Day #7 of the deck project brings more hole digging. This deck is gonna be sturdy!!

Miss Kittie spotted this toad and wanted to play. She finally gave up and laid down next to it in the shade of the potted plants on the deck.

Here's a view from above, day #6 of the deck project. Rich sits pondering his next move. It's going to look great when complete!

Since I was gone all weekend playing, this is the view of the deck project when I returned, day #4/5. The upper part is 16x16 feet and the lower part is 4x16 feet. It's gonna be nice!

Here's a pic of the Ladies Cruiser class at the BMX race this weekend. What was really cool about this weekend was that there were 2 motos of us. Tammi, Michelle, and I raced each other in our moto and right after us raced our daughters: Tammi's daughter Krystal, Michelle's daughter Samantha, and my daughters Kristin and Sierra. From left to right is: Tammi, Michelle, Angie, Krystal, Kristin, Mandy, and Virginia.

Here's the Thudes making himself comfy at the hotel - all white, nothin' but the best for my granddog!

The "benches around the lake" - part of the new 100 acre park exhibit at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Today, I'm off to Evansville via Indianapolis to go visit the girls and go BMX racing. I haven't driven the truck for awhile and the first time I filled it up with gas, this is what I saw. REALLY? I wonder if they still recommend BP.

My favorite batch of caladiums so far this year. These are all growing beautifully in a big lime green bowl.

Becky and Denny stopped out unexpectedly last night and brought me this HUGE pot of geraniums! They thought I would like the deep red color and they were correct!

I found this tree frog hiding in my flowers today.

Rich and I went on a bike ride together today. We rode from Indianola to Carlisle and back. We manged to get in the 22 miles without getting rained on!

Day #3 of the deck project.

As I was adjusting the vines on the lattice work, I was surprised to find these 5 pickable size cucumbers ready to go! I'll be making kosher dills soon from my first harvest so far this year!

We are working on a June that is #4 in the record books for total amount of rainfall! We are at about 13 inches so far this month. This is Middle River near the Summerset Trail bridge.

Day #2 of the deck project.

Our 31st anniversary, 'nuf said!

Since I have collected so many pots and flowers, the deck was getting too crowded. Rich suggested adding on. This is day #1 of the deck addition project.

I found this baby robin trying to balance perched on the tomato cage in my garden. I was hoping that it could fly so that one of the 4 cats didn't have a chance to catch him. As I walked too close, he flew up into the oak tree, whew!

Sierra had a mountain bike race today in Indiana. She won and sent me this photo.

We had storms again tonight and the strong winds took out the top of this sweet gum tree that was right out back of the house. That makes 2 trees damaged in the last week. Last Saturday, winds split a small red bud tree right in half. The local TV station said that a tornado touched down briefly at Hwy 92 and R57, 4 miles from our house.

About that walk.......................

This is Tristan's first try at the BMX track. It was pretty rutted from all the downpours we've had lately but he had a pretty good time despite the roughness.

G'ma, Tristan, and I went riding today. Tristan tried a few of the MTB trails and found them very muddy, surprise!

Yo Shelbs! You are missin' out on a GREAT week on the bike trails!! I've gotta go now, it's too hot on this pavement and I must find water. L8TR

Mother and I went on a garden tour today. The hostesses at each of the 7 gardens were dressed as Southern Belles. This was at the first garden on the tour. It was called "Urban Shadows".

Today, Mother and I went to Becky & Denny's "Summer Soltice" Party. We had a great time listening to the "Bandaides" and eating a picnic type dinner!

Today, I met Warren and family after work at a Casey's north of the house. They were off to eastern Iowa for a bike ride and brought G'ma along. I picked her up to spend the weekend with me. We'll meet them again on Sunday to pick up Tristan who will spend a few days with us.

I've continued with my recycling art - this was a fire pit that I got in 2004. In May of that year, a straight line wind took out 2 of our 100+ year old oak trees. A branch fell on the pit and bent the screen beyond repair. It makes a pretty nice planter.

After our visit to the Grassroots Art Center in Lucas, KS, I decided that I would try to recycle some things instead of buying new. I found this interesting pot in the basement. I remember a long time ago, we had a pencil plant in it. It looks great with this chenille plant in it, don't you think?

Here is my very first blueberry harvest - 26 berries total today! I ate that one in the middle right after the photo, yummm! Shelby, I hope you are jealous!

