Getting Warmer: Birds, Sunset, Swimsuit, Dress

What's going on around here?

I've been chugging along!

I shipped six binders this week, I did a bunch of cooking, I filmed a good video,

I cleaned the house, I spent some time with my Gregory and our sweet baby cats, I hung out with my friend Jen, I got new tires for the Cube, I did some 1:1 Team (special needs team at church) stuff

 . . . it was a busy week! 

I continue to try to balance working hard with spacing out (I'm still about 60% energy-wise, so I need to be cautious.  I am mindful so that I enjoy what I'm doing and do the most important things).

isn't that the prettiest scissors?!
find it here

Even though it's warm here now (it reached 107 today),

I go outside with Juvy in the mornings, and it's beautiful.

Especially the sky.

We have a mourning dove nest in the back Chinese Elm tree. 

There's also one in the front sweet acacia tree!

(Greg took the follow bird photos).

Here's a really cute long-tailed grackle.

He looks very smart!

Here is a verdin nest.  We have about four of these adorable round nests

in our front acacia tree.  These birds make one next to sleep in and one nest for the babies.

Here's a cute little verdin.  He's eating a worm!

A couple of evenings per week, we water the trees (our watering system is pretty ancient and it leaks everywhere, so we water with hoses instead).  The sunsets have been pretty.  It was 100 degrees while I was watering the backyard trees, but it was pretty reasonable because the sun had gone to bed.

I wouldn't want to run a marathon or anything, but it wasn't bad.

I guess I'm probably slightly acclimated to heat, 

having lived in the Arizona desert for 23 years, though!

Allistair was taking a nap on my stationary bike, so I left it out.

While I was outside, he was gazing at me sadly through the sliding glass door.

Aerodynamic (and annoyed) . . . 

Stephen enjoyed drooping on the couch arm while watching birdies 

through the kitchen window.

Isn't he cute?!

We've had plenty of snuggles this week, but Allistair hasn't been satisfied.

He wants more snuggles!!!

Right now as I'm typing this, Claude is on my desk, Allistair is in a chair right next to my chair,

Stephen is on the bench at the end of the bed in my office, and Juvy is on the bed.

I'm surrounded by glorious fuzzy cute sweet loving cats!!! 

This week, I had the yen to cook a lot of different things.

I tried this new recipe for crock pot baked beans.

They turned out tasty!

I also tried to make a Chipotle-style rice & bean bowl with fajitas -

the salsa I used didn't sit well, though.

Everything else was good, so today I ate the leftovers with all-seasons salt instead of with salsa

and things were fine!

I haven't done much shopping lately.

Reason 1: Mom not here to inspire my purchases and have fun with!

Reason 2: I haven't felt well enough to be out and about much.

Reason 3: Summer isn't my favorite season for clothing because here in the desert,

I just want to wear as little extra soft clothing as possible.

During my resting times, I have done some online browsing. though. 

I ordered this dress, though I'm hesitant because it doesn't have sleeves.

I wore one like this for my college graduation!

find it here

Here's my dress (and me!) in 1995:

Thanks to my dear sweet Mom, who took these photos!

That was a VERY HAPPY time in my life.

I was very proud of that summa cum laude medal - in only three years!

Hope you enjoyed that little flash-back to the past!