Wondering

Hello, Readers. It's been a little while, again. Much going on, but at the same time, little...

My vegetable garden has not been fairing too well-too much sun and too many critters eating them-insects and mammals.

Our oldest daughter was set to get her driving temps last week. We went, she took the computarized test, she passed and onto the paperwork. We took everything in, but her birth certificate didn't specifically list her gender so it was unacceptable. We went back early this week with the only other copy we had and it didn't have the state's health department seal, so we have to go through a process to get a new copy mailed to us and take it back... She was sad. She was so looking forward to driving.

Our dog, the weimaraner, has become very skinny-losing a lot of weight. We took him to a vet who did blood tests, and the tests came back good-especially for a 10 year old big dog. Still, we wondered why the lack of interest in food and great loss of weight-he'd lost 14 pounds! We took him back on Tuesday and they sedated him to check his teeth, did some scans and swabs. We should know more tomorrow or Monday as to the results of those. It was rather strange around here without him on Tuesday. He came home groggy and stumbling around-very clingy after his visit. I dropped him off at 7am and he wasn't seen to until 2 or so-so he was hungry since he hadn't eaten since 7pm the night before, stuck in a kennel which he doesn't like and away from his family. He was a sad dog. He sure was happy to see us when we arrived to get him, though.

My husband hasn't been running much since my last post. He had fallen off a jet ski and bruised a rib, so that's taken a bit of the wind out of the sails. I'm still working on training for the half marathon, either way. Just will work out better for me, I think. I did 7 miles last weekend, again.

I have attempted digital scrapbooking since I posted last. I have a lot of work to do before I will be happy with a layout. Strange, how I was feeling good about paper and hands-on and now I feel new and uncertain. I am unsure of what to write and what to document first.

That isn't the only are of my life where I am uncertain. Still no word on a job for the fall and the pool is nearly dry of opportunities. Hopefully we'll see it pick up next week. I have heard jobs are scarce, it's not just me, but it's hard not to let it eat away at your self confidence. Someone important in my life says I need to find a new passion, something other than teaching since it's not looking good. I am wondering about this. Wouldn't it be hard just to pick up a new passion and set aside the old? I have heard from so many that I'm great at what I do-teaching, but that's in a substitute setting. Maybe it's just people being nice, saying what I want to hear... the little voice whispers these things to me. It's hard not to let it eat away at the faith that says God has a plan, He will guide me... where am I going? I feel nowhere... I'm trying to have hope. So many people have advice and opinions-just get a long term and that foot-in-the-door will get you there (I've had 4-5 long-term jobs, now...), just get into another district and that will help (done that, although my husband thinks not enough... but then what-how do I choose where to go? long-terms or daily jobs... one doesn't know.) It's difficult. The waiting and the worrying that I'm not good enough, that I'm stuck. Also, the not knowing what to do-get in a district where they know and like me well? Keep moving around so many know me and I will have opportunities? Just the politics and knowing the right people? Sigh...

I have felt tired, run down, lazy lately. It's affected my running and who I am, I think. I am beginning to wonder if it's this lack of confidence from the job... or the really hot weather? Am I just wilted? :) I have read several blogs, lately that have been balm to my soul-pictures and smiles in the words, too. :) This isn't the type of post I like to write-after all the title of the blog is positively mom-but sometimes it's just good to write about the things that are weighing on you. Although when I hit "publish post" I am filled with the sense of "you don't have it so bad! why are you posting that! many people have it much worse!"

Take care, blog readers. Things will perk up soon! :)

April 6

I have been sitting at my computer working on inputting grades for a bit. It's more complicated than it should be, but works ok... if you know what you're doing! It's nice that I can do it from home. I called the teacher to make sure I was doing them correctly. I'm not done, and they have to be in by lunch tomorrow. Busy morning ahead! :)

Our girls are away for one more day and then they'll be home. I've sure missed them. Although I've enjoyed going out to dinner with my husband. I have eaten way too much and I haven't had time to get out and run since my 8 miler.

I do feel caught up on my grading and planning for now, though. :)

My flowers are continuing to come up nicely. I must resist the urge to go out and plant something-the last two years I saw so many people do it. We get sucked in by all the spring displays... new plants, fertilizer, etc... and then more frost comes and those same people are back at the store buying replacements. My dad always says wait until Mother's Day to plant something, and, even though he lives in a state North of us, I live by those words. The last two years they've helped me. :) Now, I just have to resist the urge to fill my garden with fresh, green color! I have already started thinking of my vegetable garden this year... less cherry/grape tomatoes and more of other things, like trying new leaf lettuce!

