NEW 10 minutes/30 Day Commitment starts May 5th

[bloodless]

I'm a failure I haven't even got out half the time. I keep working when I go out and then I'm to tired to go out for a couple of days. I need to force myself to just sit outside with a good book. It's getting awfully warm in TX though.

[Joy Cox]

Today I sat outside on my little porch and let my hair dry naturally. The birds were busy at the two feeders. Both mana and papa cardinal came to feed at the same time.

Have not seen the hummingbirds again since April 22. Beginning to think they had just decided to head back south to warmer weather as it was 40 that night.

Used today as a rest day since we just returned from Duke after a three day stay there. 

[SassieCat]

 

I'm fashionably late.... but I'm here!!!

[Bucky]

Day 17

Good morning . . . IT'S FRIDAY!!     Today is Day 17 of our 30 day commitment to being outside for at least 10 minutes each day.

To date, we have 42 members participating in our little adventure.  Welcome SassieCat . . . better late, than never.     bloodless - just try to get outside when you can, if you miss one day, start the next.  I've found that the 10 minutes goes by quite quickly.

It's a wet morning here in Central IL, so I spent my time outside on the front porch.  I made it a productive time and washed five windows!!    Yay . . . they look so clean now.   I've still got that front flower bed that needs weeding . . . . some other day, not today.   

Don't feel you have to be "doing" something outside for your 10 minutes.  Just enjoy being outdoors for the 10 minutes.  If you just want to sit in a chair, go for a walk, sit in the grass . . . whatever, it's just the being outside that is the goal.

Have a great weekend . . . keep up the good work.  Just 10 minutes of your time . . you can do it!!   

Bucky

"Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you."           Princess Diana

[Joy Cox]

Hi All,

Went to Wally-World (Walmart) with hubby. He did the grocery shopping and I got to go the the cosmetic/pharmacy section and just browse... Enjoyed walking at my s-l-o-w pace and looking at some of the items we discuss on this site.

Bucky, Thought about you as I looked at all the different items on the shelves. Thanks for hosting our 10-Minute Commitment...you're truly a keeper!!!     

Finished shopping early and went and sat out front on bench and 'people watched' for at least 30 minutes before hubby appeared. 

It was fun to get out... People do the darnest things!!!!           J    Y

[Bucky]

Day 18

Good morning . . it's Saturday!!    Today is Day 18 of our 30 day commitment to being outside for at least 10 minutes each day.

This morning there was quite a bit of noise outside.  The birds were all chattering, I could hear a rooster down the road, traffic on the main road several miles away, sirens, etc.  It's a tad bit breezy and chilly this morning, but as the day wears on, it's suppose to warm up. This whole next week is going to be in the high 80's everyday.  (My perfect temperature is right at the 75 degree mark.)

We're trying to get some outside work done today - first up, redoing a screen on the front door that our cat, Spooky, has messed up with her jumping on the door.  Bad kitty!  This time, we got some heavy duty pet screen - hopefully, that will do the trick.  Later this morning we will probably make a trip to the home improvement place to get some pea gravel for the flower beds.    Anybody want to come help??  All help gladly accepted - I'll even fix you lunch.   

I hope today is a GREAT day for you.  Enjoy!   

Thanks Joy for your comment.     I love to people watch too - the things you can see! 

Bucky

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.  Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."            Helen Keller

[Joy Cox]

It's Saturday evening May 22 and spent quality time with hubby. Went to get us 'take out' at local restaurant and we ate supper at other farm where he had spent the day mowing hay and quit to spend time together...just the two of us alone at our old homeplace.

This is the homeplace where we lived for 33 years and raised our three youngsters until they flew the nest all in their late 20's. Our older son bought the homeplace and they are out of town with grandson's traveling baseball team. hehe!!!!...

SO, we just made ourselves at home by the poolside and enjoyed the scenery that was ours for all those years!

MEMORIES ARE MADE ONE DAY AT A TIME...AND, THIS WAS HUBBY AND MY DAY TO GO 'SKINNY DIPPING!!'  THIS DAY 18 WELL LIVED, HELPS MAKES EVERY DAY A DAY OF HAPPINESS, AND EVERY TOMORROW A VISION OF HOPE...  HOPING FOR MANY MORE GOOD DAYS, JUST LIKE TODAY!!!!

Our young people used to do this when we were away on trips so the neighbors said....

Oh well, they are just "chips off the ole' block" I discovered today!!!!!

[genko_b]

What fun to read about your day, Joy!

Since I spent all day outside finishing up some weeding in the front of the house, I can barely move now. Tomorrow will be interesting! In any case, haven't missed a day outside since we started this. It is fun to be out among the plants and birds and bugs.

