Friday the 4th

[Nancy]

Grilling and chilin' today here!
Did some weeding.
Hen chores tree to cut up playin' it by ear here.
Watching the neighbors fireworks later.
People door is closed on the coop, so hens can get away from the noise if you they want.
Picked some summer apples.

[BookSaver]

Harriet ~ I almost used the title "No, it isn't Saturday yet!" I thought it was Saturday the whole first hour I was up.

Lucylee ~ I think you should restart your computer. I don't know anything about AOL but that would be the first thing I'd try.

[Sunny]

Happy 4th of July!

Our weather looks like it will be nice here today. Temp is now 74* and sunny. We had some rain here last evening. The hurricane eye is not quite even with our location yet, but no rain is forecast.

This morning we were up early. Dson's neighborhood has holiday events planned for the day starting with a parade at 9 am. Dgs12's Scout troop was marching at the beginning. There will be a 5K race and a car show that I know of. We might go later on today to see the cars. I think this evening we will go up to D.C. to watch fireworks.

Last night ds prepped a huge beef brisket. He had to cut the roast in half. He started the smoker about 3 am and it looks and smells delicious!

Everyone is home today except ddil who is working at the pharmacy till 7pm.

**No mail here either today....(ducking and running away>>>>>)

Hope everyone has a pleasant day!

[Twins' Mom]

Yes, today does seem like Saturday.

We had a wonderful time out last night and were back home by 10 p.m. Dneighbors had a fire going in their firepit to watch fireworks downtown so dh and ds went over there awhile and had a very nice time. I was just too "peopled" out and worn out. Slept in until 9 a.m. this morning - I've walked ddogs and read the paper and had a quiet morning. Dh has gone to JCC to make an appearance at their 4th of July party midday. Neighbors are cooking up a "low country boil" at the pool this afternoon so will spend part of the afternoon up there, then need to clean up at be at temple at 5 p.m.

I was hungry so ate breakfast of eggs, mushrooms, bell peppers and herbs with a little cheese. I hope I still have an appetite later!

Happy 4th of July - safe celebrations to all in US today!

[Nancy]

Eggs and tky brat horseshoe shaped cook on the grill in od kit yum! It isnice out this morning.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Another slow start for me after a fight in the shower with the water temperature.

First load of laundry is in the dryer, second in the washer, and clean linens on the bed and in the bathrooms and kitchen.

The installer for the blinds is doing that now. They aren't perfect but they look good. We have an issue with window handle and heat vent - to clear the handle they'll be moving from the air from the vent so I had to choose the lessor of two evils. Oh, and they don't close the right way since wavy blinds are designed to only work one way.

The dryer is buzzing so I need to go and tend to it.

[FelineFriend]

HAPPY 4th of JULY, EVERYBODY!!!

DD is coming after all. I'm wearing a new ankle-length skirt, silver stripes on the bias on top, different direction from the knees down on black background, with a size 14 blouse I bought on sale about 18 years ago- NO KIDDING! It didn't fit then, but it does NOW! Anyway, I have a black knit vest buttoned up, with it. I know it's not red-white-blue and I actually have a 4th of July colors tee, but I felt like dressing up for a change, wearing my new skirt, and it's fun. DD will be surprised I'm not in the same old jeans and tee.

I got a review of a product on-line, they told me this morning, they posted my story, so that makes me happy.

On the 8th, a book about writing for greeting card companies gets mailed, so should be here by the 11th, which is super because Dgs-15.5 goes home the morning of the 12th and I can read on it then.

The house looks so nice, so we're ready for our DD. I have a 4 - 5" stack of files, papers, story synopsis-es to go through, to filter out into Nov. - Mar. stories. 2 stories a month will do, because of my Christmas gift crochet. I don't want gift-giving to my d-grands and BFF to take a back burner and not get done.

I'm working on 2 letters by hand. The Current cards are super, which I just got. I'm using a couple of them, with yellow lined paper. I'm putting in enclosures into them, too. I can get them done before DD gets here between noon - 1 p.m. The TV traffic news said the freeway was backing up for quite a bit, so she might be late.

