Marking the seasons with the love of my life.
                    Another year in the adventure...

August 1

Such a happy first day of the month!

First, I slept in til 8:30 which is pure luxury,

even if it was because
I couldn't fall asleep on the right side of night.

Then I began a 30 day lettering challenge.

I added the last two words on my own

since what is the point of all things new

without Christ?

There was sunshine all over the place.

joyous, drinkable stuff!

I don't have a picture to prove it

but after weeks and weeks of rain

you have to believe it was marvelous.

My sister stopped in unexpectedly;

having her near is a sweetness I still can hardly believe.

I showed her my amazing sunflower--

"Never be afraid to stand out in a crowd!"

she exclaimed happily.
I went to the Amish Grocery for Hero.
He had me buy hoagies for all the guys
at work in honor of the employee who
is starting a teaching job this month. 

While having lunch on my garden swing

I spotted this gal--I am so excited to

see a butterfly that I'm not familiar with!

But then, I never get over him either,
no matter how often I have a monarch in my flowers.

After lunch, I took a half-hour drive south,
over the mountain, and in a few 

seconds I had a rather surreal but very

official document in hand--Blaze's Diploma!

I actually successfully shopped bigbox alone
and got everything I needed; a remarkable feat
since my list was at home on the counter.
I finished up a pretty box of goodies
for the Wedding we couldn't attend and delivered it.
So, it's delightful satisfaction to be told it "looks like" me.
(Think butterflies, Bible verse and bright blue tulle.)

On the way home I paused to take a picture
of the sun on Main Street--you can just
make out the roof of our house if you know
what to look for-- Oh, that sun! Oh, that blue sky!

But, like a benediction of a very rainy July,
The first day of August closes with the typical evening

rain...

With my heart full of blessings,
Zinnia Girl! 

Birthday

We surprised Blaze and showed up at camp

on her 19th Birthday!

We found her busy in the kitchen

and it was great fun getting to

work alongside her.

(Hero washed dishes

and I served "dinner rolls"--

until I realized that the kids

better understood "Buns").
The campers bellowed the 
Happy Birthday song to her
after beating on the tables 
in rhythm to her name.
After three strait days of rain
on junior camp, the noise level
was phenomenal!

We heard her sing with the

staff at chapel, then went

for a walk before heading home.

      Life guard duty happens here in the afternoons.

     What a lovely place to play!

Goodnight, Blaze...She still has a night game to hide in

and a cabin of girls to check on, as their prayer partner.

Blessings,
Zinnia Girl!

firemen's parade

Tradition here runs deep,
as well as dedication
and pride; 
All good things when it pours rain
on the Firemen's Parade.















Neighbors crowded on porches
and under umbrellas,
there was plenty of candy to scramble for.




But the Firemen's festival that always follows this parade
was pretty much spoiled by the deluge.
I couldn't help but notice that those left
to stand dripping in the food line or
crowd under the eaves and in the truck bays to eat,
were all our own firefighters...
visiting firefighters...
fire-police...
EMTs...
Volunteers...

They work hard
they show up
they protect their community
they line up for parades with huge bags of candy...
in the rain...
then they buy a hamburger
for the sake of the brotherhood.


What do you do to support
your First Responders?

Blessings
Zinnia Girl!

p.s. it was a fabulous parade
& we came home rather soaked--
We had a hot cup of tea
before bed even though it is July!

summer morning joys

Cool breezes

Prism splashes

Just one more 

surprisingly sweet

lessons 

no limit



curls

Savor the wonder of this day!
Zinnia Girl!

tuesday yardsale finds

--deliciously coordinated!

our road

It really feels like ours, this road out front.
After all, for two years, it's been our 4:30 am alarm clock,
the rattle in the windows,
the shotgun sound that sends us running to look outside--
just to make sure there wasn't an accident!
Eventually we learned to shrug;
"Oh, the potholes."
But they could never be ignored.



Last spring, we watched hopefully as the State paved Main Street.
They stopped less then a block from our place...
and left the potholes to grow.



Hero called the Road Department.
"People are veering into the middle of the road to miss them--
there's going to be an accident, " He'd complain.
The answer was always the same:
There's no money.
But someone would show up the next day and
throw some patch in the holes.



So Hero went higher.
He called our County Commissioner.
Yes, he knew that road well, it's in bad shape,
but there is no money.
Call your Representative.



I was excited to take the return call from 
our very own Representative.  Well, his secretary.
She informed me they would consider repair
in the next season.  Since it was winter
I said happily, "Oh, come Spring?"
She patiently informed me that next
season means next year. As in 2019.
Because there's no money.



After a while, we started a hobby,
lining up the hubcaps that flew
off vehicles into our yard.
Getting the mail might be
hazardous to your health but it's a 
great conversation starter!
Hero started dialing again.
He was professional at all times
but he let them know what was needed.
After several rounds of phone calls,
the Commissioner began
to speak for us.



One day we learned that our Representitive
sent several people out to examine our road.
And then these white lines showed up!
Before long, Hero was shaking hands
with our County Commissioner
and there were smiles all around; our road would be added
to an already planned project just on the other side of town.
Thankyou, Thankyou!



Tuesday, July 11--Good bye potholes, goodbye!



The length of the trouble, properly patched.




We now have a sizzling new road-- two layers 
of blacktop, even and rolled and bright--
tires sing now, past our house. 
And mumlings and rumors, as this valley
would have it,  "How'd they come to do that little stretch?"
None of the neighbors wonder why it was completed
for obviously it was needed.
But this girl believes she knows how it was accomplished.

Zinnia Girl!

Linen dress

     I love our MCC thrift shop!  Every week a certain color tag is on sale. Stuff is half-price and clothes are 50 cents. No kidding!

