This Perfectly Imperfect Life

Morning Glory 'Scarlet O'Hara' (said in a hushed whisper as it's "wordless" Wednesday)

Steamy. Opressive. Breath-taking. Humbling. Sun's peaking through the thinning clouds as it sets, turning some clouds a pale pink against the gray. Storms passed through at dinner time but heat & moisture still make it a chore to be outside. Sitting on the porch I'm surrounded by pungent scents; the moldy wood of 'Oranges & Lemons' Blanketflower and the purple Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) which reminds me of Easter Hyacinth's though not as strong. Even the sour scent of salty sea water is in the air right now! (Good Lord, try and say that 10 times fast, lol!) Just a few moments out here is all I wanted. Doc told me not to be out in this weather before I left the office today. (It was iv treatment day). The din from 62 plus air conditioners running at the same time doesn't make it hard to head back inside to cool off and rest. What's missing here? Crickets. No crickets chirping here yet but they're around us, down on the beach and just...

It's been a long, hot, sweaty, rewarding day. Today the VFW Post, with assistance from our American Legion Post, hosted a "Welcome Home!" party for 143 Marine Corps Reservists home from Iraq and Afghanistan along with their families. Over 500 people not including Post members! I suppose my 'official' capacity was photographer. (I created 2 photo collages of previous joint Post events for the bulletin board early this morning before we left). As things wound down mid-afternoon, I also helped with the garbage cleanup and breakdown, as did Hubby. With temps that peaked here at 100 actual degrees (I don't want to know what the "real feel" or "heat index" was) along with the humidity everyone stayed hydrated, took breaks by going inside the Post and no one got sick, including me! (I don't usually do well in this kind of extreme heat). Though a great day, I was so happy to be home this evening in the cool air conditioning! I've ...

For more Friday Favorites, head over to Diggin' Around .

For more Friday Favorites, head over to New Jersey Through My Eyes .

Posted via My Palm Centro.

I did a little gardening early this afternoon. Because that's what we gardener's do, we brave the elements to tend to our flower & veggie flocks! I re-potted my Pacino Sunflowers (1), which have begun to bloom, with my Lavender (2) and just the thought of the two together made me smile and think of Provence. (Ah France!) Along with the Lemon Balm (3) in the container below them, I'm hoping this arrangement turns out to be one that will please the senses when our bedroom windows are open. 1) Helianthus annuus 2) Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote Blue' 3) 'Melissa officinalis' Posted via My Palm Centro.

What better way to celebrate Hubby's birthday today and the Summer Solstice than to head over to the opening night of one of our local annual fairs for dinner?! I asked him where he wanted to go & this was his choice, which was fine by me since this fair always has great food. We had so much fun! Walking around hand in hand, having dinner in the 'beer garden,' talking & laughing, people watching from our pub table and listening to the band which consisted of kids from the school that throws the fair who were Awesome! (And by kids, I mean they looked to be from the ages of 10 to Maybe 15. They'd switch after every few songs with kids waiting on the side of the stage). Better musicians than most adults! We were very impressed as was the crowd that gathered to watch in front of the stage. Those kids Rocked! Around 9pm we'd had our fill of food & drink and decided to head home. That's when I noticed how light it was still and realized we'd o...

I was inspired by my friend Michelle today to wish a Happy Father's Day to all of the amazing and powerful single mothers out there! (Like my Mom!) And I'd like to is wish JAWS a Happy 35th Anniversary today as well! daaadun daadun dadun dadun...

Dahlia 'Night Ruler.' (For Lizzi).

Getting in touch with my inner PA. Our 'cabin' up in the Kittatinny Mountains (NJ) is within 10 miles of Milford PA, a beautiful town, and on Thursday we drive over to explore some places we haven't had the chance before. Here are a few pics:

Enough said? :-)

To get in on all the hub-bub, go to Mary Dreams Gardens .

Introducing... Our gorgeous niece and her handsome husband, married just this Saturday. I'm still bursting with pride & love, even getting teary-eyed looking through the pics today. (Her brother is pictured in the previous post entitled, "Friday Favorites"). It seems as though this is going to be a Summer of Infamous Jersey Humidity . BLEAH. It's been around for days getting to the disgusting stage yesterday. Because of it, I walked out of a nursery yesterday Empty-Handed ! I even forgot the bag of soil I needed do so some re-potting for things I already have at home. Today is just as sticky out as yesterday was but more cloudy with less sun. Lots of haze again. When the breeze comes it only covers you in the moisture from the air instead of bringing you relief. Movements are sluggish. Thinking is jumbled. Breathing in is like sucking a too-thick shake through a straw. Disgusting. Makes you dizzy & sick. Thunderstorms bring no relief. Bff Kath turned 40 y...

Dinner with Family from TX. Meeting our Grand-Niece for the first time. Falling in love with our Grand-Niece. Sunsets that take ones breath away. Head over to New Jersey Through My Eyes for a (if I don't say so myself) stunning sunset pic taken them same night as the one above.

Taken last night, 6/10/11. Colors courtesy of Mother Nature & Earth, no editing involved.

Posted via My Palm Centro.

Posted via My Palm Centro.

Posted via My Palm Centro.

Posted via My Palm Centro.

I'm too stinkin' excited to keep my mouth shut for this week's Wordless Wednesday. Since I've no idea how I could picture my actual super-duper-oober excitement, I will show you what has me smiling ear to ear (and possibly jumping up and down, not that I'm admitting to anything): This, my friends, is Gaillardia 'Oranges & Lemons' Blanketflower, a dearly beloved favorite in my garden since 2007 and missing since the squirrels dug it up & absconded with it in 2008. It's not an easy Blanketflower to get a hold of and I've been on the hunt. Thanks to Mike at Sickles Market , who emailed me yesterday to let me know that these Blanketflower would be arriving today, I know have 3 containers of 'Oranges and Lemons' at home once again. I am so stinkin' Happy, I can't begin to tell y'all! Of course I had to roam to see what other wonderful things they had in right now and throughout my travels around their beautiful nursery, I...

Right now, I'm unable to drive because my optical/aura migraines have returned with a vengence and I can go from seeing perfectly to, for all intensive purposes, blind in a matter of seconds. So with Hubby back at work (I mentioned that didn't I?), any where outside of walking distance requires a ride, usually from Mom. A frustrating place to be for someone my age, but there's nothing to do but make the best of it! Today, I needed to get some things from the foodstore and didn't want to be dependent on anyone for getting to & fro. Luckily, there are 2 foodstores within walking distance of home and one had just about all I needed on sale so I grabbed a few re-usable totes and went. On the way home, I realized just how much simple acts of independence elevate my soul and help to balance out the days when I'm unable to be fully independent, something all of us living with disease need so we can feel like more than our diseases & the burdens that can come wi...

And cannot be rushed. Paeonia Hybrid 'Cora Stubbs' Garden Peony

To find out all of the info, please visit Gardening Gone Wild . My entry: I've been in love with this photo since I took it last month!