National Bacon Day

August 31, 2013,

Tis the beginning of a long weekend here in the United States.  So far, the weather is holding up nicely.  It's cloudy, yet warm.  Temps should hit the low 80's with isolated thunder storms. 

I seem to be catching up on a lot of sleep these past two nights.  Thursday night, I got all comfy in my lounge chair with a bottle of water and Pogo on my lap all set to watch my favorite TV program, and oh no!  I fell asleep.  I remembered my program on my way to work yesterday morning.  Oh well.

All is not lost though. I tape this program every week.  So, last night after Pogo and I had our supper, we got all comfy again, and settled in to watch the program.  I think I saw maybe the first two minutes before I fell asleep.  I awoke a couple of hours later, well after the program ended.  This is not going well at all. 

One more try, and I finally managed to watch the whole program.  I also got to watch a couple of Law & Order repeats that I had missed before I fell asleep again for the rest of the night. 

Today is National Bacon Day, and (on TV) they are showing images of new "Bacon" products for folks who love the scent of bacon.  They have "Bacon Lip Balm", "Bacon Soap" and "Bacon Bandages" among other things.  Can you imagine walking around smelling like a slab of cooked bacon? 

Yesterday at work, I was able to enjoy watch some of the little birds enjoying the cone  flower seeds.  Most of these birds were yellow finches.  They were a distance away, but you can make the birds out in the photos.

Some of the birds were tucked inside the flower stems, and were not so easy to find with the camera, and others were sitting high up on the cable wires waiting for a chance to fly down and scoop up some seeds.

 

There's not much news for this morning, so I think I'll get dressed and maybe do a few things around here.  Maybe Pogo and I can play out in the yard a bit before any rain gets here.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

 

Hugs, Edna B.

Splishing And Splashing

August 30, 2013

Good morning.  Wow, only one more day of August left.  I can't get over how quickly we have gone from a few sweltering days right into September.  Well, at least that's how it feels to me.  I'm sure there are others who feel that the Summer lasted long enough. 

This morning is quite gray and cool.  (low 60's at the moment)  I'll have to turn on the Weather channel to see what's in store for the weekend weather.  This is a holiday weekend and lots of folks are planning to have outdoor family gatherings.  Hopefully the weather will be nice for the whole weekend. 

I'm at work now, so I'll get right to some photos before the Mrs awakes.  First, I have another beautiful scrap book page that Kyra made for me.  Thank you so much Kyra.  I love watching these happy little ducks splash and play in the pond.

Next I have a couple of "buggy" photos.  This grasshopper did not mind posting for the camera as long as I didn't get too close.   

Oh my, the local weather has just been announced.  Today will be cloudy and get up to the low 80's.  However, they are forecasting scattered thunder showers for Saturday through Tuesday.   Oh my, this will probably upset a lot of folks' weekend plans.  For me, it does not matter.  My only plans include doing housework and going to work.  lol.

Well, it's time for me to get busy here.  Mrs will be wanting her breakfast soon.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

p.s.  The photos that I posted a couple of days ago were not of a fox.  It was a coyote. 

Get Well Wishes For Izzi And Izzy

August 29, 2013

Good afternoon.  Wow, I think I got caught up on a lot of my missing sleep!  Pogo and I slept till almost noon today.  I must say that it did feel good even though I feel a little guilty about making my little guy wait so long for his breakfast.  I even missed putting the mail out in the box this morning.  Oh well, it can wait till tomorrow.

I won't gab very long today because I have some things that need to be done here and if I don't get started soon, I won't start at all.  The older I get, the lazier I get.  I've already started making my food shopping list, the laundry is waiting to be put into the washer, and the stove is all set up to start making my meat sauce for tonight's supper.

First I do have a couple of photos of the Mrs' pretty roses.  They are a pretty dark rosy pink color, just perfect for the oncoming new season. 

Did I say "oncoming" season?  Yup!  In just three weeks, Autumn will be here.  Soon all the trees here will be changing colors, and leaves will begin falling everywhere.  Autumn is one of my two favorite seasons.  The temperatures, the colors and the fresh crisp morning air just can't be beat.

