Pressing Issue

I've gone through two rather pricey irons since 2005. (Don't you love the title pun?! :D)

The first was a Rowenta that worked perfectly for a few years until the water reservoir ruptured causing it to slobber all over everything. I sent it on to Jonathan who was ironless. He said it quit heating pretty shortly after that.

The next was a Shark. I had heard good things about it. It quit while Jonathan was ironing a pair of pants. (Jonathan has moved back home temporarily.) I told him where the two old irons were located and to use the Black & Decker because the GE has a frazzled cord.

The B&D still worked, but just did not get hot enough IMHO. Frazzled cord and all, I plugged the GE in and turned it on. It got hot quick. Jonathan told me to get the Shark, which I fished out of the trash. He needed screwdrivers and a pair of pliers. Working together we took the cord off the Shark and put it on the GE.

I LOVE IT!

 

It was a wedding gift in 1971. It is still as hot as it was when new. Does a beautiful job on 100% cotton curtains. Made in the USA! Built to last. :D

OH! Is this considered VINTAGE?! LOL

My Flowers

My sprained ankle severely set my yard work back. Everything has had to do its own thing.

My bluebonnets are just about wiped out. 

We have acidic soil and they don't like it. The ag teacher at high school told me I needed to put some lime out. I can't do that in my planting beds because the azaleas and the camellia prefer acidic soil. The bluebonnets down by the road look pretty poorly.


The camellia was loaded this year!

I planted hostas in six places...have only one left. The bed is just too sunny.

 

 

 Speaking of azaleas...

I have a few yellow and purple old-fashion irises.

This shot was taking on toll road 130 around Austin traveling at about 80 mph. :) Legal speed limit. These are bluebonnets.  

A "Restful" Afternoon and Evening

 Isn't Kirk such a cutie? 

Jonathan and Sam were going to town for something. I decided I needed some sun on these old woman white cellulite dimpled legs - so I put on a pair of shorts, put out a cot, got Kirk's leash and my Kindle and sat back for relaxing read.

Not! This dog does not chill!!

Sherry could not read...

Later, a relaxing sunset.

Fog and Fun

 I've had a few foggy mornings on the way to work.

I tried to find a different fog poem, but just kept coming back to this:

  FOG

The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

Carl Sandburg

We made it to the Tartan Festival in Minden Louisiana.  I missed men in kilts last year. But saw plenty this year. :) 

And the wind was blowing! I was near tears most of the day - but not from kilted men...the wind dried my eyes and therefore my contacts. And the pine pollen is in full swing. I felt as if I had grit in my eyes most of the day. At one point, I went back to the Tahoe to get out of the wind. Cleaned the contact lenses once again. I could still hear the music. 

 A falcon handler. I also saw a big ol' owl but failed to get its photo. 

 

We went on a hay ride around the property this year - we haven't done that before...

...got to see the Hieland cattle up close and personal.

Dr. Cameron (veterinarian, property owner, Tartan Festival promoter) got a surprise this year. He has a silver bull and thought he'd turned it in the pasture well after the heifers/cows were bred. Well, with the last two years' drought, it was just too hot. When this little "lamb" hit the ground Dr. Cameron was very surprised.

The 'regular' color calves look like little bears.

Parade of the Clans.

 

 

 Irish dancers.  

Future Irish dancers. ;-) They were so cute!!

Jonathan was on a mission - to find Blue Bell Creole Cream Cheese ice cream - only available in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. We found it!  

I thought ahead and put spoons in the Tahoe console. We ate one pint and packed the other in the ice chest - had it tonight for dessert. Not knowing where it would thaw and make a mess, that's all we bought. Unfortunately, a 200 mile round trip is too much to make a run for ice cream next weekend. 

Cain's Toy Box

 I almost forgot to show off the toy box Sam built for Cain's first birthday.  

It's different from the boxes he built for Colt and Isabel's birthdays. 

This one would work for a piece of furniture. 

I looked to see if I had a spot for one like this in the house for the toys the grands play with when they visit. 

But unfortunately, I'd have to get rid of a necessary piece of furniture. Alas...the toys will remain in the basket.

The GRAND Things in Life!

 Cain is such a good sport! LOL

Teamwork: Lucky digs the hole. Colt checks it out.

Isabel going to "school" looks like Nanny McFee. LOVE IT!

Clowning around in the car with her new tu-tu.

Colt with the tell-tell beet juice "smile."

Isabel loves chalk art and tu-tus!

She told her daddy she was a "rock star." He pulled to the side of the road and snapped her picture.

One of my grand nieces, Addy. She is my youngest nephew's baby girl.

Niece Stacey and her family. You've "met" Brianna and Ty before.

Isabel would settle for no less than three hair bows this morning.

He-ya!!

Cain about to turn the big ONE.

Granny and Pawpaw holding the birthday boy.

Sweet dreams in Pawpaw's lap.

Sweet dreams are made of these: Both boys like choo-choo shows. Early Saturday morning, Granny found a Mickey Mouse Club Cho-Cho show on You Tube. Even at 47 minutes long, it held the attention of both boys.

Easter morning...

I LOVE this pic of Erin and Cain.

Cain wants to know what brother Colt found in his basket.

Colt got a coin purse for his "pennies." That's what he calls all coins - pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters are all lumped into one category - pennies.