Journey thru June - week 4

[Lavande]

Journey thru June - week 4

Sooty has left me in the driver's seat again - boy, I'm gonna need a vacation too :H:H

Just in from picking 2 more quarts of raspberries. There are still sooooo many more out there. If anyone wants to stop by..........

I almost had a heart attack as I approached the steps on my deck. Something moved quickly then stopped just under the first step - it was the biggest toad I've ever seen in my life! It must have been the granddaddy

Well tomorrow is Saturday so Mr Lav is due to show up for grass cutting. We shall see, the grass hasn't been cut for 2 weeks & it's looking pretty shabby. I wonder if I'll be able to get him to talk a little..........

Have a good night everyone!

[rustop61]

Journey thru June - week 4

Good morning everyone

Well it looks as if holiday season is upon us. I love reading about all your travels. Sooty, hope you have a great time on your upcoming holiday, you too Star if you are reading.

Also interesting reading about all the pets. I too have a cat, a rabbit and my daughter has the loan of a Connemara pony. Lots of work but they all bring great joy.

Dill- your koi sound amazing.

Rusty - I think you made the right choice regarding the beach holiday and if your sister is a non-drinker you will have the support you need.

LBH - Panama Canal crossing, that sounds amazing. We once rented a river board and did the 1000 islands in Canada, a very different holiday but very enjoyable.

Lav - hope Mr Lav's visit today goes ok. Chill, Star and everyone else, big hello. Have a great Saturday.

Rustop

[Chillgirl]

Journey thru June - week 4

Good Morning Gang!

Another fine day to be alive, I have been dog walking in beautiful hay coloured meadows, it will be October before anything starts to turn green again but contrast is good, it allows us to make distictions in our minds. I was having an imaginary conversation in my head with my ex husband trying to explain to him how good it was to be sober. I was saying " you see everything differently" but of course unless you can see it yourself, I cant explain what Im talking about....

Yesterday I went to my old bar and joined friends to watch Portugal play football, one of my friends husbands who is a very heavy drinker said "are you still not drinking?!" in disbelief, "your life must be very boring!" I smiled and quietly said "actually its never been better."

Tonight Im going out for dinner with a dear male friend, he is 20 years older than me and is a real English gentleman who was involved in the London acting scene back in the 70's & 80's and always has great stories.

LBH - I'd love to see your dog walking under your cat! Maybe you could capture it on camera?

Rusty - Im sure you are strong enough to cope with "the cousins" Its great your sister is a non-drinker and you will probably see everything in a different light and not even be tempted to drink.

Lav - I take it you have heard from Mr L since he got back? Maybe his change of scene will have provoked some new thought...? You can live in hope.

Everyone else, have an absolutely wonderful AF Saturday :l

oh.... Chillgirl of course has a Chilldog, this is Elle doing her meditation:-

[dill]