Pogo's friend Izzi has not been feeling so good lately, and Pogo wants to send his best get well licks to Izzi.  Be feeling good soon my friend.  I'm also sending "get well" wishes to another little Yorkie named Izzy.  I hope both you fur babies are feeling better soon.

That's it for today.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day. 
Hugs, Edna B.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEVIN

August 28, 2013

Good morning, and a beautiful day it is!  Today is also my youngest grandson Kevin"s birthday.  He turns sixteen today.  Where oh where have those years gone?  It wasn't so long ago that he made his way into this world as an amazing two pound wonder.   Today he's a tall handsome young man.  Kevin, I wish you a very happy birthday.  May all your dreams and wishes come true.  I love you.

Yesterday I was soooooo crabby!   I guess you could tell, huh?  Well today is a much better day.  I'm tired, but in a little while I shall have a little nap, then start making supper for tonight.  Janet will be coming by later this afternoon.  This is our day to get together for a good meal and a lot of fun.

Early this morning, while I was still at work, I thought I spotted a fox in the field across the street.  So I grabbed my camera and went outside.  The mist was heavy and still rising from the ground, but you can make out the fox through the mist.  I cropped the photo so that you could get a closer look at the fox.  He sure does look hungry!

 

In the little garden near the street, there was lots of bird activity in the black eyed susans and the cone flowers.  On the ground, there was one lone little gray bird.  I'm not sure but he looks like a young catbird.  Again, I made a "cropped" photo for a closer look.

 

Well, I've finished my coffee, checked on a few emails and read a few blogs.  Now I think I might have me a little nap before I get started on the household chores.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

 

Hugs, Edna B.

Is English Still The Universal Language?

August 27, 2013

Good morning.  Well, yesterday's rain fizzled out.  A few tiny droplets fell in the morning, and then nothing more until sometime during the night.  The night time  rain covered the car with tiny drops of water, and there are a couple of very tiny puddles in the yard.  That's about all the rain we are expecting before next Sunday. 

Yesterday was a rather lazy day for Pogo and me.  Of course, he doesn't really have a choice.  If I'm tired, then he is too.

I'm watching a commercial on TV for the program "RosettaStone".   This program teaches us how to speak and understand foreign languages, so that when we travel to other countries, we will be able to communicate with the people who live there.  I think this is a wonderful idea.

Other countries don't print everything in several different languages to accommodate visitors and all the legals and illegals moving into their countries.  If you want to live there, then you must learn their language. 

So what's our problem?  Why do we have to print everything in several languages (all on one label or in one paper)?  Is there a problem with demanding that people who move here to learn our language?  I get so tired of having to read some labels over and over to find the part that is written in English.

I won't go off on a tangent here.  And I do want to explain that I know some countries do teach their people how to speak and read English.  After all, English IS the universal language.  Enuff said.

I have some cute photos to share that I took at work yesterday.  These two little critters, a chipmunk and a tiny red squirrel, were checking out the neighbor from the roof on the Mrs' house. 

I've seen squirrels climb up into trees and onto the roof before, but I don't think I ever saw a chipmunk climb up on to the roof.   These little fellows are not only adorable to watch, they are amazing at what they can do considering their tiny size.

Now I must check to see if the mail is here yet.  Then maybe I'll visit with the vacuum cleaner a bit.  Tonight it's back to work so maybe I'll squeeze in a little nap this afternoon.  On that note, I shall leave.  Till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Daylight Hours Are Much Shorter Now

August 26, 2013

Good morning.  I'm still at work for a few more hours, and I'm noticing how much daylight we have lost just recently.  It is almost 6 a.m., and the sky is just now beginning to lighten up.  It is such a sad feeling to see the Summer fading away.  Of course, it is inevitable, but I love having the long hours of daylight. 

Last night, the Mrs went to bed a bit early so I was able to play for a while on my laptop to create something for Mandarin Orange Monday.  I have a delightful photo of a flower with two busy bees to share this morning.  After playing with a few filters and textures in Photoshop,  I've given the photo a nice "vintage" look. 

