Summertime & The Livin' is Easy...

We're having a rare and wonderful run of hot, sunny weather!  It began on Friday when I hosted a ladies luncheon on the deck.  Over the weekend our DIL Kristi and youngest son Travis - have been working with Dayle on the play structure for the boys.  Yesterday it got up to 95 degrees!  Some cooling down was in order.  Kristi pulled my old galvanized wash tub up on the porch and filled it with water from the hose and Caleb took a dip in his shorts and cooled down.  He had to share his pool with grandma's feet. :-)

I ran to town for take and bake pizza and Dayle cooked it on a ceramic baking sheet for the pellet BBQ - the smoky flavor of the wood fire really enhances it!  The first part of the play structure was putting together the child-sized picnic table together - the boys are really enjoying it!

Yesterday when it was so hot, grandpa took Caleb for a trip to the store to get a shade canopy and a blow up pool for the kids.  Our older son and his family came to visit - here are the 3 younger boys having a ball in the pool - Michael the 13 year old had already gotten in, cooled off and gotten out.

My 3 little "seals".. arf arf! 

The water was cold, fresh from the hose, so the boys got out and went over to sit in the sun on the big maple stump to warm up.  :-) 

Kristi brought 2 roast beefs over and Dayle tried cooking them in the pellet BBQ - he added Yukon Gold potatoes and carrots - actually a nice healthy dinner - no gravies or rich things.  The adults were at the big table and the 4 boys at the kids table.  Warm!!

Now today - Travis and Kristi and Dayle are back at the construction project before it gets too hot.  The boys are loving it already!!! 

The building party - Kristi is the organizer of the process, reading the instruction booklet and telling the guys what to do next. :-)

Travis, our agile son, climbing around and screwing in things.  The boys are enjoying going in and out of the door since it's just their size.  Ha! 

Caleb and Hayden have climbed every inch of this, even without floors and a roof. :-) 

Caleb was very proud of being on the very top.  Eek.  Hopefully the roof will solve this issue.  Or not.  Probably not.  

I watched the building for a while then came back in to do this blog post.  I admired my clump of striped grass - this is large, probably 4 feet tall.  I have several special grasses in the garden.. have you tried them?  They are so pretty, graceful and add a nice visual element to the garden. 

This is the pond from above.. the fish are enjoying the warmth, too. 

I just love the color of the Rose Campion! 

I potted up a new planter with bright colors - the Lantana in the center and all around Moss Roses in an assortment of colors - I sure hope this fills out fast.   

This is the play structure from the deck - it will be nice to be able to keep an eye on the kids from the shady gazebo.  :-)  I'm excited for Amy (my daughter who moved FAR FAR away to Ohio and took my granddaughters away from me 2 years ago..) :-) -- will be arriving for a 10 day visit in a few weeks - I think the girls, 5 & 8, will love this!  See Kristi studying the instruction book? :-)

Okey dokey - I'm going to pack my swim bag, have lunch and head to the pool for my 1 hour workout.  What are you doing on this fine day?  OH.. I wanted you to know I've been keeping a Book List of all your suggestions.  I am reading the "Shell Seekers" by Rosamunde Pilcher and a LOVING it!  Such a well-written book!  I am only 500 pages in, but it's just what I was hoping for.. a delight.  Next will be Sacajewea!  OK, tata.. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)