The getaway, the taste and smells of summer

- I can almost smell the air by the banks of the Hiwassee River and can almost feel the cool breeze.  That's where I'll be the beginning of next week when we have our annual sisters gathering - three sisters converging from three different states to spend a few days in yet another state.  It's badly needed down time for me - I'm so looking forward to it.

- Summer.  I never look forward to it, knowing how hot it will be, but it's hotter in other places in our country/the world, so I don't like to complain too much.  Earlier this morning when I was slicing watermelon to bring with me to work today, I was thinking that is one of the high points of summer - watermelon + Georgia peaches, blueberries and summer food in general.

- Sometimes when I catch the scent of freshly mowed grass, it takes me back to summers as a child.  Our house was not air conditioned until I was a young teen, and I don't remember it being that bad.  It was lovely to have the windows of the house open, ceiling fans whirring and the scent of the mowed grass coming in.

Have a wonderful weekend and wonderful next few days.  I'll be by your blogs until I get out of internet range next week.  (That's one thing I like about that mountain house - no computer and no cell phone data.)

Beautiful moodiness, good things and random kindness

- My photo woes continue until I go the phone store and open my wallet.  Meanwhile - here is a photo that a friend took of clouds over the 'burbs this week.  Love the beautiful moodiness of it.

- And this was interesting - I get daily emails from PureWow, who targets an audience closer to the age of the woman in the photo in the link.  (Click on red link to view.)  Check out the "secrets to lifelong happiness" and item 2, in particular.  They may be on to something!  :)  Hmmm - wonder where that idea came from???

- Item 3 on the link is something I have been consciously doing more than once a day - extending acts of kindness.  There is so much turmoil in the news every day, not only internationally, but all around us, that I want to make sure everyone experiences something nice from me, if possible.  It might be holding the door for someone, letting someone go ahead of me in traffic, a kind word to someone who needs it.  It's the least I can do.

 I hope your day is going well and that you have a lovely weekend!

Misty river, one little bird and lovely

- I sure hope you like the photos from the river, because that's all I've got right now.  The darn phone needs updating and I can't get my photos out of them until I do (technology is getting away from me, I think.)  Sigh.  Oh...to be beside the river right now!

- This little bird picked a great place to be!  I always think that about the birds and squirrels when I'm there - smart choice!

- And we end with a beautiful flower from the neighbor's garden.  I made this one my screensaver on my computer at work.  Lovely.

Border beauty, shovel art and not your typical Greek salad

- I am revisiting the mountains and the gardens beside the river this morning.  The neighbors next door grew weary of all the rain during July 4th weekend and packed up and left on Saturday.  So that Sunday morning, in a break from rain, I walked the garden.  It borders my sister and brother-in-law's property, so I didn't feel as I was intruding too much.  Love the happy profusion of plants and flowers along this border.

- And the shovel art!  Click to enlarge to see the insect-like creature someone made that started with a shovel.  The neighbor is a master gardener and as much as we were unhappy that someone built a house on that corner property, we do love seeing all the flowers.

- I am certain I've posted this salad before, but here it is again, before being topped with feta cheese.  It's Greek Salad with Lemon and Oregano from the Smitten Kitchen.  I adore making this salad and will make it again this weekend - I bought the stuff last night.  And I used Vidalia onion instead of purple onion, because I like it.  If you click on the red Smitten Kitchen link above, you can read her happy news.  It made me smile this morning.

Happy Friday, y'all!  Hope you have a great weekend!

Farmer's market, string band and other cool stuff

- The Palafox Market, in downtown Pensacola last Saturday, was full of fresh produce for sale, as well as other local goods: jewelry, crafts, jams, baked goods and such.  I bought some fig preserves from a purveyor of preserves, jams and jellies.  The jar contains whole figs, which reminds me of how my grandmother used to make them.

-This family band was singing "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" when we walked by.  I loved the name of their band, "String Farm."  Perfect for a farmers' market, eh?

- That is historic Christ Church in the background - founded in 1764 - and the internet says it is the oldest church building in Florida.  I love the Spanish influence of the architecture.  And I suppose if I had a cool red car like that, I'd drive it around on Saturday, too.

- A fourth thing - there are decorated pelicans everywhere in the downtown area.  This intersection had a pelican tribute to each of the armed services.  I liked the Coast Guard pelican the most, because he is wearing a life vest.  The art project "Pelicans in Paradise" is sponsored by the local newspaper.

Most of all - I loved having family time.  It was truly lovely.

Morning coffee, in the spirit and heading south

- My head is still in the mountains, drinking coffee by the river.  I was just having one of those "this time last week..." moments.  But I just had some coffee from home at my office desk and that was good, too.  Love that candle thingie my sister has on the kitchen counter.  It warms the two candles (in glass holders) inside and lights up beautifully. 

- At the condos, newest neighbor Alicia, a very nice, and a bit shy woman, got in the spirit of all the flower planting and put this pot of climbing Bougainvillea beside her front door.  It's trailing up nicely already.

- The last time I visited Pensacola, Florida, in mid-August 2014,  I experienced a moment of pure happiness that my sister was driving so I could gaze at the waters of Pensacola Bay, while going over the bridge to the beach area.  I snapped this photo to commemorate - I knew it would come in handy one day.  That's where I'm headed later today to be with family for the weekend.  I'm so excited!

May your weekend be filled with good things!

Weekend of the 4th, feet up and fingerprint

- Having the opportunity for a long weekend, via the 4th of July holiday in the US, I decided to spend it at my sister's vacation home in the North Carolina mountains.  I arrived in the rain on Thursday night and left in the rain on Sunday afternoon.  It rained the whole time, except for a few breaks here and there.  I slogged around in the wet grass on Sunday morning and got this photo.

- Feet up, with book in hand, and looking as if I didn't mind that rain on Friday morning.  (I didn't.)  The river was up the whole time, which was good for the kayakers, who didn't seem to mind getting rained on.

- These blooming Hosta plants were planted many years ago by my sister's late mother-in-law.  I love that her fingerprint is still around - inside the house and outdoors.  If you click to enlarge, you can barely see some bees enjoying the nectar of the flowers.

- A fourth photo today:  I love visiting the local shops and contributing a bit to the local economy.  Sweetpea at Green Willow Gifts welcomed me (sort of) at the front porch of the shop.  I  imagine her thinking:  "Yes - I know I am beautiful.  You may pet me.  Now move along."  Sweetpea was rescued by the sisters who own the place - I always enjoy seeing her.  And I am delighted with one of my shop purchases!  Fodder for another post.