Here are some photos that I have taken over the past few days. Each of them is edited only to reduce the size (down to 640x480), add my watermark, and sharpen ... no color correcting or brightness adustments.
I have been working hard to eliminate some of the clutter and chaos in our house. We have too much stuff, and I will be going room by room to reorganize what's in there that I do need and get rid of whatever I don't. I started in the dining room. I found a place for everything that belonged there, and everything else was piled onto the table ... to be sorted and taken to other parts of the house or donated. Alice and Dorothy decided that this green basket should find a new life as a cat bed.
Speaking of Alice ... last week I received a box of roses in the mail. She waited patiently while I unpacked the box, then she sat there and gnawed on the leaves when she thought I wasn't looking. Bad kitty!
Yesterday afternoon, I came inside and found this scene. All five of our critters were snoozing peacefully together in various spots in the family room. (No artful staging in this room, as you can see.)
The tree crew finished removing most of the two damaged oak trees in our front yard, and they used a stump grinder on the stumps. I'm still in a bit of shock over the loss. We had the workers leave some large pieces behind, and I hope to contact someone with a portable sawmill to cut the pieces into boards. Perhaps some of the wood can continue on as something useful ... I'm aiming for a dining table top ... we'll see.
To help me get over the situation with our trees in the front yard, I find that I concentrate more on the view from the back of the house ... especially the view of my shade garden, with the pavilion and our huge pecan tree. Looking at this scene, in morning light, is really soothing.
Ruby eats a lot faster than Daniel does. To help slow her down, she gets her meals in one of those special bowls with obstacles that she has to eat around ... but she still finishes before Daniel. To keep her away from him while he's eating, I have trained her to come to the kitchen door and sit for treats after she finishes eating. Her newest treat every morning is that she gets to lick the dregs out of the empty cat food can. I assure you, there is no need to rinse this can before I put it into the recycling bin.
On Sunday evening, the sky was beautiful. I took my iPad outside with me while I was grilling dinner, so I could take pictures. This one came out particularly well.
It seems appropriate to end this by looking upward, toward the sky. I will be thinking about a lovely blog friend (Hilary of Crazy as a Loom), as she faces brain surgery today. I love her for her attitude, her outlook on life, and her devotion to her family and her critters ... especially her dear rescue dog, Roy. She has already received a huge outpouring of support to help her through this, but a bit more is welcome, I'm sure. Please take a minute and head over to see her and show her some love.
That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by and spending a few minutes of your time here with me. It means a lot ... really.
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Here's a quick edit to update everyone about Hilary. Her daughter posted a new blog entry yesterday afternoon, saying that her mother "went beautifully" (the surgeon's words). This is great news!! Click HERE to go to the update post, or HERE for the main link to her blog.