While it was still daylight last evening, I noticed an unusual pattern in the sky.  This, of course, was made by a couple of planes that had flown overhead a while earlier, but I found it quite interesting.   Isn't this cool?

I'm getting hungry now, so while the Mrs is still asleep I shall make myself a bowl of instant Quaker Apples & Cinnamon Oatmeal.   Mmmmm, yummy.   I can see that this is going to be a long day, and this will give me a good start.  So, on that thought, till tomorrow Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

It's Time To Harvest The Fields

August 25, 2013

Good morning.  I'm back home now and catching up a bit on my email and blog reading.  Have you noticed the change in the temperatures lately?  Nights and mornings are a wee bit chilly now, in the fifties.  I guess this is signaling the end of summer.  I could have used a light jacket this morning for the ride home.  Thank goodness Baby Blue Eyes has a great heating system.

This week coming up, we should be getting another burst of summer weather.  Days in the low eighties and nights in the upper 60's.  I keep checking to see if the leaves on the trees are starting to change colors, but haven't really noticed much of this yet. 

Friday, a local farmer was starting to harvest the hay that was growing in the field across the street (at work).  The hay was cut and stacked while I was there to watch some of it.  Yesterday, before I got back to work, all the hay had been bailed and some had already been loaded on to a truck and hauled away. 

 Here's a photo that I took early this morning of the remaining bails of hay waiting to be loaded on to the truck.  You can see part of the loading machine parked behind the tree.

I also have a couple photos of a beautiful butterfly that was visiting the butterfly bushes in the Mrs' backyard. 

Last night, the moon was awesome, but it did not become visible where I was until quite late in the evening so I did not go out to take any photos.  Now I'm wishing that I had, because it was not visible this morning. 

I am watching the Weather Channel this morning.  They are discussing (and showing videos) of the all the wildfires that are currently burning in the western part of the country.  They are discussing the fact that we are running out of money to fight these fires and what can be done to bring them under control. 

 Isn't it sad that our government feels it is necessary to support the whole world while neglecting our own country?   Surely we have money to fight these fires and tend to all our ills if we can give so much away?  Isn't it time for Americans to stand up and fight to get our name at the top of the "charity" list?

I have no other news for this morning, so before I go off on a band box, I shall drink my coffee and maybe do a couple of chores around here.  Till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Two Moon Hoax

August 24, 2013

Good morning.  Well, this morning I was going to be giving you some exciting news that I  received in my email about the "two moons" but thank goodness I checked it out first.  On August 27th, in the middle of the night, I would have been a very lonely nitwit sitting out in the yard watching for the two moons so that I could photograph them.

Here's the photograph that has been circulating on Facebook for a few years now.  It is a doctored up photo, and the whole thing is a hoax.  The photo is blurry and not very good.

So, if you find this photo in your email telling you what an exciting event this will be, stay in your bed and enjoy your sleep.  If you really want to see Mar up there with the moon, wait until next April when it will appear as a very bright star.  At least according to Google.

This morning, I received  a beautiful scrapbook page from Kyra.  This one features my daughter in law, Janet, and Pogo.   I also have another beautiful page that Kyra made featuring my new coral rose.  Aren't these just beautiful?  Thank you so much my friend.  By the way, today is Kyra's wedding anniversary.  Do stop by her blog and leave good wishes for her and Jan.

Last night was not a good sleeping night.  These new blood pressure pills have me running into the bathroom every hour or two all through the night.  This is not very funny!  So, once the laundry is done, I will try to squeeze in a nice nap before it is time to go back to work tonight. 

Pogo's friend Izzi has not been feeling so good lately.   If you're reading this Izzi, just know that Pogo knows what you are going through, and he hopes that the new medicine is helping.  Big licks and a woof for you Izzi girl.

