We Can Now Discuss It

FINALLY!

We can discuss this!  There is going to be a wedding.  We think it will be next spring or summer.  Details are sketchy, but we have been able to put together a few based on what the couple tells us.

It could be something like this....

Okay, so probably not in the middle of a wheat field.... for a lot of reasons.  The most important question there, would be, "Why?"   Seriously, "Why, in the middle of a wheat field?"  Under no  circumstance would this be a good idea.  (I think I am pretty safe in saying that.)  I am trying to use great discretion when sharing my opinion.  But I feel safe with this one....

There could be some shopping for something like this....  but then again, who knows?  We are just at the beginning of all of this, and everything is up for discussion.  The options are MANY.  The choices are ENDLESS.  The decisions are COUNTLESS.  Oh.  My.  Goodness. 

It is going to be SO much fun!  :)

Bird Facts

This is a bird nest that Mike actually found in the smallest tree in our backyard.  No kidding.  Of all the trees, and we don't have many that are sizable, they chose this tree that is like three and a half feet tall, and built a nest in it.  And there we found these precious little eggs.  Today I saw the mother sitting on the nest when I walked up, and of course, I spooked her, so she left, but at least I could see her, and what she looked like.  I think it was a meadowlark, or something of that type. 

Now, this nest (different one) of baby birds I have been watching for a little over a week.  There are five swallows in this muddy nest, and yes, they make a big mess right below it.   There are two "parent birds" - if we are being politically correct, I technically do not know their gender - that come in and constantly feed them all day long.  Since they have poked their little heads over the top edge of the nest, it has only been a few days, and today, they started flying out of it. 

But look at how big they are in the nest!  There is barely room for all of them in it!  So the 'parent birds' would squawk -- which we couldn't tell if was an invitation to get on out of there and try to fly, or stay the heck in there where it is safe...  we have really gotten a big kick out of watching them because they are right by a window in our kitchen.  At one point or another today, we saw every single one of them leave the nest, and I am pretty sure, they all made it safely back in.  Whew! 

Another big day in Lily's World.

Really?

I was there.  All evening.  I didn't miss any part of it.  I didn't think.

Well, apparently I missed this.  Yes, folks, that is a blow torch.  Once again, I have stated that I am married to a farmer.  So it doesn't surprise me to find that we OWN a blow torch.  It DOES, however, surprise me to find that we were using it last night to light some of our fireworks.  I took this picture this morning.  That's when the discovery was made.

We had guests last night.  Guests who hadn't previously been around a lot of fireworks.  I am sure this impressed the you-know-what out of them.

Me:      Is that a blow torch on the back porch?
Mike:   Yes.
Me:      Why is it back there?
Mike:   Because we were using it last night to light those sparklers.

This is where I quit talking and start the inner conversation.  "Sparklers?  Are you kidding me?  Since when do sparklers have to be lit with a blow torch?  And where was I when all this was going on?"

Thankfully, no one was injured, burned, or otherwise maimed.  That I am aware of.  Of course, people don't always tell me these things.  I just learned this July 4th of a scar that sweet Lesley received LAST July 4th on her foot during some skateboarding accident.  Learning about it a YEAR after it occurred!  Another fine example of how Mom isn't always kept abreast of all details at all times.

Maybe it is for the best.  Maybe.

God Bless America

Happy Independence Day!  USA!  USA!  USA!

All kinds of patriotic thoughts might cross your mind today.  We certainly do live in the best country in all the world.  No matter how many things we might think are wrong with it, would you REALLY want to be from somewhere else?  I just feel so safe being from America.  And I definitely think twice before even visiting another country.  I mean, you are just putting it all on the line by stepping across the border, aren't you?  That's the way I see it.  I am safe here.  If I am there, all bets are off.  Good grief, I don't even know the rules there.  Do they have rules?

And it just wouldn't be the Fourth of July without fireworks...  We have raised boys.  I have seen arsenals of fireworks come and go -- legal and illegal.  Kidding, of course.  Yeah, mm-hmm.  We have blown up more cans and boxes and multiple-explosion concoctions than you could even imagine.  And you have to put them underneath rocks and other dangerous things found in nature - before you blow them up.  And forget those punks they give you to light everything with....  go to Walmart and get several of those fire starting Bic Lighters.  Everyone participating needs one of those.  Their own.

Be sure all your camera batteries are charged.  There will be plenty of photo ops.  After all, this is the mid-way point of the summer.  And it is going to go faster and faster from here on out.  You won't want to miss a thing.  God Bless the U.S.A.!

No way!

 
Today I was at Wal-Mart, which for some reason, has changed its name to Walmart, but anyway, I saw something so hideous, it had to be reported.  I knew they would do this early.  It seems earlier every year.  And technically, I saw it two days ago, but I had something more important to talk about two days ago, so I am telling you about it today.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES WERE OUT!  Not kidding.  July 1st.  Really.

I know we seem to start school early, but who the heck WANTS to buy their school supplies on July 1st?  Seriously!  Tell me!  This makes not one iota of sense.

No one was touching them.  Not one packet of paper had been lifted from the display.  Not one notebook had been removed from the shelf.  Not one pencil box had been taken from the end cap.  No one was falling for this early school supply marketing ploy.  We Walmart shoppers are wise.

If you are at Walmart, it is most likely NOT your first rodeo.  You've been there before.  You know the ropes.  You know how the self-checkout lane works.

And, if you are like me, you may have left an entire cart full of stuff right there by the check out lane once because you were irritated with the lack of check out line availability.  Just sayin'.

It is simply too dang early to have school supplies out on the shelves.  I mean honestly.  If there are actually people who want to buy their school supplies in June or July, they can go to an office supply store or something like that.  Just a suggestion.

How lucky am I?

I cannot help but think about my freedoms this weekend.  No matter how hard I try, I will never be able to fully comprehend the benefits of the freedoms I enjoy.  I am so lucky.

I am not going to be a member of the military and serve my country on the other side of the world, so I won't see what those people have done for me.  I wasn't born in a third world country with the odds stacked against me, so I can't imagine what it would be like to sleep on the ground every night, or obligated to carry a heavy basket of something or other on my head.  I just haven't had to pay the ultimate price, personally.  My uncle gave his life in service.  Mike's uncle did the same.

So because I am free, I can see the world.  I can go anywhere in my little town that I want, whenever I want to go.  As a matter of fact, I can go anywhere in the world!  And while I am able to go wherever I want to go, I am able to see loads of things.  And what I see, might be different than what you would see.  Even though we are looking at the exact same thing....

I am okay with you seeing something different than what I see.  Totally fine with it.  I think it is what makes the world go round.  It is a really big world.  There's enough room for all of us. 

Be a citizen of the world.   

Big Day

It was a pretty big day.  We knew it was coming, but it still was a really big deal. 

First of all, these two were the people at the center of all the excitement. 

They were in Southern California, making plans for the rest of their lives.  He knew, but she didn't.  I don't know, ... something about the beach, a picnic basket, champagne and a ring.  We really haven't heard all the details yet, but everyone seems really excited.

He said he was super nervous.  They have only been seeing each other for about seven years.  How could he pull off a surprise?

So they go to this quaint little area on the beach where these restored beach houses are located...  I think it is called Crystal Cove Beach Park.  Again, I am speaking out of turn, because I wasn't there, and I don't know how it happened, but our cousin, Katy, was there to take pictures -- so maybe we will have some of those to post later along with more details.

This is Mike and me at the restaurant on this same little beach about two years ago.   So when he told us this was where he was going to take her, we knew exactly where he was talking about!  It is such a unique place.

Everyday is pretty exciting and different in Lily's World... but this one, was really special.