JULY PHOTO CHALLENGE SUMMARY

Since I have put the July Photo Challenge pictures at the end of each post, I thought I would put them all together here.  It's been a lot of fun this month and made me think about everything a little bit.

1.  Outdoors

2.  Flower

3.  Food

4. Sparkle

5. Grass

6. White

7.  Words

8.  Drink

9.  Calm

10.  Busy

11.  Fruit/Vegetable

12.  Soft

13.  Shadow

14.   On the floor

15. Sign

16.  Indoors

17.  On the shelf

18.  Animal/insect

19.  Black and White

20.  Colorful

21.  Red

22.  Tree

23.  An ordinary moment

24.  Close up

25.  Far away

26.  9 o'clock

27.  Cloud

28.  Blue

29.  Flip flops

30.  Shapes

31.  Choose Your Own Theme

Kathy

SISTERS WEEK DAY #7 AND JULY PHOTO CHALLENGE #31 -- WHATEVER YOU WANT

The week is just flying by.  I can't believe I have to go back to work in just 2 days.  I am planning on visiting Elaine tomorrow so it's sort of the "last hurrah".

I started the day by having a fasting blood test.  Doesn't that sound exciting?  But by the time I got home I was very hungry.

Today I had more energy so I wanted to go out and about.  Even though I had a lot to do at home the lure of the road called to me.  So I phoned Debbie and asked if she wanted to go to lunch.  Of course she did!

I picked her up and we headed out to Friendly's.  I haven't been there in so long.  Neither had Deb.  I didn't tell her which one we were going to and kept driving and driving.  I think she thought I was kidnapping her or something.  We went to the one in Feasterville (yes, I left the city limits) and had a delicious lunch.  We both got iced teas and All American Burgers with fries.  They were the best burgers we have had in so long!  Oh my, they were good.  And cooked perfectly.  And because we were over 60 we got a 10% discount on our bill.  Woo hoo!  I could get used to this Senior  Citizen stuff.

I forgot to take a picture of the meal but this is what we got.

After we ate we headed to the new Goodwill store to check it out.  It was nice and very clean.  We looked at some things.  I bought a lamp to replace the one in the bedroom that Joe accidentally broke the other day.  I got it for $3,99.  On the way out Debbie pointed out a beautiful autumn wreath.  I looked at the price and it was $2.99.  Who could pass that up?  I could get used to going there.

Then we headed for Shop Rite and I finally got my week's food shopping done.  And kept it under budget too.

I have had such a good day.  Now it's time to carry on with dinner.  Beer battered cod, homemade potato salad, peas, and a delicious slice of watermelon for dessert.  I can tell the watermelon is good because it smells so sweet.

This has been such a good vacation!

For today's July photo challenge the prompt is "whatever you want".  So since I love clouds I am going to show you a cloud picture I took on the way home from Lancaster the other day.

Linking up with Kati at Kati's Little Corner of the World for the end of the July Photo Challenge.  It's been a lot of fun.

Kathy

SISTERS WEEK DAY #6 AND JULY PHOTO CHALLENGE #30 -- SHAPES

Another day where I slept most of the time.  At least it was a little better and I got a load of wash and a load of dishes done.  Oh, and I made a great dinner of barbequed pork chops and green beans with spring onions and herbs.

Today I am feeling so much better and seem to have more energy.  I guess I just needed to catch up on my sleep.

I was going to go to Elaine's house today but we put it off until tomorrow.  Both Joe and I have doctor appointments this morning and it made no sense to do a 2 hour drive in the heat of the day for just a few hours at her house.  Tomorrow I will get an early start and have the whole day with her. 

So again, since nothing much happened I'll go right to the photo challenge.  The prompt was "shapes".  I have lots of shapes.  Tons and tons of cookie cutters!

I'm linking up with Kati from Kati's Little Corner of the World for this photo challenge.

Kathy

SISTERS WEEK DAY #5 AND JULY PHOTO CHALLENGE #29 -- FLIP FLOPS

This is an unusual Sisters Week this year.  Elaine went home and I ended up sleeping.  And sleeping and sleeping.  I guess I was worn out.  Very seldom do I sleep all day.  I was shocked when I woke up and it was after 10 a.m.!  But I've been running so much the last two days that I guess I needed it.  I had planned to do so much this week and have done...  nothing!

I keep saying that when I retire the first month will be spent sleeping and getting my health back and then I will get myself on a schedule.  After today I think that is true!

I made French toast for breakfast using that great cinnamon raisin bread I got in Lancaster.  Can I say it was wonderful?  I know it was my own cooking, but I did a great job.  Joe had four slices and I had three.  The bread is over half gone.  That loaf isn't going to get stale.

