Home gym

Getting ready...stay tuned!

Post-swim lunch

That WAS a delish salad with rotisserie chicken, strawberries and praline pecans, but I ate it all up!  Also did a "virtual" kickboxing class in the bonus room before the icy plunge. Ah yes, I love these lingering summer days!!!

..."every little farm town with youuuuuuuu"

"..with a brand new Chevy with a lift kit..."

ok, so I had to google what a "lift kit" is, and maybe I was actually driving an Acura mommy utility vehicle, not a Chevy truck, but...

I did have another adventure driving in the country today.

No big deal, just downtown Benson, via Raleigh Road.  So many interesting farmish, countryside treasures to look at...tobacco fields, old farmhouses, barns, horses, goats in someone's front yard (!!!!!! I gotta have some, too!!!!)  , ponds, pick-your-own berry farms, oh so much to look at, I just wanted to drive at a snail's pace to take it all in, but after a few miles, there would always be someone tailgating me and I'd have to speed up again.

Got to the little town of Benson, old-fashioned downtown.  Walked the quiet street, just enjoying some alone time, and checking out some funky little shops, antiques and what-not:

                                                        Miss Maude's cafe...

                                          ..friendly little gnome in an antique shop run by some folks
                                                      who were pretty antiquey themselves..

I'm starting to realize what kind of land I'm living in...I saw this shirt the same day as I drove past some ol'

Bubba shootin' a gun off in his front yard. my oh my.

                               yeah, it's funny.  Been living in the South for 20 years now, but it feels like I'm going through another new wave of culture shock, moving to the country and being introduced to "real" southern life.  not the city version.  It's crazy...like this:

                                                      ..more old junk.

                                                (i truly hate this expression...sorry)

                                             And this?  Gotta love it.

                                    Even smelled a skunk on the road later on. Ahhh,  the sweet smells of                                                  country life.  I think I'm liking it here so far.  Liking it a lot.  Goodnight!

last day of august

As if I didn't already have enough pool shots... I had to add a few more.

Met this strikingly handsome young chap on the pool steps this morning. He was just enjoying a leisurely morning swim, when I snuck up behind him with a blue net on a long pole.  Poor guy.  He didn't understand that I was only trying to save him from the deadly effects of chlorine.  But he was fine.  He hopped out of the net and into the holly bushes.  Till next time, ol' pal! (ribbit!)

Before leaving for SC, my sister had me do some dumb poses so she could show them off to our siblings in WI, MN, and CA.  Here's one.

                                 ..and here we are, shortly before she practically knocked off the neighbor's mailbox while backing up out of our driveway.  How embarrassing, and what an awkward way for me to meet my new neighbors!
 

                                      Later on, enjoying some peace and quiet, all alone at the pool.

                                         "Almost" alone, that is, can't forget this snazzy fellow..
                                            Can you even see this green dragonfly, kind of blurry, in the foreground?

Can't believe tomorrow is September.  I'll miss these days by the pool, enjoying the summertime sunshine.

Things I love..

Things I love about having a backyard pool:

#57. 

 Easy-peasy wardrobe choices.

Instead of the usual chore of picking out the right outfit every day, including some very boring, pale underpants and bra...I only have to choose one of these bikinis!

       Hmmm, which shall it be today...am I in a cool blue or decidedly black and white mood?

Or do I need a bit of warm orange, yellow or hot pink to liven things up?

Either way, it's so fun to just slip into a cute bikini on summer days, then throw on either a cover-up or some floppy shorts and tank top, as I'll eventually throw them off and hop in the pool!

Just the thought of jumping in that cool water on a hot day makes the rest of the day and its tasks so much easier.  

So which did I choose?

Well, shucks. It's the weekend, that means I'd better stick with something safe.

I go with the modest tankini top with the maximum coverage, granny skirt bottoms, 

which, by the way, do a fine job of concealing my chastity belt. lol.

#protestpanties

#58.

Butterflies!!!!

(no words needed; these fluttering beauties are simply breathtaking!)

                                                                                      #59.
                        That feeling of pulling yourself out of the water, dripping wet, and sitting in the warm, late-                                                                           summer sun to dry off.

                                                        Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....

Smirk

The face I give Sam when she's annoyed by my singing "Have you seen the Muffin Man" for the umpteenth time.

summer fun

just a few shots of fun at our new home..

Colby turned ten last week.  Had a good friend come over to celebrate.  Lots of fun was had.  Swimming in the pool...

..playing with Colby's new arcade-style basketball game in the bonus room...

(Sister Sam had friends over, too...)

...and of course, playing video games on their iPads.

And a couple pics I took today...

 Roses I picked this morning, using oven mitts to avoid the thorns. (garden gloves still packed up someplace in all the boxes!)  Reminded me of the song "Every Rose has its Thorn". (that was Poison, right?)

Even Morgan loves his new home.

and life goes on.  Once we're all moved in, unpacked, settled, acclimated, undiscombobulated, and into a routine again, I may start blogging more thoughtful stuff on my sister blog.  But for now, it's just the facts.  Moved here, love the house and yard.  Country is cool. (not the music, though)

goodnight!