DREARY AND WET

We have had the gloomiest, grayest, rainyest (?) weather lately. The skies are leaden and if it were colder, I just know we'd have snow. You know how we here in Tennessee pray for snow and haven't really had a good one in several years. Seriously tho', all this rain is causing area flooding with some people being evacuated from their homes.
This is what the view from my back door looks like-this was mid afternoon and it looks almost like nightfall. My poor little dogs don't want to go outside to do their business and who can blame them?

On a happy note, my niece Callie is in the hospital as I type this having her baby. Hopefully, we'll have a picture to share tomorrow.
Stay dry and warm wherever you are. Nerm

BACK AGAIN

Hello out there-first off, I must apologize for the long interim since my last post. We have had a lot going on around here and I kept thinking I would leave a quick word about being off the blog for a while. Then something would happen and I would forget. Thanks for the emails to check on me. I'm doing well.
If you are one of the poor folks getting foot after foot of snow or ice, I hope the weather breaks for you soon. We have had some really cold this year, though not much in the way of snow. Everyone around here would love a good 4" of snow, but I guess it's not to be. Today the temperature was 62! Felt like spring. Below is a photo of a neighbor's tree. We call it the condo tree because of all the nests in it. Lots of birds and squirrels call it home. Pretty neat, huh?
I've been a little crafty lately. Trying to recycle in some creative ways. What do you do with candles when they've burned down to bottom, but there's still wax? I hate to throw it away, so I tried an experiment and it worked! Here's the candle just waiting to be reborn:

I place the glass container in some hot (not boiling water) until the wax loosens from the jar. Then I put the soft wax in an old coffee can which I have placed in a pan of simmering water. It doesn't take long to liquefy--maybe 10-15 minutes depending on the amount.

Meanwhile I cleaned out the jars by filling them with hot water and wiping the leftover wax out. I had already purchased wicks at Michael's. I dipped the bottom in the melted wax so it would adhere to the bottom of the jar and twisted the top of the wick around a pencil (shown below). I poured the melted wax into the container and -voila- I had a new candle. I mixed similiar fragrances together so the smell would still be pleasant. I ended up with three new candles!

Another family birthday: Granddaughter Mekenzie turned 11 yrs. last week! My baby is growing up fast. She didn't want a cake, she wanted a chocolate fountain which you see below. Her requested birthday dinner included homemade chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese . A meal every kid would love, right?

Here's Mekenzie (left) with her best friend, Sellars, in their matching birthday outfits. Cute.

Last, but certainly not least is a picture of my precious pups. All cuddled up for a long winter's nap. They sure know how to relax! Take care. Nerm

HUMP DAY

Good evening, friends. Hope the week's progressing well for you all. It's been a busy week for me with nothing much interesting to report. More babysitting for Tanner who started half-day kindergarten this week. I've been keeping him in afternoons--mainly because I'm available and the school IS just right across the street from my subdivision! Let me take this opportunity to say that I'm not a very good boy grandmother. I had three girls who had more girls and this one boy. Boys are so different...active, busy, not cuddly. They don't want to talk, read, sew, etc.
But I am trying... ha, ha.l
This isn't my lawn, but nevertheless, it gives you a picture of a dying lawn. Mine is much browner. We have not had measureable rain in August. Maybe an afternoon quickie shower, but nothing substantial. We have managed to keep our bushes, et al, watered, but we are in a water conservation area, so we have to watch it. Now we're hoping some of Hurricane Fay's rain comes this far over. Tomorrow I am hoping to sew, sew, sew. I am trying to finish daughter Amy's birthday gift. Yes, her birthday WAS in July! If you don't know by now, please know that I am notorious to being late, behind and otherwise time challenged. My intentions are always good, but you know about the road to h--- being paved with good intentions. I'm hoping to give it to her on Saturday (we're going shopping together) so I can't show it yet. Here's a hint: Barbara Bradeburg. But, no, no, no, it's not a quilt! Yikes, I don't have that much free time! I'll take a picture of it to show and tell later.
Have a good night's sleep, my dears. Nerm

SUMMERTIME IN THE SOUTH

I would love to be able to spend the summer outside with fun family activities. However... when it's 93 degrees in the shade with an ORANGE ozone alert, I'm afraid this blogger will be securely enscounced in her cozy, air-conditioned home! And I suspect the weather won't improve much until after Labor Day. Last fall it didn't really cool off until the end of September.

You'll probably find me knitting or sewing during these hot days. It even puts a dent in my new found hobby of garage sale-ing. Drat. I told hubby we need a summer home in Maine.

Currently in Nashville, TN (37205)
Partly Cloudy
93°FFeels Like98°F
Dew Point:
68°F
Humidity:
44%
Pressure:
30.04 inches
Wind:
From the West at 9 mph


Tonight: Partly cloudy. A stray thunderstorm is possible through the evening. Low 71F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow: Abundant sunshine. Hot. High 97F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Complete 10-Day Forecast

So, my friends, try to keep cool and hang on til Fall arrives! Luv, Nerm