Little Adventures

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We've had commode repairs.





Nicely done, Michael!





Accidents, just waiting to happen... Yes, those are pockets full of eggs. About 4 in each one. How many of us as children experienced the thrill of running and tripping with pockets full of eggs?





Why did I never think of cutting watermelon this way before? I like it!





More neighborly cows.





And a hastily blockaded fence line until barbed wire can be found.





I baked shortbread cookies for my dad and Michael.





Oh, yes! I'm enjoying this watermelon IMMENSELY, thank you!





Some peas, Swiss chard, and Black Seeded Simpson lettuce to put into the garden.





Those went in this corner.





We attended a Republican meeting at which a gubernatorial candidate was coming to speak.




Does anyone else think that is just a very silly name for someone running for governor?

I attempted a different sort of sun tea.





Dropping a sprig of lemon mint and a sprig of stevia is going to influence this gallon of tea? Such was the premise of several online articles. I was willing to give it a try.





It didn't work. Do people get paid to write articles about things they've never done? Next time I'll do what should have been done in the first place; crush them and let the oils release into the tea as it soaks up that gorgeous sunlight!

About a dozen young adults all had another Airsoft war game. We enjoyed an afternoon and evening of conversation, eating, tours of the gardens, and later, us oldER folks sat around talking politics. Are your tables filled with this conversation more and more lately?

Here are some of our battle hardened troops below.





And here they are later with another creative game they came up with.





And when my head was about to fall on the table, we headed home. I'm looking forward to Michael getting his license so I can sleep while he drives!

~Faith

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Somewhere In Time - RenFaire

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And no one really knows when because, as we discovered, Renaissance Faires are not exactly the most historically accurate events.

We'd been wanting to attend one of these for a long time, so we were really looking forward to going this last Saturday.

We drove about an hour away to a crowded, but beautiful, little park to see what one was like.

We walked through a lovely old residential area of town where this park was, oohing and ahing over the the homes and yards. And all I thought to photograph was this magnolia blossom!





Oh, look! Some stocks!




Michael being a good sport. Notice the woman in the background.





I say that because we did not notice her. Until it was too late. Apparently, she set these up. And she may have been a little starved for love...

I wondered if Michael would ever forgive me when she brought out the whip and began demanding a kiss for his release...

All I am thinking at this moment was how it was going to look if I had to take this woman out. There was no WAY Michael's first kiss was going to be this!





But she relented, Michael forgave me generously, and we moved on to a stage where a man was telling stories.





I was interested in seeing him jump rope in a straight jacket, but the men in brassieres encouraged us to quickly find a new avenue of entertainment. This is a family event?





Shopping was fun!





Michael got some practice throwing knives.





The girls got some jewelry.





And I got lots of photos.

















These girls were very talented actresses who did bits of Shakespeare.





We had professional jousters. We enjoyed the demonstrations very much.





Music!





Pirates!





Lots of fairies flittered about, as well as people dressed as warlords and such. It sort of felt like the Lord of the Rings people had arrived to liven things up.





Head pirate was arrested.





Brought before the executioner...





A loud ruckus ensued...





Then he was granted a reprieve by Queen Elizabeth.





And forced to dance.





It was great fun. I'd love to find one that was historically accurate and less bawdy. Time to start our own?

Havin' fun!

~Faith

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Cherries!

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This is what a young man looks like when he catches a nap while taking a short schoolwork break.





Our cherry bushes are really doing well this year.





Once indoor stuff was done, we headed out for cherry picking last week.





We always look forward to this time of year. We have the most wonderful times, sitting under the cherry bushes in the shade, eating, talking, spitting.. all the great stuff. The weather always seems to be so nice.

Here are the bases. We have three of these kind.





Michael decided to use a ladder to nestle up higher in the foliage.













Hey! I'm unarmed!









Get busy!





Here's my share of a couple of gallons of cherries for the day.





These are perfect for fresh eating, making wines, and making jams and jellies. They are smaller than regular cherries, much softer flesh, so pitting them is a challenge, and somewhere between a sweet and sour cherry in tartness.

We are eating plenty of fresh cherries, I don't drink wine, and we don't eat much jam or jelly so, when friends came over the next day to pick, we gave the whole lot to them.

And we got this beautiful and VERY delicious jar of cherry jelly!





It was SO good, as a matter of fact, that I may make some anyhow. We'll have to learn to eat more of it.

~Faith

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Fun Table Project

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I've decided to purchase a used table and chair set for 20 dollars.





Do I need a 41.5 inch round table with 12 inch extension, and four chairs to go with it?

Nope. But it's in great shape. Maybe someone else can use it, and I've a mind to finish it in a creative manner. I've got a few ideas I've been rolling about in my head.

Now, if only a garage would appear suddenly. This project will be taking place in my kitchen, likely.

I'd love any input, if you've seen anything interesting. Maybe I can embed that brass pitcher and vase set I tried to sell...

So far, I'm not good at this. But there is always tomorrow!

~Faith

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