Sometimes, We Look...

instead of working.

We checked the pond to see

how many catfish were still "bedding".

I discovered it takes a special photographer

to take underwater shots.

There is a fish in this photo, right hand side.

This one, you can't miss.

A big catfish guarding her eggs swims away.

Sunday Adventure and Canine Training

A King Snake was discovered...

Ki-Anne announced to the world, I found a snake.

Squiggie wasn't sure, at first, what to do.

It was a beauty.

Every time the dogs would run in,

the snake would strike.

Good practice for them to avoid the poison snakes

and to tell the difference.

(They can tell by the smell)

I poked the snake, gently, with a stick

and he crawled, quickly, to safety.

I said,  Good dogs!!

Blessed Are The Bug Eaters...

a toad,

a spider,

a frog,

and a lizard,

All contribute to the health of the garden.

The Grands With Catch Up

Andrew headed to camp,

Jake playing some football with the dogs

Zander using the ant's telescope

to check out the view

The one and only flower I lay claim to

Andrew is back from camp, with one extra boy for a time.  Jake is playing baseball for the summer.  Zander is...Zander. 

Already 81 degrees outside a little after six am, the roosters are quiet for some strange reason but that is nice for a change.  The camp boys are still sleeping, as is Ki, snuggled in with Andrew.  I put Maggie out and I am the only one awake now in this house.  I soak up the quiet like water in a sponge.

I am lucky to work for three hours today.  We, the entire postal service, are so short handed this happens in many places, juggling and moving people when someone else needs off.  I like the way my friend said it yesterday, "They have cut us to skin and bones and now they're after the bones"

Hubby is scheduled for more heart surgery July 20th and I have managed to get off for that.  My washing machine may still be under warranty but it appears Hubby is not.  I will have to pay for all replacements parts and repairs, plus the service call.

Washer is on the list for repair the 27th and I have been to the laundromat once, so far.  That is a story all by itself.

The vacuum has yet to be repaired, maybe I can work on that this weekend.  Needless to say, the house is a mess but life goes on, with or without the conveniences.

My computer is back up, but still have no volume and no virus protection at all now, so any post may be my last until I can correct that.  It still says my speakers are not plugged in, but they are internal speakers.  I have tried all I know.  Computer says they are working but not plugged!

On the bright side, Hubby will be repaired, I have a job even though he doesn't, my computer is supplying my drug of choice (blogging), I have no know ailments except insanity, and those roosters are still quiet....this day is good.

The Darkness...

pushed its way across the sky.  The sun still shined but in the distance, the curtains of rain were visible.

The lightning split the sky as I drove through a whirlwind of summer-dead leaves.  The car rocked, resisting the wind force, as I drove closer to the storm.

The darkness deepened, the winds strengthened, as I entered the power of the storm.  I passed farmers, desperately, hopefully, fruitlessly, trying to bale the hay before the rains arrived.  I knew they had lost the race, when the rain pelleted my windshield, joining the wind.

As the rains fell, I imagined the dry ground welcoming the renewal as the grass sighed.