An auspicious birthday for Bob!

Maybe I should revisit this past hobby - folding pages of vintage books!

These days I only turn pages of books, magazines, grocery flyers etc.

This Independence Day holiday weekend is being spent here at home and

 today is Bob's birthday.

This is a very special Birthday for Bob, his 80th!  Yes, he doesn't

look anywhere near that, and he definitely doesn't act that age.

Most important - and we are so thankful - he is healthy.  He still has so much

 energy and moves like a much younger man. . . . . . and of course he talks a lot, 

about a lot of interesting things, because of his Irish genes!

He is not rocking on the porch yet.

He often amazes me and I wonder if I will always be able to keep up with him.

I could write a book about our long life together, but it would take so many pages

to cram it all in, so many pages to turn. So just take my word for it. . . . . he's 

going to be one awesome octogenarian.

Love you Bob.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB 🎂

Out of the blue. . . . . . .Independence Day

Sleeping-in a bit later than usual - and why not if your body tells you it requires

 more rest - did mean I almost missed the Morning glories in all their glory!

They open early then in the heat of the late morning start to curl up again,

so you have to be quick with a camera! Two colors opening now - I think

I sowed mixed seeds so there will be surprises.

As nice as it is to be at home to celebrate Independence Day, we are usually

somewhere else. Most often in early July we head north to New England, first

 to visit Bob's home in New Hampshire to celebrate his birthday on July 5th,

then we do a lot of driving around Vermont, Maine, and usually a stop in

 Massachusetts where we also lived before moving south.  Although we 

no longer have family there we do have wonderful friends. We'll miss

seeing them this year now that travel is out of the question

All of New England is beautiful - and if you've ever been there I know

you will agree.

The Lady of the Sea - New Hampshire Marine Memorial

Designed by Alice E. Cosgrove : 1909-1971

A memorial dedicated to all New Hampshire service persons
lost at sea due to warfare.

Hampton Beach, New Hampshire 

We have put out our flag and will light these stars on the front porch

  as dusk settles in.

**********

God Bless America.......today and every day.

Have a wonderful holiday.  Celebrate in style!

**********

From the cottage -

Today is going to hit 93F here - definitely not a day to be dashing about trying

 to catch balls. Life is a game where we are always juggling balls in the air, 

even a pandemic hasn't put a stop to that.  

Everyday things continue to crop up around the cottage and garden.

Things wear out, break down, leak, drip, grind to a halt, die.

In the garden, so beautiful a month ago, blooms now fade, some die,

others droop, drop, fall over, give up. . . .and then the creepy crawlies move

 in to suck, chew, kill. So we drag hoses, deadhead, spray with soapy water,

add a splash of fertilizer, trim back, cut down. Cross fingers a lot.

Are you staying busy with all those chores, keeping the balls moving through

the air. . . . .or are they falling to the ground as mine seem to be doing in the

heat?  Right now I'm heading out into the garden again, watering the pots 

already drying out. Still grateful for the garden. Still loving the birds.

The figs are plumping up and there will be lots of picking ahead 

late summer. The back garden will continue to get a facelift - when the

mosquitoes are fewer, hopefully.  

The holiday weekend apparently starts tonight, although we heard 

fireworks in the neighborhood last evening.  

The celebration will be different this year.

Enjoy all you can during these troubled times - keep those balls bouncing!

 God bless America!