After a cloudy start, yesterday turned into a gorgeous day. I did some work outside and inside, but most of the time I simply delighted in being home.
I can’t stop taking pictures of the garden. I have a strong need to chronicle the seasons, the comings and goings, the still brilliant color of some of the blooms. It’s something I never tire of doing. Each time I wander around the gardens and the property, I discover something new. Perhaps I just happen to see a plant from a different angle. Or I discover a little critter like this one:
He’s on a morning glory leaf. Perhaps he’s eating the morning glory leaf. That’s fine with me. We all need to eat.
This particular zinnia is a giant. It must be over 4 feet tall. Zinnias make me smile.
In the afternoon, Don and I took a ride in the car. We were on the lookout for some jeans. That part of the trip ended up being fruitless, but we stopped at Five Guys for some of their fries (to my mind, the best french fries ever.) They give you such an enormous serving, it’s a meal in itself. But did we stop there? Unfortunately, no. We happened to spot a Dairy Queen and we each got a milkshake. We decided that it was a “It’s bad for you lunch day” or perhaps a more fitting title, “Bad for your arteries lunch day.” Since we hardly ever do that kind of thing, it was sort of fun. And so yummy!
We ate much more healthily at dinner time.
Does Scout like to be outside? Does she smile?
The answer to both questions is yes. Her daddy has been brushing her and she’s looking particularly fetching.
I love her so.
Happy Wednesday from the Cottage.
Good morning, Claudia. I am so glad you were able to go home for a few days! I also love zinnias, I think they are so unfailingly cheerful and they make me smile. Even though I feel slightly guilty about loving them, as Anne (of GG) turned her nose up at zinnias. It’s my only slight criticism of her! Have a wonderful day, my kindred spirit.
I’m not sure why Anne turned her nose up at zinnias!
Oh I do like your flowers. I never get tired of flowers. I used to get first price in school at a fair when I was ten growing those Zinnias. Oh your dog is beautiful.
Thanks for sharing all.
You are very welcome, Carol Ann.
You are so disciplined! I wish I had -A-*
Claudia,occasionally on a post when you are on the road, you will mention you “fixed yourself some dinner” as a single gal and Trying to learn vegetarian, I wonder if you might talk about something You Might “Fix for yourself?” THANK YOU! -Judy A-
* A = 1 or occasional.
I could, but I bet it would be boring, Judy. Don is the cook. I usually fix a veggie burger or something like that. But I’ll try to talk about that in an upcoming post.
You must have the worlds steadiest hands. Your pictures are always wonderful. I have such shaky hands any more that I have to take about 20 shots of anything just so I can use 1. And even then it’s a little blurred. And that’s the things that don’t move. You got pretty close to that little grasshopper with it not jumping. Is that the Claudia “stealth” move? You caught it looking right at the camera with those teeny eyes. Okay – that does it – I’m taking my camera outside and seeing if I can train a grasshopper to smile for my camera. :)
See ya tomorrow. Smiles to you. Linda
Well, it takes patience. That grasshopper stayed in once place for the longest time. I ran into the house for my camera and when I came back he was still there! You could try a tripod if your hands are shaky, Linda. They really keep the camera steady.
Sounds like a fun lunch Claudia! Once in awhile it’s good to be bad!! Scout is such a cutie.
She sure is!
Hey, CLaudia – I do the same thing myself. Usually I am very satisfied with healthy foods at lunchtime but a couple of times a year, I just HAVE to have what we in our family call “delicious crud.” And I want French fries too. I get mine from a local burger joint that’s been around longer than I have. And the best part is that the fries still taste EXACTLY the same now [I’m 57] as they did when I was 5. PS – zinnias make you smile, and that sweetie Scout makes ME smile! What a dolly-girl she is. Enjoy the rest of your time at home! ☺
I will, Janet. Oh french fries are so good, aren’t they?
Zinnias are gorgeous…Scout is gorgeous…and every once in a while, fries and a shake are a-okay. Enjoy the day! ;)
I sure enjoyed my ‘not very good for me’ meal, Donna!
