My life, here and now...

here and now

On my mind...

July? How the heck can it be July already?

Even how-the-heckier: How can the first week of July already be nearly over?

Reading...

I'm about halfway through Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker. I can't say I love it at this point, but I am intrigued and will continue reading.

Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker

Check it out on Goodreads. And hey, if you're on Goodreads, let's connect!

Watched...

For the past several weeks, Jim and I have watched the daily (hourly?) progress of a mama robin and her babes residing in a scrunched and small nest she built between our garage doors, just outside our kitchen window.

From the first days of nest building to the last day when the final little one left the nest, we delighted in keeping tabs on Mommy and her wee babies three.

robin babies in nest

Coolest part of all: We actually witnessed the final emptying of the nest. I had gone out to get the Sunday newspaper by the garage doors when the remaining chick sat up tall and still. I ran inside, called Jim to watch at the window with me, and we chuckled and cheered as she timidly moved forward, then back, seemingly debating the departure. Then she wiggled her bum a bit and hopped from her home, landing clumsily atop Andrea's car parked in the driveway. Seconds later she hopped off the car and over to the bushes, where Mommy soon greeted her... as her two (braver) siblings tweeted encouragement from a nearby tree.

So cool!

Working on...

Keeping all the green things around my yard green until the horrid, hot weather of late lets up.

Looking forward to...

Our baby girl's thirty-second (what the heck?) birthday on Sunday. Jim and I are surprising Andrea with a 2017 Lexus GX460 SUV!

Well, we're surprising her by picking her up from her house in the luxurious vehicle that will be delivered to my house tomorrow morning for a weeklong review. Andrea won't get to drive it, but I will, serving as chauffeur as we spend her special day together as she had requested — attending her church in Denver and brunching somewhere special of her choosing afterward.

Shhh... it's a surprise! Andie will expect us to show up in our, ahem, PT Cruiser and will be shocked by the sleek, spectacular ride I reserved for review specifically timed to include her birthday celebration. (Don't laugh about my regular ride. The PT Cruiser is paid for, gets great mileage, and worked just dandy for hauling our camping gear and Mickey on our anniversary adventure.)

I have a feeling pics will be posted on Instagram and Facebook on Sunday, so feel free to follow the birthday fun there. Or watch for my full review of the 2017 Lexus GX460, publishing here in the next week or two.

The last photo I took... (on my phone)

Tired Mickey fast asleep after sitting out in the heat yesterday morning, keeping an eye on me while I watered the back then front yards.

sleeping pointer-pit mix