I'M BACK ..........

I've been back home for more than a week but it's been rough getting into the swing of things once again.

Two reasons .....

1.  I worked myself too hard down in Joplin in the 90/100+ heat, thus depleting my energy level, even to blog.
2.  After a week enjoying my boys and catching up with normal life, now it seems I brought the SW Missouri heat back with me. Thus again, low energy levels in this hellacious humidity ... AND ... no A/C in the house.

So that being said, it's been slow going but I'm  ready to get back at the fun stuff, fan on high and aimed right at me. I just wanted to touch base for now, but look for some new blogs to be up soon.

I hope everyone is having a great summer so far and keeping cool. If your weather is more tolerable than ours, please send some of it my way.

Just to put a photo on here, take a look at how we kept cool recently. Unfortunately the water was ICE COLD due to a big storm a few days earlier. I'd gladly throw myself, full body, into the lake now if it wasn't 40 minutes away. That's Lake Michigan by the way.

~ Spencer learns to skimboard ~

~ WHERE AM I? ~

Just thought I'd let everyone checking out this blog of mine, that I am on a temporary leave of absence for three weeks (for this blog that is), while I travel to Joplin, Missouri to volunteer in the tornado relief efforts. In the meantime, take a look at my Joplin blog.

http://theresalandthativeheardof.blogspot.com


I'll be returning around the 10th of July. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer

SPRING DISCOVERIES

It's been six months since we moved into the new house. It's been hard work getting settled (not that we're anywhere near finished) but there have been plenty of rewards along the way. Finding things that have been in hiding for months and years is always exciting. Getting a group of pictures hung is a nice feeling. Breaking up boxes to throw out makes me feel almost giddy. All of those things are rewarding but now that spring is here (shhhh...it's Michigan and that can change at any given moment), I've been enjoying the outdoor gifts  that have been showing up slowly but surely. I didn't know what these gifts were going to be, but there is quite the variety. Take a look and enjoy for yourself.

~ The leaves are like tulips......it looks like a rose...... it's a rolip.....it's a tuse ~

~ I love my dainty little periwinkle flowers ~

~ Well I know these are tulips ~

~ Or is it a Venus Flytrap? ~



I'm sorry I can't share the beautiful daffodils and hyacinths as well as a couple other little pretties that have since come and gone. I enjoyed them for a brief time before the winter weather snuck back in and the heavy hail that had its way with my garden. I have peonies about ready to bloom, obligatory hostas, and some other surprises ready to show their colors any time.

While I was outside garnering glimpses of my garden, I had to get up close and personal with the lens. It's amazing what goes on in that environment.....it's a busy little world of wonder. Enjoy more nature....



~ This little fly enjoys the beauty of nature as much as I ~

~ Blossoms in the trees..... not long before they start carpeting the lawn ~

~ The sun reveals that little creepy crawlies are out and about everywhere ~

~ Just what is it that these little workers do to my peonies? ~

~ My monster oak tree has some interesting new leaves .... perhaps it thinks it's a weeping willow tree ~

I hope you enjoyed this little trip around my yard as much as I have. I look forward to what else springs from the ground as the seasons progress. I do believe I better get to more unpacking so I can find some vases for my little spring discoveries.

~ A LITTLE APPETIZER ~

I'm ready. Ready to show what I have to astonish my readers and followers of this blog. I am not under the delusion that I have astonishing talents, certainly not. However, I am astonished by the beauty that can be found in simple things, things that we don't take the time to see. We say that we don't have the time. Nonsense. If we're alive we have time, but it's how we choose to use that time that determines what we see. As a single mom, I understand very well that it is hard, sometimes almost impossible, to make the time for anything more than getting through basic daily needs and duties. There are times when I put aside things that should be done, even things that need to be done (I live on the edge), but these are the moments that bolster my sanity and my resolve to continue with everyday drudgery. I hope you will enjoy what you read or see here during the time you have set aside to visit blogland. I hope you will take time, outside of the blog world, whether it's minutes or hours, to look for things that are right under your nose and find what astonishes you. In the meantime, while I have your attention, enjoy this little appetizer I have prepared for you.

Appetizers ala Mother of Pearl and shell