The second Friday in June....

Wow! Is this the second Friday in June already?!?!?  How does time pass so quickly?  Perhaps when one is busy, time seems to fly!

So - what has been going on with us?  Well, Munchomom and family came for a visit last week-end.  We worked in a trip to the zoo while they were here.  It had been quite a long time since I had been to the zoo, and I was very impressed with all the changes and improvements!

For instance, we were able to approach this beautiful creature with glass between us....

He was cooling off on the brick surrounding a pool of water.  The enclosure allows for plenty of room to roam about with large grassy areas.

We were glad to be able to attend the Bird Show where we saw this gorgeous bird....

Aren't those lovely colors? 

Other activity during the week included a performance by the women's chorus, after which we joined in a nearby restaurant for a late lunch.  I enjoyed a salad....

.....while a friend sitting nearby opted for the brisket....

Doesn't that look absolutely delicious?!?!? Spinach Maria is always a great choice!

So - on this Friday, I decided to begin the day with this tasty choice....

This is an instant coffee drink by Fireside Coffee - Butter Rum.  Delicious already, but made even better by drinking it from one of the new Susan Branch cups!  This is one of three.....

....and here are the other two.  They are my most recent Susan Branch products.

Even pretty when turned upside down - when there is nothing in them, of course.😊

I added a favorite breakfast food with that Butter Rum coffee....

Avocado Toast using Dave's Killer Bread, this one with 70 calories per slice!

Well, now that I have Friday off to a good start, it's time to begin to think about the week-end.  I hope there is some time for relaxation and restoration awaiting you.

China - Strawberries and Cream, Villeroy and Boch, now discontinued.

Routine....

Routine?  What's that? 😃  Well, it is apparently something that is lacking with my posting on the blog.  Perhaps I'll get back into the habit, but I make no promises.

Remember when I posted this?

North of Supposed to Be is a beautiful book -  wonderful character development, and surprises/suspense that captivate the reader's interest.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book a couple of years ago.

It was a real pleasure to be able to meet the author - Marcia Ferguson - on the recent trip I took for UMW training.  The training site was located in an area that was near where she lives, and she came by the hotel where I was staying!

What a treat to be her guest for lunch!  Thank you, Marcia!

Off we went to lunch at Mike Ditka's!  Do I have any pictures of our food?  Of course not!:-)  We were very busy with talking and eating, and taking that picture just didn't occur to me!  I will say, however, that the food was excellent!  It was great to be able to meet Marcia!  I am looking forward to the next book!

Have you ever met an author of a book you have read? 

Kids Hope USA....

Have you heard of the Kids Hope USA mentoring program?  Perhaps there is one located near where you are. 

Just "show up!" That's what we're asked to do! Show up for a child in need of a mentor.

The school year is winding down in our local county.  That calls for a special time of celebration for the students who have been part of the Kids Hope program at the nearby elementary school.  This is my second year to be a mentor.













It was a beautiful day as we gathered at the gazebo on the school grounds!

Food was plentiful and appealed to kids of all ages!

Three kinds of pizza - cheese, pepperoni, and veggie!

A huge chocolate chip cookie!

Sundae toppings available for your choice of ice cream!

The Kids Hope USA program at the nearby elementary school is sponsored by a church in the community.  Additionally, our church is also a Kids Hope sponsor! 

How do you make a difference in a child's life?

There were others....

Taking a walk around the yard, I also spotted these beauties....

David Austin rose

The oak leaf hydrangea is beginning to bloom.

The knock-out rose is always full of cheerful blooms!

 We've had a lot of rain, and now have no deficit for average rainfall for this point in the year.  It has truly been a lovely spring! The grass is green and growing!

Spring

We were away for several days the last week of April.  When we returned, we were met with this beauty - 

Peonies are one of my favorite spring flowers!

Some recent fun....

For Easter (long past, I know) we visited with Muncho Mom, Macho Man, and the two Munchkins.  It is always great fun to be able to spend time with them.

Muncho Mom had been busily baking those Easter cookies, and Munchkin the Younger loved to decorate them!

I must say that they were quite tasty, too!

Rabbit, rabbit on this first day of May!

Bread and butter plate - Charleston by Lenox, now discontinued.

Confusion reigns! No surprise!

I was not able to locate my blog entry for today, May 1, 2017.  So - I "redid" it!  Just like The Husband says, "Be careful of anything that is 'new and improved!'"😄  It is entirely possible that you may find not one, not two, but THREE entries from me on your Blogger feed today!!  That's all right! Just making up for all those weeks and months that there hasn't been an entry.

Thanks for hanging around!