Critters.

I had almost finished dust mopping the floors when I swept this critter out from under the sofa. I admit. There were 3 seconds that were iffy. Then I laughed, knowing that Tucker had been gifted with some bugs earlier this summer. Joke's on me. 

All in all it has been a pretty good day. 25 pool laps had me so tired that I actually fell asleep reading my book after lunch. Clean sheets are on the bed. Clean towels in the bathrooms. Clean bathrooms. 

***

Tomorrow has promise. I've been invited to be a substitute bunko player with a group of girls, some of which I know. Every bunko group has the same basic rules. And then, there are always a few gray areas in the rules that change. I'll adjust.

*****

Waiting on some promised rain. The new grass sod is looking pretty good. Two of the patches got very brown. On closer inspection I discovered green coming up through the dry stuff. Frequent rain has produced the best lawn we have ever had. 

***

One more little sweeping duty to perform before I start thinking about supper or that glass of wine on the porch...

Be sweet. 

Eat, pray, love.

Ah. Am back from a week of good karma at Mimi's.  Fed my body. Fed my soul. Fed my heart. Visited with sisters, Mother, brother, aunts, nieces, great nieces and nephew. Art shopping, bridge walking, and porch sitting highlighted the week. 

EAT.

On arrival, Ben and Mimi were in the throws of boiling the shrimps. Yup. Delish. Along with the potatoes, corn, garlic, mushrooms, and brussel sprouts thrown in the pot. 

Monday we shopped in Ocean Springs. I picked out several Walter Anderson prints. Also found a sea glass necklace that I have been coveting most of this summer. I thanked Mr. Macho for the early anniversary present. He is off the hook. We ate at Martha's Tea room and both enjoyed the salad sampler plate. Home made wheat bread was on the side. And. We shared a lemon cake with lemon cream filling for dessert. 

 Tuesday night we ate at Old Cuevas Bistro on Menge in Pass Christian. Fun atmosphere. Much family gathered there - Pete, Kaye, Marsha, Mimi, Allison, Oliver, and me. Mimi had the fried flounder. She shared a bite. I liked it. She said she wouldn't order it again because of the bones. Such a shame. 

(A: Never buy gribenes from a moyle...)

I had the artichoke tortellini with marinara. It was good. But. (Frequently I have a big but.) The artichoke had a funny taste. It may be that I don't like the combination of tomato and artichoke. I can't put my finger on it. I ate most of if. But I, too, would not order this dish again. 

Wednesday. Shopped in Old Town Bay St. Louis. Found a nice water color by Joy Lyons, a local artist. Ate at Trapani's. Had the fried soft shell crab with Bay St. Louis sauce and pasta. Ate every bite of the crab. Left some of the pasta. And the bread. To alleviate my over eating guilt. But mmm. Twas the bomb. 

I have this out of order. I think it was Thursday when we dropped by and picked up sushi at Rouse's. Good selection. Love the soy sauce with wasabi and ginger combo. It is heaven in my mouth. 

PRAY.

Went to church at Holy Family Parish in Pass Christian on Sunday. They are a combined parish since after the storm and are in the process of building a new sanctuary. The deacon is a former restauranteur and did a smack job on the homily. Even during prayer it was about hospitality and food last week. 

LOVE.

While Mimi worked on Tuesday and Thursday I spent both days with Mom. It is a joy and pleasure to be with her. It is just being in her presence that I cherish. We did nothing exciting nor extraordinary. We went to a few stores and shared lunches. And meaningful conversation. I love my Mom. 

She is extraordinary. 

Mimi and I walked the span and back of the Bay bridge early Wednesday morning. The weather cooperated...stayed cloudy with a breeze. It is almost a five mile walk. We felt very buff. Later in the morning Mimi's daughter and grandson accompanied us on a shopping/lunch expedition to Bay St. Louis. It was a great day. The great nephew was, well, great. He is so fine. And those cheeks. You could just chew on them. He is so juicy.

Friday morning we took to the water. Visited one of Mimi's local water holes and burned a few calories while we enjoyed ourselves. Swimming relaxes my muscles. It is not like working at exercising. It sort of fools your body. You think you are having fun. You are having fun. Only you are burning the calories and using the muscles, too. See? 

Had a nice visit with Mom and her sisters in the afternoon. Aunt Nanette is visiting and staying with Aunt Jeanne while her daughter builds an addition for her. These ladies are quite the characters. Full of life and fun.

Aunt Bobbye, me, and Mom. Mom is the oldest in her family. She will be 93 in September. 

All four are the incredible shrinking women. Aunt Jeanne used to be rather tall. Not any longer. I think Aunt Bobbye is under five feet now. Mom isn't much taller. 

My brother, Doctor Bubba. Full of bologna. Always. 

