The Memorial Day Weekend Post

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.

Epicurus
Greek philosopher (341 BC - 270 BC)

Hot Poker.

Toonces likes what he calls "candy corns".  I planted some 3 years ago and for the first time ever we had one bloom (I started with tiny babies).  They stand about 2 foot tall and I'll be happy when they spread and all blossom at the edge of our driveway.

Ben.

Somebody had their birthday party Saturday...he had his own big bouncy thing and a Superman cake.

It is great to be having an extra day tomorrow with Toonces here and nothing scheduled but yard work.  He isn't happy about it but I told him we have to finish the loose ends before summer officially begins.

I'm so glad to have this week behind me.  I didn't mean to schedule so many things in one week it just happened.  By Wednesday Martin was picking through wilted lettuce just to have something to eat.   Tonight will be the first time I've cooked a home cooked meal in weeks.  And no it isn't a chauvinist thing...T takes care of himself and doesn't grumble about eating Subway or leftovers but the empty fridge and cabinets were getting to him.  He helped all he could....but when I left full time work it was to prioritize our home and our life first.  It made things less stressful and we had more time to enjoy each other and our home, pets, etc.  We wanted a simpler way.   

If I have more weeks like last week I'd be better off back full time making a decent check...so no more of those if I can help it.

Isn't that just an adorable baby?  He is so cute.  That is Eli Joyce son of Mike and Brooke, long time friends of Delane and Amy.

See the baby poking her head from our mother hen.  Toonces was delighted to carry on his long, long, long rooster line with 8 new chicks hatched Thursday night.  Thank goodness a great guy and good friend of mine was down visiting and fishing because he is experienced with chickens and helped T move the mom and babies to a secure location.  I did not want to risk being flogged so I was relieved to just watch.

I actually saw a tiny chick hatch from it's egg.  It was amazing.

Miracles happen every day and we just blow them off as commonplace.

A difference between men and women:

At breakfast we took our coffee to the back patio.  I decided to take my clippers and clip the regular grass mixed in with the monkey grass edging.  Toonces...a copy cat anyway...saw the other pair of clippers on the deck.  Then he decides that all the clippers need a good dousing off WD40.  I am almost done by the time he gets finished.   I commented on how he spent more time preparing than doing to which he commented "Oh I am not going to help anyway because I wouldn't do it to suit you and you'd just fuss."

Like I ever fuss.

For more bday party pics go HERE.  For more black and white images of the party go HERE.

Friends of ours let us borrow their open kayak to tool around on the pond.  Yesterday was the first chance I'd had to use it.  I had only enough room for one dog so I took Earl for a spin then Eudora.  Earl sits in my lap all the time anyway and he enjoyed his ride.  Eudora-  not so much.  I put on my swim suit under my clothes so that if I even get finished doing photo stuff today I can sneak out for a dip and another spin in with Earl doggo. 

I'd love to take Darius but I hate the thoughts of him ripping the flesh off my thighs if he doesn't enjoy it.

In honor of the brave American soldiers:

For love of country they accepted death...  ~James A. Garfield

Although no sculptured marble should rise to their memory, nor engraved stone bear record of their deeds, yet will their remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored.  ~Daniel Webster

We who are left how shall we look again
Happily on the sun or feel the rain
Without remembering how they who went
Ungrudgingly and spent
Their lives for us loved, too, the sun and rain?
~Wilfred Wilson Gibson

Comments

[Pearl]

ooh, it's been years since I saw chicks hatch, not since ones under a heat lamp in my grandma's kitchen.

you fuss?
nah, never. :) me neither.

[OldOldLady Of The Hillsl]

BEAUTIFUL Post, Deana, in every way. Those chikdren are just so gorgeous...and Deepky Cute, too! (lol)
Fun party for the little guy.....! And a great tribute to Memorial Day. Hope the next two days are just wonderful. Love to you and Toonces and the Gang, including the new chicks!

[Gattina]

We don't have a memorial day here. We remember the soldiers of WW I and II on Nov 11 but it isn't an official holiday. Anyway there are not many left and my generation is the last one who can remember something of the last WW.
If you can come over to my blog today because I finally was able to put together the whole trip through the States we did in 1971 !! That was quite an adventure, lol !

[Terri]

Sounds like you've been as busy as I have....away from the blog world. It's good to enjoy the moments.
Great photos. Love the black and white ones especially.
Enjoy the rest of your holiday.

[Jade]

We have candy corn plants too but they are different, vines and quite unique. I love them.

Yard work on the agenda for us too. Hardly a holiday but the weather is perfect and we haven't been getting much of that lately so we'll not only enjoy it but spend a good bit of time outside in it. Tomorrow we're back to well below normal temps.

Great tributes to the Men and Women who do the most difficult job, without asking anything in return.

[WillThink4Wine]

I love how your posts ramble from one thing into the next! When I visit you, it's usually as my cats, Gandalf & Grayson!!

So I'm smiling about the baby chicks and watching candles being blown out and then I read the poems for Memorial Day and I'm all emotional again! Thanks for your tribute to our fallen!

[Absolute Vanilla... (& Atyllah)]

Just loved all those pics, Deana! So refreshing - that chick peeping out is just too cute. And red hot pokers - I've got them all over the place - the grow so easily here - I just break off bits and stick them in the ground - got two about to burst into flower any day now - must try a close up shot like yours!

[colleen]

What a whirlwind!

Today Joe and I were having lunch on the porch when he got up and started clipping back the forsythia. I wanted to say STOP but held my tongue ... at least for a while. But I finally did have to complain JOE STOP! He clips way more than I like ...his hair...bushes ...everything. I like long hair and big protective bushes that make cozy spaces.

[Kats (And Other) Tales]

Bouncy castles! Love them. And haven't seen an egg hatch since i was 8? 9? 10? Brilliant...

We don't have memorial day in Malaysia. But there's a November WWI day in the UK I think.

[Jolynn]

Every body is so cute!!!