Journey thru June - week 4

So many interesting posts! I love reading about each of your lives as we journey together. LBH, the Panama Canal destination is a great idea! I just googled it and it sounds like a great place to explore. Mr. BH will undoubtedly enjoy the adventure. That would be right up Mr. D's alley as well.
Rusty, I am glad you have changed your mind. I think that you will enjoy this visit with your family. Just make sure you take your Bac and Nal. I personally find it easier to be AF when away from home or at family gatherings. My area of struggle is at home. That's common for women drinkers I think and that's why it is a particular challenge for women to quit!
Chill, I love Elle's meditation posture! Thank you for describing your countryside. It's funny you should in that I was doing the same mental imaging myself yesterday. As we were driving alongside cornfields and bean fields that are lush and green right now my mind sprang forward to October and how the green stalks would be light tan and dry and rattling in the wind, and the soy beas would be amber. If you can, take a snapshot of your countryside for us. I'll try to do the same.
Lav, How much grass is there that needs mowed? I don't know exactly how much we have around our house and barns, but I think it is about 3 acres. It takes 2 and a half to 3 hours to get it all. Mr. D and I sometimes mow at the same time as we have two lawn tractors. I think more and more these days about how difficult it would be for me to try to live here on my own.
Rustop, your pets sound sweet. What kind of rabbit? Is it in a hutch or is it a house pet? Wow! A pony?!!! That's awesome. We had two horses when we first moved to this farm, one Arabian and one Tennessee Walker. When the kids grew and left home, we decided they were just too much work and expense so we sold them. It was a sad day. I loved seeing them up on the pastures.
Sooty, have a great vacation in Cornwall! We will miss you.
Red, I looked for Rosamunde Pilcher online in the digital downloads offered by the library. They didn't have any of hers, but there was one by her daughter Robin titled Starburst. I'm going to give it a listen after I'm done with my current selection which is Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns. I am so happy you will finally be getting some time off! You deserve some down time.
Yesterday was another perfect June day and today is pretty promising, too. After picking blueberries and looking for the koi (we spotted 4) we packed up the boat bag and headed for the lake. It just doesn't get much better!
Spud, Sped, Guitarista, hello and let's all have another great AF Saturday!!

[Rusty]

Journey thru June - week 4

Good Morning June Gang,

Dill-your farm sounds lovely. I love Tennessee Walkers and Arabians. When I was young I used to compete in dressage and my sister in saddleseat. My sister's youngest daughter, 18, just left for Iceland yesterday. She competes/trains in Icelandic ponies...she gets the love of horses from her mother. Enjoy your day on the boat!

Lav-I hope Mr. Lav shows up to mow and you can have a chance to talk to him. You deserve some mental relief!

Sooty-I hope you enjoy Cornwall....sounds so exciting.

Chill-I love your dog....kind of show off, right?:H Have fun at dinner with your English gentleman. Good for you that you're still getting out. And that comment your friend's husband made....yeah, I cringe when I think of how many times I've said that to people! SIGH. Like you said, you can't make them see that life IS better AF.

LBH-I just Googled the Panama Canal, too. That does sound fascinating. I learn so much about exotic/interesting places on this post. It's like going on an adventure without leaving my house.

Rustop-I love rabbits...I wish you could take one of my niece's...she has 2 but she can't take them to Iceland with her. I think French Lops are my favorite. I had never heard of that kind of pony before so I Googled that, too.

I will check in later....busy day....I am going to work out and then spend the day with my 83-year-old mother, helping her make food for a dinner she's helping to put on for her church's food pantry clients. I actually do like to volunteer my time and I need to do more of it. I need to MAKE time. Maybe I can do that now since I'm not drinking.

Have a wonderful AF day everyone! Hello to Star, Sped, Spud, Raven, Guitarista and all my other Journey friends!

Love,

Rusty

[Lavande]

Journey thru June - week 4

Morning all!

Awaiting the arrival of the grass cutter.......
2 1/2 acres of grass Dill - I can't do the cutting without getting sick as hell - my allergies can't handle it. And it's hot as hell out there - not my thing

Will be back later!
Lav

[rustop61]

Journey thru June - week 4

Good morning everyone

Hope the grass cutter arrived Lav. We have an acre and my hubby does it on the ride on mower. The weather appears as if it is going to break but we have not had rain in weeks so we probably need a little.

My oldest daughter is going to Irish college for 3 weeks so I have to drive her there later. If I do not get a chance to check in again. Have a great AF Sunday everyone.

Rustop

[dill]

Journey thru June - week 4

Greetings Junestars,
Hi Rustop! It's quiet around here this weekend. What is Irish College?
Lav, did you get to speak with Mr. L?
June is fast coming to a close. It's time to think of names for July. Any suggestions? Joyous July is all I have so far.
Last night was the hottest night of the summer here so far. I sat on the porch as darkness fell, but it was still hot! I had a couple of fans going and managed to sleep somehow.
Have a great Sunday, all!

