Good Grief! What a post!

Dear friends, your birthday wishes just made my day!! Thank you so much!!

Have you ever heard of Schoolhouse Lilies? Well, I never had until a friend way out in Texas sent me some...

I met Sandra through my blog. She told me about the pretty red lilies and how they bloom every year around the time school starts. 

There were twice this many lilies in the box Sandra sent but I planted some in another spot. How dumb of me! Wish now I had put them all here. Anyhow, Sandra said move them in December. The picture does not show the true beauty of these lilies and their vibrant red color. Thank you again Sandra.

and about the Succulents. not a very pretty picture...

but after seeing how my one succulent thrived with very little care...

well, I decided to try more and found on Ebay, a place to order a sample box of little cuttings for around ten dollars...

It's amazing how quickly these little pieces started growing, using just the regular old potting soil I have on hand.

Need to read now, how to care for these plants and make them prettier.

The garden is looking awfully bad these days, in fact, I've pulled up the bean vines and a few other things...

didn't know Poppy had the camera! The squash plants have been amazing. Look how big and pretty these are still, and yesterday I picked ten large squash. Been meaning to tell you about the morning glory vine...

See how yellow and dying everything looks? Soon will be fall! Anyhow, last year the vine didn't grow so big but was covered in pretty purple blooms, surrounding the little blue bird box there on the center post. Can you see it?

This year I wanted bigger and better so bought a pack of the giant blue morning glory seeds, and do you know, not even one bloom! Not one! Not all summer! but not to be outdone...

this tiny purple morning glory seed found its way through the dry soil and bloomed. Sure hurt my heart. It wanted to climb the fence but it's too late. Wish there was some way to save it for next summer. I feel just awful. There's lesson here..."be content with what you have".

The okra plants are still pretty...

and a little update on the animals...It is absolutely amazing how Eli, and now Ellie, hear and see things, long before we can. The barking brings us running to the door...

thinking maybe a bear has wandered into the yard. Here's what it was this time...

and did I tell you, Smokey got caught outside in a rain storm, a week or so ago? We were worried about him...Poppy called me to the front ddoor and said, look! There sat Smokey, dripping wet...

Look at those cute feet hanging from the towel. Wasn't long before he was dry and telling Poppy how awful it was...

Oops! Please overlook the hole in the chair. I'm done patching and mending. It's time for new living room seating...and Poppy agrees. Our lovely leather set is now thirty two years old! Now to talk Eli into giving up his big leather chair. We'll see. I will probably have to remind Poppy a hundred times too. :(

Woo, made an appearance from under the sewing table to say "hey"...

He is still a sweetie and would sit in my lap 24/7, if only I had the time. 

All is well in the chicken lot...

I've been letting them out to roam in the yard every day now and they love it! Poppy put wire on the small door to let in more air, and maybe create a breeze from the two windows, these hot summer nights...

and I promise, there is an end to this post. Here's the last...

This hen said she would be on the veranda today, laying her egg...

That's all folks! Thank you, if you're still here. 

Love,

Henny