Now I want to go check on the laundry.  I'm anxious to snuggle down in my lounge chair with a fuzzy blanket, and hopefully the sandman will find me.  Till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

The Moon Is Gorgeous This Morning

August 23, 2013

Good morning.  It's a bit on the cloudy side, but the sun is doing its best to keep shining down on us.  The temps are supposed to be around 78 - 80 degrees.  Sounds good to me.

I am at work and the Mrs is still asleep.  I slipped outside around 6 am to take a photo of the gorgeous big moon that was still visibile. 

Then I took a photo of the clouds not too far away from the moon.  You really have to take a few different photos because the clouds move so quickly and everything changes. Aren't these pretty?

I thought this might make a nice texture, so I desaturated the photo, then I cropped it.   Next, I colored it , applied a bit of the "wavy" filter and a blend mode in Photoshop, then applied my new texture to a photo of tree branches.  Not bad.

If you would like this texture, here is the preview and the download link.  Enjoy.

Expired

The Mrs is awake now, and I have her breakfast started.  Now it's time for me to get busy here.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

A Very Tiny Thunder Storm

August 22, 2013

Well, good afternoon.  My internet has not been working all day until just now.  I'm not sure why, but I'm glad that is working again.  A short while ago, there was a crackle with a little thunder.  I ran out to my car to get my umbrella, and the rains came down.  For all of thirty to sixty seconds.  It got everything wet and made a few small puddles. 


I have a photo to share that I took a few days ago.  Dragonflies love to perch on top of the passé tiger lilies.  I just thought that this one looked so interesting.

Janet was here last night and helped me to move a few things before we settled in for some pizza and chit chat. She brought me a bagful of small jigsaw puzzles that I can do on a little lap table while I'm sitting in my lounge chair.   I'm blessed to have such a super daughter in law.

Now I have to put some things together for Pogo.  Tonight while I'm at work, he will stay with Joe, and tomorrow Dee Dee will come by and pick him up and take him to her house.  I don't get out of work until 3 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.   Now I want to spend some time playing with my little guy.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

August Is Such A Beautiful Month

August 21, 2013

I am amazed at how quickly August is whizzing by.  It brings such nice weather that it is sad to see it go.  Alas, alas.  BUT - we still have some of it left to enjoy, and it will be back again next year.

One of the nice things about August is the new life that it gives to the flower gardens.  The colors on the outside of the new bud are a reddish coral and cream.  But once the rose opens, oh my it is just exquisite.

Before I go on, let me answer Kyra's question from yesterday.  Yes, that was Joe lounging in the den after work yesterday.  The solitude did not last too long.  Within an hour, he was joined by two of the other dwarfs. 

Have any of you watched one of the newer TV programs, "Double Divas"?  If you haven't, you should at least watch it once, because it is such a funny, yet serious program.  Two women, both with generously endowed figures, own and operate a lingerie store in Atlanta.  They design and make a lot of the undergarments that they sell, and their specialty is making bras for the exceptionally over endowed ladies.  On the other hand, they can also design for ladies with the smallest bosoms so that they too look beautiful and sexy.  It's a fun show, so do treat yourself and tune in tonight at 11:30 on Lifetime.

Now let me share another beautiful scrapbook page that Kyra has made for me.   This one features the recent photo of my favorite little guy.  Isn't this adorable?  Thank you Kyra.  I just love it.  I can't believe that a whole year has gone by since Pogo adopted me.  (He rules the whole house, so he may as well get the credit for the adoption too.)

I also have a couple of new moth photos to share.  These can be just as difficult to photograph as the big butterflies because they flit so quickly from one spot to another.  They are such pretty little things though.

Now I really must get a move on here.  I have been neglecting to do lots of things here (mainly housework, of course), and today seems like a good day to get some of it done.  Janet will be coming by later and has offered to help me move a few things.  For supper, I shall treat us to a DiGiorno Supreme Pizza.  Of course, I will add extra green peppers to my half of the pizza.  Yum Yum.