I hope your snow is melting, the sun is shining nicely (not too hot!) on you and you are smiling. :) I'm smiling at you! :)

Nope

Nope, I haven't fallen off the face of the planet. :) It just seems that way when reading my posts, or lack thereof. :)
Running:
I officially started my marathon running today. I ran a nice paced four miles. And felt great after! :) Looking forward to being able to run all summer, hopefully, and to breaking four hours in October.
Gardening:
I have worked in my front perennial garden, adding some foxglove, which I didn't think I would have liked, in years past. I love it, and its placement is perfect. We also got a load of soil that helped the appearance and health of the plants, as well. We built our first garden box for vegetables this year. I always wish I'd planted one, but never take the time to do so. This year my husband made a box over Mother's Day weekend, that is 12 x 8, I think. And a couple feet high. I have cherry and grape tomatoes, big tomatoes, green sweet peppers and jalapeno peppers. I have cilantro and two hills; one for cucumbers and one for zucchini. I also have a pot on the patio with basil, cilantro and parsley. I hope it all fairs well. I have fond memories of my dad planting the garden, letting me help, and getting yummy tomatoes fresh from the garden! I loved to go out and look at it with him. I hope my girls have that same fun with me this summer. :)
Wine: I tried a new wine this week: Pinot Noir. I knew I liked red wines, but hadn't ventured outside of what I knew I liked. Then my in laws came over for Mother's day and brought some. It was very nice, smooth. I did know, however, that I liked malbecs, having learned about them for a wine party we had here once. I found that malbec was my favorite red. I tried a new one tonight: Terrazas de los Andes 2006. It was very good.
Teaching: My teaching is going well. I am learning so much. The staff there has helped me out when I've asked, the kids are adjusting and treating me more like their teacher, as opposed to a substitute teacher. :) I am enjoying it, now, just like I did the last two long-term jobs I've had. I just pray God has a full time job for me in the fall. I've heard it's going to be sparse job-wise, locally. I put a lot of energy into my jobs, so I haven't had much time to update the blog, or read the blogs I love like In This Life or Thimbleanna, lately.
Mother's Day: I hope all of you mothers had a wonderful Mother's Day! I certainly did! I received a Starbucks latte, and warm krispy kremes in bed (I'm not usually a huge fan of the extra sweet doughnuts, but warm, with my coffee, they were delectable!)I got gifts of lotion and chocolates! I enjoy chocolate, but haven't received it for a Mother's Day gift before. My husband and children got me a box of specially selected dark chocolates from the store in our local mall. They have been delicious!! I have eaten one about every other day. Yum! Good thing I'm running! :)
The weather is finally turning out to be nice, probably for about a week or so before it gets too hot! :)
Books: I'm reading the Food Guide for Marathoners, Nightmare at the Book Fair (which I'm reading to my class), and that is all I have had time to read since I've spent so much time grading and planning! :)
In the last month: Since I wrote last, we took a trip to Philadelphia, PA, and saw important parts of our nation's history, like the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Ben Franklin's home site, Betsy Ross's home, and other really interesting things! We had a really nice time! We have also been to several soccer games, track meets, and other kid friendly activities. :) I have enjoyed it, and this spring. Just sitting here feeling thankful for our family, our health, our friends, church and town... Just feeling very blessed. How about you? I hope you're enjoying that blessed feeling as you read this. Have a good week, Reader. :)

The Nature Nut

This is why I love having my white picket fence garden out front. This was what I saw out my living room window, and tried so carefully to get a photo of. :) There were two of these finches in my Russian Sage. If only I could attract birds that ate Japanese beetles... :) Hope you're having a great week!

33

So far, we're up to 33 state postcards and 9 countries. Still having fun receiving them! :) We got Oregon today.
The girls, my hubby's mom and I saw the (American Girl) Kit Kittredge movie yesterday. Very nice movie! We all four liked it! We had a very nice day with my mother-in-law.
Today I really worked hard in the flower garden. Weeding, trimming, photographing toads... :) Yep, the nature lover in me.
Tonight we're off to dinner at the in laws' house. We're taking salad: Strawberry and Feta Salad.
I have been very good at keeping track of my calories on thedailyplate.com. I said keeping track, not watching myself get fitter. :) I have been over my goal total almost everyday. But, I'm getting closer and closer to my goal everyday, as I become aware of the calories I burn vs. the calories in what I eat/drink.
I ran four times this week. Felt pretty good. Only about 4 miles each day. Wish Juls or Momo were closer so I could have a consistent running partner. :) Or Molly to walk with! :) I'll look into it, Momo. :)
That's all for now. Hope you're having a great weekend!

