Over the Backyard Fence

Joyce provides us with questions for this fun post each Wednesday. Here’s the link to join in! 

1. August 19th is National Aviation Day...do you like to fly? Last time you were on an airplane? The date is chosen in honor of the history and development of aviation, and celebrated on the birthday of Orville Wright. Have you ever been to the Kitty Hawk area of North Carolina? The city of Dayton in Ohio (their birthplace)

I do not like to fly. I don’t have a fear of flying, it’s just that I find the whole experience quite exhausting these days. In addition to that, my slightly over 6-foot frame doesn’t fit well in most airline seats, so I tolerate flying but don’t enjoy it. I can’t even remember the last time I was on a plane. I think it was fall of 2024? 

I’ve been to Dayton, but not for the Wright Brothers. Years ago, I took a road trip with my youngest two kids and we stopped in Dayton to visit the National Museum for the United States Air Force. There are hundreds of planes and we spent half a day wandering through. Here’s a photo of Luke and Emily in front of the C124 Globemaster. My dad was a crew member on this aircraft in the 50s. I wrote about the experience in a post linked here.

I ‘wing it’ most days. I start out with a list, but tend to hop around a lot, unless it’s a scheduled appointment. I set a plan for dinner (most days), and have a general idea of what I want to accomplish.

3. A favorite book, song, or movie that relates to flight in some way?  

Some of my favorite books are the diaries and letters of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, author and aviator. She accompanied her husband Charles Lindbergh, as his radio operator and navigator, on many exploratory flights all over the world. Favorite song: Jason Aldean’s Flyover States.

4. Soft serve, gelato, sherbet, frozen yogurt, or good old fashioned ice cream...what's your pleasure? Your favorite flavor? How often do you indulge? 

Ice cream, please! Frozen yogurt is an okay substitute. Vanilla is my favorite flavor, sometimes with toppings, and often just by itself in a cake cone. We always have ice cream in our freezer, so I’ll let you figure out how often I indulge ;)

5. I never get tired of______________________. 

Searching through bookstores, fresh flowers, seeing a text from one of my kids, my husband’s hand holding mine. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Totally random: Yesterday I bought a magazine with fall recipes and a new bundt pan (to replace the old, scratched one - the only piece of kitchen equipment my husband brought to our marriage 42 years ago).

School started this week, so our street is busier than ever for about 30 minutes each morning. As I type this, the sound of tires rushing on pavement fills the air. At the end of the block is the local high school and a couple of blocks further up is the middle school. Groups of students walk or bike to both schools each morning. It will quiet down soon, but in the meantime I do’t mind the traffic is friendly for the most part.

This morning there’s a touch of fall in the air. I’m not one to rush the seasons, but am relieved that the dog days of summer have passed. 

Outside my window . . . A workbench that we removed from the garage sits at the curb with Brooklynn’s handwritten ‘FREE’ sign taped to the front. It would be nice if someone came and picked it up. If it’s still there at the end of the week, Dan will dismantle it and discard the wood.

Listening to . . . 🍎 music . . . Jason Mraz I’m Yours

Goldfinches . . . frequent the feeder these days. They nest in August, and the trees in our backyard seem to appeal to them. I love seeing their brilliant yellow breeding plumage accented by black wings and black caps.

What I’m reading these days. . . I just finished The Mayfair Bookshop by Eliza Knight. It’s historical fiction, about 1930s London socialite Nancy Mitford. I know little about the infamous family, and  while I didn’t love the book, it’s always interesting to learn about the WWII era, and to think about how other people live. Curious family. I’m mulling over what book to start next. I have a couple of new ones, but I’m also feeling a bit like settling in with an old favorite. Marcia Davenport’s Valley of Decision comes to mind.

On the barbecue . . . the last couple of nights have been cool enough to eat outdoors. We had salmon last night and the night before barbeque chicken. It’s been fun gathering family around our new patio table, as we haven’t had much opportunity with how hot it’s been this summer.

In the garden . . . garden pots are looking a bit faded, while the rosebushes are coming into another bloom. Our neighbor is so generous in sharing her veggies with us, and zucchini cake is on the menu for dessert later this week.

