Fried Pumpkin blossoms

 Fried pumpkin blossoms hot from the skillet!

 

Farmer's Market Haul part 2

 It's Saturday so off we went to the Effingham Farmers Market! We swore we were going to buy no sweets, we lied! We did buy melons and veggies, including some delicious pumpkin blossoms! However we couldn't pass up the strawberry-chocolate cinnamon rolls, homemade angel food cake and Sourdough bread (we've had if before)! I got my beautiful fresh flowers as always! Everyone stay cool, it's a scorcher today!

 

Steampunk display window

 Our front window at Country Creek Treasures has been steampunked! Some of these items are mine, but our team members came through with lots of great Victorian items! Kristy’s Kafe of Salem IL willl serve you breakfast or lunch in our steampunk room if you choose. Stop in and check it out!

 

 

Shrimp and sausage 20 minute skillet dinner....lunch today!

 Shrimp and sausage 20 minute skillet dinner....lunch today!

 

Yum!

 Having a double cupcake ice cream sundae at Kristy’s Kafe of Salem IL ! Double Yum!

 

Ballard's Nature Center

 Bill and I hiked the trails at Ballard Nature Center in Altamont IL this morning. It was a cool morning so the wooded areas were very pleasant for walking. The prairie area was at it's prettiest, but the swamp area was closed due to all of the flooding we have had this year, was disappointed we didn't get to see it. The visitor's center is always closed on Sunday, but we have visited it several times before. Kudos to the staff for keeping the paths mowed and cleared! We took a quick selfie on the bridge at the end of our walk, it was getting hot!

 

Birthday dinner

 I treated my sweetie to a Birthday steak dinner at Applebee's today. He got carded when he ordered a beer...the waitress started laughing, you know, because he's really old! He got a free ice cream sundae too! It was a fun day. He said thank you for all of the birthday wishes, they are much appreciated!

 

Happy Birthday, Bill!

 If you see this guy out today, please wish him a Happy Birthday! Bill Halterman

 

Bumble bee moth

 This bumble bee moth has been visiting my flowers a lot lately. He looks like a small hummingbird. His wings are mostly clear, but also look like a hummingbirds wings. Very interesting!

 

A Luna moth greeted us this morning. So beautiful!

 A Luna moth greeted us this morning. So beautiful!

 

Farmer's Market Haul

 Went to the Farmer's Market in Effingham today, got homegrown veggies and melons, flowers, cinnamon apple rolls and cherry pie. That's about all I accomplished today, as I have an ear infection in both ears. I had to get antibiotics...We were invited to a customer appreciation/birthday celebration at Blair's processing in Louisville tonight. I really wanted to go, but no dice. Bill went though and brought home some delicious food for me, thank you Hope Horath, so thoughtful of you!

 

It HOT

 The heat index is 121° right now and the wind speed is 1 mph..

 

Happy 31st Anniversary to us

 Happy 31st anniversary to my wonderful, kind, thoughtful, caring and hilarious husband, Bill Halterman today. Love you so much and love doing life with you, it's a new adventure everyday!

 

A little friend

I have a little friend visiting me outside today. I know he's just here for the salt, but he's very pretty!

 

Today's funny

 

Baby blue birds

 We had quite a thunder boomer an hour ago, now there is part of a rainbow! Also, our little bluebird babies are getting restless. It won't be long and they will leave the nest.

 

What a strange looking sky tonight! This is the actual color.

 What a strange looking sky tonight! This is the actual color.

 

Air Fryer bread

 I made peasant bread in my air fryer today! Perfect!

 

Scopes Monkey aTrial Re-enactment

 A re-enactment of the Scope's Monkry trial was performed in Bryan Park in Salem today. For those who are not local, William Jennings Bryan was born in Salem, Illinois and ran for president three times, also lost three times. He was the prosecutor in this case. Scopes was accused of teaching evolution to his students, which went against the Bible. He was defended by the famous Clarence Darrow.The trial was eventually held outside as it was July and extremely hot. It was the first trial broadcast nationally on radio 100 years ago this month. As soon as the play started it began raining and rained for an hour and a half. The rain ended as soon as the play was over! Me and my dear friend Teresa Dalton sat in the rain under an umbrella and got drenched. Everyone else stayed too. We then went to El Patron for some delicious Mexican food. We had a nice long visit. Quite the interesting day!

 

July Red Hat meeting

 Had lunch with my Red Hat sisters today! We played sharades, played (sang) patriotic song games and had a great time as always.