Family fun on the 4th....

We had a great time with family. My husband's family is extremely close and we celebrated on the 4th at our home relaxing by the pool. We couldn't have asked for a better day, it was beautiful outside!

So, come on..............meet my in-laws!

Below is my mother-in-law. She is an amazing grandmother to all the grand kids, very involved in their lives.



Next, my sister-in-law 'K', an all around great person. She also happens to be one of my closest friends, always helping me see the positive in everything!



Next, 'K' with my other sister-in-law 'L'. I had to sneak that one in because 'L' hates taking photos! Oh, yeah...I can't forget Bentley, he belongs to 'K'.



Next, 'L's' daughter 'R' playing corn-hole-toss with my son.



Poor Bentley...everybody calls him "Gizmo", I think he's cute!




And here is 'R' close up so you can see how beautiful she is. She is blessed with both exterior and interior beauty. She is so sweet, kind and compassionate.




Here's 'B' having a blast on the slide. She has such an infectious laugh and gets everyone going!

'R' with 'D', our only Ditto nephew! Girls rule in the Ditto family!

Oh, yes and this handsome man is my hubby. You'll see I tended to get him in quite a few shots. I thought he looked so good in his new swim trunks!

Everyone relaxing after the big cook out. I was in my glory, able to cook and entertain everyone!

Left to right......'C', 'D', hubby, 'C', (back of mother-in-law's head) and big 'D'. You know she had those boys ('C', 'J' and 'D') one year apart. Oh my, I do not know how she raised three boys so close together. I think I would have gone nuts, as I listen to all of their stories and how they picked on each other! I always tell her she deserves an award!

My son's latex glove busted under water. I thought it was a cool shot!

That's my hubby with his older brother 'C'.

Little 'D' trying to get his dad, hubby's younger brother Big 'D', in the pool. Pull, little 'D'...........pull!

Hubby with 'D', the champs of the toss tournament!

Well, now you have met them. I love my in-laws.....especially the closeness we all share!

Grateful gal.....

I've come to realize that my husband does many wonderful things for me, all of which I appreciate greatly, but it is the deeds out of love that mean the most.

This first picture was a photo of all the wonderful things he gave me for my 'big day', but what means much more is shown in the second photo. He is constantly helping my father out. My dad is 80 and needs some help from time to time. My hubby never complains, just jumps right in when needed. Here he is fixing a lamp for my father, making it easier for him by installing a switch in the cord.

One particular time that stands out is when my father called me in a panic because he locked his keys in his car. I could not help because I was teaching evening class this night. I called my husband and he came to my father's rescue, going to his house, picking up the spare set, then running them to my father at the nursing home where my mother stays.

The compassion he shows my parents is priceless to me!


(on a side note....you gotta try this perfume, Miracle by Lancome...so good!)



Have I told you how much I appreciate you lately? I do!

Sprinkles of color...

Yay! Another item on my to-do-list is done! I finished planting all my planters (20 total)! This is one task I enjoyed! It just brings a little color to my world and I love taking care of them!

I am sharing most of them, but not all, as some I did two or three of them the same.





I'm sneaking in this hanging basket ( I can't take credit for it though), because I just love the color combination.








Now, how did that handsome young man get in there? He just sort of blended in because of his bright orange tennis outfit. He had just gotten back from a lesson and was soaking his feet to cool off!





I'm thinking maybe I should open a floral shop when I retire. I love flowers!

Below is a new annual I tried this year. I can't remember the name, but it will get a big yellow bloom with orange spots sprinkled about. My son loves orange and helped in this selection!







I love Zinnia's, so easy to care for and bloom all summer long.

My color theme this summer, by the pool, is yellow and purple. I always try to incorporate purple because it is my mother's favorite color. The really cool thing is that purple is the color for the Alzheimer's Association. She doesn't even know it and she's supporting her cause with her love of purple!

Oh, yea I just have to add my Hibiscus plants too! This is a tradition for me to plant two of these by the pool! My hubby loves red, so I make sure to get red ones every year. He can't remember the name of them, and tortures the Hibiscus name every year ( I can't tell you what he calls them, such the funny guy!) asking if I am going to plant them again and I always do for him!

Thanks for taking a look! I hope you enjoyed the colors as much as I do!

Simply the way to live.....

I love finding quotations to inspire myself and others. I use to drive my husband nuts by repeating them over and over, when I thought I had found a really good one. I learn so much by them; how to deal with things in life...etc...

Anyway, I was looking at an other's blog and saw this one......I think this is one of my all time favorites now!!


"The majority of us lead quiet, unheralded lives as we pass through this world. There will most likely be no ticker-tape parades for us, no monuments created in our honor. But that does not lessen our possible impact, for there are scores of people waiting for someone just like us to come along; people who will appreciate our compassion, our unique talents. Someone who will live a happier life merely because we took the time to share what we had to give. Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have a potential to turn a life around. It's overwhelming to consider the continuous opportunities there are to make our love felt."

~Leo Buscaglia

I often like to see the face behind the words, so here he is. I looked up some of his other quotes too, he is truly inspiring!

Leo Buscaglia

I thank those in my life that take time to share a smile or kind word! I am so grateful for my mother instilling in me a desire to help others too! You end up getting much more in return, than you might have given, when it is for another!