zoo party

On Saturday we celebrated Bailee's 3rd birthday with a zoo party.  The zoo is her favorite place to be and she was very excited to have this theme!
She had plenty of presents to open and birthday food to eat.  Bailee enjoyed being the birthday girl and playing with her party guests.

Happy Birthday, Bailee Mae!

butterflies

If you don't have a butterfly bush in your yard or near your house or better still your windows, get one now.  The flowers are intoxicating to butterflies and they constantly feed at the bush during the daylight.  They are so engrossed with feeding on the flowers that the grand kids can actually touch them!  Occasionally you get some hummingbirds, also.

this morning

This morning I have picked some more seed beans.

Created a brush pile 

Watered plants because it's dry as dust

Stopped for some butterfly watching 

And washed a car

I may be even more productive this afternoon or I may not!

need groceries? or lunch? or just about anything. . .

This is my new favorite place to shop. It's in Somerset, KY. They have everything and so many choices. 

Today my mom and I had a salad for lunch here after a morning of shopping. It was fresh and you make your own from a bar that has  with just about anything you want.

A lady from the floral department was giving away free bouquets of flowers because it is floral appreciation day and I ground my own peanut butter!

I love Kroger Marketplace!

Cummins Falls State Park

We took a little adventure today to Cummins Falls State Park in Jackson County.  The trail takes you over a steep hill down to the river.  From there you have to walk in or along the river to the falls.  Once there you have to be a pretty good climber to make it to the Falls area. Its is surrounded by large boulders that form a pool at the bottom.  Its a very beautiful place and we enjoyed sitting there for a while just taking in the view!

3

She's three today!  The Ponderosa baby is not a baby anymore.  She's smart and funny, loves to eat just about anything and talks ALL the time.  She never sees a stranger and wants to do everything her older brother and sister does. She makes no secret of the fact that her p-pa is her favorite saying to everyone that "He's my best friend."  She's sassy and loud and loves to play hide and seek! She's our favorite red head!  

july 4

The garden was showing out today so we spent the holiday canning and freezing!  Mom and Sybil broke up all the beans and we froze all the corn.

During the afternoon we had some natural fireworks!  Peanut was at the Visitor House watching the pressure canner during the storm and when he started back home his way was blocked by limbs so large he had to get the tractor to remove them.

locke house

We had a great day in Columbia visiting the Locke Family.  Their beautiful home was built in 1872  on a lot once owned by President James K. Polk.

 They have put much love and effort into restoring it over the past three years.  The 14 foot ceilings give it an open feeling and the arched doorways and beautiful stairway are just a few of the historic and gorgeous features of this home



  I felt that I should be wearing a tiara and ball gown while I was wandering through the rooms!

We enjoyed a tour from Winona, the lady of the house, and then a delicious lunch under the chandelier of their dining room.
They say its all in the details and Ms. Winona and her family have paid attention to details.  I saw something new every time I re entered a room.

The home is still a work in progress and I hope that we can return when the back lawn is filled with flowers!  I will be the one sitting in the garden wearing my tiara!

concert lunch

Today we had our monthly senior group lunch at our church. Before lunch we enjoyed a set of songs performed by Jimmy R. Sells. He grew up in our church  and is a veteran working with Operation Song, an organization that helps other veterans deal with ptsd by songwriting.  He recently performed on the Grand Ole Opry and at Memorial Day programs in Washington DC. We had a good lunch and then some time to visit with friends.

pickles

Today on the Ponderosa we are making pickles!

squash

We have an abundance of squash in the Ponderosa gardens. This photo is the harvest from today. Tonight I found a recipe that was very tasty. It only took one zucchini to make it so I still have plenty to share with others!

Baked Cheesy Zucchini Bites

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups packed shredded zucchini (no need to peel the zucchini)

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1/4 - 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1/4 cup panko or regular bread crumbs

1/4 teaspoon dried basil (or 1-2 teaspoons fresh)

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly coat with cooking spray or lightly grease an unlined baking sheet.

Place the shredded zucchini in a clean kitchen towel and wring out all the excess water over the sink until the zucchini is really dry.

Place the zucchini and remaining ingredients in a medium bowl and mix until combined.

Drop the mixture by tablespoonfuls on the prepared baking sheet and lightly press the mounds with your hands to flatten slightly.

Bake for 16-20 minutes until the edges are golden.

Yield 2-3 dozen

Note:

(I left out the basil)

Brooksisms

At dinner my aunt Sybil ask who we were going to vote for in the presidential election.  I said, "I may not even bother to vote."  Someone said, "There is not a good choice."  Brooks says, "Why don't you just vote for George Washington!"  We agreed that would be the best choice!

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Brooks: "Nana, I ran into your car with the Gator, but I didn't rip it or anything."