Keeping Cool

This was in the late afernoon, after the temperature had dropped.

This was in the yard mere inches from my feet, letting out not a peep. It's a miracle I didn't step on him. It could have been a 'her', but since I'm unsure, I'll call it a 'he'.

Here he is again, having hopped up to the porch when I attempted to pick him up. I was going to tuck him safely in a nearby tree until 'Mom' returned with breakfast, but I didn't catch him. Notice the little "gift" he left me. Yep, it was bound to be a 'he'.

Just a shot of the ivy in our backyard, gradually taking over our backyard.

I've been busy preparing for company this week. My mom and her husband arrive on Monday, for an extended visit. My daughter, Nikki, is driving down from Minneapolis this week. She'll stop over at her stepbrother's around the Arkansas/Missoure border to spend a night or two there before continuing on here. She said her length of stay there will be determined by whether or not she can sleep on the blow up air bed on the floor. Their apartment is small and they don't have an extra bed. She's young, and can probably handle it. I, on the other hand could not.

As you can imagine, I am very excited to see my daughter. She'll be here much of the month of August. She'll be off seeing friends some while here, and she and her brother are planning a trip to the DFW area to go to 6-Flags and Hurricane Harbor and spending a night or two over there. Still, I'll get plenty of time with her while she's here.

She's got a busy summer planned. After she leaves here toward the end of August, she's flying to DC to spend a few days with a friend from Germany who's living in the states now. After a few days there, she'll take the train to her cousin, Mandi, in Virginia (who's fiancee' Rich had the recent kidney transplant) to visit for a few days. After that it's another flight to Orlando to spend a week or so with her best friend, then it's off to Dublin, Ireland. From there, she'll catch a plane on to Leeds, England, where she'll meet back up with her boyfriend. Phew! It all makes me tired just thinking of it! She leads a much busier life than her mamma ever did.

When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.
~Ephesians 4:26 Amplified Bible