Tuesday Thoughts...

This definitely takes some thought...

I don't really understand the last part. Seems like it should be the step-father.

Monday Mystery

I came across this a while ago. I have no idea what this means. It's a mystery to me. Anyone??

Something for Sunday

I do love garden photos. This one is special because it's way up high--like 6 stories! It overlooks "the gulch" in Nashville. Great view!

This is Justin's balcony garden. His flowers are beautiful!

He also has herbs, peppers and spinach. 

Butch had an excess of butterflies after ordering some for his "Dolly" cache. He gave them to the "kids". Justin how has a butterfly garden in addition to everything else!!

Speaking of the garden...

...I noticed this while watering mine yesterday. Look close...

A praying mantis! They are supposed to be good luck! I hope so.

Oh, and one last thing. Sharon gave me this Crown of Thorns plant when we were in St. Louis a week ago. 

It's a pretty thing with some serious thorns!

I had never seen anything like this before. Sharon gave Justin one a few years ago which he loves. Apparently it's pretty easy to grow and propagate. 

If you go back to the first picture, you'll see how huge these orchids are! I got this as a gift from my friend, Nancy's daughter, Leigh about two years ago. I thought I lost it in January during the "big freeze." Just about all the flowers dropped off then. I was shocked when it came back! I need to tie up the stems. Yeah, I'll do that today!

Scrapbook Saturday

I love when junk like this comes in the mail.

It opens up and...

...keeps opening up.

 

This is the perfect thing for a travel scrapbook page. I do not want several pages for one layout. I want it all contained within the confines of a one double-page spread. So, I use things like this to be able to add more photos. This is what it looks like:

When it's open, it holds 24 extra pictures--3x4. 

Here's the completed layout. The large envelope at the top with "Japan" holds Butch's 26 page travel journal. He never leaves out any details.

The junk mail piece is on the right--then folds out completely to reveal all of the pictures.

Okay, that's enough for today. Next week I'll share Josie and Evie's album that they made while here a couple weeks ago. 

 

Friday Funnies

Five Things Thursday

I never tire of pretty garden way pictures. Of these two, I would pick A as my favorite with the green canopy and flowers along the way.

I would choose 1 here too. I prefer well maintained grass in a garden setting. The other side is too "hard" for me. I've never been big on rocks in a garden. They do not generally look pristine like this. There will be leaves and debris that make it look messy.

This time I choose 2. I love the meandering look of it. I would prefer come comfy chairs rather than a fire pit. It's much too hot in summer for a fire. Plus, I love the flagstone path.

Love everything about this. That arbor issue gorgeous. Hydrangeas are always the best bang for the buck. I also like the decor on the fence. What a pretty and private little area.

And this is my favorite of all. I don't know if it's a tiny house or a "she shed" but I love it! And those flowers...omgosh! I'm not even sure what they are. All I know is I feel like I would love to be invited for tea on the porch!

What I Buy Wednesday!

This will probably be the most expensive post I'll make. Well, at least until we do the driveway!!

So, long story short, a guy came to the door and convinced me to let him get up on the roof to check for hail damage. And, by golly, he found lots of it! Still, I felt like he over-exaggerated it. He did take about 50 pictures, but the "dings" looked so little that it didn't seem like it needed replacing. 

He told me he was pretty sure that we have a leak--visible by ceiling damage--at the left rear of our house. He asked what room it was. I told him it was our master bedroom and that we didn't have a leak. I had him come in to show him.I had him lean in to the room because, well, I said I didn't want him walking on my white carpet! He was right! I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed the obvious "stain"--faint as it is. Later when the insurance adjuster came out, we noticed a couple others. Our roofer came out with him and took him on the roof too.

So, the adjuster reported back to the company and told them that we did indeed, need a new roof. To the tune of $56,000!!! Turns out, we have some sort of super duper expensive insurance. Butch had been asking our broker why our insurance was so expensive. Now we know! Hallelujah! We just had to pay our $5,000 deductible. 

Our roofer said that they would do it in 3 days! And, they did! Luckily, we were out of town for the last two days. 

The supplies arrived on the first day while they were taking off the TWO previous roofs--part of our super-duper insurance.

They did it in 3 sections: middle first, then each side.

As the shingles were coming down, there were two guys picking it up. How would you like that job--picking up trash every day, all day. Actually, I wouldn't want any part of this job. August in Nashville in the blaring sun working on a hot roof--now that's just insane!

My best count was 10 guys: 4 on front, 4 on back and 2 picking up.

There were so many vehicles that it was hard to find a place to park! I parked out front. When I was leaving, they had the front stairs covered with a gigantic tarp. As soon as they saw me, they started to remove the tarp. I said, "No" and then pantomimed--holding his arm. They didn't speak English. I took hold of his arm and made my way down. There's no way I was taking a chance with that precarious situation. Remember I said that I am trying really hard to recognize the number--74--is too old to be taking any chances--and I don't!

When I got home, we did the same thing going up the steps. I noticed the microwave right away. Later when I came out to water my plants, I took this picture--making sure no one was around. This was my tip-off that they were planning to stay for dinner!! 

That reminded me of my brother, Ronnie who was a Sheet Metal Worker. He worked in the heat of summer all his working life. He got a brilliant idea. He bought one of this little college refrigerators and left it on the job site. He "rented" space in his fridge--I think it was fifty cents a day for his fellow workers to have their own ice cold drinks! He paid for the fridge in no time!

This is one more thing that "we will never have to buy again!" The girls don't like it when we say that, but it's the truth--and kinda' fun to say it!

Next up:

The drive-way!

Our driveway is HUGE!! It cannot be repaired, or another "coating" put on top. I learned that from one of Morgan's old boyfriends who had a degree in "Concrete Management" from Middle Tennessee State University. I didn't even know there was such a thing!! 

Here's the old roof. Hmmm, now I'm thinking it could just like the pool tile. We might have picked out the exact same shingles! No wonder I can't tell the difference!!

Have you bought anything interesting this week?