Genko

[Bucky]

Day 19

Good morning everyone . . . happy Sunday to you!    Today is Day 19 of our 30 day commitment to being outside for at least 10 minutes each day.

Whew . . . . it's already very humid out at 8:30 a.m. - we're suppose to hit 90 degrees today.    Ugh!  Too hot for me!  I got to enjoy the fruits of my labor this morning.  Yesterday, I spent five hours outside working in the flower beds.  I pulled weeds and then spread pea gravel while my hubby went around the yard weed whacking.  Yay . . . the yard looks really nice.    

This morning the blue jays have been checking out the cat dish on the front porch.  Many times the different birds in the area come to check out Spooky's dish.  So, when I put her food out, I tell her to eat it quickly before the birds do!!   

I'll be hibernating indoors the rest of the day in air conditioning!!   

Joy - sounds like you and hubby had a good time yesterday!     Hope the neighbors weren't peeking!!   

Genko - looks like you and I were doing the same thing yesterday!     Weeding is hard work.

I hope today is a great day for everyone filled with many blessings.   

Bucky

"Never decide to do nothing just because you can only do a little.  Do what you can."       H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

 

[Katybarstool]

Hi

Just checking back in after being away from home for the week. We went to Cornwall, which is on the south west coast of England, and where my sister lives. She's recently inherited a log cabin, in the middle of a meadow. It's run-down, and needs a lot of tlc, but for the first time ever, she's a woman of property.

She's lived nearby for some years in a rented cottage, and along the way has accumulated ducks, chickens, a cockeral, some rescue sheep, a rescue dog, and goodness knows how many cats. She's an artist by trade, and teaches youngsters with life limiting illnesses at the local college. It was wonderful to see her again, as we hadn't been together in nearly a year.

I have been doing more than my ten minuts each day for the past week - mainly in playing with my little grandchildren in the holiday camp where we stayed. They were enthralled with the sea gulls, and loved to feed the 'birdies'. However, I did something rather foolish one day. I took the children up on the sand dunes, with a bag of left over sandwiches for the birdies. Unfortunately, the sea gulls were very greedy, and within about a minute of getting the food out, we were surrounded by dozens of them. The children were screaming, and I must admit to being frightened too. It was like something out of the Hitchcock film, The Birds. Thankfully, we managed to get away from them in one piece. I'll never try that again! Will stick with the little birdies around my home. BTW, I took my bird book with me, and spotted lots of Jack Daws on the dunes.  I'm going to try to be more observant about the ones in my garden now - with the bird book handy, to help to identify them of course.

Today, in West Yorkshire, it's 80 degrees and absolutely glorious. Having been away for the week, we had mountains of washing. Happily, most of it is drying outdoors now. I'm shattered, so am resting my weary legs and feet now - they don't like the hot weather one little bit

Happy Sunday, everyone, and thanks once again, Mrs Bucky, for telling us about your days, and encouraging us to get our ten minutes outside.

Hugs

Kathyx

[genko_b]

It is cool and rainy today, good for settling in the plants I moved around yesterday, maybe not so good for my joints, though. Still did my daily inspection of the garden, to catch things before they progress into real problems. Also checking my pea vines - we should be able to start harvesting snow peas (pea pods) in a week or so. So that's my ten minutes for the day.

Kathyx, glad you had a good beach vacation with the grandchildren, and visit with your sister. Learning the birds can be a real obsession. It starts with just trying to learn what's in your yard, and the next thing you know you are rearranging your life to look for unusual birds in different habitats. One of the biggest thrills for my husband and me some years ago was a wildlife "safari" on our trip to India. In addition to the elephants and one marvelous tiger sighting, we saw some amazing birds, all colors of the rainbow. I still have the list somewhere. I just have to remind myself that the jays, tanagers, chickadees, and hummingbirds in my backyard look just as exotic to folks elsewhere.

Genko

[Katybarstool]

Hi Genko

Yes, I can see how the birds could become an obsession. The parents of my grandchildren are not at all interested in nature - too busy, I think. Anyway, I have decided to educate myself and them at the same time. They are very young just now, and so receptive to new things. Logan is 3 and I recently bought him a children's atlas. I showed him where Cornwall is, and where we live, just before we went away. Imagine my surprise when we picked up a leaflet about  a nature park in Cornwall, and he showed my the picture of 'how to get there' and recognised it as being Cornwall. I was so proud of him. I might try to find a map showing where the different bird species are from.

My garden is an absolute mess this year. However, I'm off work tomorrow (trying to take some flex days to get me through the next three weeks before my next surgery) and my son's friend is going to do some tidying for me. He's out of work at the moment, so the arrangement suits us both - I won't be whacked, and he will earn some money. I'm hoping to have it nice for my convalescence, so that, weather permitting, I can sit out. I might even put up a bird box, or bird table. That would really please the grandchildren.

