^😂

Another busy day outside. We have had much lower humidity for the last 3 days now. Of course, it's just a bit of a break and will be over soon. But I've gotten a ton of stuff done! It's been hard to come inside. Upper 80's, but our humidity is down and there's a bit of a breeze. My planters have been growing like crazy and I had to prune several. Moved some potted (outside) plants. Watering everything takes a while. More pine straw down. We have a couple of spots that need some bark type mulch, haven't done that yet. Our tomato plants are not growing as well as usual (although they have tomatoes on them!), so tomorrow will pick up some organic fertilizer and/or epsom salt (works great on ferns too). I wanted to spray, but not with the breeze. Took plenty of "breaks" to sit on the porch or patio area and enjoy the weather. What a great day!

I am worn slap out from reading about your days! Mine have been much slower since I finished unpacking. Those were 10-12 hours days (sometimes more) for 2 weeks. The only reason I stopped for 4 days was that DD2 and her family came to visit.

Now my days consist of getting up between 4-4:30am. (I know, it's crazy! I used to sleep in until at least 8!). Take the dogs out, then check the pool for frogs. Feed the dogs, drink two cups of hot chai, check email/Houzz, etc, then water the containers outside, dead head things, work in the yard a bit and clean the pool. Sometimes I'll go on a walk with DH. He either does a 3 to 4 mile walk or a 10 to 15 mile bike ride.

Today we drove 90 minutes each way to take our biggest dog to her new veterinarian opthamologist for a recheck. She lost one eye to glaucoma last year and is loosing her other one. But we are fighting it with all our might to keep her remaining eye as long as possible. Everything looked good today, but her pressure was too low (who knew that was a bad thing?!), so he adjusted her meds/drops and we go back next week for another recheck.

On the way, a concrete truck heading the opposite direction threw a rock and cracked my windshield. >:( Guess what I'll be doing Monday morning?

I planted two of these containers (came with the house) on the patio near the table and chairs.

These two planters came with us. This is our "front door" entrance but it's on the side of the house. The pool is directly behind me.

Another container that moved with us, now on the back porch. Can be seen from area in photo above and when going to the outdoor shower.

There is a really nice, but small, garden nursery nearby. I am hoping to draw in some Hummingbirds with the flowers and feeder. Also saw this at Lowe's and couldn't resist. I was going to put in a container unilt I saw it would live here and get to be 5ft tall and wide.

Love the owl photos, Jinx, and Mtn you garden is lovely (not a surprise!). DH thought we might be able to do a vegetable garden here, but the area it would go doesn't get enough sun.

Thank you, Allison! Love seeing glimpses of your new home, it sounds like you’re both really liking it there. :)

I got up at 530 and finished decorating 96 cookies, then went to bake an additional 24 (12 for pick up tomorrow), and my oven was dead. i had to haul all my stuff to my son’s house and then burnt 6 cookies because their oven went off in the middle of cooking. Now i will have to go to the lake place tomorrow to rebake those 6, AND look for a new oven.

Wow, Dee, what a day.

I was so irritated yesterday when Spelling Bee did not accept caryatid. I even took a pic and showed DH.

I took this in Athens several years ago.

Allison! 4:00 or 4:30??? Do you just wake up early? I'm usually up around 8:00. We rarely go to bed before midnight. Beautiful flowers. I'm going to post some on another thread! I have a picture for @Jilly.

I somehow got into the habit beore we moved. Guess a lot on my mind and once I woke up, I stayed awake. Woke up at 3 today. Not really happy about that! Doesn't seem to matter what time I go to bed. Thank you. Didn't get to garden much at our last house, so enjoying adding color to this one, which had zero color in this yard. Will go look for your photos.

Allison, I've been waking up at 4am for a couple of years now no matter what time I go to bed. I'e gotten to where I really enjoy that time which is why I keep instant coffee in the bathroom so the dogs won't hear me get up. :) It's me time, the time when no one needs me, and no one is in my way.

I ended up paying the piper for being in the heat so much and sweating like crazy by becoming dehydrated. More than just a little but I'm on the mend. Not fun.

Allison and Oakley, we ought to get up a table of online bridge for those of us who wake up so stinking early! I used to like to be at my desk by 6 a.m. It gave me time to review and work before the phones started ringing. Old habits are hard to break.

We are in Maine and it is just absolutely gorgeous here this weekend. Our kids are still back in CT having a party. Let's hope no more charcuterie. They were washing out the kayaks when we left last night; can you spell "homeowners insurance?"