[Rusty]

Journey thru June - week 4

Good Morning Dill, Guitarista and Rustop,

Yes, Dill...we need to come up with a name for July and a motivational kind of theme, maybe? It was hot here too yesterday, 88 degrees, humid and not a cloud in the sky.

Guitarista-are you glued to the World Cup? And...with much embarrassment, I had NO idea bitters had any alcohol in it because I had never bought before and a waiter at a restaurant I went to whilst traveling said there wasn't any AL in it. Sooo.....long story short, I guess this is Day....uh, hmmm....5 for me since I had a soda with bitters in it last week. Oh well. Moving on.

Yesterday was a lovely AF day for me (imagine that, a Saturday....unheard of in previous years I spent most of the day helping my 83-year-old mother (and a recent cancer survivor) prepare food for what I thought was a luncheon for her food pantry clients. Instead, it was a lunch for 200 impoverished children for their annual summer lunch program. It was very rewarding....and I haven't mentioned this before....my mother for a little while was one of my drinking partners. That has obviously changed

Lav-Did you get a chance to talk to Mr. Lav?

Rustop-I Googled Irish College-is that a school requirement? What particularly does your daughter want to study?

A big hi to Chill, Sped, Spuddleduck, Sped, LBH and Star... Have a wonderful Sunday!

Rusty

[spedteach]

Journey thru June - week 4

Wow, major computer issues. I'm in Chicago and thinking lots about all of you. No wireless, no laptop. Aside from that having a fine time.

[Lavande]

Journey thru June - week 4

Good morning Junesters!

Hot, humid & day 7 of the heatwave ~
I have never been a big fan of this sort of weather!

Yes kids, Mr Lav was here yesterday! He cut grass, helped me purchase & properly store 6 big bags of chicken feed, gave one of my aging printers CPR, etc.
He didn't rush out but wasn't up to much talking. He did talk a little about his recent trip to St. Louis.
He also suggested that we go to dinner Wednesday in honor of our 37th wedding anniversary! I take that as a positive sign because he hasn't bothered to acknowledge our anniversay in years.........

Dill, I'm fresh out of ideas for a July name - I'll have to get to work on that.

Rustop, Irish College sounds interesting, I'll have to look that up as well.

Rusty, sounds like you had a wonderful day yesterday - good for you

Shelley, keep driving East - you're almost here

I'm still dealing with raspberries!! I found a good recipe for pineapple rasberry sorbet on
Fatfree Vegan Recipes and made some last night - yum

Wishing everyone a super AF Sunday!
Lav

[Lavande]

Journey thru June - week 4

Where is everyone????

Here's a list of Unusual words beginning with the letter J

List of unusual words beginning with J

[dill]

Journey thru June - week 4

Great list, Lav!

How about July Jaunt, or July Will Fly? The second one reminds me of one of my favorite Simon and Garfunkle songs, "April, Come She Will". I'm glad you and Mr. Lav shared a bit more time. Hopefully things are beginning to normalize somewhat.

I guess everyone had a busy weekend, because it sure was quiet 'round here!

Here are some scenes from Ohio in June:

Soy bean field:


Corn field:


Black Angus


Purple Cone flower

[Guitarista]

Journey thru June - week 4

Hi all,

Rusty, for me, just cause you unwittingly had a soda with bitter's (very small percent al here in Oz), i wouldn't be starting your af count again from then. The difference is you didn't knowingly drink al, isn't it? Geez, i've mistakenly had a swig of al a couple of times, not to mention a bite of rum laced cake from a little ol lady! He he. Don't worry if you are....
Watched bit's of the world cup. I'm not a big fan, but it's a great game.

Best wishes all!

[Raven.joy]

Journey thru June - week 4

Hey dill, did you know the purple cone flower is also called echinacea and is an amazing healer. It raises the immune system and can kick a cold into touch,it has been used to prevent malaria and is an all round tonic especially for the lymphatic system. Really good for detox too.