Hope you are keeping well.

Kathyx

[Joy Cox]

     Yes, Day 19 and this day was a beautiful sunny day with high of 80. I got out and watered the flowers early morning when it was cooler.

The whole time I was outside the mockingbird kept singing his personal song...pretty bird...pretty bird...pretty bird. I think I am correct that the mockingbird can imitate 21 calls of other birds though Mr. Smarty Pants was interested in only himself this morning!!!! When I looked up at the weathervane he was grooming himself and then belting out his tune.

In this general area, are three butterfly bushes that will serve as food for the yellow and black swallowtail butterfly during the summer months along with other species. Love the little skippers as they flit to and from the plants so fast. But, my favorite is the swallowtail...so graceful in flight...just glide on the air currents.

Also, planted the parsley seeds that I had soaked overnight. They will serve as the 'host' plant for the late swallowtail butterfly to lay her eggs in the fall. The big pots winter over next to the south wall in my beloved little Garden of Joy.

Genko, do you see the monarch butterfly in abundance in your gardens? We seem not to be on their travel pattern and seldom see them though in town they are in abundance at a friend's home.

Well, I spent more than 10 minutes outside but think Bucky and Genko deserve the gold stars for yesterday's weed pulling in their gardens.  You folks agree?? 

Have a good night; off to bed...   Joy

[Bucky]

Day 20

Good morning . . . it's Monday (I heard that moan)!!!    Today is Day 20 of our 30 day commitment to being outside for at least 10 minutes each day.

Today we're at the 2/3 mark of our 30 day adventure.  We have 10 more days left.

This morning I was up waaaaay too early, 4:45 a.m. to see our son and hubby off for the day.  As tradition has it here, the eighth grade graduating class takes a "class trip" to Six Flags every year just before graduation.  Well, today's the day they go.  They are headed to St. Louis, Missouri which is three hours away so the buses have to leave the school by 6:30 a.m.  Looks like the weather will be nice for their day and I'm sure the kids will have a great time.

It's going to be another hot day here today.  At 5:45 a.m. the temperature is already 73 degrees with 90 humidity!   

I was standing out on the back step this morning just listening to nature as everybody was doing their "thang".  Lots of different birds singing, I could hear several wild turkeys gobbling, a rooster crowing, and something stirring in the woods - couldn't see what. The sky is so pretty this morning.  It's a light blue with a mixture of grey clouds and these white, white clouds with rays of sunshine hitting them.  There is also this light pinkish swirl to the clouds.  Very pretty.  If I look at the tops of the trees with their silhouette against this sunrise background, it's absolutely beautiful.

I kept hearing this one bird, went back inside to get the binoculars to see if I could get a close up of it . . . couldn't find the bird.     Then all of a sudden, the air conditioning unit kicked on and scared me and made me jump.    LOL 

Well, I think I'm going to sneak back to bed for a bit - then get up and tackle my "to do" list for the day before it gets too hot.

Kathyx -  sounds like you had a very nice visit with your sister and the grandkids.  Good for you to show the grandkids some of nature.  Right now in the evenings there are lightning bugs out - all kids (and adults) like those.   

Genko and Joy - sounds like you both had a good day outside too.   

Hope today is a really good day for everyone.   

Bucky

"Learn to compromise.  Compromise doesn't mean being a doormat or a slouch.  Instead, it suggests that not every issue deserves a full-fledged battle, that not every occasion requires you to be the first, the best, the winner.  It's also about sharing control, even surrendering it some of the time."        JoAnna M. Lund

[mac]

Good gloomy Monday morning to ya all. 
It really is supposed to clear here today and become close to hot, but we'll see if the wx man is right.  The wx certainly fits my mood today so I came here to see all the wonderful things you have been up to.

I've been spending some of my outside time cutting back the briers from the lane and weeding out the garden to plant some new perennials and Friday night sat to enjoy TV but kept being bothered by a sore feeling behind the knee.  Finally took a look and a scab was there.  Could not remember such a wild thorn getting me there but figured I was just so engrossed in cutting things back (like the good old days) that I hadn't noticed.  Upon closer inspection I thought, this looks like it might be a tick and sure enough, hubby confirmed, so off to get the needed supplies for removal.  Feeling better now.  I have found ticks on my clothes and skin before but don't think I ever had one embedded before.  Bow I know how patient the dogs were when they had them, and how much pain they felt.

Sure could use some sunshine, even if it hurts the eyes.  Keep up the cheerful messages and thank you Ms Bucky for the inspirations!