Baby Cucumbers and a Pesky Raccoon!

The guinea girls are going to be so excited...we have TWO baby cucumbers on our plant!  Last week they looked like this...

And yesterday, they look like this...

A close up of the biggest one...

The girls are going to love it!  The bell peppers are flowering, so maybe I'll have something to share on those next week.  The bell peppers are their favorites by far, yellow or red...they love them!

Miss Hedgie

Snowflake

Now to the pesky raccoon you were probably wondering about.  Last night we were in the backyard discussing the flower bed us and our neighbor friends are going to be doing this weekend and Amy spotted a raccoon on our neighbor's roof.  These are the neighbors with the 15 cats, and they have I think 8 bowls of cat food on the back porch at any given time.  My husband mows their yard and keeps us updated on the number of bowls in case you're wondering how I'd know something like that.  Anyways, Amy spots this raccoon and I rush to get my camera.  Finally, I got some shots of it...the whole time hoping he didn't jump off the roof and attack me! Yes, I have a very vivid imagination, but seriously if you were that close to a raccoon you might think the same thing. 

Crazy little thing, only he's really not that little!  And this people is why you should not have 15 cats and 8 feed bowls out!! 

Happy Friday!!

Mandy

Cupcakes and Murder

Just finished another fun mystery today while I was stuck on the couch.  This is the first one I've read by Jenn McKinlay, and it's the first in her A Cupcake Bakery Series called Sprinke with Murder.  Loved it! 

Two long time friends own and work together in a bakery that caters to nothing but cupcakes...yummy!  When one of their friend's fiance ends up dead, Mel becomes the first choice for the suspect.  It doesn't take the friends long to take matters into their own hands to find the killer.  This was an enjoyably entertaining read, and I'm looking forward to the next one coming out!

Mandy

Mommy's Caretaker

Despite the fact that no invitation was offered, my head was taken hostage by a nasty virus this weekend.  I thought it was just allergies, but nooo...I'm now trying to keep my lungs where they belong!  Bob got home from golfing yesterday and asked what the diagnosis was.  After hearing that I just had a viral infection, he put the girls to work in the kitchen doing dishes and told everyone that they were all going to work together to take care of mommy.  I think I've been spoiled...since I had my tonsils taken out a year and a half ago, I haven't been sick with the exception of the occasional migrane and allergy gone wild. 

While I was laying on the couch, Daughter #2 offered to bring me an ice pop.  Bob must have told her that they would be really great for Mommy's throat, so several times yesterday afternoon I'd look up to a purple ice pop with Daughter #2 grinning at me.  Anytime I cough or move much, she's at my side asking if I need anything. Today, she took over and decided the pantry needed to be cleaned out.  A number of expired items went in the trash, and she was quite proud of herself. 

Daughter #1 helped out laundry...without being asked mind you, love it! So while I do not like having the ick, I'm so blessed to have two girls with helper hearts. 

Looking forward to feeling better!
Mandy

Cactus Monday

Propeller Plant

Happy Cactus Monday...waiting patiently for this little guy to bloom!  Cactus Monday is hosted by Teri at Teri's Painted Daisies.

Have a great week!
Mandy

Book Catch Up

I don't know why I don't just talk about a book after I finish it, but I don't.  I might be missing one, but I think I just have three to share with you today from the past couple of weeks.  I did start The Zoo Keeper's Wife, but couldn't get into it...maybe that's the missing one!  I normally enjoy reading books that highlight the survivors and people that risked their lives to save others during the Holocaust.  This book read more like just give me the facts; please and only the facts"...it didn't grab me, so I finally put it down and moved on.  I've heard it's a really good book, so if you enjoy this type of book, you might give it a try.  If you read it, please feel free to scold me for not finishing and I might try it again!

What I have finished though were fun reads!  First, I read Shadows of Lancaster County by Mindy Starns Clark...loved it!!!  She's one of my favorite Christian mystery/suspense authors, and this one didn't disappoint!  The story intertwines with the Amish, and of course that grabbed me right away. Throw in mysterious jewls, DNA research and gene therapy and you're off on a fast paced raced to the end.  Family secrets and past tragedies can't help but give way to God's amazing mercy and grace in this book full of suspense and intrigue. 

