Going Green: Part 2

This year I decided to try New Guinea impatiens in my pots on the front porch.  I planted them around the 1st of June and they were starting to grow really well.  They had blossoms and were filling out---up until a couple of weeks ago.  Enter Mr. Greenjeans.

My husband read somewhere that putting coffee grounds on plants was a great way to fertilize them.  Ever since then, he hasn't thrown away one single ground.  As soon as he pulls the grounds out of the coffee maker, he rushes outside to work his magic.  Now I had heard of using them on roses, but I wasn't sure about using them on everything.  Well, I'm sure you can tell where this story is going.  The impatiens are dying.  First, it was just one pot.  So we switched their positions thinking one was getting more sun.  Now they both are looking droopy.

Pot #1

 Pot #2 just starting to fade

Maybe impatiens like decaf.  I'll suggest it to my head gardener.

Going Green

My husband has done an about face when it comes to mowing the lawn.  When we were first married, he had the normal motorized push mower.

Dave was going green before it was in vogue.  

The only "exhaust" his little mower put out was bubbles.

After several years, he decided to upgrade to a more manly machine and got a tractor.  Bigger is better, right?

Katie would ride on Mike's lap for the entire hour 

that it took to mow the lawn.

Now, after years of dealing with motors that won't start, draining fluids at the end of the season, and whatever else lawn mowers require (it obviously is not my domain), he has decided to go engine free.  It's quiet, it always starts (as long as he is breathing), and it's environmentally friendly.  He loves cutting the grass now.

My Daughter's First

As a mom, we get to witness our children's first everything---first breath, first tooth, first steps---and now first race.  This morning, my daughter Anne and I ran a 5k race.  I'm so proud of her.  Here are some of the pictures:

Ready for the race.
Can someone please tell me why one of my potted plants is growing
and the other is dying a slow death?

 We ran into Anne's preschool friend, Brooke and her fiance, Chris.

They are getting married later today.

 Lining up at the back of the pack

 Feeling optimistic

 On your mark....

Dental Hygienists 

I knew I should have flossed.

You go girl! 

The Hill

It smells like garlic bread as you run by Coles bakery. 

My son-in-law ran ahead to get action shots. 

 Someone at the front must be speeding.

Still Happy 

The feeling has changed.

 The "hare" passes us for the umpteenth time.

The tortoises pass the hare. 

There he goes again. 

We're back. 

 Yay Annie!

There he goes yet again. 

View of Muskegon Lake 

This is where we left him in our slow-rising dust. 

One of the many sprinklers the residents put out. 

I can't go anywhere without running into one of my patients. 

My Aunt Carolyn and cousin Kent 

Aaah, the finish line. 

We did it! 

The hare finished the race. 

 Sweet Reward

I think Anne just got bit by the running bug.  Next year, we're doing the 15k.  

Unexplained Happenstance

Bummer.  The clock doesn't show up.  It says 6:05 a.m.

It's 6:05 a.m. and I'm ready for work 25 minutes early.  I got up at my normal time (5:00), although I didn't push the snooze.  Actually, I woke up at 4:15.  I had to go to the bathroom, but I didn't want to get up because then I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep.  As it was, I didn't go back to sleep, because I really had to go to the bathroom. It's a Catch 22.  I hate it when that happens.

So why am I able to get ready faster some days and other days not?  Is it because when I'm running early, I subconsciously slow down?  Hmm.  One of those mysteries of life.

Off to work!

Fresh Basil

One of the joys of summer is growing fresh herbs on the deck.  Basil is my favorite.

My husband and I went to the Farmers' Market last Saturday and got some greenhouse tomatoes (it's still  a little early for tomatoes in Michigan), fresh mozzarella cheese from the Cheese Lady, and had our first Caprese Salad of the season.

Caprese Salad

Fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
Fresh tomatoes, sliced
Fresh basil, chopped
Equal parts: balsamic vinegar
                    olive oil
Kosher salt, to taste

 The vinegar and olive oil are not on the salad yet. 

The vinegar is brown and doesn't look very pretty.

Assemble salad in the following order:  tomato, cheese, and basil.  Whisk balsamic vinegar and olive oil together and drizzle over salad.

Happy Father's Day

To my two favorite dads:

My dad, who made me feel like a little princess:  You always told me I could do anything I put my mind to.  Thanks for believing in me, Dad.

And the father of my children:  You made up for my shortcomings in raising our children.  Our kids are blessed to have a dad they can call on and know he'll be there no matter what.

CPR

Ahhhhh!  I passed my recertification for Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support.  I'm good for another 2 years.  The day consisted of a few videos, a lecture or two, practice on the dummies, a mock code (where each person had to take a turn being in charge), and two written tests.  I took a few pics along the way. 

 Drugs used in a code

Review of algorithms 

Mock code room 

He didn't make it.

Airways

 Inserting Airways

Infant CPR

This was near the end of the day.  Can you sense the excitement?

Actually, one of the doctors that spoke was very interesting and entertaining with her stories from the ER.  Someone should turn her experiences into a reality TV show.

Roadkill

Today's Workout:
       25 minutes Strength Training - Upper body only.
       Push-up update: Five sets - 71 total
       Ran 6.3 miles   Time: 65 minutes, 41 seconds, including photo-ops

Perfect running weather today - 70 degrees, winds E @ 16 mph

I took pictures so you could see the difference in foliage (from my running post in April) now that it's summer.  Amazingly, there wasn't a lot of roadkill today.  I did see a dead crow, which was a first.  He obviously never heard the saying, "You are what you eat."  He must have been a glutton and couldn't pull himself away from the roadkill table.  He met his demise.

This poor squirrel has seen better days.

I had a few obstacles today - the people who decided to sprinkle the road and the road construction guys.

I was surprised the golden retriever on my route wasn't out in the driveway.  He's always there.  I'm a little worried about him.

 My favorite house.

 I love the guest house.

My least favorite portion of my running route is "Grasshopper Alley" (my term for it).  This used to be a corn field but now it's a condominium complex.  During the dog days of summer, grasshoppers sun themselves on the sidewalk and as I run by, they jump up and hit my legs.  It's really annoying.

 Grasshopper Alley

 The fire station

 School must be out for the summer.  The young anglers are out.

 This fat little squirrel decided to have a picnic today.

My neighbor's gorgeous clematis.

Favorite songs on my playlist today:

     David Crowder Band - Everything Glorious

     Genesis - Tonight, Tonight, Tonight

     Genesis - That's All

     Mercy Me - All of Creation