Sad Day in Westminster

When we moved into our home 16 years ago, the builder put two small evergreens in the front of the house. There were supposed to be slow growers and were not to grow taller then 10 feet. Well when they got to be about 15 feet with no end in sight, we decided to remove them from the front yard. My husband thought he could move them to the back yard. I hate to kill a plant of any kind. The neighbors told him they would die, but my husband is always up to a challenge. He successfully transplanted them to the backyard where they continued to flourish.

We lost one to the pool, but the second we decided to leave alone. It got to be 25 feet tall and had no sign of stopping. It was between our house and a neighbors and was beginning to encroach on their property. We get severe wind storms tunneling between the houses, we (and the neighbors) started to get concerned it would come down on one of the houses. That doesn't even get into the problem with the sap and the dogs. The loved to run around it. We didn't want to see anyone or animal hurt, so we made the tough decision, that the great evergreen had to come down.

So Charles got out the saw, ladder and rope tonight and started the process. My husband would have made a good boy scout. Controlled destruction. I feel like we are losing a friend.

I don't know if the dogs will forgive us for getting rid of their playground. Flynn certainly was giving us "the look".

WEIRD OBJECT FRIDAY

I don't know if this is as "weird" as it is outlandish.
You may have the honor of sitting in this seat for three hours for a mere $528.00 It is located in Yankee Stadium. This is Yankee Stadium's last year. The team is moving into a new facility across the street. Normally the seat would cost you only $325.00, but since it is the final season most seats sold out early this year. You have to get them at something like stubhub. My daughter and her friends went up to see a game. They wanted to be able to say they went to Yankee Stadium where so many great baseball moments happened. Lots of history, but she did say it really was falling apart and needed replacement. I am just happy she survived the trip-- she wore an Orioles cap to the game.

THANKFUL

I just want to send a thank you to "blog land". I find myself taking more time to enjoy the little things around me. I have discovered birds, insects and plants I never knew existed. (some right before my eyes) I have enjoyed learning from each and everyone of you. Gerry

WEIRD OBJECT FRIDAY

Welcome to another weird object Friday. This is another mother hand me down that has come in handy at hot times. Anybody ever use one of these?

I SPY

Did you ever play "I Spy" with your kids. Well, while I relaxed in the pool tonight after a stressful day at work. I played "I Spy" out in the backyard.I have been inspired by all your pictures of your backyard birds. As I have mentioned before I just can't figure out how to use the macro option on this camera. ...so if you have a magnifying glass and good eyes you might be able to figure out where the hummingbird is in this shot.
Maybe it is easier in this one.

I, too, have baby birds. The mother won't feed them when we are in the pool. She always waits till we are out. But the picture below does show them ready and waiting for their nightly worms.
I spy.....a finch.
...but I have no idea what these are, but they are colorful and pretty. I watched the backyard residents( the birds, bugs and butterflies) for over an hour. They drained all the stress away.
..and while I was playing I Spy with the birds, somebody was playing I Spy with me.

BASEMENT PROGRESS

Charles, Niki and I are putting finishes touches on the basement. Charles and I picked up a coffee table and two end tables at Pier 1 and a rug at Kohl's. It really is the room I envisioned. There is an area to relax and watch tv or read.

We are sports fanatics. The Orioles, Ravens and Terps are welcome at our house anytime. We have given them each their own wall. There is a hallway we are working on for our family sports photographs. My daughter, Niki, has played basketball, lacrosse, soccer, and softball. Sean, my son loves baseball, softball, football and rugby.

We are hoping to purchase a couple of Raven's photographs. Training camp is here is Westminster and my daughter has a photographer friend who has taken some good pictures. Hopefully, we can get a few of those to add to the Ravens wall.
The dogs also love the basement. It is always the coolest room in the house in the summer and the warmest in the winter. We are all pleased with the results so far.

FARMERS' MARKET

I went to the Westminster's Farmers' Market this morning. The tomatoes were calling me.






























I picked up some beautiful heirloom tomatoes. One of the farmers had four varieties, and I picked up one of each. He also had some gorgeous peppers. Another stand had some purple string beans. She said they taste like regular string beans and will turn green when cooked.


Along with our zucchini the tomatoes, peppers and beans are headed for some sort of stirfry tonight. I will have to pull out the "Heirloom Tomato Cookbook" and find something special. It is a reason to celebrate. Tomato season has arrived.