A favorite photo . . . our daughter-in-law sent me this photo of our son and his youngest. I made it into my phone screensaver and it makes me smile every time. 

The heat wave that’s covered us for the past few weeks has lifted a bit, with a little bit of rain each day. That is something for which I’m very grateful. Here are five others for Friday’s Fave Five.

Summer colors ~ lemon, sherbet, lime, mango ~ Summer brings out colors to wear that I typically do not. I thought about this one day this week when I pulled out a bright peach t-shirt to wear. How these colors make me feel better during the hot, HOT days of August. I’m thankful for eyes to see all the beautiful colors of the world.

A quiet encounter ~ On a walk at a state park yesterday, I came upon a pair of deer. The doe was already settled in the thick brush of the forest floor. The buck was eyeing me warily. We gazed at each other for a minute or so, and then he calmly folded his legs and nestled down next to his mate. I stayed put (I was on a boardwalk, just above him, so there was no danger), and continued to listen for a bird that was being elusive. He tolerated me a moment more when I snapped his photo. I’m thankful for this shared moment with such a beautiful creature.

Working together ~ Dan and I joined forces yesterday and finally cleaned out a corner of the garage! The extra space will allow more room to park both vehicles inside. It felt good to get rid of a bunch of stuff, and it took so little time with both of us working on it together. I’m thankful for the time and sense of accomplishment we shared.

Pizza Night ~ Every Thursday, we go to my Dad and Carol’s for pizza night. It’s a tradition! I love the sense of freedom it gives me all day to not have to worry about fixing dinner. And we really enjoy the company of ‘just’ the four of us. It’s a different dynamic than when we have our usual family gatherings, which are lots of fun, but a different experience because of the bigger numbers. I’m thankful to have precious time with loved ones.

Being playful ~ Dan and I joined Joe to play Top G🏌LF one morning. We laughed a lot, enjoyed being where it was nice and cool and not on a regular course, and I even won. One game. But, hey, I won, which doesn’t often happen with these two. I’m thankful for these two awesome men in my life!

Happy Friday 💜

Time is crazy isn't it? So...what were you up to in the year 2002? 

I was a stay-at-home mom with three kids ages 13, 9, and 5. My mother had passed away just two years before, and I was still feeling pretty untethered as I tried to keep up with an active family and a husband who traveled quite a bit. Still, they were such good years. I had the support of my women’s group at church, some good friends, and family who lived close by. It was a tender, exciting time in the life of our little family.

2. "Me? I'm scared of everything..." What's something that scares you that you'd like to try anyway? 

I’m timid around horses. I used to feel comfortable riding, but an accident when I was in junior high school shook my confidence, and while I continued to ride a bit, I gradually became more fearful. A few years ago, I volunteered at a stable where they did horse therapy, just to get used to being around horses again. I would love to try riding again, but for now it is enough just to be in their company.

3. Watermelon-yay or nay? Which melon is your favorite-watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew. Of the watermelon food/beverages listed which would you say yes to...

No thank you, on anything watermelon. 🍉 I like cantaloupe.

4. August 12th is National Middle Child Day. Are you a middle child? If not, where do you fall in the birth order in your family of origin? Do you think this has influenced your personality? Elaborate. 

I am the second born of four children, and the only girl. So, I kind of feel like a middle child/first born. Middle in that I’m not the oldest or youngest, but first born because I was the only girl and was depended on a lot to wrangle those boys. Lol!

5. Would you rather talk to everyone at a crowded party for a short time, or have a significant conversation with two people? Explain. 

Conversation with just a couple of people.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I was out for a walk this morning and came upon this section of trail. It reminds me of an enchanted woods. In the winter, white twinkle lights are strewn through the trees, and when it snows it looks so pretty.

On another section of the trail, I looked over and there were two deer not far away. We looked at one another for a minute, the doe was lying down, and then the stag lay down, too, but continued to watch me. Such a magical morning!

I thought I’d switch things up and join in The Wednesday Hodgepodge this week. Joyce provides some questions, and we share our answers here.

1. What's something on your August calendar you're looking forward to? Or dreading if that's easier to answer. 

Lots to look foward to! I’m looking foward to getting the water tank on our camper replaced so we can go camping. We’re going to miss the first half of a 10-day trip that we’ve planned, but fingers crossed we’ll make it to the second part. 

