Hello everyone!  Can't believe it's time to do another write-up.  Time passes much faster when you've been busy like us.  This one begins on July 3rd.  After doing miscellaneous chores in the a.m. it was time to do last month's blog.  Lee worked on pictures and info on items we're going to list on the Canyon Lake classified ads that we have for sale.  Friday ----- HAPPY FOURTH!!! This was going to be a day of rest --- didn't turn out that way.  The parts came yesterday for the lawn mower.  Lee can now add mechanic to his "retirement resume".  He got the new parts installed ---- and bingo --- mower started!  We ended up mowing the grass.  Nothing else for the day!!!  Clean up -- cool off.  Now it's time to put something on the grill.  Saturday was a general cleaning and laundry day.  Not overdoing it today - Sunday the 6th - yeah right.  We washed and detailed the PT inside and out.  That was long over due.  Hope to do the truck tomorrow morning.  Gave the stove a good cleaning in between rain delays for the Daytona race.  It's been a typical race at Daytona -- rain/wrecks --- wrecks/rain.  Got cancelled - so the stove is now clean.

On Monday the 7th we washed and detailed the truck first thing.  Not too hot yet so we started working in the yard.  There was an area that really needed some TLC...then we can seed it.  On Tuesday my carpenter and plumber (Lee) worked inside while I worked on another area in the yard.  He fixed a cabinet, a door and a leak under one of the bathroom sinks.  I must add that none of our chores are started until we have our morning coffee and read the paper while sitting on the front porch.  We DO have to set some priorities.  We had been watching this plant beside the front porch -- had no clue what it was, but awesome blooms were appearing.  Absolutely beautiful!!!  Found out it is a Spider Lily.

                                                               Spider Lilly                                                  

Headed to Home Depot on Wednesday the 9th for some pebbles to put around the bird bath and some other rocks for our cactus garden.  Also got some mulch.  Once we got home and got everything spread and organized we called it a day.  More yard work on Thursday the 10th. The yard is now 98% complete.  Lee installed another motion detector light.  Spent the rest of the afternoon packing.  We going to Debi's tomorrow for the weekend.  It's her birthday (on Saturday).   

                                                               Catus Garden with Flamingoes

Off to Cedar Park (Debi's) on Friday morning the 11th.  We stopped at Cabelas to get her a candle.  As I've mentioned before -- they have the BEST vanilla candle (White Swan).  We're both hooked on them. Lee likes them also because he gets the jar they come in and after cleaning them up he uses them to store his Jelly Bellies in.  Went to dinner at the Red Lobster with the neighbors (Tammy & Pete). Always a great time!  After a trip to Costco we headed for the pool.  Stayed there ALL day!! Had a great birthday dinner --- Todd and Chad did the cooking and cleaning!  Lee and I headed home Sunday morning the 13th.  Once we got unpacked, we kicked back and relaxed -- plan on watching the race and possibly take a nap.  We got our first day of 100+ degree weather on Monday the 14th.  At 3:20 it was 100.4.  The hottest part of the day is around 5:00. Anxious to see what it is then........5:00 - 105 with heat index 110.  Now that's toasty warm.  

                                         Debi's Birthday Dinner

Hoping and praying for some rain today Tuesday the 15th.  It's in the forecast, we just hope it doesn't pass us by. Dang -- only got a few sprinkles.  We really, really need rain!!!!  On Wednesday the 16th Lee mowed the grass while I got back in the paint.  I'm working on the cabinets in the master bathroom.  On Thursday the 17th Lee had a pre-op exam at the surgery center for his cataract surgery on the 23rd.  Stopped and got his drops (2) he'll need on the way home.  OH MY GOSH -- we almost had a heart attack at the price aint OBAMA CARE great.  Disgraceful - and we have insurance.  Can't get either one in a generic -- so you have no choice.  Won't rant any more about this - because it won't be nice.  