Next up was another in the A Booktown Mystery series by Lorna Barrett, Bookplate Special.  These are fun, clean mysteries; did I mention really enjoyable.  They're based in a touristy town that caters to book lovers...oh, if I could only find such a place!  Tricia Miles seems to always find herself right in the middle of the towns mishaps.  She's stubborn, inquisitive and sometimes a little too determined for her own good, but that never stops her from trying to "help" out the local sheriff's department in solving crimes. 

I just finished Sarah's Garden by Kelly Long.  This was the first book I've read by this author, and I can't wait for the next one to come out in the A Patch of Heaven series.  The book is set in the Amish setting...you get that I really enjoy these, right!  When I read the back and it described how Sarah loves her garden, I had to have it.  Throughout the book, God's overwhelming love is shown not only through how the Amish live in forgiving others, but also how He truly does give us the desires of our hearts when we love Him with all of ours.  Sarah found herself falling for an English veterinarian that moved into the house next store and him for her.  So, while the book was a bit predictable and the ending maybe a bit unrealistic, it was the perfectly easy, enjoyable read.  Really cool with this one too...my mother didn't have it already!! 

I'm always on the lookout for new Christian authors or otherwise clean fiction/mysteries, so if you have a favorite author, please share!

Happy reading!
Mandy

Labor Day Weekend Fun and New Blooms!

This weekend we went to the coast with our neighbors who are also really good friends of ours.  They have a travel trailer and a boat down at the coast, and once or twice a year we take the girls down with us for a fun filled weekend.  This trip was no exception.  Once we got the dog to the vet and the guinea girls loaded with enough dry food and hay for the extended time away, Amy and I were off with the girls to meet our guys. 

Saturday, we took the girls across the ferry to play in the water and sand for the day.  I don't really care for the beach, but I have to admit, this time was great!  It wasn't super hot and there was a breeze...Mandy was happy!

Ms. Amy actually got Daughter #1 to go out farther than she's ever gone before.  That might not sound like much, but this is my big chicken that we're talking about. She usually squeals if she thinks she sees a fish near her in the water!

They went further out, but I was in with them holding on to Daughter #2.  She had to get pretty good at jumping with the waves since she's a little shorter! She had a good time too, especially when she willingly let her sister bury her.

My favorite picture...I just love little feet!

Then came the fishing...the girls had a great time!  Daughter #1 teamed up with Mr. Kevin and Daughter #2 with her daddy.  Amy got stuck with me and did all the work, but let me bring them in.  My job is really to just get good pictures; it's self assigned, but something I'm good at.  I'm not too much for touching live bait or live fish for that matter!  I'd much prefer to take pictures and then cook whatever is caught.  Daughter #1 wasn't too happy when her daddy and Daughter #2 kept pulling them in, but she only tried to bail out on her partner a few times!  After all was said and done, we brought in 6 Black Drums!  This was a first for I think Bob and Kevin both, so that was kind of cool as well!

The Big Fishermen/Fishergirls...Daddy/Daughter #2 and Daughter #1/Mr. Kevin

We had wonder, relaxing weekend filled with fun, laughter and of course great food!  Amy and I are much alike in respect...food's never far from our thoughts! And that, is how the weekend ended...

We came home stuffed and sunburned, but happy. You know my husband was tired...he let me drive the whole way home and kept the griping to a minimum! 

Now to the blooms!!  I was checking the succulents and noticed that my Adromischus cristatus 'Key Lime Pie' was blooming!  Nothing too spectacular, but I was pleasanty pleased! 

Adromischus cristatus 'Key Lime Pie'

Looking forward to a great week!  
Mandy

Cactus Monday

I've been meaning to start participating in this for weeks, but somehow kept forgetting that it was Monday!  It almost happended again today, but I remembered!  A few weeks ago, Julie from A Succulent Life invited me to join in on Cactus Monday's hosted by Teri at Teri's Painted Daisies.  I don't draw, paint or do much in that area of creativity, but I do love to take pictures of my succulents!  So, here is my Labor Day offering for today's Cactus Monday.

Portulaca molokiniensis 'Maraca'

Have a great week!
Mandy