Fresh Air and Sunshine

One of the first enjoyable moments each morning is opening the screened front door.

It's refreshing to let in air and in the morning it's never too hot.

As the day goes on, the door shuts and the split unit on the wall gets turned on to cool the place down.

Looking out on the tiny strip of grass in front of the apartment, the first thing seen is the huge pink petunia plant purchased from a garden center a couple of weeks ago.

Oh, she's a beauty and so huge!

She filled the entire back seat of the car.

A nearby hummingbird feeder gets plenty of customers throughout the morning. 

What a joy it is to see those tiny creatures with what looks like vibrating wings!

They stick their long beaks into the metal flowers on the feeder and drink away.

Ahhhhh.  Early summer is a lovely gift.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR?

Color-splashed Greeting Cards

One of the best parts of this week happened to be an excursion to a town an hour away to shop at Trader Joe's.

For years now, I have wished that wonderful market would move a store closer to this area of western Massachusetts but that wish has not been granted.

In addition to very unique and awesome grocery items, plus gorgeous flowers at great prices, the store carries the most lovely greeting cards.

They cost 99cents each!

Many are worthy of framing as art and I have done that.

They will make colorful additions to the bathroom wall's art gallery in this small apartment.

Thank you, Trader Joe's, for being a great store that is fun to shop at!

DO YOU SHOP AT A TRADER JOE'S? IF YES, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO BUY THERE?

Tuesday Thoughts

                             (A happy girl drawn by little friend when she was very young.)

Today is Tuesday.

It's a happy day for local school kids since it's the last full day of school until next fall.

It's a happy day for flowers, tiny vegetable plants growing, and for ducks because it's going to rain.

It's a happy day for anyone who realizes that today is a gift.  

Not everyone is waking up today.

So today, I definitely choose to be happy.

I hope you will choose that, too.

Happy Father's Day to All Fathers, Makers of Memories

A most happy and blessed Father's Day to dads everywhere.

It is hard to be a Dad.

It carries so much responsibility and hard, hard, work.

It requires endless supplies of patience and sacrifice. 

My own father created so many of my precious memories.

He was a simple, humble man who really loved his five daughters.

I could never see a huge garden without thinking of him.  

He had one every year of my childhood.

He also loved daffodils and purple iris and he fed the birds in our yard.

He had a very hilarious sense of humor. 

To this day, things he said come to mind and crack me up.

He had a very strong faith in God and passed that down to all of us.

Despite the fact that he's been gone for more than 30 years, I still miss him.

Sometimes I think I see him driving and it catches my breath but it's obviously not him so a huge hug is impossible to give.

He died at age 76 years in 1989 and life was never again the same after that.

One of my wishes is that I'd like to tell him I love him and also, thanks for everything he did for me throughout my life. 

Someday, hopefully, I'll be able to tell him both.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Three Cheers for Farmers Markets

Farmers markets are back in full swing and they are wonderful.

It's exciting to look over all the greens, baked goods, and other items one can find.

The full range of veggies is not out yet. 

We will have to wait, while they grow, until about August for the stacks of red tomatoes, squash, cabbages, and so on.

The people selling at the markets are almost always so kind and friendly.

On a list written in my mind, real local maple syrup and honey were two items needed at this week's farmers market.

Found both and they look great. 

After eating pancakes with real maple syrup, there is no going back to the fake stuff in plastic bottles.

Because it's nice to have something to munch on, while drinking coffee, I also picked up some scones and two small but tasty hand-held pies--strawberry rhubarb and peach.

A chocolate "babka," a kind of  sweet bread, also came home. 

It has a touch of cinnamon and is tasty. 

It will be cut into slices, wrapped well, and get popped into the freezer for future munching. 

Truly, three cheers to farmers markets. 

 I can hardly wait to go again.

DO YOU HAVE FARMERS MARKETS WHERE YOU LIFE?