Japanese Beetles

We have Knock Out roses around our front door patio. This year we are having a terrible problem with Japanese Beetles. We are told the best way to limit the damage is to pick the beetles off and drop them in soapy water. The Japanese Beetle traps don't work because they attract beetles from miles around. The beetle is a pretty iridescent green color but eats everything and leaves the leas and flowers all lacy. I am not the squeamish type especially if all I have to do is pick them up and not squish them, Tonight I found 20 beetles who died in my soapy water bucket. For more information go to wikopedia

Charity Poker

In Michigan there are places where you can play Texas Hold-em but a charity must provide the license and the workers to handle the sale and redemption of chips. Our Lion's Club had 4 days at the Big Beaver Tavern. Hubby and I worked selling the chips. It was really an eye-opener. I can't imagine how such young people can afford to drop such big money and do it day after day. A lot of people came and played in the tournaments. They cost either $20 during the day or $30 at night. At least it gives an evening of entertainment for less bucks. Last night Keegan taught us all how to play the game. We split up all the pennies in the house between Kameren. Keegan, Martha, Hubby and I. We learned how it felt when there was a "player down" because Hubby and I were the first to run out of money.

A Very Hot Day

Today we had planned to take the grandchildren up to Port Huron. They have a carnival there that goes with the Port Huron to Mackinac Sail Boat Race. We decided that spending hours at a carnival in 98 degree weather was not such a good idea. So we opted to go to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. It was lots of fun and air conditioned. When we left the museum, the car thermometer said 105. We stopped on the way home for a half gallon of ice cream and a bottle of chocolate syrup. Later it was pizza for dinner.

Teddy Bear Suit

I finished the Teddy Bear suit for "Spike".(Spike is the name Mary has given to the unborn child she is carrying. It has something to do with its nose as it appeared on the ultrasound.) Luella from my water aerobics class helped me with it. I did fine until I got to the booties which were supposed to be attached to the suit. They came out a women's size five. so I decided to leave them off.

Kameren Learns to Sew

My granddaughter, Kameren, is visiting with us this week. She is 8 years old. She asked me to show her how to sew. She picked out the pattern and the fabric from my stash. I was surprised at how well her choice looked. She pressed the pedal on the sewing machine and learned how to stay at the 5/8 mark. She told Aunt Martha she made the dress and Grandma helped a little. Grandpa has been busy teaching our grandson, Keegan, all about weather and airplanes. Keegan is 12 years old. They are good kids. This morning we went to visit Great Grandma and swam in her pool.

Our First Harvest

We planted pole beans this year. We planted two kinds, Cobra and Blue Lake. We had our first bunch of Cobra beans. I like my beans not beany. These were tender but not remarkably tasty. The Blue Lake beans aren't ready yet. It does look like we will have an enormous amount of beans. Our tomatoes are still quit small. We have lots of blossoms on the cucumbers but no pickles and we have 2 small zucchinis. The raspberry bushes have been providing enough berries for us to sneak snacks from. When the grandchildren come next week, it won't take them long to discover them.

Shopping at Lowe's

Today was one of those fun days when Hubby and I run to the hardware store. Hubby has been working on the downstairs lavatory and we went to Home Depot for a light fixture, faucet, and towel bar. We found the light fixture but didn't like the faucets, so we went to Lowes. We found what we were looking for and then went across the parking lot to this little middle Eastern restaurant and had a wonderful chicken shwarma sandwich. Then Hubby said "I forgot, I need some bricks to block the hole under the cyclone fence. "(Arnold tries to get out and the rabbits try to get in.) While he was looking at bricks I noticed that they had some neat plants on clearance. I found a cala lily for $2, and a clematis for $2, and a penstamen for $1, a pretty pink shade plant for $3, a coreopsis for $3, and while Hubby was in the checkout line, I found a Stokes Aster. What a deal. As long as we were buying plants we drove over to the nursery and got a big leaf blue hosta.( It was also on sale.) On the way home we stopped for ice cream. We went home and planted all our new plants.

Salute to America

Hubby and I are volunteers at Greenfield Village. Last Night we were assigned to keep people from going into the stage area at their "Salute to America" concert. The weather was warm but dry, the concert was great, and the crowd was friendly. Only one time did some guy really get nasty about coming across the line. There were 9000 people at the concert. It began with a drum and fife core, then a ragtime revue group and lastly the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. They did this concert for three days in a row. The night before, just before the DSO came on, a violent thunderstorm came through. They had to cancel the concert and get everyone out of the area. As we drove up last night trees and branches were down, underpasses were still flooded, traffic lights were out, and Edison crews were still guarding downed wires that the crews hadn't been able to reach yet. I guess we picked the best night.

Cleaning the Foyer Closet and Cedar Closet

Now it is time to get all the winter coats to the dry cleaners and then move them to the cedar closet. I brought the spring jackets down, they usually don't need dry cleaning. I sorted all the mittens and gloves and threw out the unmatched ones. The cedar closet has some clothes that don't fit me now but just might some day. I did find a good dressy winter coat that I don't wear anymore and a long pleated skirt. I will take them to Salvation Army. They are still in the bags from the dry cleaners. I am sure there are other things that I will never wear again but I am not sure. I have lots of winter skirts and sweaters that I wore when I was working. Now I rarely wear them because I don't get dressed up as often. That doesn't mean I can't wear them or on some occasion I might. I even have some Indian pant outfits that I used to know shat thy were called but have forgotten.