Last day in July!

Wow..it is hard to believe that tomorrow is August 1st!!
We have had a great July!!

1) Weather wise it's been warmer than normal and I have loved it!!

2) We had a wonderful vacation with all of our kids and some of their families...

3) One of the days during our vacation, we had a Christmas in July celebration on Mackinac Island with our granddaughter Alyssa (who lives there year round)...it was so much fun to take all her gifts from last Christmas to her there on the island. We also had a white elephant gift exchange aboung the 24 people that were in attendance...Lori (Alyssa's Mom) made Christmas cookies and took them and we even had snowmen napkins...all in all a great day!

4) The family also took a paddle boat ride on the Ausable River Queen while we were on vacation...except for it being very warm and not much breeze it was a fun and pretty trip.

5) Spent a lot of days in July at Lori's enjoying her pool and having cook outs. (Including a fun filled 4th of July spent around the pool...eating and chatting!!)

6) Fred and I spent a day at one of our state parks, enjoyed a cook out and relaxing by the lake.

7) We also had a fun trip to Frankenmuth yesterday to finish celebrating his birthday (July 13th) with a free all you can eat chicken dinner and some shopping. (I have a couple Christmas gifts bought!!) :)

8) Spent Saturday of the 4th of July weekend at Pam and Dan's...enjoyed lots of fellowship and good food.

9) One of the highlights of July is our gorgeous garden!! Fred worked really hard in June to finish the fence around it. This is the first year we haven't had critters eating the plants as soon as they come up!! The planting of the garden was a little late due to a wet spring which delayed the work on the fence..but we are starting to get produce from it now. We've had cucumbers, summer squash, onions, green peppers, and the other night I fixed fried green tomatoes and they were delicious..(Should have some ripe ones soon!!)

10) To finish off this post I have to say one of the things I have enjoyed the most is spending time reading and just enjoying the outdoors in my new swing!! It's been so nice to enjoy this time!! Fred has enjoyed the garden, hoeing, watering etc. and checks it faithfully!! All in all an awesome July 2011!

Here is a short devotional that really spoke to me...Hope you enjoy!!

There is...

For every hectic work day there is a quiet rest...

For every painful experience there is a healing touch...

For every negative feeling there is an abiding joy...

For every disappointment there is a certain hope...

For every turbulent storm there is a sure foundation...

For every doubting thought there is a calm assurance...

For every hurtful action there is a forgiving love.

In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

Gorgeous Tuesday!

Good evening!! It's been a beautiful summer day here in Southern Michigan!! 85 degrees with lots of breezes and the humidity wasn't too bad...perfect day to be outside!!

Fred's garden is growing really well...our neighbors kept it watered while we were on vacation for over a week. (Got home this past Saturday) It was in the 90's everyday we were gone so it was imperative that it got watered and they did a great job. Also kept our fish pond filled (was having a little problem overflowing in the back) and also watered all my flowers!!

Here are a couple photos I took today of the garden..the first one is the gate to the garden and the sign on it was a birthday gift for Fred from our daughter Pam and her hubby.

This one is a picture of the first sunflower of the season!!

We have had a lot of cucumbers out of the garden and a couple summer squash, peppers, onions and it won't be long until the tomatoes start ripening..there are "LOTS" of green ones!!

It's been so nice to see Fred enjoying the garden..in the last couple years the rabbits and other critters have eaten most everything as soon as it's planted so with the new fence it's been wonderful to not have this problem.

We had a wonderful time with our kids and their families last week. We stayed at a cabin near West Branch Michigan on Twin Lake...3 of our kids stayed there also and the other 2 and their families came and spent a lot of time with us during the daytime.

On Tuesday we all took a day trip to Mackinac Island to celebrate Christmas in July with our granddaughter who lives on Mackinac Island year round and didn't get home for Christmas last year..I will post a separate post about our wonderful day real soon!!

Planning on being more diligent about blogging but I find myself enjoying the outdoors so much that the computer isn't a priority with this wonderful weather!!

Beautiful Summer Day!!

It's Monday...come on over to my
Simple Woman's Daybook blog
and see what is going on with me today..
(The link is to the right above my picture!)
God bless and have a wonderful Monday!!

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day July 15, 2011

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - July 15, 2011

What’s blooming in your garden on this beautiful mid-July day? Here are some of my flowers that are blooming at our place on July 15, 2011...I think this is a awesome way to share what is blooming in our gardens on the 15th of each month..so here I go..(check out the Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day blog above)

My flowers are doing really well this summer..we have had lots of 90 degree days and not very much rain..but I have been really faithful in watering and so they are all doing really well..
First is a beautiful bush with white blooms and honestly do not know the name of this bush!!!

Next Asiatic Lily that I LOVE!!

Now this next one is a weed but it looks so pretty and the finches love it that I just couldn't pull it out!! Sow Thistle Mexican heather...love this too!! Don't know the name of the tall purple leaf plant but like that one too!! This is one of my favorite flowers that attract the hummingbirds!! This bugle weed was planted last year around our pond and is flourishing this year!! Here are a couple pictures of my planter..one about 6 weeks ago and one this week.

Looking forward to next month to see what is blooming in my yard and garden!!

TGIF!!

Just got back from Costco and Kmart. Had a casual blouse I had bought at Kmart earlier in the summer and when I washed it a seam frayed out, so I returned it and got 2 more on sale 50% off so that was a deal!! LOL Fred got a new impulse sprinkler for the garden..it was on sale too..so he was a happy camper!!

Yesterday afternoon we decided mid afternoon to take a picnic and go to one of the State parks about an hour from us on Wampler's Lake. So off we went and had a great picnic supper by the lake. We took our little stove/oven we use to take camping and cooked the hotdogs on it and then grilled the buns on it too...yummy....


Then after eating we sat and read and people watched for a couple hours.
Weather was perfect and it was so nice being outdoors and enjoying it!!


Fred has been especially busy with the garden. After spending a lot of time and $$ to put up the fence around the garden, it's been so satisfying to see the garden flourishing like it has!! He has had to water it a lot as we have had very little rain in the last few weeks..we had our first cucumber and green pepper out of the garden for lunch today!! Our neighbor even offered to water it while we are on vacation so that is a good thing!!

I am really enjoying the new swing and getting a lot of reading done..it's a motivator to get stuff done
in the house so I can spend time outside!!

Praying you all have a wonderful weekend...God Bless!!

Tuesday after the 4th!! Summer is flying by!!

Well the 4th of July weekend celebrating is done for another year! Can't believe that it's July 5th already..seems like it was just Resurrection Sunday and now it's July!!
We had a great weekend..Saturday we spent late afternoon and evening over at Pam and Dan's...enjoying talking, eating and just enjoying the family. Then Sunday was church and a lazy afternoon here for Fred and I. Spent some time enjoying the outdoors and watching some tv.. Yesterday on the 4th we went to Lori and Bill's (daughter and son in law) and had a great afternoon and evening of food, swimming in the pool, talking, sharing, and lots of laughing.

So now it's back to the 'normal' household stuff..laundry, cleaning etc. This afternoon when the laundry is done, a grocery shopping trip is on the agenda..so that's my exciting Tuesday!!

Hope all of you had a blessed and happy 4th!!