Thanks everybody! Yeah Bustopher, we're definitely in a drought situation. We didn't get enough rain to build up hardly any snowpack in the upper Sierras. Not much run-off, so the creeks and reservoirs are getting extremely low. We're on every-other-day water rationing. They initially wanted us to cut back water use by 20-25% which for me is fine, because I over-watered last yr. So far, the roses are doing ok.

Yes, the chairs were moved to the tables-there wasn't dinner, per se, but nibbles available. Once the sun went down, people let their hair down and started dancing, using the lounge and loosening up. This definitely wasn't your typical wedding! But it was exactly what the kids wanted. We did not do many traditional things-my DS walked his sister down the aisle; there was a communal vow to support the couple, the officiant said the Bride may now kiss her Groom. No cake cutting, no garter or bouquet throwing. The kids just wanted a celebration that reflected them, and that is what we had. I didn't realize it, but I guess I DID have the I Dream of Jeanie bottle in mind when I designed the lounge! Inspired by photos of Indian mandaps, this was what i came up with. The whole thing didn't completely meet with my vision, but it came close-and the kids loved it, which was all that mattered to me.

I still like that Blue Cadet. It's so full! What a pretty Autumn Frost. Mine came back smaller this year. I should show it your pic and tell it to step it up, lol!

ESMERALDA was pretty thirsty tonight. I have water all over the pen in different containers besides this rubber tub. Gotta keep 'em hydrated in these triple digits! A buncha the girls foraging around... Gotta have the "chicken butt" shots!! They have the cutest butts... except when they get pasty butt like Josephine... GABRIELLA - one of my beautiful Brahmas. They are huge birds. I have a feeling when they start laying, their eggs will be bigger than Elvira's! More foraging... MORTICIA - Elvira's sister. She's my noisiest bird. She makes all sorts of sounds and practically yells. Sometimes she sounds like a dentist's drill buzzing... My best girl FREDERIKA (Fred). She sit's on me and sometimes falls asleep on my lap. She's so pretty. She has a bum foot and sorta limps when she walks, and waddles so funny when she runs. I love her to pieces!! ROSALINA & HENRIETTA. Miss H is molting on her neck right now, and most of her beard is plucked! Silly birds... GRISELDA (Grizzie) - the sweetest of my two Barred Rocks. Her sister Ezzie bites me.. hard... draws blood sometimes. But I still love her too. They're all my sweeties. I just love them so much. Best thing we ever did... besides growing roses....