Welcome Lizard!

I was surprised to see this creature on this dead plant. Really blended in. Had it not blinked, I probably would not have seen it at all.

I was hoping that maybe it was a skinny horny toad, since those are so rare around here.

But no, I did find out it was a fence lizard. So, hello lizard! Make your self right at home:) Can I interest you in my all-you-can-eat bug buffet????

Son-Day: "Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee"

“My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You.” Psalm 71:23

Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus, which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us, brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward in the triumph song of life.

~God bless You and Yours today, and Everyday~

Words: Hen­ry J. Van Dyke, 1907. Van Dyke wrote this hymn while stay­ing at the home of Har­ry A. Gar­field at Wil­liams Col­lege, Mass­a­chu­setts. It was first pub­lished in the Pres­by­ter­i­an Hymn­al in 1911. It al­so ap­peared in the Po­ems of Hen­ry van Dyke, 1911. Van Dyke wrote:

These vers­es are sim­ple ex­press­ions of com­mon Christ­ian feel­ings and de­sires in this pre­sent time—hymns of to­day that may be sung to­ge­ther by peo­ple who know the thought of the age, and are not afraid that any truth of sci­ence will de­stroy re­li­gion, or any re­vo­lu­tion on earth over­throw the king­dom of hea­ven. There­fore this is a hymn of trust and joy and hope.

Music: Hymn to Joy, from the 9th Sym­pho­ny of Lud­wig van Beet­ho­ven; adapt­ed by Ed­ward Hodg­es, 1824 (MI­DI, score).

Cutest Dog Competition

60 Second Cookies with the Grands

Great Grandma's Famous 60 Second Cookies

Start one beautiful grand daughter measuring out the oats...

Make sure she doesn't need any help
("I don't needs any help" she says)

Meanwhile, give the other beautiful grand daughter a pot...

Add in peanut butter

And some Bug Juice

Add in Dr Pepper, and a freshly chewed tortilla...

Make sure everything fits...

Make sure to make some funny faces to make the rest of the fixing fun...

Let Grandma take it from here...

What sweet helpers, thanks to their mom for suggesting we make DJ's favorite cookies.


Recipe:

"Tasty no-bake cookies made with oatmeal, peanut butter and cocoa. Start timing when mixture reaches a full rolling boil; this is the trick to successful cookies. If you boil too long the cookies will be dry and crumbly. If you don't boil long enough, the cookies won't form properly."

• 1 3/4 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 3 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa.
   
2. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes.
   
3. Remove from heat, and stir in peanut butter, oats, and vanilla.
   
4. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper.
   
5. Let cool until hardened.

---

July 4th in August

We decided to have our family gathering on the Sunday following the fourth.
We were able to keep grands LauraJune and David.
The Saturday before, these two were ready to go shopping.

Both were big help to Grandpa with watermelon tasting, the watermelon passed inspection.

Sunday morning brought about this Pretty Princess,

and Dashing Doll all ready for church.

Then we went to my mom's.
There used to be a 'small' family reunion each Memorial Day, when everyone gathered for the day at mom's.
That had been moved to July 5th this year.
Sweet hubby was the chef.

As you know my youngest graduated high school this year.
He agreed to wait and celebrate when the family got together in July.
With each child a treasure hunt is given so they can find the chest dad and I give them for their graduation gift.
The kids create clues and hide small things for the grad.
This is powwow discussing the plan.

The hunt is on.

This always proves to be very entertaining!
We hid the chest in the livingroom, it took Taylor forever to find it!!
Good laugh shared by all!!
Congrats Tater-baby!!

Took all these shots from Miss Can'tMakeMeSmile

To get this picture

Then FIREWORKS!!!

Daughter Misty did the honors.
This year was a small display bought just for the babies.


Bestest part of the day? Family! I love my family.

Show And Tell Friday at There is no place like home.

Cuteness Runamuck: July Audrey Style

~Grand Audrey (and family) in WI~
~Thanks to my Step-Daughter Tiffany for posting these photos!!~

Bloomin' Tuesday: 08/25/09

This orange reminds me of summer.
It is doing great as a happy border bloomer.

I was not happy about finding my sun coleus burnt (not sure how) this morning,

But I was pleasantly surprised to see a bloom on my blackie sweet potato plant!!

Not very big, but a nice surprise:)

My little luna hibiscus plant is just blooming like crazy!

Mexican petunia finally blooming...

Pokeberries

Wild Sunflower, I'm very pleased how well this is doing!
I pulled these up along the road side and started the seeds.
They grow in very poor sandy soil, so I didn't know if they would do well here.
So far they are on their second bloom, they have silvery leaves and cherry little blooms.

I was so glad this floss flower bloomed!
The plant was doing great and I could not remember what it was.
As soon as it bloomed, I remembered:)

I cut back the obedient plant blooms, I'm curious if I will get a second bloom this year.

You can really see the dragon wing fleece flower now.
The growth on this plant this year has been amazing:)

Have a wonderful Bloomin' Tuesday!
Join MsGreen "thumb" Jean for Bloomin' Tuesday! Come join in or see others!

Also Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Day Dreamer's

Appeasing the Orchids

My poor orchid plants have not been doing well as I would like. I can't figure out how much to or not to water them. So, I'm trying semi-hydro. I bought and soaked fired clay pellets. I found good clear-ish containers to turn in to semi-hydro.


I cut off the tops of the bottles I was using, filled with pellets, placed in the orchid plant (I soaked them in water to try to remove as much of the old potting mix as possible), added more pellets.


I poked several holes in the pots about one inch up. This is the water reservoir and overflow. The big orchid is my newish Sharry Baby. It is what I am most concerned about.


It has two bloom spikes and I can't wait for the blooms!!! I put these in my bathroom, they get perfect light there. And now, hopefully, perfect water. We.will.see.


From Garden Web:
s/h and semi-hydro are shortened terms for semi-hydroponics, a method of growing plants using a non-organic medium. Because it is not an ebb and flow method, it isn't true hydroponics. Common materials used as a growing medium are LECA (clay pellets), Aliflor, Primeagra, and sponge rock.

Probably the most common material is the clay pellets. The plant is planted in a container which has a reservoir, usually a plastic pot with holes approximately 1" up from the bottom of the pot on the side, or Misco or Misco-type self-watering pots. The clay pellets wick the moisture up so that the roots of the plant receive constant moisture without drowning it.

In preparation, the pellets are soaked prior to potting up. Some pellets are placed in a pot, tamped down by shaking the pot. The plant is then held over the pot with the roots about 1/3 to 1/2 down the pot. More pellets are placed in the pot. The plant is then watered. When the reservoir is emptied, the plant is watered again. Once a month the pot is flushed by running water through it to rid the pot of excess salts/fertilizers.

Son-Day: "I have decided to follow Jesus"

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
S. Sundar Singh

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

2. Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

3. The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

4. Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

Diaper Party

Last Saturday, my daughter had the sweetest diaper party.
The babies played outside (with the men playing dominos) while us girls were inside.
I love how my grandbabies love their mommies.
I was able to lay down with the grands for nap time.
They are so heavenly when they are sleeping.


My favorite photos of the day.
Grands LauraJune and David have my heart.

Congrats to Misty, her hubby Ralph, and baby on the way!!