Goodness, I just got a really nice kiss from Pogo.  He must have seen the dog food in his dish, and is buttering me up for something better.  lol.  It's not working, Pogo, but thank you for the kiss.  Till tomorrow folks, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Another Gorgeous Day In New England

August 20, 2013

Good afternoon.   Today's weather is just delightful.  Sunny and warm with blue skies and puffy white clouds.   I just got back from my follow up visit to the doctor, and all is looking much better.   Later today I will pick up a new prescription and hopefully that will be the end of the pills.  I just do not like taking pills. 

Last night, one of the dwarfs was having her supper, and I noticed that her slice of bread on a napkin looked so appropriate for our country.   Wheat and dairy products are such a big part of our history.  Feeding our people is, and should always be, our number one priority.  This just struck me as so "American".

I won't go off on a rant here, but I did think that this was a really cool photo.  You never know when the opportunity for a good photo will pop up.  I would never have thought to look on the dinner table.  This time, I think I walked into the kitchen at just the right time. 

The new theme challenge in our photography forum is "sitting or lying about".   For this I only had to walk to the den.  After a days' work, the dwarfs like to relax and watch a bit of TV or just play games on their cell phone.

Yesterday afternoon, Pogo and I sat out in the yard for a while and enjoyed watching all the bees that were flitting in and out of the butterfly bushes.  I did take a lot of photos, but have not had a chance yet to go through them. 

Some of the rose plants are perking up again with new buds and blooms.  Here's a real pretty pale pink blossom.

There is another beautiful rose starting to bloom right outside my door.  Later, I will go out and take a couple of photos.  From the kitchen window, it looks to be a coral and yellow rose.  Until it fully opens though, I can't be sure.  The colors tend to change a bit as the rose matures.

Well, now it's time to do a few things around here, and maybe later I can play a bit on the computer.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a marvelous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

It's Mandarin Orange Monday

August 19, 2013

Well good morning.  Pogo and I had a very relaxing day yesterday.  Except for moving a few things around in the morning, we lazed about all afternoon and evening.  However, today is a new day, and there are lots of things waiting to be done. 

After the laundry is done, we are going to go out in the yard and pick some tomatoes.  I just looked out the window, and there is a lot of red color showing on the tomato plants.  Yum Yum!  I think I would definitely like to also have one or two squash plants in next year's garden.  I just love summer squash fresh from the garden.

Well, today is Mandarin Orange Monday again, and I have found this adorable tee shirt in a vibrant orange.  I thought this would be perfect for my friend, The Queen Jester.  This shirt and a lot of others can be found in that new catalogue that I mentioned before.   You can get a copy at www.CatalogFavorites.com.

I also have a nice photo of one of the bees from the Mrs' garden.  This one was so soft looking, almost pretty.  Imagine.  Calling a bee pretty!  lol.

There's really not much news today.  I'm hoping to spend some time later working on some new freebies for you.  Hopefully, I can have some of these ready in the next couple of days.  For now though, I need to finish the laundry and wash the dishes that are piling up in the kitchen sink.  So till tomorrow, Y'all have a fabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Oh What A Handsome Guy, My Little Man

August 18, 2013

Good morning.  It's sunny, but cloudy this morning.  Still, the temperature right now is nice.  Today will be in the 70's, with a chance for showers sometime today or tonight.  Well, we can use the rain.  It saves on the water bill when we don't have to water the garden and lawns every day.

I have a new photo to share of my little guy.  Here he is showing off his new hair cut, and wearing a red and white striped tank top.  He knows he's handsome.  I tell him all the time.

Last evening, there was such a pretty moon, and I tried really hard to get a few good shots.  But the moon had a cloudy halo around it and I could not get the shots I wanted.  Here's my best shot.  This is the sky across from the front of the Mrs' house.

At the same time, here's a photo of the sky across the back of the Mrs' house.  Amazing.  The same sky, but over different sides of the same house.  Actually, I stood in one spot, took the photo of the sky across the street, then turned and took the photo of the sky over the house.

This morning I want to get a few things done around here and run the vacuum.  Then after lunch I will maybe have a nap.  At least it will be a lazy afternoon.  Tomorrow is another day.  Right now, I have to give some thought to fixing breakfast.  My little guy has showered me with loves and is now waiting patiently for some food. 

