Day 2 of Our Week in SF

All went well today. Our evening was spent watching the SF Pheasants play baseball. It was 'Bark in the Park' night at the ballgame, so for most of the game the six of us did not sit in the same section. The guys, including Rocco, were assigned to the right field section. Us girls stayed in our ticket section. We were all dressed in red, white and blue, but unfortunately didn't get a picture of our patriotic attire. But here are the pictures I did get.

As you can see, someone was a wee bit tired. 

She did last until about the 8th inning. 

She let us know in no uncertain terms that 

she had had enough baseball and wanted to leave 

NOW! So we did.

The pheasants did have a win over the Lincoln Salt Dogs.

Day 1 of our week in SF

This is what Day One was like. Eat, sleep, change. Repeat. Rocco wasn't going to miss anything so he stuck very close to G & G, even during feeding time. The next shot of these three happened about 20 minutes later. They were all sleeping, but the camera battery died. I'm sure there will be a repeat sometime this week.

Last night we all went to the softball game to watch Karl play. It was like back in elementary & middle school days, seeing his classmates as ball team buddies, again. We've watched lots of ball games over the years.

This is Will, playing with the puppy instead of watching his daddy play softball. The puppy was much more interesting. Will is almost 15 months old and a very handsome and good boy.

The mamas and their kids after the first game. Willa had had enough. She was wet and tired and it was a good time to leave the mosquitoes and head home.

The Colors of My Flower Bed

I have enjoyed creating a perennial flower bed, looking for unusual flowers as well as an assortment of colors and flowers that will bloom at a variety of times. We have had a very wet spring with lots of humidity and very timely rains. That has really helped the flower bed. This morning I endured the mosquitoes and took some pictures. So today, enjoy the colors of my perennials.

Simply Pinks

Evening Primrose

a type of Carnation, I think

this one continues to bloom, but I don't remember its name

Violas from my daughter-in-law's mother's fabulous flower gardens

and the hearty, abundant Day Lilly that needs to be 

de-headed (tomorrow when the mosquitoes are less 

bothersome) and split as it and several others are too full

Happy Birthday Karl!

I have lots of pictures of your daughter in this 'pose'.

Thought it was only fair to post one of you in the same manner.

The two of you do look alike when I see this pic.

Happy Birthday, Karl!

My Garden Grows

The first set of pictures were taken on May 21st after I got the garden planted and before the fence was all completed.

I took these pictures on June 16th after several days of rain and very gloomy weather.

I can't believe how much everything has grown in 3 weeks. I had not watered once in that time, all of the rains have been very timely. That also means I haven't added any 'growing aids', which I often do, especially in the early growing period.

Happy Father's Day

To the men in my life...

Happy Father's Day

Willa This Week

Willa is 7 weeks old this week. Yesterday was Willa day. 

Here are pictures of Willa and Grandpa 

 talking after dinner last night.

Mom walked by and said something on that one!

She was so focused on his face and voice! Needless to say, 

she made Grandpa's day!

New Willa Pictures!

Enough about me. Here are this week's Willa pictures. I was sitting on Tuesday when I took the pictures, so some of the angles weren't very good. When she was awake, which is more often and for longer periods of time now, she was so alert and happy. Willa is now 6 weeks old.

What a happy little girl!

Ankle Hardware

I was most surprised to see the size of the screws and plate. I was sure the screws, especially the two on the right, were at least three inches long as they were, I'm sure, the cause of most of my problems the last two years. And that plate...I thought it would be at least an inch wide and six inches long...wrong! The pen is to give an idea of size. The items on the left side of the pen were on the left side of the ankle and the two right screws were on the inside, rubbing against the tendon in the ankle. I truly believe the pain from standing and walking will be gone now that the hardware is gone.

I am pleased to report there is no pain, now, 24 hours after their removal. I am elevating and icing as prescribed by the doctor. Tomorrow the dressing gets changed to bandaids and as soon as I am ready, I can walk in the boot without the crutches.

Meandering on a Tuesday Morning

We will get to see Miss Willa today and her guard dog, Rocco. I have posted so many Willa pictures, I thought this would be a good post today. Thanks for the pic, Kari. It is a very good shot of him.

I am having the hardware (screws & metal plate) removed from my ankle today. I did not sleep well last night, not from worry, but from a headache and I couldn't take anything for it. No food or water after midnight. That means no coffee or chai tea on our early morning drive! YIKES! I was told to wear loose fitting clothes. So I dug out the same clothes I wore in the "rest home" while recovering from the first surgery! How funny. Good news: I won't have to wear them more than today! And I found my black boot that was my footwear for over 3 months. It is going along. No sense paying for a new one!

Happy Anniversary!

Forty years ago today...

we said "I do for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health"...

...but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 12:13b

Thanks for sharing forty years.

Our Visit with Willa

We got to hang out with Willa yesterday while Mom spent a couple of hours at work. Although we had just seen her on the weekend, we didn't get to spend much time with her. We shared her with our other guests! Yesterday was our time.

She was awake when we got there at 11:00. She spent some time with grandpa, in outfit #1 before it was time to change the diaper and the clothes.

Into outfit #2 and still awake until almost 1:30. She is so close to "talking". The lips and mouth make all the shapes, but the sounds aren't quite there, yet.

I love it when her tongue gets to her lips. She took a little nap and then was ready for a feeding. Mommy wasn't home yet. A diaper change would have helped. Grandma will learn the signals.

She was sleeping when we left. What a sweetie in outfit #3! Typical day in the life of a baby.  That's why she has so many clothes!

Clay in the Garden

Again this spring, I participated in the Clay in the Garden class offered through our community Park and Rec program. Last year I made a fountain and the bowl for a bird bath. (look at the postings of last June) Here are this year's creations:

This cylinder will be the base of the bird bath. Someone in last year's class made a very cool bird bath, bowel & base, so I wanted to try it this year. Problem: mine started to slump and fold on its own. Will that work?

There it is fired and glazed to match the bowl I made last year. The base does "lean" a bit, but I think it will still work.

TA DA! It is in place in the back yard, just waiting for the sparrows and finches to come drink and the robins to bathe and poop. It worked better than I expected. It still leans a bit and Curt may have to help come up with a solution. But for now, I'm pleased.

These slabs will be shaped into a narrow rectangular shape and become a water fountain with ripples so water will trickle down the front. I hope...

Not only did I make the fountain, (piece on the right) but I got brave and created a box (piece on the left) that will be the base to hold the water, the pump and the fountain. The pieces were glazed in the same blue as the bird bath to match the other blue ornaments in the back yard. It looks promising, but will it work? Will the water trickle slowly down the front of the rippled fountain?

TA DA!!! It did work. The water gently trickles from the top "bowl" to spill elegantly down the front of the rippled fountain. You can't see the falling water. I tried several different angles to get a photo of the falling water, but just know that it does. And the base??? Holds water. No leaks, no holes. Yahoo!!

I'd like to come up with an idea (that I could actually make) that would fit our desert theme and use on the patio in AZ. I'll have to think about that one.