Skywatch Friday = Lots of Rain Along Atlantic Seaboard

Skywatch Friday = Lots of Rain Along The Atlantic Seaboard

Lots of Grey Skies and Rain Coming Down in Haymarket, VA

I checked the rain gauge and at 4:00 P.M. we had close to 3 1/2 inches since yesterday evening. Update: Friday morning our rain count has reached 5 1/4 inches.

Everything is getting wet and puddles are popping up in my flowerbeds.

In contrast to the first three pics look at these last two pics. I took these yesterday morning whileit was still dry. I could just begin to see a little color on the trees.

Less than a month from now my backyard will be sporting lots of yellow, orange and red color.

Final Thought For This Post: This is the first time I have been able to post on Skywatch Friday since we experienced the lost of our daughter Jeanine's fiance, Bryan Rearick. Bryan died at the young age of 35 of a massive heart attack on August 24. We all miss him so much.

For those of you that knew of this family tragedy and sent us your condolences thank you so much. It is comforting to know that you are keeping Jeanine and Bryan's parents in your thoughts and prayers.

Skywatch Friday is here:

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Before Rainy Weather = Great Time To Transplant

Before Rainy Weather = Great Time To Transplant

Today tropical storm Nicole is giving everyone along the Atlantic seaboard lots of rain. Yesterday in anticipation of the rain I transplanted some Creeping Jenny to some new locations. Creeping Jenny is a great ground cover because if grows so fast, it looks great and most important the wild bunnies that visit my yard can't possibly eat all of it in any bed. It would be like if the wild bunnies came in and destroyed your lawn. The creeping Jenny in the black pot above I started as a transplant about 8 weeks ago. Look how it has grown.

Weather Note: I checked the rain gauge on the patio and we have gotten 2 1/2 inches of rain overnight.

Walking and Talking

Walking and Talking

Jeanine and Jack Aidan

Jeanine: Jack do you like pre-school?

Jack Aidan: Yes!

Jeanine: Do you like your teacher?

Jack Aidan: Yes!

Jeanine: What does she tell you to do?

Jack Aidan: Put on my listening ears.

Jeanine: Ok, I get the picture now.

I Love Sunflowers!

I Love Sunflowers!

These I grew from birdseed that sprouted under my birdfeeders.

Raining In Virginia This Monday

Raining In Virginia This Monday

Like The Couple In The Painting We Might Get Wet In A Mud Puddle

Have A Good Monday!

Iona Mae Brunswick Gariety Turns 80 Sunday

Iona Mae Brunswick Gariety Turns 80 Sunday

Iona Mae Brunswick Gariety, the widow of my older brother Paul Gariety, turns 80 this Sunday, September 26. I took this photo of Iona way back in 1968. I posed Iona next to one of her favorite oil paintings that she created. Iona was quite the artist. Jack, Jennifer, Jeanine and I wish you a HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

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Added comment: Iona was also quite a seamtress. She made these pinch pleated drapes that you see in the background of the photo.

A Little Bird Watcher

A Little Bird Watcher

Our Jack Aidan now has his own pair of binoculars for watching the birds in our backyard.
And for one whole week he wanted to be a "big bird" for Halloween.
But that was last week.
This week he wants to be a "big giant".
Jack's Daddy considered buying him a Giants t-shirt even though Daddy was almost choking on that thought since he is a died in the wool RedSox fan.

Hydrangea Blossoms Turned Dusty Pink

Hydrangea Blossoms Turned Dusty Pink
Remember those blue, blue hydrangea blossoms I posted around June 17?

Well, by this past September 17 they had turned a dusty pink.
Look below.

So, Happy First Day of Fall!

NARFE Meeting For September 15

NARFE Meeting For September 15, 2010
Owner of The Flower Gallery in Manassas spoke to the group about his flower business while making three lovely floral arrangements.

Look below.

All these lovely arrangement were auctioned off to raise money for the NARFE's chapter's Alzheimers Research Fund.

Weird Butterfly Photos

Weird Butterfly Photos
A butterfly found the window a great place alight.


I grabbed my camera to take a photo.
My camera is reflected in the glass of the window along with the pic of the butterfly.