We went for our favorite scenic ride along the coast this morning, to get the much-mocked avocado toast. This version had an over easy egg and tomato-bacon jam - yum. Then we came back and moved around the outdoor furniture; our gardeners put it away and take it out but it's never just so.

Remember the long tortured discussion about screening in the porch last year? I was very ambivalent but ended up deciding I couldn't do it. Now exploring white mosquito curtains that I can tie back to the columns. We shall see.

Well, we managed to re-arrange family room furniture without anyone having to call 911. Honestly, it's such a challenge to do basic things like that around the house as you get older and struggle with bad backs and the like!

Oh, Oak, about the bookcase. It does not have a story, really. It should, it deserves one. We chose it because we had a very long hallway upstairs in our first house and it needed something.

We bought it at ABC Carpet and Home in NYC. I adore that store, despite it having such an odd name that makes it sound like a warehouse of upright rolls of broadloom remnants.

It's a wonderful furniture and decor store in a big old building (and yes, rugs too). It's over like 7 floors also has 3 very good restaurants!

DH bought a truck last week so went to pick it up today. Been gone since 7am but almost home. I enjoyed my quiet time with the dogs. Caught up on DVR shows. Talked to two out of state friends.

Bbstx, I've never played bridge but used to play canasta weekly with a small group.

Mtn, I don't think I could have screened it in either.

Allison, my parents were canasta players but never taught me. I tried to learn Rook once for a charity Rook tournament. I learned enough to give my money to charity, but it never ”took” with me. Truth be told, I’m not a good card player.

BB, I love Bridge! Played it all the time in the college town we lived in before we moved here where NO ONE wanted to learn Bridge. Sigh...

Oh Mtn, you really have a store like that? Really? I'm moving out of OK. lol I'm going to look it up online.

It reminds me of the great stores in downtown Tulsa when I was growing up, back when people would actually dress nice to go shopping in downtown. Mom and I would go every other Saturday morning. Then the malls came and well, you know the rest of the story.

Bestyears, I KWYM about bad backs as we age. The large bags of dog and cat food from Amazon last week is still sitting by the front door..on the inside. I have to do the heavy lifting and I'm waiting until the last minute. :)

Mtn, picture #2, what department would that be? :)

I remember ABC Carpet when it was just a rug store, back in the '70s. It has morphed into an amazing emporium, and the food is also excellent. It's reminiscent of the once-great NYC department stores, but just for home furnishings.

How 'bout what I did around my daughter's house? I helped her sort through an enormous amount of baby clothes that people have gifted to her.

Oakley, Just come to NYC! You can go there to eat and walk around. The second photo looks like their main floor, which changes seasonally and is an amalgam of all sort of housewares, objet d'art, and even jewelry and clothing sometimes.

Decompressing after four days of overnight guests and my big party (if you call 10 people big). We did get our boat today after having it in the shop for a new custom cover so I cleaned that following winter storage. Otherwise I did nothing other than take a nap to catch up on my lack of sleep. No cooking, no cleaning up, no entertaining - nothing. Ahhhh……

Today I was busy trying to pack us up for a five night trip to explore a few west coast Florida towns. That was no easy task as we have just moved and are not completley unboxed. Ontop of that, I was having dizzy spells, checked BP and that was good. Maybe I’m just beyond exhausted. It will be nice to get away even though the weather forcast looks a bit dodgy.

I’m still amazed at this older age stuff/ ailments and how I really thought it would pass me by. What nerve!

Feel better, JT, and good luck on your quest.

Feel better, @just_terrilynn Drink more water, and cut down on salt and caffeine since you're dizzy.

JT, my feelings exactly. One day I was young & in great shape and the next 'Not so Much". Aging sucks the big one but, as my SO reminds me, the alternative is worse.

JT, Allison is right, drink more water. I was having dizzy spells last week, super fatigued, and luckily I had a doctor's appt. last Friday. Dehydration from being outside and sweating like crazy and not drinking water.

I'm still a bit fatigued but much better. Yesterday it was 102 in the shade, today it will be in the 70's.

But I'm not giving up coffee. :)

Sitting here having a mani pedi and wonderinge why I I dont do this more often

The best part of the mani pedi experience is looking down at your nails throughout the week, surprised at how cute they look.

