Kennesaw House

Finally we have possesion of our house back. We need to get it cleaned up and for sale asap. Darn, no photos on this computer.

Wah! Ben and Anna went home.

I sure enjoyed your visit. Can't wait til next summer.

Snooty will be 63.

You probably will still fit through DeSoto's church door.

And you will still look darn good swimming in those crazy mixed-up bathing suits.

Ben and Anna

Arriving at the Airport
















Eating at Subway after shopping at Target for sunscreen.















Anna likes sunchips.





















Anna and I go Kayaking while Ben is off with friends. Then we went to the beach on Anna Maria by the Sandbar Restaurant. Then for a swim in the pool.









Then to Anna Maria Oyster Bar for Caesar salad and pasta alfredo.














Then to the movie Eclipse. Sunday was a busy day.

Anemia screemia

I'm sthick of it. It's always something.
Two Iron capsules a day. Thirty minutes before meals no less.
Uncomfortable side effects finally lessening.
New Dr. Gastro Guy is sending me to his own surgery to get reamed down the throat to the small intestines and also up the butt ditto. Yea! Me! I get the good go to sleep drugs. And Honey will be here to drive me home. If we have any money left maybe he will take me to eat as I will be hungry from having nothing but laxatives since noon the day before and the first proceedure doesn't start til afternoon Aug. 3rd. I actually have to drink a gallon of laxatives in two, two hour periods. A half-gallon each day. I'm sure it is delicious. Right.

Fortunately, I have Ben and Anna to play with starting tomorrow til next Thursday. Can't wait.

Missing my Girl

If you need a love story, Dirty Dancing is on tonight.

Ben and Anna coming

Photo is Ben, girlfriend Michelle and Anna. Ben if you are reading this send a new photo of you and Michelle.

So Saturday I get by sweet kids from the airport and saturate them with sun and water.

How about parasailing, kayaking, hunting for sharks teeth, hiking and hitting the beach?

Turtle patches plus nail repair

I went outside today to water a newly planted avocado tree and the fig tree that is not growing but finally has a few new leaves. I ended up pulling weeds, then pulling up the zinnias to plant the tomato plant that actually has tomatoes but was living in a pot that dries out every day in the sun. The rains have obviously stopped. It seems every time I garden I mess up my nails and this was no exception. I have gardening gloves, many pairs, but seldom wear them and when I do, I usually take them off too soon. My left forefingernail has been split into the quick for 5 months. I cannot get it to grow out for anything. I guess gardening is the worst, but swimming isn't good either as it soaks and gets soft and splits up further. Today I decided to sew it shut, like stitches? I used red thread so I would stay aware of it, I have a bad memory.

Two more patches more or less done. One I still have to sew the turtle down but it is ready to press and sew. The other one needs eyes or something. Need quite a few more.

I enjoy making the squares in the evenings while nothing is on tv. I can listen but don't have to watch. If you watch Kyra Sedgewhichs cop show on TNT the new season starts tomorrow. I don't know how to spell her name and can't remember the name of the series. But it is good.

On the Manatee River

So I made it to the Kayak adventure with Ranger Megan, also in the first photo. I was going to have my own kayak but as someone was missing I shared with a Gal from Philly. She had more experience than I did. I had none. She had gone out a few times.

It was a beautiful day. A nice breeze but no waves. High tide. We got some safety instructions such as: if you fall out, stand up it is shallow, and if you should happen to get into the channel and a boat is coming hold up your orange paddle so the boater know you are an idiot and goes around you.

We also were lucky to have the ranger gather us now and then to tell us Native American and DeSoto lore. And information about the fish and flora.

We paddled along the river at the mouth (in the background of the second photo shows the point at Palmetto.) I am waving. We continued to the little baylike area where the DeSoto Monument is located. We free paddled all over the place for about 1/2 hour gathering a few times to listen to our history lessons.

Finally, we returned, reversing our path and landed on a sandy beach. I did have to back out a bit to a foot or so of water to lever myself out as the knees would not just stand me up in the kayak. But that was no problem. I can see where I might have a problem if I were to tie up at a dock. But, I will not worry about that now. It was very simple to plop onto the Ocean Kayak and to step off into the water and stand. And they were so steady I doubt they would turn over. But it took two Rangers to carry them and they are about 100lbs.

Kelly's House

Yum-o!

Kelly made lobster dinner for her Mom and Dad.

Corn and artichokes too. Crusty bread.

We broke in that dining room well.

I am so proud of my daughter. She is so talented in so many ways. I never realized as she was growing up how many of my interests she was soaking up, storing away for later. Now, she is a gardener, crafter, cook, and waterbaby. Plus all of her talents that I don't have, music, jewelry, social networking, and so many friends. Wow!

Third post today!

My Watermelon.

Yum! 4th of July heaven.

Grown from seed in the front yard.

Tangling

The course I took at Keeton's was ZenTangles. It is sort of like when you scribble on a piece of paper and then color in the spaces with different colors in third grade. Except, in tangles you fill in with black and white designs.
Each design has a name and directions how to complete it.
There is also a Zentangle II course which I will not take. So to find out more, go to Zentangle.com or www.d-originals.com which is where there is information about the book by Suzanne McNeill.

It is fun and relaxing and all you need is a pencil, a black permanent marker (Micron 01-05 Pigma by Sakura), and smooth art paper is all you need. It is also great for scrapbooking, journaling, greeting cards, and borders.

Ducklings in the Pool

Yes, yes, I know. But what can I do? They came they swam and all but three got out. Oops. Help! Mom, come get us.

There is the Mama Mexican Mallard and her ten babies. They are getting bigger. They can't fly but still fit through the chain link fence and come into the yard to forage. Peggy throws food over the fence for them to eat. But the grass is always greener... . It has been raining for a week. Their pond is filled back up They should been happy with that but nooooo... they just had to try out the pool. Momma duck got out and the babies went to the corner and started jumping out, flapping their tiny wings like crazy. Until three were left. I found out they can swim underwater almost the length of the pool as I finally had to get the net and long pole and scoop them out. Their mom had taken the others back to the lake and left them. They were happy with their reunion at the pond and so I thought, well, thats that. They won't be back. Wrong.

The Turtle is finished

This is the fabric turtle that I made after watching the fabric Videos on Teesha's Circus blog.