Snowy doesn't seem to know what to do with me home all day.  She keeps coming up to me and looking at me as if to say, "What are you doing here?"

Since  I did nothing today, I'll just go right to the photo challenge.  The prompt was "flip flops".  I just bought a new pair this summer.  It takes me awhile to break them in, but after awhile it's all I wear around the house.

 

SISTER'S WEEK DAY FOUR (TUESDAY) AND JULY PHOTO CHALLENGE #28 -- BLUE

Yesterday on Elaine's birthday we headed out to Lancaster County.  Elaine's best friend, Donna, came along too.  We had a great time.  Lancaster is so pretty.

Everywhere we looked was corn.  Lots of corn!

See the wash on the line?  You can tell it's Amish.

 The first place we stopped was Dutch Haven.

 
 We looked around in there for quite awhile.  They had beautiful handmade furniture.  I wanted to take home so much.  I may go back and get a couple of pieces.  All I did buy, though, was a jar of bread and butter pickles for Joe and a new fairy for my fairy garden.

Then we headed on to Rockvale Mall where all the outlet stores are.  We went in only two:  Reading China and Glass and Christmas Tree Hill.  They are our two favorites.  I bought way more than I should have in Reading, but it's all stuff I can use.

Next we headed for Kitchen Kettle.  We had to go to the Christmas Shop and get our ornaments.  It's a tradition now.  Elaine and I always pick out an ornament on her birthday.

Here's my choice for this year.  Isn't it beautiful?  We both walk around the store looking at everything until an ornament calls our name.  We always know which ornament will be the one we take.

When we came out I took a picture of Elaine and Donna outside of the shop.  You have to have your picture taken on your birthday.  Don't you?  Elaine and Donna met on the first day of first grade and have been best friends ever since.

Our only other stop was the Jam & Relish Kitchen.

This is a dangerous store for my pocketbook.  When you walk in you smell them making jelly.  Or salsa.  Or baking bread.  Or cookies.  And then you look around the store.  There are samples on all the tables.  You know what you are buying.  And sometimes what not to buy if you don't like it.  We were there a long time making up our minds on what to get.

On the way out there was a farmer selling peaches that he had picked that morning.  It was getting toward the end of the day and he had just a few boxes left so he was selling them for $5 each or $8 for two.  Donna and I each got a box and we saved a buck.  I'm having them for dinner tonight but Joe has already eaten two and says they are delicious!

We went to dinner then.  Elaine wanted to go to Bird-in-Hand Restaurant so that was where we went.  We all had the smorgasbord.  It was good.  Elaine got cake and ice cream for dessert to celebrate.  Our waitress was named Diane and was so nice.  She greeted us by saying, "Welcome, ladies.  Isn't this a beautiful warm day that God has given to us?  He's so good."  Well you know that charmed the three of us immediately.

I took a few pictures as we walked around after dinner. They have a cute little gift shop with crafts, food and books.

I love this saying.

Little slates with Bible verses

Everywhere we went we saw these little chickadee figurines.  They were inexpensive too.  I wanted to buy them, but I have no place to put them.

Beautiful flowers outside the door.

We loved the weeping willows.

Across the street was Smuckers Stables.

 I took pictures of the scenery as we drove home.

Cows!

Lots of farms

Goodbye Lancaster County.  Until next time.

 This morning I took pictures of my purchases to show you.

Freshly baked cinnamon raisin bread, a Thanksgiving kitchen towel, some forks (we're always running out of forks for some reason) and a can of pumpkin spice tea.  It smells wonderful!

Two bags of cookie chips (Chocolate chip and cinnamon sugar) and a box of K-cup coffee for Joe.

Tortilla chips, mango salsa, pumpkin spice cookie spread and vidalia onion relish.

We needed Plink and I got a fruit cover.  I've never seen one before but I know I'll use it.

Bread and Butter Pickles for Joe and a new fairy for my fairy garden.

A large jar of pretzels to take to work.  And an infusion water pitcher.  Another item I had never seen.  I am washing it today and I know we will use it a lot!

I love my new little "Fall" sign.  It was so unique I had to get it.  I have so many fall decorations.  I love fall.

Donna made and gave me these three bracelets.  They are so pretty.  I wore the one on the left yesterday.  It went perfectly with my outfit.

 So that is my day yesterday.  And now I have to get busy with my housework.  I can't believe it's so late already.

Before I go here is the July photo challenge.  The prompt was "blue."  I  was taking pictures of the sky when my sister said  that her purse was blue.  It was on the car seat beside me and I thought, "Yes!  This is better." So that's what I took.

I'm linking up with Kati at Kati's Little Corner of the World for this July photo challenge.

Kathy