6/30 ~ NEL and the yellow building

The prompt for today was graffiti.  Perhaps I should have photographed the graffiti the girls had drawn on the dresser -- but I didn't think of it this morning and now it is cleaned up.

As I drove around town, I kept on the lookout for graffiti but found almost none.  Finally, I settled on the initials (I guess they are initials) on one of the old buildings downtown.
     
Next time, I'll look for some train cars.

6/29 ~ After breakfast

It is time to clean up and get moving. The man and I slept in today -- the exhaustion of weekend had caught up with us.

Happy Sunday!  It has been a long time since I've slept in.

6/28 ~ I wish I could hold clouds on my lap

After a wonderful evening with friends, we met up with the girls for brunch. Afterwards, we went to a sweet friends house to help with a memorial to honor her partner who recently passed.

It was great seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

6/27 ~ The View

Traveled to Atlanta to move Mallory into her new apartment. The view from her patio was just lovely.

6/26 ~ Watching the World Cup

And we watched the game, too.

:)

Excited about the USA advancing on to Round of 16!

6/25 ~ I spy

I spy some tomatoes that will be in my salad tomorrow.

6/24 ~ Sprinklers and popsicles

The girls played in the sprinklers while I pulled weeds in the garden.  Mili stayed on the porch until I brought out some popsicles for the girls.  At that point, she slowly ventured out to remind the girls that she, too, loves popsicles.

It may be hot and humid but I still love summer!

6/23 ~ Tadpole scouts

Spent some time at the park and by the creek today.  Julia likes to declare different ways that she is NOT like me as she is an indoors girly girl kind of girl -- but even she had to admit that tadpoles were cool.

6/22 ~ Half Time

A little cider for the half time pause.

USA! USA! USA!

6/21 ~ Laundry Queen

My husband calls me the laundry queen.  Instead, I wish I were the laundry fairy so I could wave a wand and have it all washed, dried, and put away.

6/20 ~ Lucky

I consider myself lucky to still have my grandparents in my life.  My 92 year old grandfather has been in the hospital for the past couple of days and is already feeling better.  He should be home tomorrow.

I want to have at least half as much pluck as my grandparents have when I'm 90.  They are pretty awesome!

6/19 ~ Mugilicious

A little mugging for the camera by the dragonfly on a muggy afternoon.

Good news!  I put the back on my computer and turned it on.  Everything seems to be in perfect working order.

I've missed you internet!

I feel so lucky right now.  Maybe I need to go buy some lottery tickets.

6/18 ~ Grownups were talking

We had company for dinner and this was what happened when Danielle was told to let the grownups talk.  She plopped down in the hallway and read a book out loud to herself instead of playing in her room with her sister.

Cracked me up!

6/17 ~ My reminder that water and electronics are not friends

On Sunday, I clumsily spilled water on my laptop.  It wasn't a lot of water but enough to make me worry.  The computer was turned off immediately, unplugged and the back taken off.  It was then lovingly put aside to be given the opportunity to dry.

On Tuesday, I considered turning it back on to see if all worked well and then decided I would wait a couple more days to be sure it was really dry.

This could be called "Not Facing Facts."

It was surprisingly not too hard to step away from the computer for several days.

6/16 ~ Afternoon shower

I do love the quick afternoon showers that can brew from nowhere.  They cool things down -- for just a minute.

6/15 ~ Happy Father's Day

My sister and I are very lucky to have an awesome step-dad.

Hopefully, all the great dads out there were appreciated.

6/14 ~ The gift of time

Alex, our oldest girl, spent the afternoon and evening with us.  She is in town for the weekend and we had a great visit with her today.  For supper, she and her dad made spring rolls -- perfection on a hot summer night.

6/13 ~ Clementine love

The man and I went to Gainesville to see some friends of ours... friends who are now raising Clementine.  I almost cried when she came running straight to me.

That dog.  I love that she is happy in her new home.  Still, I miss her.   This won't be the last visit we have with her.

6/12 ~ Ten Happy Years

My husband and I have been married for ten years!   He made a tin mobile for me to celebrate the occasion.  

I love that man and I hope I can spend 100 more years with him.

6/11 ~ Leftovers

Sometimes, I can look around the yard and see where the girls have been.

6/10 ~ Fluffy white cloud day

The girls had a blast swimming at the lake today.

I love having friends who live on lakes.  Especially when they invite us to come jump off their deck.

6/9 ~ Her favorite place

Mili takes her job as Queen of the Backyard seriously -- but she still knows how to have fun while she fusses at the birds, chases the squirrels, talks to the airplanes, and argues with the neighbor's cats.

That is one happy girl!

6/8 ~ Welcome home

For the last nine months, my youngest step-daughter has been living and studying in London.  She is now back on our side of the pond.  Tonight, we had a celebratory dinner to hear about some of her adventures.

6/7 ~ Hello, little slug

It's a big world out there!

The man worked today.
The boy slept until noon thirty.
The girls were with their mother.
And I listened to an audiobook and cleaned and cooked.

Is it sad that I love having time to clean and just be home?

6/6 ~ Nature reclaims

The man and I had a meeting downtown.  We are at the meet, plan, meet again and plan again stage of foster care for the girls.

All is going well.

This building is across the street from where we meet.  The plants growing from crevices remind me of the impermanency of things.

Fitting reminder, too.

6/5 ~ Relaxing

Today was my last official work day and now summer can begin!  Because my school system has decided to be closed on Fridays, we have had to clock long hours from Monday through Thursday.

It was exhausting.

When I got home, I sent the little girls to play in their room so that I could commune with nature for a moment.  All my anxieties just floated away.

Hello, summer!  I've been looking forward to spending some time with you.

6/4 ~ His last summer break

Now that graduation is behind him, Dalton has a few weeks before he moves up north to NYC to start his new job.  The boy knows how to stay up late, sleep late, read and watch movies.  He knows how to take it easy and I could probably take a lesson or two from him.

This is his last summer break before he jumps into the world of working  -- and  earning vacation time and only getting to slug about on the weekends.

Cheers to his last summer break at home.

P.S.  Last night, we caught the silly bat who has been hiding in our house and returned him to the wild.  That made me happy.

6/3 ~ "The earth has music for those who listen." ~ George Santayana

I have much appreciation for the flowers that bloom in the backyard.

6/2 ~ With cheese on top

Just a little bit of cheese.  I'm not a big fan of the stuff.

My husband brought home vegetarian stuffed peppers from a catering job last night.  Leftovers on a Monday night were perfect!

6/1 ~ The Sunday morning ritual

Most Sunday mornings, I get up early to meet a fabulous group of friends for our weekly long run (usually my favorite run of the week!).  Part of the ritual involves getting my hydration stuff together so that I won't die while running.  In the crazy humidity we have, not dying is always a good goal, right?