Friday evening Marsha and her granddaughter, Elise Claire, joined us for some appetizers on the deck of Wolfe's in the Pass. Elise Claire is a pleasure to be around. If it weren't for the flies it would have been near perfect. 

That wrapped up my week. Saturday, after coffee on the porch, I loaded up and headed north. Had a nice but too short visit and lunch with Out of Town Son on my way home. 

Mr. Macho arrived before I did yesterday. He got some yard work done before I got home. Sweet Pea joined us for some fast food and "The Bee Movie" last night while her parents celebrated another year of married bliss. 

Being out of town and just not thinking about the every-day-things for a week was a treat. I am ready to tackle whatever comes my way this next week. 

Bring it on.

This one is for A,B, and C. 

Raise your hand if you want to go to the shark head store. 

Rolling along.

Son-in-Town is my new health guru. On his advice, this week, I purchased a foam roller. It is the bomb. After a month of low back pain I have finally found a proactive relief method. Here is me rolling my back out on the floor. 

I have some topical soreness from the roller. But even that is getting better with more usage. I can just say that the back is worlds better. Am happy to have my very own, built in, Certified (!) Health Education Specialist. Thanks Son. 

My coleus is doing so well that I am breaking off pieces, rooting it, and potting it. So far, besides the two big plants in the back bed, I have two pots of it and a jar on the back porch rooting some more. Next year I will expand the varieties. Get a wider color palate. This year seems a little monochromatic to me. 

The geraniums have lived. And bloomed. Right out the laundry door. Just a little bit of red happiness. 

Mr. Macho loves the caladiums. They have done well with all the nice rain we have had. Maybe next year I will do more varieties of these, too. 

I will not include a snap of the two pots of dead petunias that are hanging on my fence.

Wrong plants. Wrong spot. Wrong pots. Live and learn. 

Second day of picking up bermuda sod at the landscape store. Really like the girl, Crystal, that loads my truck. I could hang with her. She wears rubber boots and has a really sharp hair cut. She is a working chick, too. I sweat like a crazy girl unloading Mr. Macho's little pickup. Yesterday. And today. Like you talk about. 

Mr. Macho is due in any minute. He will lay the sod where he wants it. He has this erosion plan that is being developed as he lays the sod. I am just delivery. He is the engineer. 

How did it get to be the downhill side of July already? Hydrangea getting all green? Lazy days of summer and all. 

***

Rainy days and Mondays.

It is both. Monday. And rainy. I am thankful that the rain was not the deluge variety. Our dirt is in tact. Whew. 

I am feeling productive this day. Many little tasks are accomplished. Work out at the gym, clothes washed, few rooms vacuumed, dishes cleared and cleaned, soup in the pot, one toilet cleaned. I know. Randomness. Unorganized cleaning today. But cleaning nonetheless. 

Middle of the day I thought about an old set of photos of Mr. Macho and our youngest child. I had them together somewhere. Together because there is a striking resemblance between Mr. Macho and his third child, now grown.  Especially in this set of photos. I began the search and two hours later still had not found them. I gave a cursory look in every album and box of photos. I looked in drawers that I thought made sense to stash photos in. I gave up. Then I looked in some more drawers. Then I stopped to put the soup together. I despise loosing anything. Really despise it. I am fairly organized. It makes me a little crazy to not find something. Then I decided to go through each album page by page. First album was a no. Second album = no.  It was the third album that produced the relief. Out of Town Son is reaching for something on a dresser in his picture. The snap of Mr. Macho was taken about the same age - he is sporting the overalls. 

In person the resemblance is really uncanny. Same face. Same hair. Same expression. Same cutie-pie-ness.

This is my volunteer tomato. Came up from some compost we mulched in the garden last fall. Until today I thought the plant would only produce the one fruit. 

But he has two little sisters hanging out! And more blossoms all over. 

***

I just can't tell you how much better my day is because I found the photographs. Did I tell you how I despise loosing things? I did? Oh. Well. I do.

*****

No dance class tonight. Our teacher and fellow students are at a dance camp this week. I would be feeling all sorry for myself but I think my back would not hold up to an ENTIRE week of dance. It is way better than it was. Just don't want to press my luck. 

This July month is on the downhill side now. Mere weeks until our new grandbaby is due. More adventures to seek out. In the mean time. Hoping to go on some escapades here pretty soon. Lots to look forward to. 

*

The carrots await my chopping. Be sweet. 

Shopping.

Dear Online stores,

Just stop already.

I want to shop on my own time. Please. Don't make me sign up for newsletters or emails trying to sell me stuff. I don't want you coming to my very own door when you have a sale. I will not shop every day. I really don't care if there are only 12 hours left of your sale. I want to shop when I want and certainly not every day. Stop trying to entice me. I am tired of your communications. If I go to your website and have to sign up to be able to look at your merchandise I will leave it immediately. So quit. Now.

