Are you enjoying your summer as much as you can? Could you possibly enjoy it more? What should it could you change to optimize your summer joy? Whew, lots of questions, but good ones to ponder!

I am enjoying summer, I could be enjoying it more, and that I shall do! I would like to get more home projects done, hang out with friends and family more, spend more time soaking up the sun outside, and really just keep reaching toward the light, like any good bloom would do!

It can get pretty hot some days, and certain parts of the day, how do you entertain yourself those times? At my house, hide-and-seek-chase is the way to go! We play with the dogs, the dogs play it together, great times I tell you! When I was younger, my cousins and I played Bingo a lot, also great times!

So tell me, what have you done with your summer so far, what is still in the agenda, and what do you need to add to the list? Drop me a line, I would love to know!

If only this were true. Do you find yourself self sabotaging, or in Dwight’s words, being an idiot in regards to your self, your health, well being etc? Yes, well, me too. I am tired of it, so tomorrow is a new day, an opportunity to change a few habits and then make those my new habits. I don’t want to be an idiot anymore!

This is a set of “steps” that we inherited with the house…didn’t like them then, like them even less now. These and the landscaping next to it, are fixing to get some TLC in the coming week(s), stay tuned!

We spent this evening with friends, such a great evening!! Did I take photos of our night? Nope, but here we are before we go in to have sweet dreams! Thank you friends for a good night!

Also, do you or have you ever thought of diffusing oils outdoors? Our breeze blows from one end of the deck to the other, so putting the diffuser at the beginning end of the breeze, helped diffuse the oil and keep us big free! I could not be happier with being bite free, and smelling such a smell as nice as Lemongrass!

I shared the bottom picture to my social media, but wanted to show my Hibiscus in all of it’s glory. She’s a beaut!

I think I had the best avocados ever, today. Just look at that beautiful color!!! What are you eating that is fresh? What food do you most love to eat in the summer? I love fresh produce, seasonal produce, local produce, but had to share the avocados!

I had great time with Brooke last night! We lived it up at our concert, had laughs, sang songs, screamed our heads off and had an experience that was reminiscent of memories from 10 years ago, but somehow made better. Everyone we encountered, other than some fraudulent seat hoppers, made our evening just that much better. The weather was good in the evening and BTR was just as amazing this time as last! Seriously a great, fun, time!!

I have been asking recently to be shown the good people, and yesterday did not disappoint. I interacted with so many friendly people that cared about what they were doing, how they interacted, and how they conducted their service, it was refreshing, and very appreciated. I was also reminded of how far I have gone for people too, as I was shown a lack of appreciation from a former client, and how that resulted in me feeling ways that I didn’t want to feel, and you know, that was eye opening. I think we often receive the kind of care we once gave, to remind us to not only be appreciative of those making the effort for us, but to remind us that if we are not feeling appreciated, it’s time for a change, for real. Oh, and that patience is key in all things, people are doing their best…in all ways.

Drop me a line, let me know of a way that people have pleasantly surprised you recently, I seriously would love to know!

Back in the spring, we made several plans to head to concerts this summer, I was the only constant in each plan. Bill and I were going to Toby Keith, Brooke, Avery and I were going to see Big Time Rush, and Brooke and I were going to see Tame Impala. All but one of those concerts fell through for varying reasons except Big Time Rush, and Avery had to bow out due to her work schedule…so Brooke and I are on our own in Cincy, and ready for a great time tonight!

We saw our first BTR concert 10 years ago, it was the three of us, plus our friend Olivia. So, while the original group is not all here, we will be having a good night regardless. Most of you will be scratching your heads because you have never heard of the band, that is okay, they are a boy band from the earlier 2000s, and they had a tv show on Nickelodeon, also called Big Time Rush. Lucky for me, instead of hearing so many little girls scream at the concert like last time, I will be hearing a lot of young women scream…woo! Lol!!

We drove through some crazy weather to get here, but our room is lovely, and the view is fantastic too! We are enjoying spending time together, just us, and Brooke even called downstairs like an adult!! Wow, such a proud moment!

I am thrilled at spending time with Brooke, enjoying our outing, and looking forward to being crazy with her at this concert! Do you have any concerts you are catching this summer? Drop me a line and let me know!

