If we were having coffee: Flower power edition

Iced tea in the morning.

I take pleasure in tea, appreciating it with my spirit and therefore cannot explain why.

~ Sen Joo

First sunflower of the season.

If we were having coffee, I would be thrilled to see you again.  Come on in.  Did you bring your bathing suit?  If you did, great!  We’ll take a dip in the pool while you’re here.  If not, hop in anyway if you like.  You can wear a beach towel while I dry your clothes on the line or in the dryer.  Skinny dipping is fine, too, given that we’re out here in the middle of nowhere, but I should warn you that whenever I’m not dressed to receive folks, folks tend to stop by.  Usually a neighbor looking for their dog or cat, or UPS delivering a package.  One evening I was out on the platform in my PJ’s when that happened.  Parcels always seem to arrive when I just get out of the shower or just finished exercising or gardening and couldn’t look much worse.  It must be a rule around here.

Anyway, let’s grab something to drink and head out to the pool.  Even if you don’t want to swim, you can at least stick your feet in the water and enjoy the coolness of it.  The water temperature is perfect right now.  Warm enough not to shock, cool enough to be refreshing.

First zinnia of the season.

How are you?  What have you been up to this past week?  Did you go on any good walks or travel anywhere?  Read any good books or watch any good films?  Have you been swimming or cycling or gardening?  What’s blooming in your area now?

I am still working on the same books as last week so no news there other than to say I am enjoying Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure, and learning a thing or two about India while getting a few laughs in here and there.  I am taking my time with The Inward Garden: Creating a Place of Beauty and Meaning (which I see is not listed in my sidebar) and Loving Yourself to Great Health: Thoughts & Food–The Ultimate Diet.  I ordered The Inward Garden from my local library.  I might buy a copy for myself (not the one I linked to at Amazon, though, because I’m not paying $300+ for it; it is more reasonably priced here).

Fire dancer.  Second bloom this season from the lily.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that M and I finally watched the last of The Hobbit films (The Battle of the Five Armies).  I enjoyed it.  It was entertaining.  Sometimes entertaining is enough.

We have been watching the Women’s World Cup when we can.  Not having cable, that means we watch when the network that is showing it deigns to put it on a channel we can pick up over the air.  Last night we watched the USA vs. Sweden.  Tough game for both sides with no score and not many shots made.  We have also been watching the NBA (basketball) finals and (naturally) cheering for the Cavs (Cleveland Cavaliers).  I am not usually sports inclined except for soccer (football to the rest of the world), but I am a fan of the city of Cleveland having lived near there for thirteen years and cheering on the Cavs is part of that.  Besides, there isn’t much else on television this time of year.

Second zinnia of the season almost in bloom.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you it has been a slow week here at the Wabi-Sabi Ranch.  It has been hot, hot, hot (90°F by 8:00 AM), and it doesn’t pay to move quickly in the heat.  We’ve had to water the gardens because there has been no rain.  There is a chance of rain tonight so maybe you can help me out with a rain dance while you’re here.  The gardens will appreciate it.

Next week will be full and busy.  I have several appointments, including some of the medical variety that will hopefully confirm what I already know.  I have been feeling pretty good and getting back to a normal diet and exercise routine so I expect they’ll find nothing wrong.  I will also be getting my hair cut and colored.  My oldest granddaughter suggested I go purple this time around so purple it will be.  I liked the Peacock Green I had last time, but purple is my favorite color so I have no problem switching back to that.  (Just purple streaks, by the way, not my entire head of hair.)

Lavender

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that M and I are headed to the beach sometime this weekend.  The Blue Angels are in town for the Ocean City air show, but we’re going to avoid that and head to Assateague.  Maybe we’ll see them from there.

Hens and chicks.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that we’re getting ready for a visit from family.  Our oldest son, his lovely wife, and our granddaughters will be coming east to visit with us and with other family members.  I am really looking forward to it.  The house is finally in pretty decent shape.  The guest bath is finished (someone remind me to take pictures to show you here on the blog).  We are hoping to have all of the renovations finished by the end of the year.  Most of the big work is done.  What’s left involves painting and some dreaded wallpaper removal.  Some of the painting will be done by hired professionals because we don’t have a ladder high enough to paint the ceiling and upper walls of the living room/great room.  We also need to install shelving in some of the rooms (the office and the living room/great room), and sell off some big pieces of furniture.

Hosta.

Won’t it be grand to finally be able to sit back, relax, and breathe a sigh of relief that it’s finished?  With a house, of course, one is never really finished because there is always something that needs to be done or fixed.

Sage.

If we were having coffee, it would be time for me to get moving.  I have some chores to take care of today before I can go to the beach.  You’re welcome to hang out in the pool if you like, and join us at the beach later.

First Black-eyed Susan to bloom this season.

Thank you for visiting.  I enjoy our weekly chats.  I’ve gotten behind on answering comments again, but that’s because I’ve been spending a good portion of my blogging time visiting you (and you and you, etc.) at your place, but I do want you to know that I read and appreciate your comments, especially when you catch me up on what you’ve been doing since our last coffee chat.

Catching sunlight.

Be good, be kind, be loving.  Just Be.  🙂

Tiny blue butterfly.

This post is in response to Part Time Monster’s #WeekendCoffeeShare.  Put on the kettle, start the coffee maker, open a bottle of wine, or whatever your preference is, and join us.  I’d love to hear all about what you were up to this week.

On this day last year. Looks like I was traveling (this was, I think, on the way back to the Eastern Shore after a visit to Ohio).