conversations in this manner.

So, I return to an overgrown yard with the promise of three days of mowing and trimming. It’s a great and satisfying workout, which will commence in 35 minutes, at the appropriate time for all to rise and greet the day. Just enough time for one more cup of joe.

Sending good vibes out to the world…

…yesterday at bridge. The sun did pop out for a bit, and perhaps that was when “Pristina” decided to follow the suggested rules of the game and “pull trump.”

Yes, we rib each other about our playing and yes, I criticize sometimes. Some times. Not all the time. Just some times. And it’s not like I don’t criticize myself – I made a stupid move and didn’t make our bid. Did my partner jump all over me? Yes? No. She did not. She is a civil participant. Thank you, “Ponna.”

Anyway, our entire table was joshing our friend when she actually did pull trump and got the upper hand on the round. Now, some suggestions don’t always pan out, but this one normally does. We all had a hearty chuckle, a bright spot in the clouds and gloom of the day.

Tuesday bridge is fun.