Deadlines

I work most efficiently under deadlines.

I am one who really needs deadlines, I self impose deadlines on myself all the time. They are semi effective. The real deadlines are what make me accomplish what is needed.

With the 4th of July this weekend. I have been making bags today for our greater Packer campout up in Heber.

One project that the deadline has made me finish. Does that mean I leave things till the last minute?!

I am asking my self that, but please don't you answer that question!!!

Butterflies & Dragonflies

I spent some of the morning mowing lawns.

It was quite pleasant in the shade. As all the lawn is not in the shade I am now coolling off in front of the window air conditioner.

Luckily that puts me right at my computer, thus the blog!

Not only were the temperatures quite pleasant but the butterflies and dragonflies were flitting in every direction.

It started me to think. I do not know what their purpose is.  Butterflies are sure beautiful.  I even felt some of the dragonflies were pretty this morning.  Some were neon blue, other bright orange with polka dot wings. I even saw a neon green dragonfly flitting around.

So I am sure both dragonflies and butterflies are in the food chain but what other purpose besides beauty do they provide?!

They must eat insects of some kind. They like to land on the flowers.

Something to ponder and reference later!

I did go out with camera in hand,  looking for them to document.  I felt foolish for a minute, till I was quickly able to watch a dragonfly lite and follow it for a photo.

Another post: What do dragonflies and butterflies do?!

Deer Valley

We went up to Deer Valley tonight.

Matt and Shanni hosted everyone up there. This is the 10th year they have hosted everyone, when they are in town for the 4th of July.

It was a little stormy but the kids actually did get to swim together later in the evening.

 We had about 26 of us there. Russ & Anna & Spencer decided due to weather and late work schedules to not make the trek up there. We missed them as well as PK & Cheryl and Steve & Karen and their family.

       

But those of us there had a great time, eating visiting and catching up with each other. My Grandkids think that Millie & Isaac & Eliott and Eliza are cousins. I think that is the best. I love that they all get along so well.

Aphids

I have spotted these pests while taking photos of my roses today!!

Every year it is only time before they arrive. I have watched and have not noticed aphids on my roses yet this year before today!!!

I thought we might escape them but no...

I will have to spray.

Windows

Only my family knows how very excited I have been to get new windows this year!!

I have been going to mention them on many occasion.

They made such a difference this winter with our home staying warm. My windows prior to these were the original windows to the home.

Our home is 50+ years old and they were not very useful windows any more.  I wasn't able to open some of them, most windows did not have screens and some of them were with very little caulking left in the frames to hold the glass in.

Just mentioning a few of their qualitites lets you know they were not very reliable to keep cold out or hot out of our home.  The wind was kept out marginally.  ( I do have to dust less now.)  But they weren't the great aluminum window that they probably were tauted to be when they were originally put in.

So with mention of a few of the hindrances to my previous windows one can see how very happy I am  to have my new windows.

I am so happy to be able to open my windows.  I am so pleased with the breeze that blows through the house with windows that open in the living room now. The old bay window did not have windows that could open, not because the windows were broken but because they were solid glass windows in the bay window.

The breeses come from the East and it is so nice to have them come in windows that open on the East side of the house now!!

We made our decision to get new windows with our needs in mind first.

But one has to admit cosmetically they look mighty fine too!

Asiatic Lillies

Dad Packer gave us these astiatic lilly bulbs a couple of years ago. He had an excess that year that were given to him.

I have enjoyed them, they are very pretty this year. They have just come into bloom.

I noticed Heidi's in bloom today too. L&B these are the blooms that I gave you in your flower pots. It was for Mothers Day a couple of years ago!

I haven't seen the white ones in bloom yet.

My Day Lilies will follow and be in bloom very shortly now.

Spencer

Spencer has now made it into my blog.

This is the second time I have had Spencer in my blog.

The first time I tried to take a photo he put a pillow over his head.

He arrived home from work early and I asked him if he would like some hot rolls...  he said that would be great....  this is how I found him in a couple of minutes...

The boy works very hard almost 7 days a week... I think he needs both food and sleep but I won't wake him now for food.