On Friday the 18th I finished painting the cabinets in the master bathroom.  Then we started going through our old pictures from Elbert Long.  Lee was going to scan them to put on Facebook.  OH what memories -- and lots of laughs.  Lee trimmed a couple trees on Saturday the 19th.  I painted the cabinet in the little bathroom.  Off to Gruene on Sunday the 20th for Gruene Market Days.  We were almost out of this wonderful bbq sauce we get there.  We also got a beautiful plant I've been wanting.  Off to Home Depot on Monday the 21st for a few items.  We found some shelves that have cloth drawers.  Lee needed something for the fly tying room.  After a grocery store run we put it together.  Took the rest of the day off.

New Plant Pride of Barbados 

7th Grade Prom

                                                         1960-61 Junior High

On Tuesday the 22nd I painted the little bathroom door while Lee reinforced the shelves we got yesterday.  Rearranged the fly tying room and got the shelves set up and loaded.  Up at 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday the 23rd and headed to the surgery center in San Marcos for Lee's surgery.  All went very well!!!  The highlight of the morning was when his surgeon came to see him before surgery and Lee asked him if he slept well last night......and that was before "the happy juice".  Everyone was cracking up.  Lee said he wanted to make sure he was rested before cutting on his eye (major LOL).  Our eye doctor is SUPER and has a GREAT sense of humor.  He is not to read at all today - that means his computer, newspaper or read anything on his phone.  Ended up being no problem.  He slept most of the day.  Thursday morning the 24th we had to go see the surgeon for a post-op checkup.  Very good report -- healing nicely.  He's doing really good with the drops -- but he HAS to concentrate really hard.  He is very sensitive when someone or something comes close to his eyes.  He has to take it easy today also and has several restrictions for a week.  I got my paint gear out and painted two closet doors.  

On Friday the 25th we had a very (wonderful) cool morning with a breeze so after coffee I started mowing the grass (Lee can't due to surgery).  The yard is looking sooo good.  It should with all the effort and care we've put in to it.  On Saturday the 26th I started painting the walls in the living room.  They're not bad (like those awful bedrooms) but definitely needed a fresh coat of paint.  Lee is trying something new on the grill --- a chicken sitting on a beer can.  OMG - so funny looking.  I took the afternoon off to watch the race.  PS - the chicken was outstanding!!! On Sunday I painted a couple more walls in the living room and Lee started washing some windows.  On Monday the 28th we headed to our favorite place -- Home Depot.  We decided to change the color in the kitchen.  I think the paint guy thought I was "nuts".  I took a cannister with me because we wanted the light blue shade that is in it.  He did good!!!  I've got 2 areas to finish up in the living room and I want to paint the hallway then I'll start on the kitchen.  We also selected some back splash tile for the kitchen.  

                                                Chicken on a Can of Beer   Yum Yum On Tuesday the 29th we spotted movement by the driveway while we were having our morning coffee on the front porch. There were 2 huge chickens!!!  We've seen lots of critters around here -- but didn't expect to see any chickens.  Turns out they belong to the neighbors across the street.  He had let them out of their fenced area to "run around" and forgot to put them up, so they wondered over to our house.  Nothing surprises me anymore.  This ended up being a good day.  I finished the living room and started on the hallway.  Lee started installing the back splash behind the kitchen sink.  He also installed a couple more outside roll up shades on the front porch.  Those are great for keeping the sun from barring down on the front of the house.

                                                     Sunday Dinner or some eggs

Completed two more projects on Wednesday the 30th.  The hallway is painted --- and the back splash has been installed.  We had never attempted a back splash before --- but Lee did an outstanding job.  Looks GREAT!!!!  We started painting the kitchen, but couldn't too involved because Lee had an pre-op exam for the cataract surgery he'll have on the left eye on August 13th.  On August 1st - with some restrictions lifted, Lee mowed the grass, then hung 2 more roll up shades on the front porch.  I got busy painting the kitchen.  We should be able to finish up tomorrow.  It was a super super pale yellow.  We were so pleased with the color we picked out. Looks so much better.  Once again a major improvement.....which was completed on Saturday the 2nd.  Next project - paint the laundry room.

New Paint

                                                       Back Splash

                                            New Back splash My eye drops that contain gold on the bar

Once again - it's been a very busy month.  But -- we thoroughly enjoy what we're doing and so proud of the outcome.  Are we finished painting -- no --- but the list is getting shorter.

Take care.  Until next time.......