I tried to publish this last night (Sunday, June 25) but for some reason, the internet was not cooperating!
I have so many photos I’ve taken and haven’t shared….it seems like time either slips by me or I am busy with this, that, or the other thing. So, I am going to just post some photos. I’ll comment here and there….
Last week when it was dreadfully hot, Murphy gave Michelle quite a shock in the bathroom. She had gone in there and heard something behind the shower curtain. She called my name, wondering if perhaps I was taking a bath. Nope. Little Murphy had gone into the bathtub, seeking out some refreshment! I guess he might have thought the spigot was “self serve”!
The heat and sunshine did wonders for the flowers!
I planted a postange stamp size garden in the back yard. It is really tiny and I planted everything really tightly! When I went out to look at the yellow squash (which is growing like crazy!) I saw a mini ant farm inside one of the pretty star shaped golden flowers.
This is Frank. He belongs to our neighbors up the hill, but he comes down every day with his little sister sidekick. I think she is a poodle and Frank is an Italian Spanone. He is a very tall and good-natured dog….he stops by each day to check things out before heading back home.
Last Friday, Mark’s mom had a doctor’s appointment, so Mark and I went to Rochester.
We pulled into a parking lot for a few minutes, and I really liked the reflection of the Ukrainian church across the street on a window of a vacant storefront.
After her appointment, we went over to visit with our frined, Jim. We had made plans to go to Bill Gray’s Restaurant at Seebreeze. Jim’s son, Peter, went along with us. What a surprise it was to see Peter again. We haven’t seen him in ages and he was the ringbearer at our wedding nearly twenty-two years ago. Jim was also part of our wedding party, along with his wife, Sandra. We have been visiting with them lately and it is so great to reconnect. The only thing I cannot understand is why I didn’t take a photo of Jim and Peter!
After a round of terrific cheeseburgers, we talked and laughed until it was time to leave. Mark’s mom had met Jim once before and she really enjoyed meeting Peter. We dropped her off at her home and then headed to Henrietta. Mark’s cell phone has been having some issues, so he wanted to have it looked at. I found this cool grass growing out near the parking lot.
Mark and I ran some more errands and then finally made our way home.
We really did have a great day out!
I forgot to mention….my tiny miniature rosebush is going crazy! It has more buds and flowers on it than it normally has all year! It has been so pretty!
Yesterday was a nice, relaxing day.
This morning, I wanted to take a little ride and just take some “farmy” type photos. It was tough as the lighting was a bit difficult. I wound up near the Old Order Mennonite church I have shown here before. Along my way, though, I made an interesting discovery. We often see articles here in the US about the declining farming industry. We read that many farmers give up their farms as they just cannot make a go of it.
Enter the Mennonites. I have seen some really run down farms turned around and are now looking like they are indeed productive. Many of the houses that looked quite unrestorable are now pretty homes with vegetable gardens and flower gardens as well. There isn’t broken down farm equipment lying about the fields and everything looks meticulous.
One of the best ways to know you are in Old Order Mennonite country is by the “trails” left behind in the road by the buggies…
And also when you see tractors with metal tires as opposed to rubber tires!
I’m not sure why that tractor was left sitting at the edge of the field, but it certainly makes for an interesting photo! I have wondered why rubber tires are frowned upon by both the Amish and Old Order Mennonites. I think that in many cases, both Amish and Mennonites might give the same answer as Tevya in Fiddler on the Roof. Why? “Tradition”!!!!
I figured that since I had wound up in the neighborhood of the Meeting House (church), I might as well head there. I passed a few young men riding their bikes along the way. I wasn’t sure why they weren’t at church, but I am sure there was a good reason. These young men looked like they had been on a campout, as they had what looked like sleeping bags rolled up on the backs of their bikes.
I especially love the “roadside bouquets”.
Well, hard as it was, I finally left the farm country and returned home. Truth be told, I think I could live in a car. I just love roaming around and I get so involved with everything going on outside myself, I could just wander about for days and days!
I wasn’t gone very long….only a couple of hours. As we were getting lunch ready, Michelle asked if I had seen “the moth on the back deck”? I went out and looked around. What I found was simply amazing. I cannot understand how I could have lived all these years without ever noticing the beautiful moths that surround us!
Seriously, look at those little white circles on his body!
This fellow had a thick body….almost “bulbous”, with reddish-brown hair that made him look like a teddy bear! He also had the same “feathery” antennae as the Luna Moth. Just look at all the fancy markings on his wings!
I took so many photos of this moth. It stayed on that same part of the railing the entire day, gently sweeping its wings up and down the entire time. I just could not get over how pretty it was!
Okay, that’s a wrap. I have covered Mennonites, moths, and everything in between!
Have a great week!
