Is it really Monday?

In the garden...

...the sky is gray and we have a good chance of storms today. We need a good rain. Everything in the garden is so green and I'd like it to stay that way without using the hose. It doesn't seem to matter how much we water, the plants just don't thrive. Rain gives them what they really need.

The full June moon -- beautiful. I read somewhere that we won't have another full moon on Friday the 13th until 2049. I might not see that one. I'm sure the moon worshippers were partying. And the selenophobics (those who fear the moon), and the friggatriskaidekaphobics (those who fear Friday the 13th) must have been under their beds. I was relishing the beauty of God's work -- a light hanging in the sky.

My tea cup garden. Ha! I read on Pinterest that you can regrow lettuce from the cut base. The one on the left has grown about an inch on a few leaves in about a week. It will likely take the full summer to grow a whole head.

Forget me nots for Mary. My girlfriend Gina gave me a bundle of these pretty plants from her garden, and they did great for about two weeks and then they all suddenly died. I was so disappointed. Now they are all growing back. Thank you, Mary.

One of my favorite perennials -- coral bell at the base of Our Lady of Grace.

another favorite -- pink astilbe

In the perennial/herb/strawberry garden -- pink dianthus

and ripe strawberries -- we have to fight the chipmunks to get any whole ones (they like to take just one bite)

and the first knock out roses -- I never can get the true color in a photo

I think this is coreopsis -- I'm sorry, little beauty, that I forgot your name

just for Elisa -- I sat here on Saturday and did some hand-sewing. It was beautiful, and nice to sit in the sun without sweating -- I got my vitamin D. The temps were in the low 70s.

I love this pretty little vine. Its official name is akebia, but it is also called chocolate vine. It has not flowered yet, this is only its second year, but I love the new little tendrils and the five-fingered leaves.

I am thinking about...

...my oldest son and my husband. They both started new jobs today. How often does that happen? This is Geoffrey's first job out of college, and Doug's fifth. Geoffrey graduated in May and Doug graduated in 1983. It seems like Doug's first job was just last year, and we were getting engaged. Now we have a grown, adult son, who seems to be more of an adult now that he landed a job, bought a car and figured out a budget to see how much apartment he can afford. It all happened so fast, yet sometimes it felt time was not moving at all. 

I think Geoffrey was pretty excited this morning to drive his own car to his office, which is, by the way, a private jet company with offices (and full floor to ceiling windows) on the runway of the airport. Lots of guy appeal there. He is, unfortunately, not using his degree and was recruited for his IT experience. But, ya know what they say...it's easier to get a job when you have a job, so he'll keep one eye open for something in his field. I'm grateful he had two years of experience while in college so that he was recruitable for his skills. So there's a tip for you moms with kids growing up and nearing college days -- tell the kids, "Don't flip burgers in college. Work where you can gain skills rather than just cash." Working for the university was another bonus because there is a little more clout in a university's name than a fast food joint.

I am wearing...

...a red, orange and pink cotton skirt (bright!) and a pink knit v-neck. Barefoot thus far as I haven't been anywhere to put shoes on, other than the garden, and then to chase the cat which got out while I was in the garden. Luckily she came to her food call. Fat cat.

I am reading...

... all new books since last time. I am listening to The Inn at Rose Harbor. This is very light reading, but how is it that I have not ever found Debbie Macomber before now? It's a nice clean story. I think I found her on one of Ginny's yarn alongs. On my kindle I am reading Second Nature by Jacquelyn Mitchard. 

I am creating...

...finishing a baby quilt, some blouses for Faith, and a summer robe for me. I finished the robe. That's a post in itself. I also have fabric for two peasant blouses for me. And I need to make a tenner rosary today and deliver it later this afternoon to a dear priest who is have surgery for colon cancer tomorrow. Best get busy.

I also have a huge stack of 3.5" squares of fabric in a basket next to the sofa. I am stitching a quilt by hand. I have four rows finished in just about four evenings. It's my goal to finish this summer. They are all just squares left from multitudes of baby quilts over the years, so it will be a totally random patchwork quilt -- my favorite kind. 

At the school table...

...I think that after this week I am calling it summer. Faith has dance camp all next week and I just don't have to heart to start back up the first week of July. We will just have to finish the books at the start of the year before we get into the next books. She only has a few math lessons and a chapter of Voyages to finish. Technically. We will have to do CAT tests at some point in July.

On the table...

...I cooked all weekend. All the kids came home, and Taylor was here on Saturday night (and I had all five with me at Sunday Mass -- joy!). Last night was a big dinner with both mothers. I think tonight I'm pulling sloppy joe out of the freezer and we'll eat it with leftover garlic bread and a green salad.

I am going to...

...physical therapy this afternoon, and to drop off the tenner to our dear friend. I have an Etsy order to prepare for the mail as well. Then math, English, some science for Faith.

A few of my favorite things...

...the garden in early summer

...multitudes of projects

...fruit pie for breakfast (yesterday I made strawberry rhubarb and apple crumble. yum)

...homemade popsicles (we have strawberries mixed with sweetened whipped cream in the molds right now -- Doug dips them in chocolate sauce; we also have some chocolate shell. mmm)

Around the house...

...lots and lots of laundry, and ironing

...beds that need to be fixed up again until next time

...leftover pie

Plans for the week...

...just a couple appointments

...Mass for our dear friend undergoing surgery

Prayers sent heavenward for...

...my husband, as he begins his new job, and my children

...my youngest son, for whatever God's plan is for him and for Him to know what his part is, and especially now that he is driving...God help us
...our oldest son starting his "adult life"
...my new baby great nieces, Addilyn Marie and Madison Kate, who are in Arkansas (their daddy is in the Air Force) and too far for me to cuddle (sad face)
...our priests and religious, especially our parish priests, and Fr. Howe
...our dear friend, a former classmate to my husband, a priest, who has been diagnosed with colon cancer
...all the babies whose mothers are contemplating abortion this week, for a change of heart

 Quote for the day...

"No one can live continually in sin and continue to say the rosary: either they will give up sin or they will give up the rosary" ~~ Bishop Hugh Doyle

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