Mine unfortunately are abundant, but green.

But the daisies are ready!

WEIRD OBJECT FRIDAY

"If that looking glass gets broke, Mama's gonna buy you a billy goat"

This was as close as I could get. Actually, my husband and I are always looking for unusal canes. His step-mother collects them and she has all sorts-- rabbits, dogs, horses, Santas, but this is the only goat we have ever found.

MY NEPHEW'S WEDDING

WATERMAN'S DAY IN ROCK HALL

My family took a trip down to the Eastern Shore of Maryland Sunday. Rock Hall was our destination. My nephew, Mike, has lived on the Eastern Shore for many years. He makes a living as a karaoke DJ(Mikey G). Lisa, his new wife is a longtime resident and since he has a popular act, they know so many people. He and Lisa, decided to do a "Rock Hall" wedding.

How many people have a boat paradge at their wedding?...or a dunking booth?

The festival had all sorts of Eastern Shore specialties.

It was nice to see family enjoying the day together.

My brother and his wife drove up from Richmond.

My daugher and brother.

My husband and I. The groom and his mom, Nancy. The groom's dad is on the right.

Sunday was the end of the Waterman's Festival-- a yearly celebration on July 4th weekend. They give prizes for fast boat docking and anchor throwing. They have a boat regatta with prizes for the most patriotically decorated workboat. Mike and Lisa grabbed that award. Although I think they did have an unfair advantage--they were the only one with a boat made up as wedding chapel. Well Lisa and Mike had the ceremony on the boat at the dock following the boat parade. It really was perfect and the most well matched wedding with a couples' personality that I have every attended. Best part, shorts were the attire of the day. At the end of the service, family and friends headed back to Mike and Lisa's backyard for a crab feast. I have never seen so much food. As the festival ended, more townspeople showed up to the backyard. Anyone was welcome. My nephew said that if you have ever nodded a hello to someone, they know they are invited. That is the way of life in Rock Hall.

The wedding party.

Finally, I do!

The crabs, of course, were great! Along with barbecue, chicken, hamburgers, macaroni, fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh corn, and so many other dishes. Everyone seemed to show up with a caserole of some kind. The beer, soda, and liquor were flowing. Their backyard is set up as party central. Horseshoes, pool table, hot tub, and of course karaoke. The party lasted until late at night.

I am very happy for Mike, he has had a long road and now has truly found his perfect soul mate.

Mike's son was his best man and gave a sweet toast.

Best wishes for a continuation of the wonderful life you have!

IN THE DOGHOUSE

July 4th started out with a real bang! Looks angelic doesn't she. She is the love of my daughter's life.(and mine too along with our other two)
Well, the three of them were chasing each other around the back yard and brought their play back into the house. I usually don't mind them chasing each other. It is kinda fun to watch. Nothing unusual to hear them running around. I heard Bailey slide into the wall. I looked up from WOF blogging and that will teach me to pay closer attention. In a matter of thirty seconds my family room became a muddy mess. It rained last night, and evidently they enjoyed a swim in a hole they had dug for coolness in the backyard. I tried to catch her, but have you every tried to catch a muddy, slippery, fast running puppy. She ran upstairs to my daughters room. The total damage: The entire family room floor, the kitchen floor, the family room walls, the hallyway, the newly shampooed stairs, my daughters bedsheets, my bedroom floor and my bedsheets, the back porch and finally her canvas doghouse that she loves to hide in(plus the blankets inside). In under one minute, she had totally messed the house. My daughter and I spent the morning, cleaning the puppy and the house. I still am doing the wash. We had to lay this blanket down because this is where her doghouse usually is and she kept trying to find it. I don't know who was more exhausted!

WEIRD OBJECT FRIDAY

I was thinking about W.O.F. this week. As I was looking around the office I realized that all of us have a weird object that is near and dear to us. Here are a couple of my co-workers.

We have a lizard lover.

A girl with attitude A rising star.

Ferguson protects the corner of the office. There is an ongoing argument as to whether he is a griffin or a gargoyle.
The Bop IS a tazmanian devil.
This dinosaur roars when you push the top of her head.
Our eyes often get cross-eyed from all the paperwork.
We are all animal lovers, no matter what kind.
If you knew our office, you would find it very easy to name the objects' owners. Each one fits their personalities exactly.