I woke up at 5:20 a.m. with Gastritis symptoms, so got up to take my generic Prilosec and wait to eat, have QT, journal, and begin one letter. It's a lovely beautiful sunny day here!

MT, sorry about that rain you got!

Everyone, have a GREAT DAY!

[Ramblinrose]

Happy Fouth to ya'll and morning to the rest of the village...

Well MT may have gotten rain last night, but we had a haboo..dust storm. We are expected to have another one tonight or a monsoon (rain and extreme wind) storm.

Harriet...nothing will be blooming at this point. The desert is done for the season. Only the amounts of rain during the late fall and winter effect the desert bloom in the spring. The more rain we get during that time, the bigger the bloom is during the early spring.

I was up early watching tennis. Then I went outside and beheaded my sunflowers, pulled the stalks, and discarded them in the trash. I also pulled out my dying petunias and geraniums. They are also done for the season. Sweetie storm proofed our yard yesterday afternoon...all cushions, umbrellas and such were moved indoors. The outside chairs were stacked and my plants were placed on the ground instead of in their plant stands.

I did a small grocery run and now am in for the rest of the afternoon. We will be out on the road later today to check on our other house and will grab something to eat then. I will be keeping an eye out on the weather...Dust storms are so bad that you can't see the front of your car if you are caught in one. They don't last long...perhaps 15-30 so if you're out somewhere when it happens its best just to stay where you are.

Yesterday I didn't quite feel myself so I curled up and read for the day. Nice break for me.

We can see many fireworks from our backyard, but it doesn't look promising that they will be held tonight. I can smell the rain in the air, but sometimes, because its so hot and dry around here, it can rain out of the clouds but it evaporates before it hits the ground. There's a name for that type of rain, but at the moment the word escapes me.

Hope ya'll get to enjoy your 4th...my family at home, NJ, will be fighting with Aurthor. No fireworks for them either...

[Lady Maverick]

Happy 4th of July!!

This is Funday for us. We only have 5 more Friday's until LO starts to back to school. That means only 5 more opportunities for FunDay picnics. Today we had picnic at local park that has huge pavilion for LO to fly his remote airplane. We originally planned to go fishing while picnic but our morning was too hectic to suddenly switch into the fishing mode.

skippable MPB saga...
the two hours before our picnic was spent at MPB tracking down a leaking pipe. Each bay has 7 cycles....meaning individual 7 pipes are running to it. The pipes are all in conduit and pipe trays in the attic covered with insulation to keep them from freezing during the winter. It woks well......until one pipe springs a leak. It is like hunting a needle in the haystack to find the leaking pipe. DH is in the attic, LO is manning the sprayer, I am running between the equipment room and bays while talking on phone with DH.....Okay, here is east bay tire cleaner....anything?....No?....runnning back to bay....Okay here is east bay spot free....anything leaking?.....No?.....running again. Repeat...repeat...repeat... until the leak starts spraying. I think we were on the 12th cycle before we found it. The fix was simple - DH had it fixed in less than 15 minutes. It was FINDING the leak that was the hard part.

[Harmony]

MT and RRose, your weather sure is extreme!

Indy, I like seeing Eore here again!

We don't have much planned for the day. DH mentioned the beach but I asked to beg off, not wanting the sun to zap what little energy I do have...and he agreed the traffic / parking out there would be intense so after working in the yard a bit he stretched out in the recliner and took a nap. We have a proposal to do together in a bit.

I had a nice sleep-in this morning. But big progress happened at my desk. All the biggest statements had arrived and they always take a lot of figuring to get straightened out (think cost accounting). I managed to get them all done and I just noticed the one wall pocket which keeps receipts waiting to be paid is completely empty!

I folded a load of laundry. I emptied and reloaded the dishwasher.

I'm feeling really good about this progress.

Wow, Sunny gets to see the Wash DC fireworks! I like to watch them on TV, they're spectacular.

Happy holiday to everyone.