Penny and Me

Now that the outside of the building is finished I guess it is time for me to get back to my blogs.  It has been so long since I did one that I am not sure where I left off, so if I repeat anything – sorry about that.  I am just going to try and remember things I have done in the past six weeks or so.

Our weather here has been extremely hot the past few weeks.  It has been in the upper 90’s with no rain.  Kevin, bless his heart, has kept the grass mowed even with working on the building.  However, the weeds have taken over my flowers again.  I started cleaning out the azaleas, but I just can’t take the heat.  Getting too old I guess.  I did get enough weeded, that with the watering I have been doing they are blooming.  Two just have a few flowers, but one is doing great!

The Franklin Trees are doing great since we put them in containers.  One of them even bloomed this year which was a big surprise.

 

A couple of years ago I (Kevin) planted a snowball bush that I had purchased.  I wanted one because I can remember one in my Grandma Althoefer’s back yard that was huge and beautiful.  Finally, this year it has grown and has several medium sized flowers.  Hopefully, this will continue to grow and be as beautiful as I remember my Grandma’s. 

This year I bought two new crepe myrtles.  They are called Black Diamond.  I bought them because they were different.  Renea transplanted them into larger pots for me.  We will not put them in the ground for a year or two.

 

Of course, the lantanas are huge. I took this picture because of the butterfly, but it gives you an idea of how big the lantanas are.

Another reason I couldn’t get outside and play in the dirt is because I had the toenail on my right big toe removed.  Not much pain, but I couldn’t wear a regular shoe on that foot.  Kevin and Renea bought me some kind of goofy shoe that I wore.  It made a difference. Once I got used to it, I could drive.  Still couldn’t play in the dirt.  It’s healed now.  The weather has cooled down about five degrees, so I should be able to get outside again.

My deck furniture has fallen apart and is going into the trash.  The only thing that has survived the sun, heat, wind, rain and a little bit of winter is my swing.  It seems I will be buying new deck furniture in the spring.  Actually, my deck is getting really bad so I may need to do something about that.  I have been discussing it with Kevin.  No final decision has been made.

We said a lot of prayers during hurricane Florence.  Rita and Bob live outside of Wilmington in a town called Leland.  They were very fortunate that that didn’t have much damage.  Mostly just lost shrubs and bushes.  Then Samantha lives in Norfolk, and for a while it looked like she would get part of Florence, but she only got a little rain.  Brandon was out on the ship during Florence because they sent all the ships that were in dock out into the Atlantic.  He is back and is fine.

I’ve been busy doing some fall house cleaning.  I don’t do quite as much as I used to.  Getting too old.  I finished my t-shirt quilt top and it is at the quilters.  I picked up my Christmas quilt (this is for my bed) and the Christmas wall hanging. I had both of them quilted at Sunday Best Quiltworks.  The turned out really nice.  I also quilted several Christmas presents which I can’t mention because the recipients read my blog.  I have several more I am getting ready to start.  In between I am working on an embroidery project which is a Christmas present.  However, at the rate I am going it may be next year’s present 😊. 

Penny is doing fine.  She loves my first quilt.  I have it on the back of my couch, and that is where she lays.  I don’t know if it is the quilt or the fact that she can see out the window.  

Stephanie and her friend, Ray, got a German Shepherd puppy.  Her name is Bandit and she is adorable.  She is only three months old and she is going to be a big girl.  This picture is when they brought her here to meet all of us.  She is six weeks old in this picture.  Ray also has a dog named Kodiak.  He is an Australian Shepherd and is so sweet.  I am not sure how old he is, but I think he is about two or three.

I guess that’s about it for now.  Have a good week.