Gardening

Yesterday the sun was shining, the birds were singing and, though I'd cleaned it up on Saturday, my garden still needed work. After everyone else was off to work and school, I went to the nearby nursery, got a few plants, then the local Meijer to get a few more, but cheaper. I also got a bird bath that the birds and butterflies can enjoy. Then I went home and spent two hours moving, trimming and planting. I watered them all and went in for lunch. Then I went out in the back yard and worked on planting in the planters we had put in last summer on the patio. After watering those newly planted planters and pots, I went back inside. Throughout the gardening, I worked on laundry. Since our trip I felt behind in the laundry room, feeling like I couldn't catch up. With track practice, track meet, soccer game and running clothes added to our regular mix, I had a few large piles at least. So, I did several loads of towels, comforters, blankets and sheets and hung them to dry on the patio. So, that helped! :) My arms were tired from the work, but if felt wonderful! :) So much better than the blizzard weather... Although the blizzards help us to appreciate days like these when the sun is warming and the plants are beautiful. Hope you're enjoying your spring days!

Spring!

I sit here to enter my latest post and notice the sun pouring in the windows. It's a beautiful and welcome sight. Our landscaping that was put in last summer is alive with blooms and I look forward to more days of enjoying it. Our daffodils have been blooming for about a week, my grape hyacinth are popping up all over my front garden... my front garden which needs so much work this year... In our area we can still get frost into May, so I try not to dig anything up to move it, or plant anything new, just in case. These warm days of spring have people rushing to the stores and buying plants... then, inevitably, a cold snap comes and things blacken! We've had a flurry the last two Aprils. It is hard to resist the planting urge, though. I have some small plants mixed in with tall ones, then they lack water, sun and they're hidden, so I need to move them more towards the middle of my garden spot.
I spent the last few days, as there were no subbing jobs for me, going through old paperwork. We've saved old bill receipts, old insurance policy statements, etc. for too long. It felt good to purge them, shred them and put them out with recyclables today. Four trash bags worth. I checked some websites for what I could dispose of and what I should keep for a year, 7 years and indefinitely. Those leftover papers I reorganized and moved to a different location. I previously had some of the important papers in the basement, some in my den and some other places. So, they're all in one central location now, in a nice little folder cart, which also has a drawer on it.
One of my tasks for today is to scan the girls' papers and artwork onto cd's. I have a HUGE box, because I like to save everything they do because they are fabulous students and artists. (I'm not biased. :)) But, now that our oldest is in 7th, soon to be 8th grade, and our youngest is in 3rd, almost 4th grade, plus their two years of preschool, each... we've run out of room in the folders and boxes keep all of their paper items. I'm sure it will take a LONG time, but it will be so nice to have it done. We can keep some paper items, like books they made, that would be easier to store than scan. I just think that they'll like to look back on it someday-but I'm not sure what they'll like to look back on. I may just scan the artwork and keep the paper copies of the papers, like grade cards, as well. I will see when I am knee-deep in it, I suppose! :)
I will be reading my last week of the Beth Moore Bible Study this week, as well. Last week was so moving. On Tuesday, our group met and it was so incredible that I cried... there and on the way HOME! After it was over. It was amazing. God is good! :)
Our oldest daughter had an appt. with an ear, nose, throat doctor this week. Yep, her tonsils are huge, just like youngest daughter. They are scheduled to have their tonsils and adenoids removed on June 13... Yep, Friday the 13. They've never had any kind of surgery, let alone an iv putting them out for half an hour and surgery! I'm a bit nervous and we still have two months. I know it's a routine surgery, but I'm still a bit worried! Maybe it has something to do with the Dr. saying the only problem that could occur is "bleeding out and requiring a transfusion"! UM-that's a big problem! He said that (knock on wood) he's never had that happen before. I trust him, he's great, and I'm sure he'd be careful with our girls, but ugh. Great way to start their summer vacation, hm? But, they'd miss 7-14 days of school if we did it during the school year.
We aren't planning on taking any big/long summer vacations, either. Just a wonderful summer here in the Midwest. We are embarking on a "postcard quest", though. The girls and I have already sent out emails to friends and relatives around the country, gathering addresses. We will be writing a letter, together, and sending it at the end of May requesting postcards from all 50 states and other countries, as well! We will be getting maps, one of the world and one of the U.S. The maps will hang in the basement, I think and the postcards will be, as well. It will be a fun summer project! :)
Running... nope, I have not been running. I have been doing a bit of walking, though! :)
That's it for me, for now. I hope you are enjoying the spring!

