Over Did It!

If you have been a reader for awhile, you may already know that about me.  I tend to over do it.  I get on a roll, and I just keep going and going, and going.  Forgetting that I am not in my twenties anymore.  Or thirties...or forties for that matter!!!  Then, it happens.  I pay for it dearly.  I hit that point last night.  Greg plays softball on Wednesday nights.  So after Noah left, I went outside and worked until dark.  In the past few days I have moved countless wheelbarrows of soil.  I removed ivy that had become entangled into one our orange trees, and and pruned the same tree.  I removed a dead entangled grape vine from an arbor.  I weeded 42 roses in the area that surrounds our home.  I planted three garden boxes, and several containers.  I cleaned the patio and removed several things, and added several others.  Switched out the furniture on patio outside our bedroom with some that was out front.  And now, I can barely move.   Sheesh...I hate when I do that!!!  When will I ever learn?
Yesterday, I had my two granddaughters come over to do a craft with Noah and I.  My girlfriend Denise had made me some darling chicks in egg shells, using the eggs that I had given her from my girls.  I loved them and have been saving eggs shells to do this with the grands.  We sat out on the back patio and crafted away.

I thought Clairey might be too young to do this because when I showed her the one that my friend Denise made for me, she squished it!!  But she did great, and I explained that she had to be very gentle when holding the shells.

They had so much fun making their little chick eggs.  After we were done, they went out to the yard and found flowers (weeds) to put on their little egg shell hats.

The girls took some home, and we still have a bunch left.  I put them in my pretty blue ceramic Anthro dish that Gennifer gave to me.

I think that they look like they are singing in the choir it this shot!

Later on the afternoon Jake brought them back over with some GRUBS in a jar that they found when tilling their garden box soil.  Hannah knew that the chickens would LOVE those juicy treats!

Mmmmm, THANK YOU HANNAH!!!

Noah couldn't wait to show the girls this pile of dirt.  I think he thinks that we ordered it for him to play in!!!

The first thing Hannah said was, "Can we get in it?" 
I took these sweet photos of Clairey with her Daddy.  They melt my heart.

Then a little peck on the cheek.

I just love to watch Jake with his girls.  It reminds me so much of my husband with our two daughters.  Our girls are exactly two years apart, just like Hannah and Claire.  Greg was always so loving and patient with them.  Daddy's little girls even today.   I also had a very special relationship with my dear Dad!  I am the only girl, and I can remember so many special things he did that made our relationship special.  He was my knight in shining armour!!  When I was 13 my Dad gave me a little gold flower ring.  In the center was a little tiny diamond.  He said he wanted me to receive my first diamond ring from the first man in my life.  I  have cherished that ring my whole life.  On the morning of my wedding, he came into my room with a small box.  It was a gold necklace with a locket.   The locket had a diamond on the front of it.  He said that he wanted to give me something to wear today.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  I was wearing a long summer weight striped robe, and we were sitting on the foot of my bed.  He put the necklace on me, and  then I will never forget what he said after that.  He said, "It's not too late to change your mind honey.  Anything you decide is okay with me."  How I loved that man!!  He treated my mother like a queen, every day.  And he was my hero.  The best gift that parents can give to their children, is to have a loving relationship with each other!!!!   My brothers and I received that gift.  And I think that our children did too.
So, after all of the kids went home, I began to shovel dirt again.   About 100 wheelbarrows later, I took off my gloves, parked the wheelbarrow and went inside to get my camera.

Still that pile doesn't seem to be getting any smaller!

My roses have all been taken care of, and will thank me with beautiful bouquets.  I was struck at how pretty the moon was last night.  Did you see it too?

It was just getting dark and not so bright in this picture.  But boy was it a pretty moon! And so many starts last night too!!  I went inside and had a bowl of Crispix for dinner.  Took a hot shower after that, and then slipped into this hot tub of bubbling therapy for a good long soak.

Our pool was built in a time when they didn't put spas in automatically like today.   So a few years ago, I got the idea to take the space outside our bedroom, that was wasted space, and level it to make room for a spa.  This is my "secret garden."  It is a space I love.  It is a very private and quiet space, tucked up into the side of the yard.  We had the wall knocked out and put a french sliding door there so we could walk right out onto the patio.  I love to sit out there in the evenings and enjoy watching the birds.  I don't think I have ever posted photos of this space before.  I will soon.  After my long soak, I hit the hay.  Greg was just getting home about then, and it was all I could do to quickly ask how the game was, and then say "good night!"
Today, I am moving slowly.  And I think some Arthritis Tylenol is in my future!  We are meeting friends at Tom's Farms for lunch.  Should be a perfect day for that.
Tootle Loo.....
XO  Kris