wednesday, thursday, friday

1 The days have changed from warm and balmy to cool and rainy; the leaves are changing colour and sadly the hummingbirds have gone south. Fall has arrived.
2 Only a few flower pots are left but their colours are still vibrant and welcome.
3 Note to self: use a chair when hanging up sharp twirly gigs! No stitches.
4 Mr P has been doing lots of after work things to make his time in camp bearable. He going to a coach and is encouraged by their conversation and even has some homework.
5 After not working the switchboard for a couple of weeks it's nice to get back to it. A few brain glitches and it's all good.
6 My hairdresser decides it's time to darken my hair. It's too dark but Saturday he'll add more lighter pieces and hopefully it'll be what we both like.
7 A successful shopping trip and I have a few new fall sweaters and yoga pants for work. I like looking stylish yet feel comfortable at work. It's a challenge to sit that long in tight pants!
8 I'm so grateful for my husband. We have created a home space that just work so well for us.
9 She's invited me to participate in two craft fairs this fall. One in November and one in December. I'll be framing some photographs and perhaps creating a few postcards/greeting cards. Exciting!

cooler, wait a bit longer, and fed and done

1 It was smokin' hot out (36C) but the a/c was on full blast and we didn't overheat. It feels great getting into bed with just a sheet and the fan circulating the cool air.
2 The hummingbirds are gone for now. We're waiting a bit until we're sure that the honey bees have left and it's safe to put out the sugar water feeders. Patience birdies, patience.
3 I finally remembered to give the plants some Miracle Grow and now they're bursting out in buds. I've put a reminder on the garage door whiteboard which will keep us on track now! (hopefully)
4 I did it. First long shift alone, done!

swarms, my hero, and the end

1 We had a swarm of honey bees arrive at our place and they took over the hummingbird feeders. We thought it was a few hundred at least on each feeder! I am allergic so it felt rather overwhelming and tears came. He soothes me and says to say inside and he'll take care of it. (note: epi pen had expired! I'll get that fixed on Saturday)
2 Mr P puts on his hard hat, covers it with mosquito netting, puts on a heavy coat, gloves and boots and heads outside to take down the feeders. He sprays them with water first and they get heavy and fly away which gives him time to get them down. He has three to do and is done very quickly. The hive moves on quickly but the scouts stick around. There are lots still here but in a few days we're told they will have moved on. Let's hope so. I miss the hummingbirds!
3 We spend the later evening watching the final show of the crime series that we've been watching. I'm not sure it was the ending I would have chosen but everyone's a critic right? The Wire 2002-2008

true or false, skies, and dip

1 She tells me to write, "You can do this." Tomorrow we will decide if this is true.
2 The skies are filled with smoke and the heat is scorching. We have air conditioning in our home and it's keeping things cool. I'm grateful.
3 Despite the high temperatures the hummingbirds still feed and take time to dip their little beaks in the cool water that we have placed on the deck and in the small water fountain. I'm trying to imagine what it must feel like to be in this heat, moving non stop.

oops there it went, elbows out, and oh yes he's here

1 My hair colour is perfect but he said he was trimming half inch but it ended up being two! Thankfully hair grows!
2 The hummingbirds are multiplying. I think it's that the fledglings are here now and getting bigger. They jockey for every bit of territory and are constantly chattering to each other.
3 Mr P is out riding tonight. It's late now but he should be home soon now that it's getting dark. Yup, as I type I hear his motorbike.. <insert smile here>

home, gratefulness, and in the rain

1 It's been a long day. I'm happy to be home in front of a fire, with a cup of tea, a good hot meal and my guy.
2 It's how I'm feeling tonight. Grateful for all you have given to me and grateful that I've been able to give back. Thank you.
3 Thunderstorms in the interior are loud, booming and full of life. I love how the house shakes, lights flicker and rain pelts down. And in all of that, the hummingbirds still play, fight, chase each other and manage to get a good bit of food into their little bodies.

There's a song we used to listen to years ago, You get what you Give, by the New Radicals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL7-CKirWZE&list=PLB40863B7FAF9D017

right, what we need, and another piece of paradise

1 I'm reminded of Goldilocks and the Three Bears sometimes when I look around our new home. It's specifically the part when she says, "It's just right!"
2 It intrigues me how people use Facebook. For some people it's social, as in let me tell you all about everything I'm doing. For others, it's liking pages and a comment now and again. Still others are big and bold and some even start arguments. But today it's about a mom and her willingness to put herself out there to ask for support for herself but mostly for support and prayers for her daughter. We all need different things at different times. I guess that's why social media can sometimes work.
3 Mr P's home from his ride and shows me the path he took. Oh did I mention many paths!? His map zig zags all over the place and he laughingly tells me how he's found his bit of motorbike paradise.
4 It's for the birds....

Kes, Isabelle, and share please!

