My Simple Life - Friday Fragments

I worked in the yard for hours yesterday.
It has rained so much lately that we couldn't mow or anything else, it was way too wet.  But finally it's dried up enough for us to get some work done.  And we did.  And now I am sore!  I moved rocks like a weightlifter, push-mowed, and weeded, and I am old.  And tired.  But - the lawn looks great!

This dragonfly flitted around us all day as we worked.
Finally I held my hand out, and he let me hold him for a while.

Things grow so nicely here.  My gardenia plant is already blooming, and gardenias can be difficult to grow.  I got some Mexican petunia from a friend a few weeks ago, but I didn't plant it right away and it was looking kind of sad by the time I planted it (she just pulled some of hers up for me).  But I planted it anyway and now it looks fantastic!  My jasmine is climbing up the tree it's planted by and is literally as tall as me.
I am also starting a rock garden.  I dug up rocks and found pieces of flint and shells.  I think it's a good start.

Once it got dark, I made a fire in my fire pit, turned on my fairy lights, and kicked back with a cold beverage or three.  I love my simple life.

I was talking to a friend of mine yesterday while driving down our dirt road.  Her husband is in the ICU, very ill.  While talking to her, I looked over my shoulder and saw this double rainbow.
It didn't rain here yesterday - at all.
I truly believe it was a sign and told my friend about it!  I had chills.  We decided it was a double rainbow so that there was one for each of us.  Good things are coming!

I took this on our dirt road the other day for an Instagram photo prompt.
It was so pretty I wanted to share it here.

At the hospital where I work, there is a large duckpond.
So it's not unusual to encounter ducks while walking in or out.
It is unusual, however, to encounter ducks trying to walk INTO the hospital!
What a couple of quacks!

Visit Friday Fragments at it's Summer Home!

And have a wonderful weekend.

The Weekend

On Saturday, we had my niece Heather's Baby "Sprinkle".

(it's like a mini-shower.)

Sidenote: I totally dominate at shower games.

It's like my super-power.

Seriously.  Ask anyone.

It turned out really great and we all had a great time!

Layna & Me

Shelbie &  Me

Dusty & Shelbie
(I swear that boy will do anything for Shelbie!
Note the tiara)

That monkey cake was adorable!

We had a great spread of munchies.

 As I've mentioned before, my kids ADORE Hayleigh.  

Hayleigh & Elayna

Hayleigh & Shelbie

Hayleigh & Tim

 Hayleigh has a totally-not-secret admirer.  

These kids' parents are friends and they are very close in age.  

He looooves her.

She mostly tolerates him.

She prefers cupcakes.

Sprinkled with gifts =)

Hayleigh helped clean up after her Mommy's shower.
Such a good girl.

 These are my Mommies!  

Left to right, my Mother-in-Law, my Mama, and my second Mother, 

who I've known all of my life and spent half of my childhood at her home.  

Her daughter is one of my lifelong best friends.

photobombed by a kid!  

I was very happy that my mother-in-law came.  

Also, Heather's dad surprised her by showing up - 

he lives out of state and she had NO idea he was coming!

Now we're all ready for Baby Girl Number Two's arrival.

My son Tim spent the night with us on Saturday night.  I cooked a big meal for everyone and we hung out and watched TV.

On Sunday, we went to church, then had lunch at Steak-and-Shake, then spent the rest of the day at my Mother-in-Law's pool.  It was absolutely lovely.  We had several hours of sunshine, and I floated around the pool in full relaxation mode.  Aaahhh.  Niiiice.  

Hope y'all had a good one!

Poe Springs - Sunday in my City

On Friday, we went to Poe Springs.

We are so blessed to live near many beautiful natural springs.

The temperature of the water is 72 degrees year round.  It's COLD.  When it's overcast, I can't swim, because I can't warm up in the sun and I am miserable.

It's been overcast a lot this summer, but fortunately we got some sunny time on Friday and I was able to swim.  Also, Elayna and I swam down to the river, which feels like a warm bath.  The temperature difference is amazing; as soon as you reach the river the water is drastically warmer than the springs.

This was taken from a floating dock on the river.
The river is very brown due to an abundance of cypress trees.

Elayna said I take a picture of this hollowed tree
every time we go.  She's probably right. 

It's a long walk to the springs from the parking area,
which is a deterrent for some people.
Which is great for me.  I don't mind the walk,
it's worth it, and that's less of a crowd at the springs.
Win/win!

Cypress trees and cypress knees.

More boardwalk.  Pretty.

Marshy area on the walk to the springs.

Visit Unknown Mami for more Sundays in my City posts!