Opportunist

Look who were out on K&A's mattresses in the living room this morning!

I am glad they took the opportunity to have their own beds last night!

I am sure they had a good sleep as I know how comfortable those mattresses are!

Waiting

We have the beds ready for K&A&C. They are coming for a sleepover tonight.

They are coming from Grandma Cathy's and Poppies. This is the last night they have with their family. They have been in the MTC this week. Tomorrow morning early they get on the plane to Joahnnesburg South Africa for the next 3 years.

Good bye's like that are not easy. Good bye's like that are hard to say. It is hard to leave when you know you won't see each other for such a long time.

We have the beds ready and will stay up till they get here. Our hearts go out to Liz & Russ and these kids as they will miss these wonderful Grandparents and Parents.

Our hearts and love go out to Craig and Cathy at this time also.

We just got the call that the girls are very sad and so will not come up here till tomorrow morning. I am glad they can stay with R&L who I am sure are also sad. It is good to be together.

Well see you guys tomorrow.

Support

I have been so blessed in my married life.
I have received support from Russ in all areas of my life.  I have never known such support.  I had never seen or even imagined the support he gives me.

It has been a great blessing. Russ often thinks of my needs before I even do. Everyone should have such support. But I recognize that not everyone is allowed this. So I am even more grateful with that realization.

These shirts are my attempt at being that kind of support to him. He has a new calling. He was called to be a High Coucilor in our Stake and so I have decided this is my time to show him the kind of support he blesses me with. I had his white shirts ready for his first time speaking.

Yesterday he found out he was to speak today in the 9th ward. He did a fabulous job! I am so proud of him! I am glad his first time speaking was such a good experience. He has a postive experience he will now build on.

I also tried to  keep the home very peaceful this morning for his preparations. I hope like I say I can learn from what he has taught me. I hope to keep him in my forefront as he keeps me in his.

Morning Garden Walk

I went out this morning in the backyard for a minute.

My breath was taken away with the beauty of the flowers in the early morning sun.

My beds in the back have been neglected. I have had them on my list many a day. I have on several occasions pulled weeds but there are many still there so I was so delighted as I saw my flowers beauty this morning...

This is one of my first peonies this year! I have been waiting for mine to bloom as I have seen many a home with bushes full of peonies for the last 2 weeks. I am happy to see mine blooming!

K&A&C will be here tonight and tomorrow so I know I will get out in the back. I am sure they will help me with my weeding and reinforcing my blooms out back.

This again puts the backyard blooms on my list I will check back in with my report of progress tomorrow night!

Same

If I had not painted this hydrangea before going to Elsie's party last night...

I would wonder if this was not my inspiration!!!

I have always thought of these as puff balls before, now I see them as flowers!

Birthday Party

As Grandparents we love to go to Birthday parties. They are so fun!!  They too are so fun to visit and not have to put on!!!!

My kids do the most fun things for their parties. They are just enjoyable events to attend.

Last night was Elsie's 1st Party!

It was alot of fun!!

We had ball games going on in the interim before an outdoor movie!!!

Everyone loved being together. 

(Popcorn + 50 something teeth= casualty)

Cards Cards and more Cards

For my record!

Creativity

I have decided that creativity feeds my soul and pretty much fuels my life!!

I have had a very quick creative fix this morning by putting a necklace I usually wear around my neck around my wrist for a bracelet, and a new look.

Can you tell I love the simple things and they too feed my soul and fuel my life!!!

So Excited!!!

I had a postal delivery today.  I have been waiting anxiously for these two packages that arrived today....

This is the first time I have ordered watercolor paper in bulk!  Not only watercolor paper but my FAVORITE watercolor paper.  It is a fine paper made in France.  I have a whole roll of this wonderful cotton paper!!!!

In the second box was a very small box with 4 new watercolors. They are in the half pan size that fit in my watercolor set.  I have run out of 4 colors in my set of 48 colors of watercolors.  So inside the medium box was a TINY little box with 4 colors in it!


This delivery has made me so excited that even though I have been gone all day I will have to be a night owl tonight to try out my new goods!!!!


I can't wait!