This is getting ridiculous.

Ramblings.

Yesterday I felt all Food Channel. I conjured up some chicken breast with a picata-esque recipe. I really had no recipe. The ingredients, in no particular order: chicken breast, fresh squeezed lemon juice, fresh sliced mushrooms, white wine vinegar, water, capers, salt, pepper, a little flour. More lemon juice. Found a yummy avocado dressing recipe on Pinterest and made it, too. It called for: avocado (2 small), 1/2 cup ff plain greek yogurt, 1/4 cup evoo, 2 toes garlic, 1 tsp hot sauce, salt, 2 tsp lemon juice (I used the juice of an en-tire lemon). OMG. I just want  you to know, it was all good. I cooked some brown rice and added a little black japonica rice in the pot. It was very yummy. Loooved the avocado dressing. Could eat it with a spoon. All of it. In one sitting. 

Yum.

***

Had churchy things going on this morning. Then hit the store that has everything for a few groceries and some toothpaste. Stopped at the fruit stand for some peaches. Then came home starved. Ate lunch and have pretty much not felt like getting anything started that late in the day. I did wash the baseboards in the kitchen. That counts. Now I feel all "wow I really accomplished something". Heaven forbid a day go by with no productivity. Ha.

Mr. Macho came home. Drank a beer. Then I decided to not waste the left-over-from-vacation straw-beer-rita in the fridge. And added some of the frozen concoction left in the freezer from a previous spring/summer party. That all equals a loose tongue. I may come back and delete this entire post in the morning. Who knows? 

****

While I was scarfing down some warmed up leftovers for lunch I dashed off a quick email to Mom and my eight siblings. Today is July 11. Or 7/11. It made me think of Dad. He was a man who loved playing with words. And he liked the sound of seven eleven. There were some corner mini markets by that name. Dad would say it so fast it sounded like "sem elem". So that is what I emailed to my sibs. Sem elem. I wrote "say it out loud". Only one sister responded with "what the frankfurter is that?" Well. She didn't actually say frankfurter. She just asked, "What does that mean?" I had to explain. Call me Lucy. I had some 'splaining to do. 

My Dad loved words. When I was little and we were at the dinner table he would say, "Passamaquoddy." Which meant pass the milk or butter.  He would then proceed to ask  if anyone knew where Passamaquoddy Bay was. If no one knew (or remembered) then we would have to go get the World Book Encyclopedia and look it up. 

Yes. I know. It is between the state of Maine and Canada. 

Dad. Sure miss you. 

Sem elem.  

Flowers. Finally.

Tuesday was good. Lunch with the group and my friends was nice. I felt like I could consume some good calories since I swam, at least, 24 laps in the pool. I say "at least" because I lost count. Twice. It is quite possible that I swam 26 laps. Lap 7 and lap 22 might have been repeated. When in doubt I go back and swim it again. I digress. After lunch we convened at Frieda's house for a movie. We spent a delightful few hours watching a cheesy Nicholas Sparks movie. It was alright. Predictable. The company, the adult beverage, and the snarky comments were what made the afternoon fun. 

I was all mellow when I arrived home just before Mr. Macho. He got home and immediately changed shirts and drove to his Dad's house to do the weed eating. He brought back some grass sprigs for our very own back yard. He is trying extra hard to get a good coverage. 

Slowly he is recouping the lawn. The nice patch of bermuda on the left side of the photo was a bonus from an un-named source. I will give you a hint...Trojan pride will be forever honored in our backyard. We will consider it hallowed ground. 

Before a short summer shower I snapped these pics of our lantana. It has taken its sweet time to bloom. It was worth the wait. Two different colors have appeared. 

  

This is the color I expected. 

This color is what I remember growing wild in our backyard when I was a little girl. Mom used to call it "ham and eggs".  

I hope these blossoms invite the butterflies. 

*****

I'm off to the pool again this morning. Then much to do around here. Baseboards are thick with dust. That is a 'must-do' on my list today. Probably mop the kitchen floor, too. 

***

Hope your day is productive. 

Be sweet. 

Tuesday.

Getting back into a routine feels good. Today. My back almost feels normal. Ahhhh.

I slept remarkably well last night. I had a good workout in the a.m. Was busy most of the day running errands and washing clothes. Had dance class last night. Changed shoes between beginners and intermediate class = so the back wouldn't feel so tired. It worked. Well...so, my back was tired. But not sore. Slept like a champ. Am almost feeling 100% this morning. Let's say, 96%. How's that?

July came in like a lamb last week. With temps so cool we didn't even NEED the fan on the back porch. Breezes blew. It was delightful. (Cue the sinister music.) But. There is always a big but. When we stepped outside after dance last night someone had turned on the sauna. It felt like a hot, wet blanket. Geez. Summer really is here. Thank you very much.

