Be Grateful #2

Wow.  I (we) survived week one of classes.  Phew.
I already feel behind.  I'm already exhausted.
Ready for week two...  ?  ;)

Zach got some free Naturals tickets for being such a hard worker, so we took his dad Friday night.  It was the first game we made all year, and I am thankful we did!

1)  I am so very thankful Zach wasn't too hurt in his scooter wreck Thursday night when a guy, turning left, pulled out in front of him when he was only four feet away.  Zach was able to stop before hitting the guy, so according to the policeman who came out, no one is fault and no ticket could be issued.  However, our insurance says it sounds like it was a clear case of failing to yield, which--hopefully--means that guy's insurance will have to pay to fix Zach's scooter and buy a new helmet, jacket, and eyeglasses.
2)  I am grateful we have such great relatives and friends who are willing to help us in any way they can.
3)  I am glad that my Buick is fixed, so maybe now it will sell...and we can pay off the scooter!
4)  I am grateful to have the energy to face a thirteen-ish hour day tomorrow.  Oh my.
5)  I am thankful for the rain this weekend and that the weather didn't interfere too much with our Eureka Springs trip to the Turpentine Creek Exotic Wildlife Refuge center.
6)  I am happy I finished The Hobbit at last!

Photo a Day in July #26

26.  Sunshine

When I woke up this morning at seven, it was still rather dark outside; it was gloomy and overcast, like it was going to rain, and it wasn't too hot.  But since I have forgotten what rain looks like or feels like or smells like (which is actually from the bacteria that is stirred up by the rain, BTW), I thought I should be preparing for the apocalypse instead.  So my umbrella and rainboots were kept in the closet, and the raincoat that I got in April (?) remains unworn.  :(

And then the sun came out as usual.  :(

But then my husband sent me a text about this long-forgotten weather state--RAIN!--and I watched the clouds roll back in and darken and finally start to fall from the sky in liquid form.  The cats were confused and amused, too:

I know, I know, today was supposed to be about sunshine, but today "my sunshine" was the rain.  Thanks be to God for this much needed rain!  Like many parts of the country, we are in extreme drought conditions here in Arkansas, and while it was not long-lasting, the rain was much appreciated.  :)

Photo a Day in July #7

7.  Garden

We planted our herb garden last summer; then, we had basil, cilantro, rosemary, chives, and mint, and we used them to make pasta sauce and roasted veggies, scrambled eggs and homemade ice cream.  Our cilantro died within a few days (it was the only one we didn't buy from the same vendor as all the other plants at the Farmers Market); I harvested the basil and mint, which was planted in separate pots from the rectangular planter, all summer; the rosemary and chives thrived through the entire year.  This year, we replaced the basil and mint (not pictured), and both plants keep alternating between thriving and dying because of this drought we are having in Arkansas.  I have to make sure to water, water, water!  Our rosemary is still going strong, and the chives are as wild as ever.  :)  They were sky high this past spring with many chives blooming on the tips; most of those blooms have dried out now.  I used to have an awesome green thumb, but I think Zach is making mine browner.  *lol*

The smaller two pots in this picture hold marigolds, which Zach said were good for keeping bugs away.  We got them for a $1 a piece at the Farmers Market; only one is really alive now, and it doesn't exactly have any blooms.  :(  I need to pick up some chalk to write what we are growing on my $1 sign from Target.  :)

The reason why the greens are so lush in this photo is because, HALLEJUAH, WE FINALLY GOT SOME RAIN TODAY!!!