2. August 5th is National Oyster Day...do you partake? How do you feel about pearls? 

I’ve never had oysters. Well, maybe smoked oysters from a tin, which are quite tasty. I love pearls! My favorite jewelry is a pair of pearl earrings my husband gave me on our first Valentine’s Day together. I also have a pearl bracelet he gave me for a wedding anniversary.

3. Tell us about a time when you felt like 'the world was your oyster'. 

In the early years of marriage when our kids were little. It was all I wanted in the world, to have those babies and be a stay-at-home mom. I’ve since learned that life is a gift, no matter what stage. But I loved the innocence of those days and the anticipation of what lie ahead.

4. Trip Advisor lists seven islands in the US that require no passport (for US citizens). If you're answering today from outside the US you'll still need to produce yours. An-y-way, have you been to any of the seven? Let's pretend you get an all expense paid trip to one this month...which one do you choose and why? 

Catalina Island California~Martha's Vineyard Massachusetts~Mackinac Island Michigan~Key West Florida~South Padre Island Texas~or Kauai Hawaii

I’ve been to Martha’s Vineyard and Kauai. I would love to go back to Kauai. With this guy ❤

5. Sylvia Plath is credited with the following- 

"August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time."

Agree or disagree? In other words, how do you feel about this month? 

Totally disagree. August is when the summer really begins to get lazy. We no longer have kids in school (which beings mid-August here), so it’s a great time to still experience what summer has to offer without the crowds. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

A couple of ‘pearls of wisdom’ I’ve come across this week:

Being blessed is a privilege. Becoming a blessing is the Purpose.

Maybe the amount of beautiful things that happen in your life depends on how much you notice them.

Look at life through a lens of gratitude, and even everyday things can appear brand new. That’s why I like doing Friday’s Fave Five each week. Ordinary moments bring delight. I find beauty and a sense of wonder, sometimes in my own backyard.

Here are five of my favorite things from this week. It’s been a quiet week, balanced with lots of time at home as well some time with friends and family.

 I missed last week’s Friday’s Fave Five because we were on a camping trip. It was Brooklynn’s first time camping and she had such a great time. She’s a real outdoors girl! Here’s a wrap up of five things that blessed my week.

Camping ⛺ ~ We looked forward to going up to a higher elevation where it would be cooler. However, even at 8,000 the temperatures were hovering around 90 degrees. We enjoyed the cooler mornings and chilly evenings. Emily and Brooklynn had a tent and dubbed their camp spot ‘deer alley.’ They were on the edge of a meadow and the deer grazed freely, much to their delight.

How easy it is to rush through our days without noticing the beauty and the blessings that abound. I’m thankful for Friday’s Fave Five, encouraging me to slow down at the end of the week and count five things that made my life better.

Watching this little guy grow, albeit from afar! Miranda keeps me updated with photos, and no matter what I’m doing or where I am, when I see one come through, my heart melts and I’m so thankful for how blessed we all are.

Finished projects! At last - The landscaping that had to be redone for the sewer line, the pergola that we installed on the back patio, and the irrigation lines for the perennial garden are all in place. Dan did the lion’s share of the first two projects. I am just a little proud that I figured out how to set up the irrigation for the perennials. 😌 I’m thankful to have a plot of land to call our own.

On Wednesday mornings, Dan plays in a softball league. This week Emily and I went to watch his game. It was a lovely day, we hung out with another family who we adore, and afterward went to lunch. I’m thankful to have this time to spend with my daughter. ❤

📚Summer reading - The afternoons have been so hot and we are in for another week of it. I’ve been intentional about taking some time for reading in the afternoon. Admittedly, I usually fall asleep for half an hour first! But then, I get to my book. I just finished Eve Plumb’s Happiness Included; Jan Brady and Beyond. It was a fun, light read, and a nice change from the Theodore Roosevelt biography that I’m slowly working my way through.

