Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries

Saturday morning was beautiful, and we spent it picking cherries. The cherries were lovely, almost like jewel-like.

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Our final tally was 15 quarts.

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We relieved the cherries of their pits, and I'll get them ready for use in the future. I'll post about that later.
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And now, we have canned cherries for pies and cobblers later this year, and
cherry jelly, too.

Garden Tour

We do not have a big yard, but we try to make it as productive as possible. Here are some pictures of what has been going on in our yard recently.

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Our resident robin, in an homage to my husband's awesome skills with the weed eater, erected this huge nest, complete with an artistically arranged cascade of vegetation. It's very nice, but she was remiss in that she neglected to apply for a building permit.

In an effort to decrease our electrical bills, we wanted to put up a clothesline again, but we were stumped as to where we were going to fit it in our yard. A trip to a nearby Amish community gave us the perfect idea - a pulley line. The new clothesline runs from our shed to the third floor attic window. It needs some tightening, but here is the inaugural laundry load (complete with touch-ups from the memory manager program).

The plum trees are working diligently too. These should be ready in a few more weeks.

Not to be left out, the vegetables are not slacking, either. The chard is growing and we already have some baby Amish paste tomatoes coming along.

Lots and lots and lots of green. Isn't summer great?

Some Thoughts on Being Busy

In a conversation today, the topic of busy-ness came up (if I spell busy-ness the way I think it should be spelled- business, I doesn't look right, so bear with me). Full schedules have been the norm around here for quite awhile, but sometimes overscheduling gets the better of me and I find myself cutting corners in order to get things done. There have even been times, where instead of meaningful conversation, schedule recitation takes place. You know those talks, right? I'll see your getting the kids to the orthodontist and raise you a three hour band practice. It is sad when instead of connecting with others, instead we feel compelled to throw our schedule at them to prove that we simply do not have the time. It is worse when we use busy-ness as a crutch to excuse ourselves from reaching out to others.

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I feel even sadder that I am tromping all over my own toes. (To anyone who would like to point out that tromping is not a real word, I am very sorry)

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When I was first married, I thought I was extremely busy if I had a full load of laundry to do AND cook supper. Now, laundry and supper fall somewhere in a very long to-do list peppered with practices and meetings. I have more to do, yes, but am I really busier? I came to the conclusion today, that busy-ness has more to do with a state of mind than it does with chores. The feeling of being overwhelmed as a newlywed was no less real than the feeling of being overwhelmed almost 15 years later. The key is in not letting my schedule define me, or chose for me what I will make a priority.

A New Toy - Memory Manager Software

I still haven't learned all of the cool functions on the Creative Memories Memory Manager software, but I like what I've learned so far.

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I took this picture of Runner two years ago, and it is one of my favorites - even if it is really dark and had the stupid date stamp on it. This is one of her best toothy grins.

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Here it is before:

And here it is after:
I was able to lighten it up and get rid of the date. In addition to editing pictures, the program also allows you to organize your digital photos. (My computer just heaved a HUGE sigh of relief). I look forward to posting more "improved" pictures in the coming days thanks to Creative Memories.

A Night at the Rodeo

Here are some pictures from our evening at the rodeo.
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Waiting for the rodeo to start

Roman ridin' rodeo clown

"Ummm, excuse me? Li'l help please."

Whole new meaning to "Buns of steel"

I love this picture!

And, I don't want to leave out my lovely traveling companions.

"I don't want my picture taken."

"I've got food stuck in my braces."

Hello, handsome!

Insightful Thoughts, or Not

This is going to be a very stream of consciousness post. My thoughts are refusing to fall into formation this morning.

• The book of Exodus seems very long. Genesis went by quickly and Job, though puzzling in parts, was a very interesting read. Exodus, however, I'm having a bit of trouble getting into. Yes, I know the Hebrews wandered in the desert for 40 years, so it probably seemed kind of long for them too.
• 3:00a.m. is not a good time to wake up. Especially when you are startled awake (stupid dog) and then freaked out (again, by the dog) and then lay awake for 2 hours. Runner decided that it would be a wonderful idea to bound around the bed (think Tigger hopped up on caffeine) and then run to the window. Midnite and Runner then stood, ears erect and tails wagging, at the window staring at something. I looked and looked, and saw nothing. The dogs then curled up and went back to bed, leaving me wide awake for 2 hours.
• 6:30 a.m. is not a good time to wake up either when it is dark, dreary and overcast.
• Why, if it is calling for an inch of rain, do the umbrellas go MIA?
• Also, I wanted to make sun tea today. No sun, no tea.

Wow, that disintegrated quickly. No sleep does not creativity make. Grammar bad too. Must find caffeine.

Laugh Out Loud Funny

Here's a funny, funny video to get through the end of the week. Chonda Pierce is hilarious!
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I know it's a bit long, but trust me, it is worth every second!