Here we go!!!!

🔊Sound on for today’s video post!🔊

Do you enjoy a pleasant, soaking, summer storm? Drop me a line, let me know where and how you prefer to witness rainstorms!

I have been mulling over what I wanted to say the last two days and yesterday, I felt it best to wait another day. I am so glad I did, and that I didn’t just let loose with all of my random thoughts. I will tell you that in the last few months, I have been tired of all of the division, tired of us being separated by politics and such things. I have spent many moments questioning where the people loving people of America have gone, and why we are we so combative and standoffish anymore? And then I paused, and I waited.

Today, Bill asked me if I would like to go photograph some flags, as Chillicothe was teeming with them, I answered “Of Course!”! So off we went. We stopped at Unioto first, I love how they display a large number of flags at their buildings, and with the tank, paying homage to their school, along with Camp Sherman/Chillicothe heritage, it was a great place to start.

I saw my good friend Maria drive by as I was shooting, it made me happy and reminded me that people are still willing to be friendly in this day and age. Onward we went via Western Avenue! I saw a lot of flags at businesses, and it warmed my heart, people still care about and love their country. We stopped shortly after arriving near downtown, I had to capture this truck! I wondered who so beautifully parked it where they did…the light, the Americana of this scene, swoon!!

I love this porch vignette that the owner took care with. What a great use of space between these pillars, and their flower pots are beautiful! To me, brick and wrought iron are so classic! I drove off down the street after this capture, waved to a man sitting on his porch. He now owns the former house of a friend, I always loved the house and think the friend is awesome. Something piqued my mind, I told Bill that we had to circle back and stop and ask to shoot their porch with flags. So we did.

We rolled up, I jumped right out and asked if I could photograph their flags. I realize that is an odd request, and it is somewhat weird to see a stranger roll up on you with a camera, lol, but these kind people invited us right in, offered us coffee and were so graciously welcoming that Bill and I were both taken aback at how fluid it all was. Truly, we found some great people and it was such a confirmation to me that good, friendly people still exist. Dona, if the offer is still open, we would love to have that cup of coffee with you all and get to know you better!

We are America dammit. All of us. What happened to celebrating differences, as well as similarities? Where is our melting pot? We are STILL HERE. We never left, we just all got caught in the crosshairs, and it is time for us to step out of line of the sight, sit down on the porch, and share a cup with a neighbor, a friend, or a complete stranger. It is time to put our faith back in people, have conversations to listen, learn, and understand. It is time to be America again!

Whether you just moved to town, or you have been here forever, Chillicothe is a good representation of our nation. This is a great place to live, work, and be. Why are we forgetting, or overlooking that? Someone will always call your home a shit town, but guess what? It is to some, and isn’t to others…what do you want it to be, and what are you helping to make it be? BTW, the Lions Club puts the flags out in town, perhaps you would like to volunteer to help next year?

We cannot forget our history, good and bad. We cannot outrun, or apologize for the things done of those that came before us. We can learn and grow, get better and succeed where our predecessors failed. We can relearn more about history when things may have been skewed or written incorrectly. We can write with more awareness, objectivity, integrity and honesty, but we cannot write more than the facts, remember that.

We can be grateful for the care and services of others. We can appreciate those that put themselves in danger to help others. We can value those, that value their communities and try to give back so that others may prosper.

We can appreciate people, for their efforts, for their sacrifices, for their love of others and their community, for their town, for their nation. We can talk to complete strangers, walking away like we made a new friend. We can lean on each other, when this world seems to have lost it’s way.

Whether or not people admit it, WE are in this together. We must be thankful, we must be grateful, we must be proud.

We are Main Street USA. We are Small Town America. We are stronger together. Our differences don’t divide us, they MAKE US. We cannot survive being all alike, literature has proven that, and reminded us time and time again. It is time for our beauty to shine, this Nation is ONE, and it is high time we all remember what it stands for: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Our three unalienable rights. INDEPENDENCE.

How are you enjoying this long weekend? We are playing a game of cards, called Yaniv, with Avery. Normally she wipes the floor with us, but today I was the winner! I will take it! What card games do you enjoy? Are you playing some card games this weekend? Drop me a line, let me know!