I just made an appt for a mani/pedi later this week! I agree with you, Zalco. I broke a toe about 3 weeks ago so I’ve been afraid to get a pedi, but I have a girlfriends’ getaway beach weekend coming so have decided now is the time. 😉

I was planning on taking it easy today, after a very busy Fathers Day with DH yesterday. But, I got a notion to bake this morning and have been at it ever since! So far I’ve made a dozen Breakfast Egg Muffins, which are actually more like individual frittatas. Yummy! And then I made a batch of Cauliflower Herb Bread. And then I started to get hungry, and so I made some deviled eggs for my lunch. While I ate, I thumbed through my many cookbooks for an idea of something healthful to make for dinner. After yesterday’s not-so-healthful feast (LOL)! So, I put together an Apple, Quinoa, Feta and Pecan salad that we can have along with some of the herb bread for dinner this evening. Next, I need to start doing a massive load of dishes!

I'm a big clean as you go cooker, Lynn.

DH took my car to get windshield crack repaired, so I stayed home with the girls (dogs) and vacuumed, did two loads of laundry, and unpacked the last of my book boxes that were hiding in a guest closet. Cooked lunner that was ready when he came home after a Coscto run, and did more laundry. Washed and dried (for a change) my Covid hair. I haven't had hair this long since HS. I took the girls out - a lot. Moved three small rugs and a runner I have no place to use. >:( I did put the runner on the third floor. Might put one of the smaller rugs in my office closet, which according to a Target email I received is called a "cloffice." Who knew?! I love my cloffice, with its sloped ceilngs, even if I do have sit down four feet into it. I used left over art that I didn't get to use in the house. It would also make a fun area for children.

ETA: I also moved the wooden bench that was in the foyer of our last house inside from the garage (two steps) into the foyer, into the elevator to the main level and into the MBR by myself. DH just rolled his eyes at me when he got home. LOL It will go on the screened porch once the storms pass.

Lynn, I've been on a deviled edd kick for weeks! With the little egg boiler I have it takes no time at all. I have to be careful though, I could easily eat a dozen in one sitting.

Such a wonderful, delicious (and healthful) dinner tonight!

It looks delicious! I just want some of your energy. Hmmm, maybe it's time for a deviled egg?

Re: mani/pedis - my toenails are always polished. Now that my (finger) nails are so much harder/longer (I have to keep them filed down), there are usually polished too. However, I do not find a mani/pedi particularly relaxing. I guess I am too impatient with the time spent sitting in the chair. I do my own, using OPI Bonded (base coat), Essie polish, and Sally Hansen gel topcoat. I like bright colors on my toes or even black, and most often my fingernails are sporting "ballet slipper". I love a french manicure. Right now I actually have a pretty pinky coral on both fingers and toes. Even with cleaning, etc. a manicure will usually last me a week..

My toes are Cute As A Button and my fingernails are I Need A Vacation. Both are Essie. i chose the fingernail,polish solely based on its name. Its just so apt at the moment. its pink.

@Allison0704 do you still color your hair?

@Tina Marie yes, but doing at home for now with supplies gifted from my AL hairdresser. :D It's probably 95% silver. Not good with my skin color. Thinking about going lighter with the color, once I find a decent hairdresser in FL.

I made a beaded mobile today, my second attempt for our backyard. It isn’t my normal style … I like a more organic, earthy style with painted wood beads, warm metals, and such, but they didn’t survive the brutal Texas sun last summer. Hopefully this one will. I like the colors with the Vitex.

I made this one for my SIL, it’s not in the sun at their house:

Very prettyEtsy, Jinx!

Thanks, Lynn!

A while back in another thread, there was talk about ferns. I’d never had hanging plants on my porch but wondered if I could make ferns work. I have them and their working! My daily task ”around the house” is watering these guys. Taken on a windy day:

Jinx, I have no idea where the “Etsy” came from in my compliment about the mobiles you made! Typing on this site has gotten so weird lately!

Ha, Lynn! I figured it was a glitch … I’ve been having trouble here, too. Just Houzz, though, no other site!

SueB,

Love the ferns! It's a classic. You need to serve mint juleps now.

Is this the side of the house or the front of the house? Am i crazy for thinking it has a bit of a Dutch Colonial vibe? have you ever thought of shutters on the upper stories? Not sure if they would be appropriate but I think it may look nice.

No, it's a victorian built in 1900. None of the houses around us -- all built around the same time -- have shutters. That pic (DH trying to be creative?) is at a weird angle. That is the front of the house. Shutters not happening. Stop trying to get me to spend more money, I am very busy spending all my money on dining room furniture and bed pillows.

Yes, Ma'am. But you do know that this is our raison d'etre? Making each other spend, spend, spend! And we are pretty darn good at it, no?

That's why Houzz gives us this nice space to play in.

Oakley, I just came across a Tudors podcast advertised to me on IG. Here it is, in case you are interested. I hope I am remembering correctly that you like English history.

https://tudorsdynasty.podbean.com