 It’s been a nice, quiet week, with few things on the calendar and plenty of time to relax and enjoy the first official days of summer. On Thursday, I woke to a nice, steady rain. By the afternoon it had stopped and it was cooler. That afternoon, I did some much-needed weeding in a couple of garden beds, the soil soft and giving, releasing weeds with just a gentle tug. It was enjoyable puttering around, moving a few plants from pots into the garden, and attempting to train a climbing rose to grow over an arbor in the backyard.

One morning I went for a walk with a friend to see a family of burrowing owls that another birding friend had shared the location with us. The family of nine had made their home in a prairie dog colony, as they are wont to do, taking over one of the prairie dog holes. We watched one of the parents come in with some food and the seven owlets were all a flurry. The prairie dogs scampered happily around, and they all seemed to be living quite happily together.

The list in my planner tells me I also accomplished some mundane chores such as laundry, cleaning out the freezer, and a run to the post office to send the grands in Wisconsin a box for the 4th of July. (This contained crazy sunglasses, temporary tattoos and some assorted red, white and blue candy.) Aside from chores, I did manage to finally catch up with some girlfriends for a coffee date and some shopping at one of our favorite boutiques.

A few favorite things ~

• A comfy read by a favorite author. I found collection at the library book store, and read one of the short novels - Wild Mountain Thyme. I enjoyed it, as I have most of Ms. Pilcher’s books.
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• A clean car. I usually go to the self-wash, but this was an indulgence and I did the drive through. It’s a treat to drive in a shiny clean car.
• Our grandson has been sleeping over a couple of times a week. One night we made root beer floats and they tasted all the better for how much he enjoyed them, too.
• That second cup. Generally, mid-morning, Dan and I take a break from what we’re doing if we’re both at home, and have a second cup of coffee. He likes what’s left in the pot from breakfast. I typically make an iced coffee or a latte. It’s a nice ritual to share, sitting out front of the house, or on the back porch.

Photo credit: Instagram

It’s been a while since I’ve written much of a blog post. I’d almost convinced myself that Over the Backyard Fence had run its course. However, I just can’t seem to stay away. I think I’ll begin with an update of what’s been going on around here. 

The month of May saw another major repair at our house. After replacing our roof in April, we had to replace the sewer line going from the house to the mainline in the street. No, not very exciting and truth be told if I’m going to spend that kind of money, I would prefer it be on something that I can enjoy. Like new furniture or a big trip somewhere! But both things were quite necessary, even if I can’t really see the fruits of the money spent. Still, another new purchase has made us very happy and that is a new truck for Dan. So, in spite of living on bread and water for a while, we can happily pull our little camper up any mountain we choose. That is an enjoyable thing. 

May has also been a time of planting and gardening, which is always exciting. One raised bed in particular has been completely redone, removing some very old and woody overgrown herbs and replacing them with perennial flowers. There will also be some planting required in the front yard where the above mentioned sewer repair left a gaping hole in the landscape.

Last weekend: We attended my niece’s wedding. She married a wonderful man and the ceremony was held in a grove of cottonwood trees on the ranch where they’re now living.

This week:

Was a good week for nature walks and short hikes. I went out one evening with a group and several mornings by myself exploring nature trails nearby. As hot as the days have been, June provides lovely evening walks and early morning walks.

Favorite things

• I’ve been playing around with a nature journal and having so much fun that I’m doing a little project at our Bird Club picnic today, providing materials for kids to create their own journals.
• Finding a brand new camping spot a couple of weeks ago. We are returning this week for a couple of nights.
• Coffee on the back porch first thing in the morning. A favorite summer tradition.
• Having nothing on the calendar, providing empty days to fill as I please. This week they included going to the library, reading for an hour or two every afternoon, a spur of the moment lunch date with a friend who was in town.
• Watching my grandson play baseball.

Favorite places

• A tea and coffee bar that is just up the road. They make gourmet drinks such as cardamom chai, honey roasted pecan lattes, and lavender lemonade. And just their good-ole coffee is pretty great, too, especially paired with a scone or butter croissant
• A couple of new accounts on Insta. @postscript.press is the account for a wonderful stationery store in Ashland, Nebraska. I love stopping by on the occasion we are driving through on the way to Wisconsin. Following their account helps me feel connected. Another account that I just found is @sophieblackall. A award-winning children’s book illustrator, her artwork makes me smile.