Keepin' cool

It's been really hot here lately. I've had lots of work to do outside - which makes my loyal companions more than uncomfortably warm in their fur coats.

Our solution: ($10? Well worth it!)



AND...
Here is a shot of my first blooming sunflower! More to come!

Kansas weather

You know it's going to storm when it looks like this:



You know there is a big storm going on when you have rain coming through your door knob and dead bolt.

You know there was a big storm last night when your tree looks like this:

I'm doing my part...

Thanks for the advice on setting up a recycling system. I'm all set to help save the world now. I really have enjoyed it so far - and I already need to empty my plastic bin!

Heal the world

Recycling.
Who does it and what tips do you have? I want to start recycling more (all we do now is some paper, grocery sacks, and pop cans) but I am kind of at a loss of where to start. We don't have a city recycling program, so I can't just put it in a can at the end of the driveway. I am willing to do drop offs, but I would like to set up an easy to follow, functional plan so this isn't just going to be a passing whim.
If you have any ideas, I need them!

We be jammin'

Strawberry is not my favorite jam, but it will do for now.

i LOVE him!

Long, but worth every second. I am bowing (like Conan) to Jon Schmidt right now.

This is dedicated to:
Josh, because he will want to download it to iTunes as soon as he sees it.
Jer, because she will want to get the music to learn how to play it as soon as she sees it.

I'm thankful for:

Air conditioning. Holy cow it is hot this week!

8 is Great!

Tag from Christy! As for those of you I tagged (see below), just mention who tagged you, do the eight things and tag 8 fellow bloggers. Good luck!

8 Things I Look Forward To:

My mom and dad getting home from Africa

24th of July in Heber

Bedtime

Trip to Pittsburgh/DC

Having a back patio soon

Breakfast

Josh being done with school

Exercising


8 Things I Did Yesterday:

Moved landscape tiles from the backyard to a different spot in the backyard

Practiced the piano

Gave Tilly a bath after she escaped to the pond and smelled like a fish

Went to Ace Hardware and Dillon's

Fixed dinner

Read scriptures

Finished connecting some underground drainage to a downspout from the house

Watched Chopped


8 Things I Wish I Could Do:

Play the guitar

Speak Spanish

A pull-up

Visit family more often

Fly

Donate to all of the charities that call and ask for money

Be a pastry chef

Dance


8 Shows I Watch:

American Idol

30 Rock

The Office

Chopped

Baseball Tonight

24

The Unit

Challenge (cake decorating show)


8 Bloggers I Tag:

Jerilyn

Jamie

Ina

Amor

Annie

Jill

I don't think I have 8 people who read my blog...but if you read this, you are SO tagged.

The good, the bad and the ugly

There was a not-so-welcome guest in our circle this morning. We'll call him Angel Eyes.
Abe (Blondie), a good dog, was interested in the intruder, but learned real quick to not get too close.

The two stared each other down, calculating alliances and dangers in a standoff before suddenly drawing. Blondie rolled Angel Eyes into an open grave and turned to ride into the frontier.


*in other words: the turtle snapped at Abe one too many times, which freaked him out so he turned to run away before the turtle actually got him.

Ernie

Ernie’s Tiger Hunt

I haven't found out how to download this, but I'm working on it. Until then, follow the link, click play, and go on a tiger hunt. Josh wouldn't do it with me, but was surprised that I knew which parts came next. :)
(Let me know if you can figure out how to download it. Due to no record and no record player, I don't have a copy anymore.)


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Magical

My favorite thing about living in the country in Kansas in June: Fireflies!

We had a magical moment last night as we watched the fields twinkling all around us. Rylan suggested that we 1) go get some jars, which we did, and 2) catch some Lightning Bugs, which we did. We had a great time chasing and catching and marveling at the little beetles.

I have done some research and have since found out that the light production in fireflies is due to a type of chemical reaction called bioluminescence - and the production of light is used to locate the same species for reproduction. Interesting, huh?

I have learned that if you blow in the jar that the firefly is in, it will light up more frequently. I have also learned that you can put a firefly in your mouth and it will light up without any apparent side effects!

Hanky Quilt

The most recent project:
A rag quilt made out of denim and bright colored handkerchiefs!

The best part:
The handkerchiefs are already squares, so I didn't have to cut them out!

The worst part:
It's for a gift, so I don't even get to keep the proof that I can make something cute!