 I'm always scouting out the sale-colored tags.

Love the linen, love the price, it's my size, take it home. 

(Always ignore the dryclean only and don't bother to try it on.)

Here I am talking to myself, which I
am apt to do--and all the more since Blaze is gone--
" Very unflattering, obviously already been shrunk."
(It's an odd length, neither short nor long--only my legs didn't get in the picture.) Trust me, I won't wear it!

No problem.
I love a new project.

The linen was fine and slid around alot so my cutting
was all wacky but after it makes it's debut
it will get plenty of love to even out the imperfections, I'm sure.

Much better on my vintage couch

 then my vintage bod!

Come on over, I'll take you shopping at 

my favorite Thrift!

Zinnia Girl!

Oh the drama!

This is a little outdated, but let me tell you about the highlight of our winter!  



ACTT--Artistic Community Teen Theater-- or so we called ourselves--had it's last two-act play directed by Zinnia Girl! 
The name of the play was "Earnestly Earnestine" by Craig Sadaro.
It tells the tale of a wealthy business man who learns that his niece,
(whom he thought had died, along with her parents) is alive!
She is his only living relative and he is anxious to find her. It soon 
becomes clear that there are far too many girls who lay claim to the
right to become his heir...

the one and  the only         Earnestine! 
"I mean, the million
bucks! A girls got to
look out for herself!"
Devious schemes, 
fast action, colorful
characters--and some outright screaming--the perfect teen production.
And they really owned it this year!
 (Especially after I  got permission to drop the kissing!)
Many times they came up with solutions and ideas themselves. That was so satisfying to me; some of these kids have been in my dramas for 4 years now and it was fun to see them flourishing on stage where once they trembled.  It was also very helpful since, truth be told, many times I had the distinct impression that I had no idea what I was doing! Like how to make my own peace loving daughter punch someone cold. All kids were on stage many times trying to figure this dilemma out, until one perfectly timed day, a home school mom (who actually took a Drama class in college--eek!) came to the rescue with excellent advice for a convincing punch. 




It's fun to reminisce with these pictures thanks to Viva La Vida Productions! (used with permission)

--

Look at these kids! I love 'em. Totally the best year ever!

And the play was so entertaining! We got such delightful feedback from the audience; they loved it and laughed uproariously and clapped enthusiastically.  I know I laughed many times during practices. Yea, it was good. It's a happy note to end on.

As much as I've enjoyed the last four years, this is the end of the adventure. I always get overwhelmed and I usually get sick. 
I started this all for Blaze, so she would have an opportunity to act and I had a contract with my husband to quit when she graduated. 
Besides, I could never do it without her organizational skills, mom-reminders, tech savvy, and  group text communications! Literally my co-director!

     Go find yourself some teens and you'll have drama--
          put on a play and it'll be the very best kind.

  Bravo!  Zinnia Girl  (with Curtain Manager)

She's Off!

Mr. Tucker was so proud to be invited upstairs
but his tail stopped wagging the minute he entered
her room--Blaze was packing.



She wished she could take him along. Mr. Tucker the Camp Dog.
But the idea of stowing away didn't last long.

It seems unreal--you people with toddlers and tweens, listen up--
how can she be leaving already?

All those times I wished for a little piece of quiet
to have all for myself, to follow my own dreams...
and now the house is so, so empty and there's  
plenty of time and far too much quiet.
In a flood of emotions that seem to 
flash in my soul every childhood recollection,
both sweet days and hard,
I want to take back all those wishes.



Don't get me wrong--
we are so proud of her,
excited for her,
we want her to fly--
to soar!
But when that little red car with the light on top
disappeared over the hill
we sat on the porch and cried.
Who knew it would be so hard?



Mr. Tucker had to be persuaded to come out of the rain.
No, Blaze isn't coming home 
and there is no use waiting in the alley.

Letting Go,
     Zinnia Girl!

graduation party

Last Sunday I sat down at the piano
and played "Pomp and Circumstance"
but only once since
big fat tears sprang to my eyes.

We held a graduation party
in our home

for Blaze.

Even the rain couldn't spoil the special hours!
Thanks to our home meteorologist (that would be Hero),
we had plenty of time to move our dream plans
from the garden to the house.

Photo collage represents every year of her life!

We hosted a drop in and people came

at a perfectly steady pace;

laughing and talking

filled the rooms;

radiating joy.

We felt so loved 

by the many that made the effort

to join the celebration
and hung around to be enjoyed!

My bro and crew

Both sides of the family,
Cousins that drove nine hours to stay 30,
Great Aunts from Lancaster,
Grammy and Poppy with extra chairs
huge bouquet of peonies and M&Ms,




neighbors,
friends from different parts of our life--
discovering connections.

'Wish you could have been here

and if you were

I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

We couldn't settle down 

to go to bed that night,

just lingering in that happy state.

It was a lot of work getting ready---
the house had it's best spring cleaning in years--
We washed windows,
painted the fence,
Hero even shampooed the carpet!

Niece's artwork and busy sis!

Then came the decorating,
with balloons,
chalkboard signs,
blue jars and buttons, 
wooden boxes and
battery operated candles
(a firefighter lives here, remember)....

I hated to clean it all up.

MCC Home School Graduates!

She's been framed!

The color of the day!

Grandpa reacts to face-timing his grandaughter while on her way to Greece!

Some very fine people fill our couch!
(my mom and dad to the right with my dad's sis, Aunt G and Uncle G)

Her first gem!

There are still bouquets and gifts
and memories scattered 
throughout the house.

Feeling incredibly blessed 
with family and friends
and our very own graduate,
                                    Zinnia Girl!