The Expanded Front Deck

Decided since I had some more free pallets that I would get more creative and increase the size of the deck, so as to add some more space. It is amazing how creative one can be with some used free pallets!

New Cat Observation Platform

We all know that cats like heights and like to be "up there". So I built this platform high up the staircase along part of the railing. My cat, Lucy, had been going up there and I did not need to see any "accidents" from a cat balancing act on the railing. Now she sits up there and takes naps up there. I sit directly down from her across from the staircase. And I added a stool to make jumping up a lot easier!

Stock Markets Down World Wide

Stocks drop over 10% from previous highs

With the Chinese economy suffering and weaknesses in world markets with the drop of the price of crude oil, the American stock markets have dropped over 10% over the past few days. Fortunately for me, I have not had any of my investments in stocks over the past year.

50 Days With No Rain

Just maybe coming to an end tomorrow. Extreme weather seems to be the norm. This past May there was a record for rain with 18 inches and in June over 8 inches. I use a well for my water and am using it every day to try and keep my garden alive. Despite that, the sun has been baking my garden and slowly despite watering plants are suffering. Temperatures have been over a 100 degrees F some days.  Hope that rainfall in the forecast comes tomorrow, weird weather seems to be the norm..

Perseid Meteor Shower

Have some cloudiness in the sky tonight, so thanks to Nasa for a live webcam of the shower tonight, will be watching at the below link, hope I get lucky and see some interesting showers and the colors that make them so distinct from the comet Swift-Tuttle. I often see meteors in the sky out where I am in the country which is away from all man made light, but tonight should be a treat - hopefully the clouds will give way for a real view.. If not, watching the Nasa webcast..

A Live webcast by Nasa

Next Day: Wow....saw some great meteor showers last night outside on my trampoline (my star gazing spot)

Garden News

The watermelons in the garden are ripening fast now with this hot weather, they do well during the summer months when the weather and soil are warm. so I now have watermelons taking over a big part of the garden and I am pulling a ripe melon out of the garden every few days, That is okay, who doesn't like watermelons, and in this heat, that are tasty.. And I grew mine organically without chemicals, so they are not like the huge store ones, but just as ripe and tasty and I think more so..

This one is about a foot long and very thick

Another about the same size

My Cat Lucy Lu

I went to the local animal shelter yesterday and looked at a lot of cats, some were available and many were not. I took my first pick which was available, a 2 year old female tabby. She likes to play and gives off good energy. She has had all her tests and has been spayed. Now I know she is somewhere around here..

Likes to tell you I am here and pay attention

Upstairs looking down, now that is a view from there

Passed out in the chair after another active day

Asleep on my lap, she has to know I am getting up soon

Chickens on Grass

The hens were in the thick of it today and loving it, plenty of bugs to find in this stuff .. I just opened an extension to their pen that I have been watering for grass growth, think they will enjoy the bugs and earth worms. 

Some of my "ladies" enjoying themselves in new pen