Adding Fun to Blogs

Thanks much for your kindness/comments on my anniversary post - each of you. I had fun with this in the past putting up my blog anniversary announcement as a puzzle with Vanna White turning the tiles - see it here.

Since you asked Julie in your comment and Cindy in your phone call I can tell you to go here and you can do the same on your blog. The site is atom.smasher.org. There are several ways to "announce" just about anything.

There, I did it. It's fun to share so others can have fun on their blogs too.

Would you announce a birthday, engagement, honor roll student, house for sale - a house sold, a mission; the ideas are endless.

I've already created next years anniversary blog through this site and it's just saved until July 2012. Fun silly.

Dare I be redundant and tell you - PHOENIX IS HOT!

The clothes on my solar drier are dry quickly! I can hardly believe there are a few tomatoes and zucchini still growing at these temps. I'm always amazed that the Mexican Bird of Paradise

and the Bougainvillea (didn't save my photo's of this beauty) still bloom in this heat.

I'm working at having a fun, simply great attitude in my AZ SUMMER.

And yes family, yesterday I got my ticket to OREGON. I'm so extremely blessed to have loving family that welcomes my escape from the heat and I love being with them and the cool Oregon greenness.

Wishing all a happy summer day regardless of weather. Oh the power of attitude.

Happy day, msk

Here's one of my daughter Trevlyn's photos of Tessa and Penelope from last week in Utah. I just loved seeing these little girls have fun together and look forward to creating many, many more occasions for togetherness and bonding for all the GRANDS.

Tuesday. A fine day in the valley of the hot sun.

Big Kirby...and I do mean BIG...he looks 5 lbs heavier since I went to Oregon, and I had a shortened, hosed down walk. Okay, just so there's no misunderstanding, Kirby was hosed down not I. He seems to be panting and slowing down so after our joint walk he came inside and I continued. Yes, Arizona is HOT in the summer. No denying it but I'm dreaming of my AZ winter and know you'll want to come stay with me (or Skippie...thanks for the comment Skippie).

I'm noticing a couple of praying mantis' around when I'm watering. They really fascinate me and knowing they are good at eating bugs makes me really like them. I sent one scrambling for safety after I unknowingly hosed it last evening. Felt sorry.

I got Trevlyn's recipe for chocolate chip cookies and baked some early this a.m. before the oven being on was unbearable. She said this was her current favorite.

Are you always looking for a better chocolate chip cookie recipe?

Do you have one to share that is "knock your socks off good"?

Wow, I better "publish" this post quickly while I still have a connection.

Until later. Sending love and hoping you find much to smile about and blessings to count.

Happy Day from MSK

In The Backyard

This is not a floral arrangement.

Sadly it is my outdoor garbage can that I haul around when I'm trimming. It was so hard to trim back my Cape Plumbago with it's beautiful, true blue flowers.

It is surviving our heat, Wednesday was 106*. It is spreading, self seeding. It is bringing me much joy. I have a lot to trim and shape up in this part of the yard. It's getting a little out of control. Okay, MUCH out of control.

Here is my pitch for Arabian Jasmine. If you can find it, buy it and plant it. I really thought I'd lost this plant after about 3 years. I've been fertilizing it and it's doing a bit better in appearance but is going wild with very aromatic blossoms. It's an exotic, almost gardenia fragrance. And yes, it survives AZ summers.

These little beauties are volunteers from last year seeds. I just love those surprises. You may also notice peeking on the left Lantana and on the right French Lavender. Keeping plants alive in our summer takes daily watering but I think it's worth it. You can find me in my backyard most mornings, in my jammies at about 6 a.m. to beat the heat. Does anyone else do their yard work in jammies? At least back yard work?

L to R: Mums, Spike and Vinca. They like catching a bit of shade from the pool slide. I want to transplant the Spike into a bigger pot and then plant around it. You can notice just a little glimps of orange in the background from the Mexican Bird of Paradise - another gorgeous flowering shrub that excells in the heat.

Just me trying to be artsy with a close-up of my Bells, water spots and all. I added some to our salad last night.

Do you want to tell me what you're enjoying in your garden/yard?