This afternoon is girl's movie afternoon at my friend's house. She and her husband converted their basement room into a movie theater. Complete with big screen, theater seating, and a great sound system. They have old movie posters adorning the walls. She serves movie snacks to her guests. Not sure what the feature will be. There will be much laughter and merriment. I. Am. Sure.

***
When Daughter was well under three there was a certain library book that she loved. "The Bathtub Ocean". She had it memorized and we were not allowed to veer from the printed text. She would correct us. Mostly her Dad. He loved to ad lib. She knew which words were on which page. Entire. Book. Memorized. Under three. I can still quote some of the book....

...To Henry, the bathtub was big as an ocean.
...he watched fish, eating fish, eating fish.
...Henry! You're not clean, yet. Go take a shower.

And now her children are enjoying the bathtub adventure. When her firstborn was little I found a used copy on Amazon. What a treasure.

History. Ain't it great?

Independence Day.

We slept until 7:00 this morning. Ahh. Mr. Macho requested scrambled eggs for breakfast and after eating said eggs got busy working in the yard. Moving the dirt. Rearranging the mulch left from grinding stumps. Even though a gentle rain fell, he worked on. 

***

Yesterday we heard sad news. One of Son-in-Town's former football players died in a terrible auto accident. We are well acquainted with the family and it was an extreme shock. The young man had finished two years at a community college. In the fall he would have been a sophomore at Ole Miss and a member of the Rebel football team. Just on the cusp of life. He was a very fine young man. His parents are pretty wonderful people. He was the youngest of three. He has a brother and sister. How do you bury and child, a brother so young? The rain feels appropriate today. 

***

I have prepared my house for company. It brings to mind a plaque that Mom had on her wall at 890. Before the storm. "My house is clean enough to be healthy, and dirty enough to be happy." And. That is where my house is today. Certainly not spick and span. But clean enough. 

I did not buy any new decorations. Only put together what was already in my closets. 

Even the napkins were saved from last year. 

We will eat in the den. It is cooler there. And with all the windows it feels more like we are outside. I guess I am going for the picnic feel. We will dine on barbecue chicken, baked beans, potato salad, and red velvet cake for dessert. Maybe later we can sip our beverages on the screened porch. The temps are unseasonably cool. 

*****

This morning I watched an old Paul Harvey video that someone had pinned on facebook. He talked about the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He pointed out the last line that stated these men pledged their life, fortunes and sacred honor. Many lost their lives and their fortunes. Their honors were confirmed by their bravery and sacrifice. Today let us all be reminded that these men, and many men and women in the years since, gave all for country. For liberty. Aren't you most thankful for that? I am. God bless the United States of America. Now. And always. Amen. 

Tuesday, strip the bed day.

Slowly I am morphing back into my routine. Went to the gym yesterday morning. Served at the soup kitchen, as I do most first Mondays of the month. Mr. Macho and I had our dance lesson last night. By the time I did all that plus a little grocery shopping, clearing mail from last week, paying bills, and general settling things back into their niche - I was wo' out. Again. My back started talking to me before dance class. And it got louder as the night wore on. When we got home from dance I laid on the sofa and fell almost immediately to sleep. 

So did I take it easy today? No. I swam 22 laps in the pool this morning. I have vaccumed, stripped beds, put clean sheets on, washed and folded 4 (or was it 5?) big loads of laundry,  refilled my hummingbird feeders, and other stuff. Mr. Macho came home early because he had an annual check up at the doctor's office. When he left my back locked up again. I have decided to follow a medication regimen for the next 24 hours and see if I can get the inflammation down. 

Detritus from my beach bag. Sunscreen, aloe lotion, goggles, $1.50 flashlight, plastic bags, Box Tops for Education from cereal boxes, and a trashy book. What more do you need at the beach?

Our condo had codes to get in the gate and get in the room. My children will love that I have included, "hash tag two five eight oh" to my ramblings. Because that is how I roll. I am hip. 

***

Today we got more dirt. No. Literally. Dirt. A dump truck full. We got some last year and a good bit washed down to the back property line. This year we have a little grass and some new-to-us sod that should help hold it in place. I just wish I could help spread it out. No can do. 

*****

Off to the beee-oooty parlor tomorrow. And to pick up a few more groceries to help us celebrate the Fourth of July. With family and friend. I have to admit that I would love to have a place close by to view a fireworks show. When I was growing up we just walked through Granny's yard, crossed Highway 90, and sat on the sea wall. Fireworks were shot near the harbor and we had the best seat in the house. Not so here. I would have to drive across town, fight traffic, bring my own chairs, and then reverse it all to get home. Not so much fun. So. We will pass a peaceful Fourth with barbecue chicken with all the fixin's and good people around us. 

*******

Be sweet.