Another Run Down!

We are going after Vacation Bible School tonight, to meet up with my parents and camp with them for the weekend! I'm very much looking forward to it! But, I didn't want to worry about what I ate tonight, how I slept and a longer drive to meet the crew that I train with on Saturdays, so I ran today. I ate pasta last night to help, although my appetite has decreased lately. I ran-get this: 16 miles!!! By myself! I was nervous, because I haven't done over 14 this year, as regular readers know. At mile 15, I was hurting, of course, but I did it! It was not nearly the time frame I'd like: the 8:30 range, although I'm pacifying myself by remembering that it was 72 degrees when I started!!! I got up at around 5:30am, got ready, filled my Gatorade and water bottles, etc. I left around 6am and got back a little after 8am. Still, it was so humid and hot, it was very hard to breathe! But, I did it! :) I am excited, can you tell?? :) My minute per mile time was in the 9:00 range. Like I said, not the 8:30 I hoped for, but I will get there!! :)
The humidity is supposed to move off tonight for most of tomorrow, but not the heat, so camping in our pop up camper should be fun!! :)
My quest/hope for a teaching job hasn't led anywhere, yet, but I'm still hopeful, looking at the positives. :) School doesn't start for another month... :) I got out my tubs of information I've been saving for years and cut it down from two tubs to one, recycling all those notes from college classes with abbreviations I no longer remember the meaning of... Some pages I have far too many copies of, when I only need one... These types of things. I also have begun reviewing some of the newest, most relevant information, just in case...
The girls are growing up so fast, at our house. My oldest careening towards cross country practice-a school organized sport and 7th grade, as well. My youngest racing to grow up just as fast and in the process, growing up faster than it seems our first did! She's very excited about heading to third grade!! Counting down the days.
I am reading a new book that was recommended to me: Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy through Jokes I am always looking for a nonfiction book to read, but one I will like... This came highly recommended as very funny and fun to read-while you're learning! :) So, I thought I'd try it. I'm only on the first couple pages, so I will keep you posted on that.
My garden looks awful-the heat is scorching it and the lawn, despite repeated watering. Although the beetles seem to be less...
That's all I have from here! Have a great weekend, reader!!

Busy as summer bees

My garden is full of busy bumblebees buzzing 'round my Russian Sage and Lavender. The rest of my garden is looking pretty pathetic. I was watering every morning, even though the neighborhood doesn't like you to... and my plants were still crispy and brown. So, I quit watering and some of them have perished. The new plants I got to replace the beetle attractants didn't have enough time to build up before the heat and drought hit this year. We are in drought conditions. We got a little rain last night, which was helpful for the new patio landscaping and sod that was laid around it, though. Our water bill will be huge this month, I'm afraid. One plant that is doing well, however, is the morning glory that my youngest daughter and I planted from seed. It just started blooming this week and she's excited to see it!
The patio is almost finished. There is to be an arbor on the left side of it, but it hasn't been put in yet. Other than that, it's done.This is the view to the right from the hubby's den window, and the new table we got. The arbor will be at the bottom right of the photo. In this second photo, you can see the ground level and the firepit. Sorry about the screen in the photo, it's another one from hubby's den window.
We've already eaten almost all our meals out there! :)
In running news, I made the 13.1 miles in 1 hour and 48 minutes on Saturday! I was so happy! That was right where I hoped I'd be. This week: 14! This week's four and five mile runs have taken some working up to. I think I need a break, but can't take one. I ran with the oldest daughter at cross country workout yesterday (run by a pair of parents, not official or required). It was fun; they got to see their course, some of them for the first time. It is FLAT! So, hopefully some PR's ahead! :) They ran the course (2 miles) slow just to see where it was, got some water and stretched, and then ran it again trying to get their second mile better than their first. My oldest girl ran it pretty well for her first time, and having ran two miles previous to the actual workout. She did great!
This weekend the husband finished taking down the girls' wooden swingset/playset because they are too big to fit in it! He got down to the last few parts, and asked the girls to clean up the small things while he finished tearing it down...I said, be careful! Those nails are dangerous, they can go through those plastic shoes, etc. Well, the husband says that I worry too much, they'll be fine...and nolonger were the words out of his mouth and he steps on a nail!!! Right up through the shoe, and sock and into his foot-quite a long nail. OUCH! I took him to the urgent care office, where he got a tetanus shot and some antibiotics because the dr. said his shoes were "like a petri dish" waiting to spread germs; that he'd have been better off to step on it in bare feet. I did not say "I told you so"... but my husband did say to the girls, as we left for the urgent care: Girls, this is why you should always listen to your mother. :) He's doing fine, walking on it ok, now.
While we were at the hospital my husband said the nail wasn't rusty...but there was a poster in the office that said "tetanus shots aren't just for rusty nails anymore", that they were for anything that punctures the skin like bee stings, splinters or nails. They used to be good for 7 years, but now they're good for ten years.
In reading news, I finished Water for Elephants, which went fast, but was graphic in some spots, I thought. Not a favorite for me, although I did love the different perspectives of the old and young. I also finished The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, which is the latest in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books. I read the first two or three and liked them in previous summers. I saw the latest in the library and thought I'd pick it up. I enjoyed it and it went by quickly, as well. I am still in the middle of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone with my youngest daughter. We're reading it together. She didn't think she'd like it (mainly because my oldest read the first two and declared that she didn't like the books...) But my youngest likes fairies, magic, fantasy, etc, so I thought she'd like it. She hates when we put it down, now! I am also still in the middle of the Mysterious Benedict Society with my oldest, as well. They are enjoying their summer reading of other books as well! They have been so great about trying new books instead of sticking with the same series as they may have done in years past. They knew what they liked and only wanted to read those. I sometimes get like that myself, (ie the Tea Shop Mysteries)!! :)
Well, enough for now. I'm off to put furniture back where it belongs, as my husband cleaned the carpets last evening.