Hmmm, maybe some scrambled eggs?  Green peppers?  A bit of bacon?  Now I'm making myself hungry.  lol.  That's my news for this morning.  Till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Pogo's Not Woofing For The New Woof

August 17, 2013

It's almost noon time and I'm just getting around to posting here.  This morning, I spent some time getting caught up on a bit of email, and going through yesterday's photos.  There were lots of bees and dragonflies in the Mrs' gardens yesterday.  Some of the bees were really huge.  I did my best to get close and got a few nice shots. 

Isn't this last fellow a cutie?  He was starting to look at me like I was his next snack so I called it quits and went back inside.  I've never seen a bee's mouth up close that looked like this one.  Of course, I don't often get right in a bee's face either! 

The other day I got a new catalogue in the mail, and it is just chock full of wonderful things.   For Mat at Mat's Memories, I found the perfect tee shirt.  Isn't this adorable?

Mat has lots of kitties.  There are her indoor kitties, and then there is a family of outdoor kitties that has adopted Mat.  Stop by Mat's blog to see some beautiful photos and layouts of all her kitties.

Today, Pogo and I are just taking things easy.  My blood pressure is doing much better, and I'm feeling more like normal.  Tonight I work, but when I come home in the morning, I'll be off until Thursday night.  I'm hoping to get a lot of things done around here this week. 

Now I want to rummage through the refrigerator to see what Pogo and I will have for lunch.  He absolutely won't touch the dog food that I gave him for breakfast.  It's a new dinner from IAM's called IAM's WOOF.  It's supposed to be very healthy for the dogs.  I guess because in one dishful, there were two very tiny peas and a very teeny piece of carrot.  Well, woof de doo!! 

I will have to take some new photos of my little guy.  He looks so handsome with his new hair cut and a red and white striped hooded tank top.  He's a very classy dresser, my guy.  Thursday, we ordered a few new shirts for him.  Now I  can't wait for them to arrive so we can see if they will fit him.

Well, that's all my news for today.  Till tomorrow, Y'all have a marvelous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

It's Good To Feel Chipper Again

August 16, 2013

Good morning.  The sun is shining and it is a bit on the cool side, but it is early yet.  Pogo and I are at work so we won't be able to go out and play in this beautiful weather until later this afternoon.  I am feeling much better yesterday and today, so maybe the new medicine is working.  Gosh, it feels good not to feel crappy all day.

My blood pressure has been coming down slowly, and my pulse has been going up. This morning my pulse has finally reached normal.  Woo Hoo!  I will keep monitoring my vitals until I go next week for my follow up visit with the doctor.  I'm sure he will be pleased with my progress.

Yesterday, Pogo and I had quite a busy day.  It started off in the morning with a trip to the bank, and then the Post Office.  We grabbed a quick bite (Peanut butter & jelly, what else?) and headed for Pogo's appointment at the beauty salon.  Once Pogo was settled in there, I went to my appointment at the nail salon.  My hands may be wrinkly, but I like to have pretty fingernails.

This morning I found another gorgeous surprise in my email.  Kyra sent me another beautiful scrapbook page.  This one features a dragonfly.  Kyra, the background and the rose cluster are awesome.  Thank you so much my friend.

I have a photo to share of two dragonflies resting on my fence.  It's not so easy to get a photo with more than one dragonfly in it.  They more so quickly and as soon as the camera is focused, one of the dragonflies has flown off.

This next photo is leaves that are curled up asleep and covered with rain drops.  I just thought it was rather unusual. 

And last I have a photo of a pretty pink rose bud.  One of the rose bushes is covered with new buds and blossoms. 

Pogo is acting rather weird this morning.  He keeps jumping up for me to pick him up.  Then he wants to  get down.  Also, he keeps staring into the dining room as though there were someone in there.  Of course, there is no one there but he won't listen to me.  On top of all this, he keeps whining as if he wants something.  Alas, I have no clue what his problem is.  I sometimes wish that doggies could talk.

It's almost time for the Mrs to be waking, so I'd best get started making her breakfast.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.