Thursday July 10 2008

Sherese and Sherene Came to the Art Show Today

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Wild Roses Against the Fence

Another gorgeous morning, except for the "smoke" and awful haze. I worry we will never have our crystal clear air back again.

I got up before 8 and have to tell you I have had no pain, so decided to test it and not take the pain pill I've taken every day since the surgery - and I also take another at night - sometimes another again in the afternoon. It's noonish and so far so good. I won't let it get out of hand if it begins to feel like I need it. Amazing.

Yesterday the Heningers invited us to dinner - spaghetti, salad and homemade lemon ice cream and brownies. All the kids and their families - kids and dogs - have come from around the country for a long get together. Even sister Noleen and Bob, - she is feeling better and they came up too. I was glad to see Noleen back at the ranch, because she was thinking she couldn't come back because of her health. It was great to see every one. The dinner was super good. Then the kids gave us a musical concert, and they are quite good. They are all good kids. Zane and Fanny's girls got to go horseback riding the last two days, and perhaps next year they will go to the Half Moon Resort Kids Camp. That would be wonderful for them to experience.

Everyones' hay is really looking good this summer. There should be good crops. It shouldn't be long now before they will be haying.

First thing this morning I made a batch of fast cinnamon rolls. They turned out pretty well. I went out and watered the flower pots, and got started on watering and weeding the shrubs - neglected until now. I've been so happy to see that my two yellow rose bushes Melita gave me have survived and are looking pretty good. Also the Saskatoon Berry and a red leaf maple shrub which has struggled. The wild roses are having a good blooming year. It must have been the rains in June that has helped everything.

The lilac bush I moved a few years ago bloomed this year, maybe a dozen small blooms. I try to envision it really big and covered with beautiful blooms. Maybe some day it will grow that big. Consider that it's about 30 years old now and perhaps three feet tall now. I started with four when we first moved here and it's the only one that has survived.

Sherese and Sherene (Heninger sisters) came over to see the art show this afternoon, so that made a nice interlude. We had a fun visit.

Yesterday I got a very good start on a small mountain scene oil painting. If it gets dry enough to work on I could finish it today. I'll show a picture of it. It has a frame that I like quite well.

Wild Rose Bush in the Back Yard

Its almost as tall as me and about 5' wide and 10' long.