Summer Vacation

Well, the 2006-2007 schoolyear ended yesterday at 3:30pm. We headed from there to piano lessons, which continue through July, only taking August off, then went to the library. The library has a very nice summer reading program with prizes and activities throughout the summer. My girls love to sign up, and more importantly, they love to read. The oldest got three books and is done with 1 and a 1/2 today...so far. The youngest got four and is done with 1 and a 1/2 so far. I got two but am working on these college classes... After the library trip, the girls read for an hour and then we met the hubby for dinner. He had worked late and we wanted to celebrate the end of another wonderful year. The girls both finished with exceptional grades, including the oldest being honored at a school ceremony for a 4.0, so we headed to a local sporting goods store and got them rollerblades. We don't normally get "good grades" gifts, but after an excellent school year and onto summer, we thought it would be fun...and exercise for them.
I have not yet ran today and contemplated not: I have a pain in my back. I don't have this issue normally, but it's making me run awkwardly and uncomfortably. I need to get five miles in today, though. I am looking forward to tackling the ten on Saturday; the double digit mileage is looming large in front of me. Hopefully I don't psych myself out!
Not sure if I mentioned that we're having patio estimates done these last two weeks, had plans presented to us this week and hope to make a decision this Friday. Hopefully... :)
So far, plants in the garden are looking great. Although, the adjustments I made earlier this season, to reduce beetle infestation, have made things look awkward. I am used to full and bright plants, but the first seasons of perennials don't end up that way. They look thin and sparse, even with feeding and watering. It is early summer, so hopefully they will come around. Then in the fall or next spring I can rearrange some things.
That's all for today, onto more class homework. I am almost done with class two!

*note, I didn't get any homework done this afternoon! Some friends called and asked if we'd go to a waterpark. Not like slides and rafting, but a playground, with a waterpad nearby. The waterpad shot out water, filled buckets on poles which then dumped down, and a tunnel with water spraying. The kids loved it and we were there for hours! When they were tired of one park they went onto the other (the playground without water or the pad with water)! We applied and reapplied the sunscreen and they still had lots of fun! :) Hope your summer's going as "sunnily". :)

I've done it...

I have done more research on previously mentioned Japanese beetles and the woman at the local nursery said...I think all you can do is remove the plants the beetles like. I can't let the beetles win! They will not defeat me....oh, but they have. I removed some of the plants they like to eat and replaced them with others I hope they don't like. I have begun the transformation of my garden. I have always had a list of bird attracting and butterfly attracting plants and hoped to purchase them someday. So, this week, before I subbed in the afternoon, I went to the nursery and purchased some from my list...hopefully the plants like it here in my little garden and keep away the nasty insects who destroy it. Here is my garden last July in full bloom: The daisies in the middle were subsequently destroyed by the beetles, as were a few others. The zinnias on the right are annuals, but I may try to plant some more because they did so well last year. Hopefully I will have successfully removed the pests from my front garden....