Hi Claudia!! So glad you were able to make it home for a few days!! Sounds like you had a fun day yesterday visiting the Dairy Queen. Their milkshakes are so good!! I love that first flower you posted (I don’t know its name) – the pink is absolutely beautiful!! Scout looks very happy to have mama around again!! Enjoy your time!! Francine
That first flower is a kind of geranium, Francine. They are pretty hardy and I planted them in my barrel planters this year.
“There’s no place like home”, truer words were never spoken. So glad you get to stay home for a bit Claudia. Scout does look quite fetching, I think she is smiling in these pics.
She is. Now you know why the rescue group that took her in nicknamed her Smiley.
The grasshopper picture is so sweet, and Scoutie looks happy to have Mom home!
She is. She’s not going to like it when I leave, however.
Scout is smiling because her Mama is home!! Glad you are having a good time.
Love,
Judy
Doesn’t she have the best smile?
Glad you are enjoying your time at home and fries and a milk shake sound like the perfect lunch:)
They are, my friend, they are!
Scoutie and your flowers are gorgeous..Glad you were able to get home…
Me too, Missy!
Oh, Claudia, I’m so glad you’re home. Your meal choices yesterday remind me of when my girls were young. Each summer we would have a “Templeton day” (named after Templeton, the rat, from Charlotte’s web who gorges himself at the county fair). The girls could eat whenever and whatever they wanted for that entire day! You’ve got to break loose once in a while, right? ha ha
Enjoy the rest of your time at home!
And it goes without saying, but I will still say it, Scout is gorgeous!!!
Donna
I know. She’s a beauty, alright!
Sounds like fun, Claudia. My husband likes milkshakes, too.
I think Scout is smiling because she looks so pretty – and because her mommy was home.
I love zinnias, too. My mom used to plant them when I was a little girl.
Zinnias are old-fashioned flowers. I like that.
Zinnia’s always make me think of my granny. My grand parents home was my safe harbor when I was a child and granny loved flowers. She always planted them around the base of two huge oak trees in their front yard. Thanks for the reminder!
I’m glad it’s a good memory, Janie.
Hi Claudia!
I’m so glad you got to come home again and for a longer time YIPPIE YIPPIE!
And how wonderful and restorative for the soul to hear about your roofers, thanks so much for sharing that with us.
I don’t know if you’ve seen this video or not but I thought of you and your homecoming to your beloved girl when I saw it, so very sweet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC5DXGIC8s8
xo
Thanks so much, Sally!
Beautiful flowers, beautiful Scout and beautiful weather..What a great time at home for you dear lady! And a nice car ride & yummy lunch with your handsome hubby tops it all off..
Today is really beautiful, Nancy! Perfect weather, and I’m enjoying it!
I just love Scout’s furry feet!! I have a cat with furry feet. I call them Amine feet. They just remind me of the Japanese animation for some reason. Love your garden and love Five Guys!
pam
They look like they are out of the Grinch to me – same thing…animation. Oh, Five Guys…..a guilty, wonderful pleasure.
Since moving to CA I have been known to go to Yogurtland for “lunch”. I try to tell myself it IS yogurt and I do put fruit on it (along with some chocolate). Indulge sometimes, I say! Scout looks very happy to have both mom and dad at home. Enjoy your time there! Ann
Your lunch sounds delicious, Ann!
So good to see you again!
oH CLAUDIA!
This post gave me the giggles.
I was remembering the first time I had eaten at Five Guys… and thinking you didn’t mention their upside down burgers…well, upside down to me the way they built ’em. But I forgot, you’re a Vegetarian. The FF are out of this world.
Shopping for jeans is fun. But isn’t it outrageous how much a pair of jeans is now days? Not to mention finding a pair that is a “good fit”. I remember the good ol’ days… you just walked in the store and said I need a pair of jeans and out they came with Levi’s in your size… perfect shopping trip! I’ll tell you a secret… you and ALL YOUR READERS…shhh!
Even now… after putting on weight, then losing some of it ;/ … I wore my Levi’s today and they are my best fitting jeans. Drove to Central Texas… 2 hour drive- spent almost 3 hours at the Doctors and drove -2 hours back…THE MOST COMFORTABLE JEANS EVER!
…and lastly, You know how I feel about the dreaded grasshopper. Yes, all God’s creatures need to eat….can’t argue that…but they need to eat someone else’s garden. :) LOL!
Pat