...random stuff

I love live plants. There is always something green growing in my house...and I mean that in a good way! Ivy is always a favorite because it is easy to grow...and grow it does...in the living room... 

...on the sun porch

(ferns like the porch as well)

...even in the bathroom.

Got to have a little bit of green!

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Next, a great tip I saw on Pinterest. 

My stove burners take a beating and always have guck dripped on them. Some of that guck only comes off with lots of scrubbing with toxic stuff. 

This really works!

I bought large zip lock bags at the $ store and a jug of ammonia. Put burner ...even coil if you have an electric stove...in bag and add a big splash of ammonia. Leave it over night...the longer the better. Take the burner/coil out and wash...the guck comes off so easily it is amazing!

I was so happy with this...many of you have probably been doing this for years, but I just found out about it and thought I'd share.

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Yesterday, my girl had to go to the doctor...she has a bit of swimmers ear. She was so brave, and I always love to see how amazed people are when they first meet Annie. Annie's speech is just about flawless and her vocabulary is expansive. These two new, young doctors, I am sure, were surprised that this young lady could converse with them on the level that she did. She had them in stitches with her humor and anecdotes. Always a good day for mom and dad when Annie is a walking, talking advocate for the Down Syndrome community.  

 The ear was feeling much, much better last night, thankfully.

On the way home from the doctor's the sky opened up and let loose with a torrential downpour, complete with thunder and lighting. Luckily, Mr. M had offered to escort us so he was at the wheel.  Within minutes the streets were so flooded we changed our route several times to avoid the waves! We weren't the only ones. Cars were, literally, jumping curbs and going through lights to try to avoid the rising water.

There are always those who feel they are immune to disaster and lots of them were on the road. It was also rush hour. Within the course  of a very few minutes we witnessed two major accidents. It was horrendous to watch people in such a rush, in such bad conditions. There's a lot of "crazy" out there!

So...there you have it...a good deal of randomness!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

...pumpkin heads on my frame

I see pumpkin heads...lots of funny faces...crooked smiles...and smiling eyes!

dolls...

                                                               pockets...

                                                                                                   time will tell...
                                                                 

                                       Glad to see things are cooling off for some of you. I worked in the garden on Saturday and it was hot! We are into our Summer rain pattern of afternoon thunderstorms...love those thunder bumpers!

                                                                              Enjoy the day,
                                                                                     Robyn

 

...on my frame

Once the 4th is over, it's Christmas! At least that's how it feels to me. Right now pumpkin orange, soot black, army blanket green...these are some of the colors scattered on my work table. Drew this little fellow on some linen last night, and hooked him up while watching the fireworks. He will be joined by a few friends before too long.

These gorgeous shades have me looking forward to pumpkins and black cats...cooler days...and the wonderful change in the light that comes with shorter days and the shift of the sun. We won't be seeing those cooler days for a good while, but the light will change ever so gradually. I look forward to it every year...that beautiful Autumnal light. 

Better get back to work...Autumn, and all that goes with it, is on it's way!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

We the people...

 

of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union,

establish justice...

insure domestic tranquility,

provide for the common defense,

promote the general welfare,

and secure the blessings of liberty on ourselves and our posterity...

do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America.

Many years ago when I taught school, all my students had memorized the Preamble before they left my classroom in June. It cuts to the chase on what it is to be an American. It sums up the Constitution in a mere paragraph. We celebrate our Declaration of Independence...but we live according to the Constitution...great documents, written by great men.

Happy Birthday, America!

Hope you and yours have a wonderful Independence Day! Stay safe!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

...a friend

Twenty one years ago today, the Down Syndrome community lost a champion. Michael Landon was the spokesman for the National Down Syndrome Congress when our Annie was born. We first met Michael in Washington, D.C. at the NDSC convention when Annie was fourteen months old.

 How he could light up a room! He would step out of the elevator and you could tell he was genuinely happy to see his "special" friends.

He graciously signed autographs, gave hugs and posed for family photos. He was generous with his time, funny and so very kind.

The next time we saw Michael was at the NDSC convention the following year in Cincinnati. He remembered us, and when he saw us said, "Let's do it like we did last time." But Annie was not having any of it. She wouldn't go to him for the picture. So, instead of holding Annie...he put his arms around Mr. Mugwump...and me. My grandmother would swoon!

Not long after that day, he was gone.

To many, this fine man is known as Little Joe from Bonanza, Pa Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie, and Jonathan Smith from Highway to Heaven. To those of us who were fortunate enough to have met him through NDSC, he was a friend...and he loved our kids.

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Beachin' it

We're heading down to the beach tonight. We don't go as often as we should. 

We'll grab a grouper sandwich at Frenchy's (the best on the beach) and head on down to watch the sunset. 

We'll play in the sand...

and be entertained by the locals...

and come home saying, "We should do this more often!"

Have great weekend!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Contrast.....the large and small of it

Early tin cookie cutters are among my favorite collectibles. I know I am not alone in this "obsession", and I also know that when I say some cutters can set my heart racing...well, there are those of you out there, I am fairly certain, that have had that feeling as well.

The little bird above is one of those cutters. It is a mere two and quarter by two inches. It is so sweet and folky! 

...and it's a bird!

By contrast, this fellow is a hardy nine by five inch steed. 

Large or small, these early works of long ago tinsmiths make me smile. 

Are you an early cookie cutter collector? Do you have a favorite subject, or do they all "make you smile"?

The wind here during the night was fierce, as the last bands of TS Debby bid farewell to the Gulf Coast. Streets remain closed, and debris is everywhere. The sky is bright this morning, as the sun struggles to appear. It's still very windy, but bits of blue sky can be seen through the clouds.

Are you watching the Olympic Trials? We love the swimming competitions...Mr. Mugwump swam with Rowdy Gaines on their high school team, and it's fun to see him commentate.

Hope your Summer is going well!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn