Sad face.

Spanish! Si!

She wants to do something new every day.

Like try a new sandwich!

Amen!

I was so impressed with the glass sculptures at the Atlanta Botanical Garden that I sent the creator an email. Heard right back from him!

Always learning!

Picked up the girls!

I had a great talk with our treasurer Jon Paul. He’s such a blessing!

New words!

OYB!

The girls always play so well together. We will really miss Penelope!

Everly helped me mix up some grits.

Plus corn!

Beautiful day! Everly wasn’t feeling that great, so we had a rest day today. I had planned to ride the sky rail up the top of Stone Mountain to climb trees.

Did some research on the team leader bringing his team in less than two weeks. I’m going to do some work on getting everything all set up tomorrow and will call him to verify things.

Got this in the mail for Ashley. She’s helping with some invitations.

Cleaned out all the birdbaths and refilled them.

I caught TWO chipmunks at the same time in my squirrel trap. I just let them go. It’s only the squirrels that overrun the place.

Watered all the liriope that I transplanted.

Everly usually hangs with me and helps me with the yard work projects.

Near the end of the day together on Fridays, I blow the garage and deck.

I vacuumed the house.

Penelope helped me clean the glass doors.

We also vacuumed the kitchen area.

She helped me sweep.

Released Verbal Surgery -858- “Take Cover.”

Overcome your fears with these simple ideas.

Español! Cada dia, bebe!

Interesting Detroit fellow.

Deposited checks.

The girls enjoyed playing with their dolls before we went to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.

OYB!

We had a really fun time at the ABC today!

These two traveling exhibits were superb and mind-blowing.

These are glass.

The kinetic sculpture was incredible.

We were blown away when we saw Tefiti from Moana here!

I played the music and we sang this song while we looked at Tefiti.

So beautiful.

The girls had fun.

The food was excellent.

My two favorite families of plants are orchids and carnivorous. The ABC had a fantastic exhibit of both. I was so happy. And then the glass sculpture was incredible of the carnivores.

I once saw an exhibit almost this good about Venus flytraps in Tours, France.

The glass!

Layers and layers of beauty.

The pitcher plants blew me away.

Gorgeous.

I just couldn’t get over the variety and breadth of the collection.

It was a lot of walking, the girls were very good.

Listened. Studied.

Went by my office to check the mail.

Perfect weather for a safari.

Got a new case for my Canon Elph 360.

The old one was about to break.

Fun day. As most of mine are!

Hard to believe.

Penelope has been urging me to get her a booster seat and be out of the kid’s seat. Still not really sure how she’s going to like it.

This is really cool.

Wow.

What?! I would have loved to have seen one of these!

Spanish! I make screen shots such as these when I encounter a phrase or word I’m not sure about. I’ll look at it several times a day.

I had planned on going on safari to the Atlanta Botanical Garden, but it was so cloudy I called it off.

New word that I need.

Never too much Ashley.

Girls and I started our day off at Waffle House. They really ate well.

Our next stop was Goodwill on US 29 in Lawrenceville. We found some pretty good stuff for cheap. We didn’t get the mask!

OYB!

The girls had a lot of fun with their new dolls. Penelope also got a super cute bike helmet that she loves. It’s a kitty with ears.

Duolingo has grammar lessons as well as stories you listen and respond to.

Put the stamps on the envelopes.

Garbage guys finally picked up the old box springs. The girls had fun jumping on it. I requested the pick up over two weeks ago. They said today was the day, so Penelope and I moved it out the street yesterday.

I wanted to get the newsletters in the mail so we headed back to the International Village early. Dropped into the Buford Highway Farmers Market for a late lunch.

I love Peru. I read that they have the highest death rate per capita of any Latin American country. Sad.

Our newsletters had been printed. I collated and stuffed the envelopes. The girls played in my office while I did it.

I love to see this.

I told them that after we got the newsletters done we would go to the Church park, which is right beside FBC Doraville. I also mentioned, “And you know girls, the pool will be open now!”

For some reason Penelope has a thing about lifeguards! Not sure why, but she didn’t want to go to any pool that had a lifeguard. I told her that lifeguards are good and that even Kathy, their grandmother, had been a lifeguard.

P decided that if the lifeguard was a girl, that might be ok. We got to the pool and they had TWO girls lifeguards! I introduced myself to them and then the grandgirls. Told them the story that P was afraid of lifeguards. They were very nice to the girls, “We don’t bite!” So we had a fun time swimming.

The water was pretty cold so we didn’t stay in that long. I kept them practicing swimming back and forth, but Everly’s lip would start shivering and I finally made them get out. Dried them off and then went to the playground, which was the original destination.

It really is a nice location. Of course I love it when there are hardly any people there.

Just keep listening. I don’t get uptight about not understanding everything. I just keep picking out words as fast as I can.

Got petrol.

Checked the fluids.

Cleaned windshield.

After getting home, I hung out all the wet stuff. I’ll put it back in the “pool bag” for when we might suddenly need our gear.

