Saturday Slight

Lovestead lupine are in the midst of their full show.

I told Bill last night that we've hit the height of our perennial color; the rest is up to the annuals and shrubs which bloom incrementally throughout the rest of the summer.

Every year I keep scattering more lupine seeds along Love Canal.

I was actually hoping for an even more impressive show this year, but some of the plants are young.  They may take a year or two to reach their full blooming potential.

Still, this year's production is not at all hard on the eyes.

The nice aspect of sub-summer temps is that blossoms hang around a little longer.  

So, we're hoping to enjoy a few more days of this color.

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Bill did come home with a new outdoor grill last night.  We had figured on our usual Friday night dinner out being an "eat-on-your-own" night, which often happens on weekends anyway.

I was helping out with the set-up for today's Women of Wisdom gala and didn't figure on being home until after 7 p.m.

Well, those gals have that set-up down to a science.  We were out of there by 6, and I rolled into the driveway before 6:30.

Bill was still setting up the grill and anxious to try it out.

So, we brought out some Bush beans, 'tater salad and chips.  He pulled out some Schwan's shrimp skewers, a filet of salmon and some bratwurst.

While he grilled, I walked around snapping pictures.  It was a lovely evening----DRY, not too cold, not too hot, no mosquitoes.

Soon we were enjoying the first summer dinner from Bill's new grill.  

Later, Debbie came from her two days away in Washington for Girl Scouts, and we visited for an hour or so.

During that time, my mother called, telling me she had tried on her outfit for today's luncheon and that it sure was WHITE.  

I asked her if she had put on the wine-colored shell I'd left on the hanger with her bling blouse.  

"No," she said. 

"Well, you won't be so white when you're wearing that," I assured her. 

Then, Jeralyn called, frantic because after being chopped/condensed twice, Myrt's Woman of Wisdom speech was taking longer than ever for her to deliver.

"I don't know what else to chop," I told her.  

We kind of agreed to apologize later if anyone complained.

So, I'm hoping all is well for today's luncheon. 

We'll take along an umbrella for the rain showers that will surely conspire to make things difficult.

On another front, I can report two visits with Rick Gehring over the past two days.  He and Ann arrived in the wee hours of the morning Thursday from Florida where they've been for the past four months, due to Rick's stroke.

Rick looks FABULOUS.  

And, his sense of humor is as sharp as ever.  I won't tell you the details, but when I heckled him within the first 60 seconds, he got me back immediately.

So, it's a thrill to see them home and Rick doing so well.  He still has a lot of therapy ahead to regain strength on his right side and his ability to speak.

I will say, however, that he's his typical talkative self---maybe a bit hard to understand but refreshingly ready to join in. 

The weather is supposed to improve so brighter days may lie ahead.

And, the past week's events have all been uplifting and visually beautiful. 

So, happy Saturday to all.

If photos want to show up, there'll be a few more below.