AAH!!

And we are told weeds have no beauty. . . They look pretty lovely to me.    

A fabulous chicken stew made by daughter Christine and a sip of red wine to go along with it, a good way to share a dinner.

and Miss Emma find her way under the table and waits patiently for crumbs to fall.

With Ladies Night Out coming up this Friday evening, the little gifts had to be made for the event and Patricia and I got the job of filling the tiny bags we made out of ribbon and stuffed them with a tea bag and a bit of chocolate candy.   Two hundred seems like the magic number and we did get them done.    It has been a busy week for me and Pat as our other helpers are off, one vacationing and the others caught up with home business.   I got the newsletters folded and now have to finish up the job as they have to have labels and be mailed off.    What is that old adage about 'no rest for the wicked'. . . I must have had a lot more fun than I thought I did as I came along.    I am not complaining as it is good to be busy and I enjoy helping the ladies out.    We have a new artist reception coming up this coming Sunday so Pat and I will be busy in the kitchen. . . a familiar place and a fun one.   I remember the children finding fault when I used to be in the kitchen at school and church affairs years ago.  They complained because I wasn't sitting out in front pouring tea.   Now they realize the importance of behind the scenes and spend a lot of their time there.

I understand the saying of there is 'no going back' as I had a telephone visit with an old neighbor who brought me up on the news and events.    So many changes in just a year and a half.    New people,   Some moved away, some are not faring well, some with illness and heart break.    Life goes on with changes we never even thought about.   I am told the old house is painted and looks nice.  The gardener I had clipping the big hedge has doubled his price. . .wow, that's really a big deal as he was already expensive.   The hedge should go and a fence put up and end the job of keeping the hedge under control.    The original owners must have loved hedges as they planted them all around the property then moved on and left the hard work behind.   Son John was smart as he cut the back hedges down to a very short size and it will take years for them to grow back up to become a cutting problem.    I wish I had thought of that a long time back...live and learn...smile.

So today, if you have outside chores to do, go and do them...the weather is changing.  Soon you will be weather bound and not able to enjoy all those outside jobs.  Some of you will be happy about that, but others will be sad as they enjoy the outside work.   As the old adage goes. . . 'make hay while the sun shines and get out there and get your chores done before the rainy season starts.   Here at Ridgemont, I get to watch the gardeners work.  They have a whole crew to take care of the outside and it is a very big job.   Get busy, get out there and get your yard winterized as the cold rainy months will be with us soon enough.    Winterize and be ready to enjoy another new season.  Be good, be kind, be gentle and spend some of your precious moments sharing YOU with those you love and like.    Be a person one loves to see coming up the walk.  Be a person who shares and cares.   Be a person who knows how to be a good neighbor.   Be a person who knows how to hug...if you don't, practice it is good for you.   Hugs to all.