Stinging Reality

Since I wrote last, while at my grandparents' cottage, I was stung by a wasp/bee.

It stung me between the forefinger and thumb on my right hand. It happened around four o'clock. By dinner, I had lost my first knuckle to swelling, still painful and had a sausage for a thumb. This continued until my entire had was swollen so fat I couldn't see any knuckles, which is very unusual for me-they're usually very clear to see and I have thin fingers. I had a huge hand, it was red, itchy and painful. I got some benedryl and took a pill every four hours-and it did nothing. So, we left a little earlier than we had planned,the next day. We came home and I went to an urgent care. The dr. said it was normal (my mom now says she's talked to other health professionals and they disagree) and the swelling just seemed like a lot because it was confined to my hand. She said it would go away in a week, but she gave me a tetanus shot-I couldn't remember the last time I'd had one-and a shot of steroids in my keister. It didn't help until the next day, and then the swelling went down and the redness and heat went away, but the itch continued for three more days. I lived. My family was worried because my brother is deathly allergic, must carry an epi-pen to inject immediately in case of a sting. So, my family thought I was developing such an allergy. Hopefully not. I work in my garden with no fear of the many bees who are busy working there. I would like to continue in my blissful ignorance. :)

Speaking of my garden, I had to pull out my large area of daisies. The grubs ate all the roots-I could pull them up with no effort at all and they were all brown and crispy. Grubs are the larvae of the previously mentioned Japanese beetles. I have not sprayed pesticides anymore: they're not good for any of us and they don't do any good after it rains. I also learned (my children love animal planet tv channel and heard that:) a baby hummingbird relies mostly on bugs for its diet, so that's why I hadn't had any in my garden. I have many plants they and butterflies are supposed to like, but the pesticide was keeping them away...so I have the quandry of lovely plants that are bug free, but also butterfly and hummingbird free, or some hideously destroyed plants but more visitors I like, with tagalongs that I don't.

Mom and Dad came over earlier in the week on their way to a sporting event. They stayed overnight, to get some of their drive out of the way. It was nice to have them for a visit.

Well, school starts next week and my now middle-schooler is getting a bit nervous about the changes. My younger daughter is super excited to go back. Can't wait. I want them to slow down in their growing up, but I can't make them. :)

I will be substitute teaching again this year, and am subbing in the kindergarten all week next week. The teacher will be there, and the kids come in small groups each day, but the teacher will be doing assessments, so they need someone to keep an eye on the other kids. I get full time sub pay so that will be really nice.

That's it for now.

Garden Pests

Well, another two weeks of summer have flown by since my last post. We have had our wine party-which turned out to be a great party! We served stuffed mushrooms, sausage on rye toast, a raspberry and nutella on puff pastry dessert, cheese and crackers, crab cakes (which everyone raved about so here is the recipe:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_27332,00.html
We love Paula Dean!) We also had some pastries with cream cheese fruit dip and fruit, shrimp cocktail, a few other appetizers and many wines. :) A few we didn't even open. We had a chardonnay, a few rieslings, a moscato, a couple cabernet sauvignons, a malbec (my new favorite) and a zinfandel. Our guests stayed, well most of them, until almost twelve thirty, which is late for us! :)

We've also had a wedding in the state we met at college, a trip to my homestate and a great time with the family at my paternal grandparents' lake cottage. We also brought my maternal grandmother home with us until tomorrow. We have had a busy and fun week with Gram. We've tooled all around our area and shopped more than I normally do.

Onto the title: Garden Pests...Ugh. My flowers in my perennial and annual garden are growing so nicely and then they returned for their annual buffet: the Japanese Beetles.... for those of you who are lucky enough to not know these munchers, I educate here: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/entfacts/trees/ef409.htm
They have thoroughly attacked my purple loosestrife, my daisies, my purple and white coneflower and my black-eyed susans! They eat or kill all of said plants in a short amount of time, but the traps only attract more as does squashing them one by one...yes, I've tried it and I've also tried organic and pesticidal methods of destruction. They have not led to the demise of the beasts in the several years of my attempts...so I'm about to break down and call a pest control company and pay an arm and a leg to get rid of them. Wish me luck!