Day #239 - Shadow image...

I liked the shadow the hose reel made...

Day #238 - She sells seashells...

One of many in a decorative seashell ball I have...

Day #237 - Red letter day...

My red pantry letters got put on the back burner when the boys were here and with all the family room upheaval, but I finally got back to them today. They're going to take a bit of work to look right - at the very least, several coats of paint. I hope I don't have to do a lot of sanding - not my favorite job. :p

Day #236 - Green grass in August???

Amazingly, the grass isn't brown and crunchy yet, an unusual occurence around these parts this time of year. A few well-timed thunderstorms in the past month or so have rewarded us with the green stuff.

Thank yous and responses...

Thanks everyone for the nice birthday wishes. I had a lovely day! Thanks too for all the nice comments about the floor - he finished up today. we are soooo pleased!

Also wanted to answer some comments...


Stacy, I did get the bookends at Target online. they're nice and weighty too.

yes, the shades were custom-made for our doors - none of the ready-made would fit and still allow the door to be opened. they're also lined, which might help with the heat/cold but we have those low-e reflective windows which helps with the sun too.

Desert Song, way cool that your sister lived up this way! small world, huh?

yep, I'm really looking forward to the unclutteredness (is that a word?) of the shades. now we just have to find a way to keep the cats from playing with the cords - totally didn't think of that when we ordered them!

Big E, hah! I'll never catch up to you - you're always going to be my older sister!! heh, heh ;)

Flossie, cool beans! Bethesda's only down the road apiece - when you come to visit Taneka maybe we can get together too!!

I think that's it - sorry if I forgot anything - thanks again everyone! :)

Day #235 - Shades of brown...

It's always been a real challenge covering the patio door and we've tried everything - drapes, vertical blinds, French door curtains, etc. I think these Roman shades are going to be perfect. The beasties can look out the door without tearing or knocking things down and we can still have privacy. The window has the same treatment.

Day #234 - The End...

Well, I finished it last night, and I'm sorry it's over. It was a great read and a great series. And that's all I'll say about that for those who haven't read it yet. Rumor has it that author Rowling may be working on a crime novel. Oh joy! I love crime/detective books and if it's anywhere near the writing style of the Potter books, we're in for a real treat!

Day #233 - Reading receptacle...

You can't see it that much, but when Lew built this bookcase way back when, he built it flush to the uneven floor in the family room, making it somewhat higher in the middle than at the ends. Now, with the new floor, it has a bit of a space between it and the floor but, oh well, it'll still hold books just fine!

Day #232 - Floor decor...

Buster, being Buster, has to check out the new flooring by plopping his chubby self right in the middle of things. The installer started today and should be finished tomorrow. I finally won't have look at the existing ugly floor ever again! Happy Birthday to me!! ;)

Day #231 - Early start...

For the last few days, I've been receiving cards in my mailbox from friends and loved ones. Yesterday I also received the softest, most adorable stuffed kitty from the SC grands, and a beautiful glass bead necklace from daughter Ginny in TX. I came downstairs this morning and was greeted by a message-filled balloon floating over my computer and a dozen beautiful red roses on my new mantle from Lew. Earlier this afternoon I was greeted by a rousing song from my brother, sis-n-law, nephew and his new wife in NC when Lew handed me the phone. My birthday is tomorrow and it's a celebration! :)

Day #230 - Monumental visit...

We took a ride into history-rich Frederick today and finally visited Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Among other notables buried there, Francis Scott Key, writer of the Star Spangled Banner, lies in a crypt beneath this monument erected in his honor in 1898.
We also stopped at the gravesite of Thomas Johnson, the first governor of Maryland.

Mt. Olivet is also the final resting place for outspoken Barbara Fritchie of "Shoot if you must, this old gray head" fame, as well as many Civil War members, blue and gray. It's an absolutely huuuuge place, containing more than 34,000 graves and served by 8 miles of paved roads inside its boundaries. It's also very well-kept, and carries the distinction of being known as "Cemetery Beautiful." An interesting place.

Day #229 - Holding up his end...

I usually keep my pile of waiting-to-be-read books on my dresser, held up on one end by the side of the mirror and on the other by whatever has been handy and heavy enough to keep them from falling over. Lately it's been a pouch of cosemetic goodies Susan gave me for Mother's Day. After much looking, I finally found me a pair of bookends that I liked at Target. They came today and I put them right into service. They're going to work great... and they look better too!

Day #228 - From the desk of...

... me!! Back in the day, when I worked for a living, I used to use these all the time. I still do occasionally, but mostly for notes to family, friends, etc. It's taking me awhile to use them up - I think I still have about a half-dozen pads - but I do hate to throw perfectly good stuff away! (Ha! I just checked their website and they still, after all these years, have the same design!! Unbelievable!)

Day #227 - Dumping ground...

Poor Lew! His office has become the repository for almost everything that was in the family room while we're redecorating - he can barely move in there! He should get most of it back next week.