Ordered the groceries. I’ll pick them up tomorrow evening. I have until 8PM to get them.

Transported a squirrel. I meant to take it with me to Chamblee.

Signed our refigured tax returns. Everything was already sent in electronically.

I think this is a cool illusion.

Tee hee.

Beautiful day!

Español!

Always great to see my girls!

Full Sun Moon!

We went to Ingles to get fruit and veggies. I took a picture of my Ingles card to start using it.

Cleaned and refilled bird baths.

We got lots of tasty items.

The girls help me move the old box springs to the road for pickup tomorrow morning. I had to call and schedule that.

I also invented s’more soup.

Then I improved my own invention by adding Hershey’s chocolate sauce and whipped cream. Ay, caramba!

After getting cleaned up, we worked on the labels.

Most of the time they were playing while I was sticking labels. That’s ok. I like to listen to them.

We still needed stamps and the newsletter copies. That’ll happen on Wednesday.

OYB!

Doggie Park!

Kathy had a break from work and came to visit us.

We went for Mexican food for lunch.

Still not exactly sure how Penelope managed to throw this doll up on the roof, but it was my job to get her down.

Duolingo.

The girls went to sleep around 3:30 PM and slept for a little over two hours.

Mileage.

Transported a squirrel to Chamblee.

Got stamps for the newsletters.

Also sent a package to one of our supporters.

Keep listening. Keep learning.

Released an episode of Verbal Surgery called “ “Big Red L”

I like this!

OYB!

Español!

The end result of my labor so far.

This was all that was left of the squirrel I left there yesterday.

I spend about 30 minutes a day doing Duolingo in Spanish.

Went to Stone Mountain. I wrote (talk to text) my newsletter on my phone.

Recorded a new episode of Verbal Surgery called “Take Cover.” It’s a good one.

Great talk with my Mom. We usually have a conversation on Sunday.

I continue to listen to books on tape in Spanish. Can’t say I’ve liked this series very much. I’ll probably go back to Harry Potter. I find it more amusing to listen to.

Went to the bank to deposit checks. Amen.

I wrote my newsletter at Stone Mountain. I come home to use my Mac to produce and lay it out.

Printed labels.

Shifted the recording I made onto my computer.

Kathy’s sister Ann went to the hospital today. Don’t think she was admitted.

Grandgirls slept over, so the blog is combined for the last two days!

I liked these!

I’ve been playing Horizon Zero Dawn again. I have to admit this is my favorite game of all time.

Always learning.

OYB!

Keep going!

Talked with my buddy Anthony.

Keep listening!

After two decades of living at my house wondering if grass would ever grow in my front yard, I’ve decided to go with what I know works: Monkey grass. SO I’m planting rows and will let it fill in, then start cutting it. It’s too shady for any other type of grass.

I dig it up from my back yard and plant it in my front yard.

The girls come to help, especially Everly.

Lots of digging, but I’ve figured out the fastest way to do it.

Keeping their roots wet until I plant them.

Hot Chocolate!

The whipped cream was a special treat.

They went to sleep about 9:15 PM.

Cooler! That’s why I did so much yard work.

Turn to the Sun.

And study!

OYB!

Once the girls leave, I clean the driveway, deck, vacuum the house, sweep the kitchen and clean the glass doors. Ashley and Miles picked them up around 11:45 AM.

After vacuuming, I clean out all the parts. That keeps the suction working great.

I’m always researching something. Including how to do the yard work better.

I go through the house and try to find all the stuff the girls will need to go back home. Includes clothes we don’t think fit them any more.

Went to Ann’s house to take her some meds.

I saw a dead squirrel by the street. Took it to my yard for the hawk and crows to eat.

I’ve been interested in these hand held synth/loopers. Finally got one.

Listened to this while I was doing yard work.

Just keep planting.

I’m alway thinking about better ways to do things. This is for a trashcan to roll around on. I put a towel on it and roll around while I’m planting. I needed something lower than the cans I normally sit on. Too much bending over.

Watering the fresh transplants.

I’m making curved lines to seem more like it naturally would spread.

Groovy!

My favorite scientist!

Cool.

So beautiful.

Tricky books.

Mr. Chuckles.

Beautiful weather with some strong rain at twilight.

Spanish. Just. Keep. Going.

Picked up the girls at Global Mall. Little sweethearts.

OYB!

Cleaned the bird baths. The raccoons use the dog bowl a lot!

I was teaching the girls about fingerprints. I zoomed these way in on my iPhone.

Doggie park!

Beauty all around us.

Filled up the blue pool for them to play in. The playgrounds get too hot these days.

Sharp shinned hawk.

Gorgeous.

Beautiful.

Cool.

Made brownies.

My neighbor’s gutter.

Got the groceries.

Released Verbal Surgery -856- “Dark Parking.”

Funny!

Interesting.

I’m always looking for interesting games.

Slightly cooler.

Good news.

Español!

Love these.

I kinda want to ride in this.

Love my girls!