Another weird butterfly photo

This Is A Great, Great Read

This Is A Great, Great Read

Go to my other blog, PiedmontReaders, to learn more about this book and why the book club members loved it so much. http://piedmontreaders.blogspot.com/

Parade Down Washington St. In Haymarket

Parade Down Washington St. In Haymarket, VA
Big Jack and Little Jack Enjoyed The Parade
Geico Geckle

The Moo Cow

Our Local High School Band Performed

The Battlefield High Bulldogs

(Named Battlefield Because of Proximity to Bull Run Civil War Battlefield)

My Black Knight Butterfly Bush

My Black Knight Butterfly Bush

These Flowers For Hayden Moss

These Flowers For Hayden Moss

These flowers are for Hayden Moss who was the last Brigade member standing and consequently won half a million dollars on Big Brother last night. Hayden was my pick to win the big money. He's from Arizona State and is a former baseball pitcher. And I'm glad that everyone reacted with disgust to Mensa Matty's big lie about his wife.

Butterflies On My Butterfly Bush

Butterflies On My Butterfly Bush

I took my own advice yesterday and spent time outside drinking coffee and looking for butterflies and hummingbirds. I discovered two butterflies on my butterfly bush enjoying the bush's necter.

Transitions

Transitions

This is the time of year when we transition from summer living to autumn living. The light lavender blooms on my lirope grass have changed already from deep purple and will continue to change till as late October and Halloween nears they will be deep black.

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For the past three weeks school children have left vacation behind and headed back to the classrooms. So have millions of college students. Even our little Jack Aidan is heading to preschool twice a week these days.

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The weather has changed too. Here in Virginia we have left the 90 degree temps behind and have wonderful temps in the low 80s and with low humidity! Yeah! And yesterday I awoke to see my first real deep foggy fall morning in Haymarket. It was so foggy that I couldn't see the mountains to the west from my second floor window.

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But what else besides the above events and of course, fall football is telling me that fall is fast approaching around September 21? Why, you know it. It is the wrap up this week of summer TV shows and the inauguration of the new season of fall TV shows. Yesterday I watched on Oprah the launch of her 25'th and final season. Wow, she knows how to surprise and delight her audience. Oprah is picking up the tab for her most loyal viewers to go with her to Australia for eight days. (Jack commented that I should have been a more faithful viewer. LOL!) Tomorrow will be the end and the beginning for me and reality TV. Big Brother has its finale and Survivor begins a new season. I'm rooting for Hayden to win Big Brother and I think The Oldsters versus The Youngsters (30 and under) on this year's Survivor should be very interesting.

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So here's to transitions. Take that cup of morning coffee outdoors to experience the nice fall morning sunshine and to look for the hummingbirds circling the feeders and the butterflies feeding on the butterfly bush. Remember that another transition is approaching soon---the flight of the hummingbirds and the butterflies to warmer climates as our days get cooler.

A Great Distraction: Fall Football

A Great Distraction: Fall Football
My Favorite Winning Teams This Weekend:
Ohio State
James Madison University
Washington Redskins

New England Patriots
Hayfield Secondary in Fairfax County
Battlefield High School in Prince William County

Arlington Cemetery Service For Bryan Rearick

The Arlington Cemetery Service For Bryan Rearick

The Arlington National Cemetery service for Bryan Rearick was held on Friday, September 10. Many, many people attended the military service that included prayers read by an Army chaplain, the 21 gun salute, the playing of Taps and the presentation of the folded flag. Then with great reverence and dignity Bryan's cremains were placed in Court 7 of the Columbarium. The stateliness and dignity of the memorial service provided some sense of closure and comfort for all of us grieving the loss of Bryan.

All the military and civilian workers at Arlington National Cemetery need to be commended for the excellent service they provide for all the grieving families. Each day around four funeral services are held each hour. Around 16 funerals per day need to be arranged. This is done each and every day with great dignity and respect. Thank you, Arlington National Cemetery!

In Memoriam Two More People Have Died

In Memoriam

Two More People Have Died

My close friend, Delaine Walker, lost her father this past week in New Mexico. Delaine's father was a military veteran and will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in October. Jack and I plan to attend the memorial service at Arlington.

My sister, Mary Ellen Thobe of Tipp City, Ohio lost her sister-in-law, Mary Jane Thobe, who was for many, many years a Precious Blood nun with the order in Dayton, Ohio. I remember Mary Jane Thobe as Sister Elsina who spent most of her adult life persuing advanced degrees and teaching first grade at many different schools in Ohio.

Jack and I want to extend our condolences to both the Walker family and to the Thobe family.

Bryan's Funeral Services--Time Change

We just learned that the time of Bryan's services at Arlington Cemetery will be 9:00 am versus 10:00 am on September 10. That means you should arrive at the Cemetery's Adminstration Building by 8:30 if you plan on attending.