My Sweet Girl!

 

My Sweet Girl!

 

Jennifer just left to go back home. She spent most of this day with me, and this ol’ woman thoroughly enjoyed her company. She also did a few things for me while she was here. One of the main jobs was clipping the nails on my right foot. Just you try to get a foot in your lap when something is torn in your back! Not gonna happen! Then she went to Sam’s for me and brought back a whole bunch of goodies including some bodacious apricots! These things are really the biggest apricots ever! And they taste as good as they look. She reminded me that if there are too many to eat, chopped up and slipped in ziplock bags would work if the excess is placed in the freezer. See, she is smart, too!

The weather was so very nice and cool early this morning, but it did not take terribly long to get hotter than blue blazes. JoAnn and her husband came over and mowed a bunch of the weeds and grass. JoAnn came over all hot and sweaty and needed a cool wet towel on her neck. It was just too hot to be out there messing around in the sun. Smitty finally got the mower put back on their trailer and got them ready to go home. Maybe in a couple of days the rest of the place will get cleaned up, and then they want to close up the house with boards or whatever it takes to keep people out of there. Nothing is left to steal, but that won’t keep the bad guys out of there.

Dug a bunch of mint plants out of the top tier of the herb garden so that Jenn could take them home and plant them. Hope she has good luck with those plants. It is the best smelling and tasting mint that has ever grown on this ol’ hill. Know there is apple, chocolate, peppermint, and spearmint in that family, but this seems to be just plain ol’ mint. Strong plants with plenty of flavor is what they are, anyway.

My dogs are still itchy, but they seem to have stopped scratching as much. Maybe something is working. Jenn brought some Johnson’s baby creamy oil that is supposed to keep bugs and stuff off of babies, so maybe that took care of some of the itch, too.

One of the Cuckoo Marans is at it again! She walked across the yard toward another hen this morning with her wings out and stomping—yes, hens can stomp. She definitely was trying to start something! Took her out of the nest twice today, and tonight she goes in chicken jail! Dadgumit. It is really too hot to put her in there during the day, but have no idea where else to put her. NOT bringing her inside to fuss with me! I can see that now—open the bathroom door to a squawking hen! Nope, not happening.

Connie made some Swedish meatballs and brought them over. Jenn thought that they were pretty tasty. Guess we will have to get the recipe. Cooked up a big batch of mushrooms to put them on instead of using rice or pasta. Mushrooms don’t cause any weight gain whatsoever as long as they are cooked right. It is just awfully tempting to put sauces on them, but that did not happen this time. Jennifer said her weight loss has stopped at this point, but in my estimation, it is just great not to gain any! And not getting out to mess around in the yard is not going to help with losing any weight around here. Sigh

Jenn picked up some pure protein drinks called café latte when she went shopping for me. She said that they are better than coffee, but they have caffeine in them, of course. Oh well. In the morning we will see how that works out. Protein AND caffeine—can’t beat that!

The wabbits have fewer places to hide tonight. But it has not kept them from running by in front of our windows and driving my dogs wild! At least it has not been rats standing up and squeaking at the front of the house! Or snakes. JoAnn said that each time she lifted a board or anything, she watched for snakes. All she found was toads! That sounded good to me. Toads are lovely creatures.

Was telling Jenn how the numbers of injured in the Austin shooting seemed to change quite a bit from the first time it was posted. Then one person was arrested and supposedly one more was being sought. Honestly! It makes a horse whipping sound like the ideal punishment before they ever get to jail! Dadblamed idiots! Not safe to get out among others much anyway, but those who cause this kind of harm deserve a special place in hades. Just my opinion, of course.

The bird for today is the Great Crested Grebe. Those are some beautiful birds. These critters have a fancy courtship dance as they raise themselves out of the water and shake their heads at each other. They have some display tufts around their necks during courtship which are lost shortly thereafter. And the male is the one to bring nesting materials to the female. God made some of the neatest creatures. Water birds are pretty special in my estimation. Just think about trying to raise babies on the water!

Not too much on my mind tonight. Think tomorrow might be a little better day if getting up early can help my attitude. Sometimes wish we could just sleep through the heat of summer the way bears sleep through the intense cold of winter. Sigh

May you all rest well and stay cool. Let joy be your companion in all that you find to do. You are loved.