Went to the bank.

Got gas. I’ve been working on points for my gas and it just came in. I’ll let Kathy check it out since she gets way more gas. Checked levels.

We went to Sonic and came home to have a picnic.

We made little s’mores for a treat.

I brought a fan out to help cool them off and blow the mosquitos away.

OYB!

Spotted a Pileated Woodpecker this morning. I always hear them first.

I have a life time warranty on my water hose. This is my second replacement hose. Lowes has been great about this. I’ve kept all the receipts and the little paper cover and both times it hasn’t been a problem. As I recall, it originally cost about $80, but I was really tired of rinky dink hoses that would burst almost immediately.

While the girls were playing, I went through all the stuff on the floorboard of my car’s back seats.

I organized the Summer stuff and took out the few remaining pieces of winter stuff.

The first project with my new hose! Transplanting the monkey grass from my back yard to systematic rows in the front yard.

I dig holes, break up the dirt, and add water.

Then put the young plant in the soil. It is very rich, dark soil. It’s coming from my mulching leaves over the years. You can see what this year’s mulching looks like as the top cover.

Watering it down for the final time after the transplanting.

The girls rested, then I took them home. There was a group of young men playing football. I’ve watched them grow up.

I finished one of my books in Spanish. Can’t say I could tell you much about what happened, but I’m definitely getting better at the rapid comprehension. I tried several books I have in my library, but went back tot he Color of Magic series. The audio was just better and I like listening to the different characters.

Checked the mail at the office and made sure the ficus was ok.

Put the reservation in for the team coming.

Did the grocery shopping.

I’m really looking forward to the Banksy exhibit later this year.

Spanish. SI!

Duh. Right?

Getting warmer.

Picked up the girls.

I played some tunes from Thriller to them. They liked them.

We stopped by the grocery store to pick up some fruit and treats.

I also got them Kinder eggs. They had cool little cars in them.

I’ve been studying crows. The more I learn, the cooler they seem.

I’ve been studying their language. For instance, to let his family know where he is and that there is a food source nearby, they usually will make four caw sounds and then stop. After a few minutes, he’ll make the same pattern. I’m doing my best to copy that.

Today. I had a crow watch me bring food out for them. He stayed relatively close to me. This has been a relationship building thing for years. They are super smart (comparative intelligence to monkeys) and very shy.

Cleaned out the water bowls and bird baths.

Then filled up the blue pool for the girls.

OYB!

I got the girls lollipops. I didn’t really check out what kind Penelope got. It turned out to be a really hot one made with chilis! We plan on giving it to Miles.

I taught the girls about a new thing I figured out, raw s’mores. I don’t have to cook them, just eat that combo! Yum.

We got a pizza and went to the water wheel park at Stone Mountain.

The water was pretty cold, but they had fun.

A steady stream of kids came to play with the girls.

I’ve never seen azaleas this color.

After our swim, we went home and took a bath to get cleaned up.

Then over to my office to check the mail.

I had an end of school popsicle party for the kids at Azalea. They had fun.

I used my hose to fill up the blue pool. Later, I realized that there was a weak spot where a crimp used to be. When I came back from Stone Mountain, it was spurting over the yard. Bummer.

I have a life-long warranty on this. I got a replacement for the original two years ago. Seems like that must be about the life span. It’s super heavy duty and 100 feet long. Hopefully, I can get a new one tomorrow. I use that hose pretty much every day.

It was SUPER hard to get this off the faucet. I have no idea how it got so torqued down. No way I would have done it like that. It was like the two metals had bonded together.

I thought this was cool.

Español!

Picked up the girls.

Went to Waffle House for breakfast.

Then to Zoo Atlanta! They’d built a whole parking garage since I was there. Wow.

We went to the gift shop first. I told them they could each buy $5 worth of stuff. Everly chose little animals, tigers and bears. Penelope chose a little game.

Then the playground. Penelope took a pretty hard fall on her butt. Felt sorry for her being so sad. She got over it quickly.

Flamingos!

Love my girls!

Simba!

Beauty.

I love the gorillas.

This is a Hamerkoph nest. It’s an African bird.

I heart lemurs!

Everly tells the most intricate stories.

Apes looking at monkeys.

You otter look at this.

Looks a bit hair challenged.

Red panda seriously chilled out.

Beauty.

Komodo dragon giving you the eye.

Fantastic pitcher plants, native of Georgia!

Great talk with my buddy Ben Birdsong who is now the missions pastor of a methodist church in Birmingham, AL. He want to bring teams our direction. Amen.

I took his call while we were at the Zoo. It was that important to me.

More seriously stressed out animals.

She’s getting bigger!

On the train!

It was a hot day, but not bad. We got to the park at 9:30 AM. That was definitely the coolest part of the day.

Went by the office to check the mail.

I asked Pastor Bill and Brother John about using the sanctuary for the team on June 14-17th.

Went to the bank to deposit a check.

Released a new episode of Verbal Surgery “Side Lion.” Overcome your fears and carry on!