I’ve had this Penstemon in my perennial garden for over 10 years. I remember calling it Beardtongue Penstemon. Now, when I look it up on the internet, I see it has been cultivated at the University of Nebraska and is now called Husker Red Penstemon.

Today, I went out to the garage to look for something. I heard some chattering noise and think that I need to rescue a bird. I go get my camera first, of course. Then I crawl around and here's what I find - a little momma raccoon and her one baby. I left them alone after getting a few pics!

I was getting ready to pick these cherry tomatoes today but wanted to take a pic first to document the early date of these red beauties. Hmmmm, something seems to be missing! Did he really think that I wouldn't notice?

I found this book in the mail box today! It is a gift from Shelby. It is her documentation of RAGBRAI 2009. She did a fantastic job and it is very interesting to read her account of the ride from the perspective of a first timer. I love it!

We had a big storm 2 nights ago and the wren house came down. They had one egg that did not survive the trauma. They immediately started to build a new nest in the other house that I had hung. But here it seems that one of the pair is looking over the old house just to see. Or maybe it is another pair looking to move in.

Rich is busy cutting firewood for next winter even though we really don't want to think about it right now. He cut down a dead scotch pine tree. We had to burn the smaller branches and old pine needles make for a grand fire - scary when you think about a whole forrest of pine burning wild!

I found 3 Blueberry bushes on clearance at Home Depot. They came complete with blueberries that quickly ripened. I need to get them planted asap. I have a perfect spot complete with pine needles to keep the soil acidic as directed. We'll see how they do next year!

I finally decided that the foxes were gone and gave Rich permission to mow out back. This photo looks out of focus but it was so cloudy with pollen from the grasses blooming. My eyes and nose were itching by the time I got back into the house.

Sierra had to leave today by 11:30 to make it in time for the Melon City Criterium. But she saw some of my printed 365 books of 2009 that she hadn't seen before and sat down to take a look. It's always nice to see her smile at my photos and stories. It gives me motivation and determination to keep it up!

Sierra and Adam decided to drive all the way home today before going back to the Quad City bike races tomorrow. We fixed a great dinner of salad, beef and chicken kabobs, corn, strawberry pie and more. Becky and Denny came out since they hadn't seen Sierra in quite awhile. Everyone had a great time. It's always wonderful when the girls come home for a visit!

We had been looking at patio umbrellas last summer but did not get one. Good thing because I found this one today and I really like it. It tilts and moves up and down very easily. I think we will be able to really enjoy it this summer!

Today, I was cleaning out a part of the garden. Chase was wanting to play ball and Camie happened along. She discovered some cat mint and was munching on it. Then she went wild - took Chase's ball and had a crazy look in her eyes. It was very comical to watch.

I can't remember who gave this wren house to us but it was a long time ago when we had the bike shop. We kept it inside until I decided to put it out and see if anyone was interested in moving in. It wasn't very long before a wren family thought it suitable and moved in. Rich asked me if I was charging wrent. Really? He thought he was very funny!

So here's the result of our first spinach salad lunch - Tena suggested trying to repeat the taste of a new salad she had at Granite City. It was mandarin oranges, grapes, strawberries, bananas, raspberry vinaigrette dressing along with the spinach and a bit of french onion crunchies on top. I never imagined that I would like it but it was wonderful. I will be trying this at home soon.

Here's my first spinach harvest of the year all washed and ready for lunch at work tomorrow. Tena, Julie and I share by each bringing a component of the salad. We will see what tomorrow brings!

This iris is in the front lily garden. I'm not really sure where I got it. This is the first year it has bloomed. I think the colors are very striking.

I noticed the Tulip tree was blooming today, it is a little early this year. Since I planted this tree when Daddy died in 1994, each year when I look up and see it blooming, I say, "Hello Daddy!"

I used the freebie "seed packets" from Weeds and Wildflowers Designs for our Girls' weekend. Kristin had been wanting a Pandora type bracelet. Shelby already had one and G'ma did not. So Kristin and G'ma got a bracelet with some charms and Shelby got charms. Sierra was unable to attend our weekend so she'll get hers later.

Reminiscing our girlie weekend - Here's Shelby and Kristin posing on a rock near "Rattlesnake Hill" We walked over to the waterfall and back with Charlie and Chase while Tristan rode his new BMX bike.