Mary, My BF would love to hear you say they are nice. After about 3 days he got tired of helping me find "natural" rocks in the woods and hauling them home. He came in the house and said, "Come out to the truck. I have something for you." It was 2 tons of garnet rock!! The Barton Garnet Mine is not too far from here and garnet rock is available at most of the places that sell stone. Most of them just sort of sparkle a little but in some you can really see the garnet. The pond area doesn't look like a natural woodland pond (which was my original goal), but I love it. Thanks for the compliments. Anne

Hi! Congrats Suzanne on that terrific total on the yard sale! What was the fund raiser for? Carolyn, I feel your pain re the heat! Hotter than heck here too... I think most of us are catching up on FB, but I find this to be so much more private, a safe place where we can bare our souls. This group is amazing, even if I haven't been checking in so often! Just wanted to say thank you for all of the prayers and good wishes, good thoughts from you guys after my accident. I am completely recovered from that nasty concussion, jaw is all healed and i have been back to work for the past 2 1/2 weeks! You might have seen that I have already been deep sea fishing and this Sunday I am taking my kayak out on Newport Bay. Can't wait! Can't find too many friends or family who enjoy kayaking as much as I do, so I went to meetup.com and found some new friends who DO! Ha! There is group at that link for EVERY interest. So Carolyn, go find 'em! You might suddenly find yourself with TOO much to do! : ) tikanis

I am not sure I have pics but since 9-11 we always fly the flag from our mailbox, 24/7 illuminated at night. So we are always set for the 4th(and Armed Forces Day etc). I plant red geraniums, blue lobelia and white baptisia together in a pot on each side of the porch steps. Little flags are in the pots. More little flags march across the front sidewalk. Most people on our street do this too! We hang a red white and blue bunting underneath one second floor window(the other is right over the porch roof and it doesnt fit) Buntings are big around here- lots of huge porches(not mine and we have roses growing up it so we don't hang anything on the front of the porch.) I do have red white and blue flowers in hanging baskets on each side of the porch. I cover my front porch chair cushions with red white or blue fabric(just wrapped for the day) In the back yard, my hanging baskets of flowers each have a little flag in them. red white and blue tableclothes. A small galvanized decorative bucket filled partway with sand with a red white and blue taper candles stuck in each bucket for a centerpiece.(like roman candles) And even tho we are 3 hours from the beach I like to scatter some shells around on the tables. Our town hosts a huge regional 4th parade- for the last 50+ years. The route is a block and a half up from our house.We have a huge number of people walking to the parade by our houses so we all go full out! Not competing- just enthusiastic! HTH Sue

Just a normal weekend here. DH works Saturday and will be out of town on Sunday. After chores I hope to sew or craft of some kind. Maybe finish the July block lotto and start working on August! Therese - Happy Canada Day! My cousins in the Soo are going to their cottage for the weekend. I loved going there when we visited them. Favorite memory, feeding chipmunks from our hands! Least favorite, my brother and I got food poisoning and ended up in the hospital! Different visits, but those kind of things stay in the memory bank!