Good morning! It is 0830 and the temp is at 82 degrees already. Worse yet, the humidity is way up and the air is already oppressive. It will be a good day to head to my basement office and get some writing done.

I woke up this morning at 0500 to beautiful birdsong. I'm not sure what it was but it sounded like a couple of young mockingbirds practicing their voice. I slept in my recliner in the sunporch last night. At bedtime I was still so full from Ms. Kate's wonderful supper that I didn't dare lay on the bed, so I sat down in my recliner, turned on my Bose and listened to some music until I fell asleep. So, when the birds woke me up at 0500, I went on back to bed and got another couple hours sleep. We old people can do that if we want. It's one of the benefits. I think there may be some small print on my AARP card that allows for it.

I'm waiting for the folks from John Deere to come by this morning and pick up my new JD. As I told you , when I bought my lawn tractor I ordered a snow blade with it. The blade has come in and they have to install parts on it for me to attach the blade to when the time comes. It will take them a couple of days to get it back to me I reckon. They are a slow bunch.  It's a good thing I still have the other one as a back up, although the grass hasn't grown much in this heat.

Ms. Kate and I took a walk around the back yard this morning and looked at the flowers we have blooming. I posted a bunch of pictures of them on Facebook. The yard is looking lush again. The summer flowers are in bloom and the spring flowers are dormant again. If it cools off  soon, I need to get out there and cut back the daffodils now that they have layed over. Otherwise they just look ugly. I also need to spray again for poison ivy in a couple of spots. And, I need to get the weed eater out and do some trimming; --- but not today.

I hear another tree being felled in the neighborhood. There is a guy on the next street north east of us that is taking down a whole bunch of trees. Neighbor Dan says the guy is "anti-tree" for what ever reason and is having twelve taken out. I hate that because it upsets the ecosystem balance in the area. But, they are his trees and he can do what he wants with them. I can't imagine how much different it would be to not have my two huge tulip poplars here in my back yard. I know the house would be a lot hotter because our shade would be gone. I even planted a new tulip poplar in the front yard last fall and in a few years it is going to provide some excellent shade from the eastern sun in the morning. Julie put some of her dog Harley's ashes around the new tree and we have named the tree "Harley's Tree."

It is time for a coffee refill and I think I'll have a bowl of jello for breakfast. Ms. Kate made some yesterday and I do love my jello. Then I guess I better get busy before I waste the day away. It is a beautiful day and God's blessings are everywhere. Take some time to appreciate them. That was part of my walk around my yard this morning; just looking at what God does. It just makes my heart swell when I stop to count my blessings. Who or what am I that the Creator of thee Universe should care so much for me? God does the same for you. Have a blessed day.