1 A mellow Friday is just what I needed. I do a class in the morning and then a visit with a friend followed by a visit at the kids place. Kes runs to the door for his hug but then is happier with mommy. I guess he's a bit more tired than he thought.
2 Isabelle snuggles in with me and before long she's asleep. I love how her lips still purse themselves and move like she's nursing while she's sleeping.
3 Mr P and I have fun watching our ever entertaining hummingbirds feed before dark. They're in fast and furious but eventually they all are able to eat and sometimes even are kind enough to each other to share the feeder.

two, sing to me, and green

1 Well now, those were two jam packed days filled with work, driving, and adjusting to 5 am wake up times! I have no complaints about any of it but am glad to have a bit of downtime.
2 the seed birds have arrived and arrived in big numbers. They start their symphony pretty early and go til dusk. Sadly the hummingbirds are not around as much and we clean, bleach and refill the feeders but so far just one or two. Perhaps we were just a pit stop for them on their way farther north?
3 Their backyard is looking so green and lush. It's great when progress happens so quickly. Somehow it's just that much more motivating to do more.

tomato plants, helpful or not, and catch me if you can

1 A trip to the Farmer's Market on a Saturday morning nets us some pretty awesome tomato plants. One is a medium sized yellow tomato called 'Lemon Boy' and the other is a cherry tomato called 'Sweet Chelsea'. I thought of you, Leonora when I bought this one!
2 Mr P washed the windows on the high side of the house. He is tired but doing it regardless. I make funny faces to him from the inside. He asked me, 'Are you helping?' But he was smiling when he asked.
3 The hummingbirds had disappeared for a few days and we thought perhaps they'd found a new feeding ground but today they're back in full force and are playing hide and seek in the pots of lilacs we've put on the deck near their feeder.

a hope is not a plan, i have a plan, and it's a bugs life

1 Reading a friends blog today his words resonated with me. He said, "a hope is not a plan.' I like that. Often it's talk about our hopes and dreams in idealistic ways and not the concrete plans we should be creating. Food for thought. Thanks Dwayne.
2 I really really miss running. It's not that I haven't had the opportunity to go running, it's that I haven't. I hoped to run but I didn't make a plan to run. I've put my plan on the calendar. Let's see if that does the trick.
3 Ants! Ugh, there's something about these bugs that are just plain annoying. They're climbing up the side of the house two floors and are all over the deck, even climbing up on the pole that the hummingbird feeder is on. Now that we know where they're coming from we must decided whether we put slippery stuff where they are climbing or get an ant trap. I'm thinking trap down on the ground. We don't have a cat or let the kidlets there on their own so it should be safe and do the trick.

assortment, together or not, and cheesy

1 The day consists of a lot of running around doing errands and buying groceries. We have so many testers at Costco that dinner tonight is an assortment of snacks, bits and bites of this and that.
2 The hummingbirds were gone. None were coming and feeding. We changed their food and by dusk they were back at the feeders sometimes feeding together and sharing and at other times they just can't share at all!.
3 Tomorrow is a full moon, but the moon tonight is equally as impressive I'm sure of it. It's bright and big and really does look like it's made out of cheese!

more opportunities, look me in the eye, and twirly

1 Three more job postings have come my way. I am really hoping for the hospital job. It's work I am trained for and have done previously. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for an interview for that one! Wow, what a lot of choices suddenly.
2 The hummingbirds seem to really like the front feeder. There's a water fountain and lots of bright colourful flowers for them as well. As I was planting my large pots they were feeding, playing, hovering right above me and at one point one was eye to eye with me! Love it!
3 I won! Yesterday I won a photo contest for a flower photo and the prize was a specially made suncatcher. I think it's perfect for the grandkidlets so it'll be a surprise gift for them on Mother's Day!

she says, play ball, and solar power

1 She says that Grampa is like a soft chair and snuggles on his lap at the dining room table. We're watching the hummingbirds fly around the feeder to feed and chase each other. Izzy calls them 'honeybirds."
2 The big purple ball we have for sitting on is like a gift from heaven for our sweet boy Kesler. His eyes are like saucers and he immediately runs over to pick it up. It's practically as big as him but he gets it.
3 She calls the new solar flower lights, green flashlight flower and white flashlight flower and Kes squeals and shivers with excitement! Simple fun.

forecast, sun, cat antics, and fy

1 The weather has changed. at least for the next few days. It's been warm, hot really and sunny and the deck chairs call to us. We repair our patio umbrella and find some respite in the shade.
2 When I'm getting ready for bed I notice that my arms and neck are pink!
3 Yuki, the kids cat is a wee bit lonely with the family away for a few days. When I go over to feed him, the fish and water the plants he's friskier than usual. He runs into my legs and feet, he swats at my loose hair when i reach down to pet him and then zips all over the place trying to get my attention. Later he settles down and we have a good pet.
4 Male hummingbirds are doing aerial acrobatics.