What a pleasant surpise on a drear, rainy morn to come to the Palace and find our Wildfire has come for a visit. Welcome, we'll help (in our own little way) to help you settle, rest and focus. Sorry to hear of the health problems.

And we can help to count down to another visit from the Irishman. And now a Jamaican blessing as well. Do tell.

As I said, rainy here at the moment, but a soft gentle rain that would have kept me on the patio of P&T longer but for a planned lunch w/friend. Also just have some things that need a little attention before I move on to the Holiday Week. DD & crew will be coming up for Fourth and when they leave on fifth, Eleven will stay on for a few, much anticipated days. DD returns o'er the weekend and will take Eleven home after DD and I meet with atty on Monday. (Yes, the lawsuit coninueth.)

So I'm puttering along here. Some of yesterday's pound loss disappeared overnight (expected it would) but I concentrate on the fact I have not gained essentially over the past two years of turmoil. Really feel like I could nap (or read on patio) all day. Unfortunately, no Magic Hag to come in and take care of all the nitty-gritties.

AND, ANYWAY, 'TIS FRIDAY - A FAVORITE DAY IN THE PALACE - SO A HUGE SHOUTOUT TO MY ROYAL COHORTS.

What an absolutely beautiful day here today! No humidity, around 25C with a refreshing breeze....too bad I was in the Office of Malcontent all day. Just came in from watering my gardens and noticing all the bits here and there that need tending this weekend. My orange lilies are in full bloom and such a vibrant orange they are! (Will post pics over the weekend.) Spot, my affectionately named lungwort, is doing marvelously after his first flowering season, and the hostas are flowering already. The black-eyed susans are well on their way, too. I suspect they will be in bloom in another couple of weeks.

Happy Long Weekend to my fellow Canucks! I'll reserve the flag waving for the official day. Not much planned here, other than getting together with The Jamaican on Sunday evening to hang out for a few hours. He has become a dear friend to me over this last year. Again, I am lucky to have a DH that is secure enough in our relationship not to have a problem with me having male friends. Not that he would have much choice if I set my mind to it, but it is better this way.

Anagram, sounds like a lovely rain this morning. We are in need of some this way if you could send it when you are finished. City has issued a watering ban today, so the grass will be crunchy until further notice. We are allowed to hand water plants so the garden will survive, but no sprinklers allowed until further notice. You have a busy week ahead with visitors!

Hail Amarantha! Always good to see thee, too! I don't have a running spirit, wish I did. You do the cardio for me, and I'll lift for you? Deal?

Now where is everyone else?

Deal, Wildfire!

Okay, I'm off...I wanted to get a good, self motivating post in before I left, but, alas, the procrastinator that dwelleth within me had other plans...namely, being up, packing, til 3am!

That's just me, last minute Lulu, I don't know any other way to be.

BUT! I am packed, stopped the mail (5 minutes ago), kenneled the dog, locked the windows, called my folks...I guess I'd best get my ample rear into the shower before my nephew gets here to pick me up. I just have this vague feeling that I've forgotten something....

I love the quote from Louisa May, Kaylets! I wrote it down to remember, what a lovely thought.

Re: fireworks. Deathly afraid. Love to watch them, don't want to be anywhere near them. Having a July 3rd birthday always made it kind of hard to avoid them...but they scared the daylights out of me. Not sure why.

Hi, Wildfire! This is a fine, cool palace for a summer retreat...welcome to you and the cats!

Okay, royals...I need to get moving here, Vegas calls. Happiest of holidays to all, I will give Elvis your regards....

Have a great trip. AND a GREAT BIRTHDAY.

Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canucks!

Yes, Happy Canada Day to the folks up north!

I lost 1.6 pounds this week (signature didn't really reflect my weight, which was 144.6 last week). I am movin' on into July towards my goal and tryin' to reconnect with self.

Plus work, which I must do now![/b]

I have been blogging daily but I am just so overwhelmed to come to the boards. I don't mean to be so self centered, I am just trying to survive. You all are so dear to me. I walked over 100 minutes over my June goal. {it was just 10 days of June) Onto my July one. Hi Wildfire! xoxox everyone, hopefully my life will improve soon. Or at least my house get sold.

Glorious day in my corner of the world. Another beautiful 23C day...I much prefer these so-called "cool" summer days to the oppressive heat of 30C or more.

Hey...I have one good eating day accomplished AND started a new med that might help my ever-present gut problems. I tried this med a couple of years ago and it made me rather ill, but so far (after one day and three doses) I haven't the slightest twinge of symptoms.

DH leaves for PA sometime in the wee hours tonight. He prefers to avoid border line-ups and cross in the middle of the night. He goes to spend the 4th of July with his friends and family there, so I've spent much of today getting things ready for him to go, sewing for his aunt, and making a Victorian tassle bride doll for his cousin who got married. I snapped some pictures of the doll prior to packing her in bubble wrap for the trip, so when I get them transferred I will share.

Spoke with The Irishman yesterday and he confirmed that he will try to make it for a visit during the week I am on vacation (week of Aug 18-26), and when he says he will try it is all but done. It has been a year since I saw him last, and I cannot wait! So, I've got 47 days, give or take a day, to get back in the swing of things and get the scale moving downwards!

Hi Arabella and thanks for the welcome home! Anagram's rain must have made it right to you and skipped us completely. Yes, my guys are fabulous, each one of them. Do tell about this reunion with your old friend!

Happy July, Amarantha! I think this is going to be a great summer here in the palace....I see us all looking sleek and strong by the next solstice.

Hi Flower! Are you still trying to sell your place in Nevada (?)...I see you've moved to Florida already.

Hello to everyone else!

Yep, still attempting to sell my NV place. It has been a low journey. Dieting/excersice is easy compared to selling property! I can at least control what goes in my mouth and how much I move. lol

Hi everyone! Hope the rain, humidity, heat isn't too much in your neck of the woods.

PA, you say? Well, next year you'll have to ride along and come to the south central area or I'll meet up with you somewhere

A belated Canada Day to all our northern s - and Glorious 4th tomorrow to we southerners (so to speak).

Lovely to see such enthuriasm. The palace seems nicely populated once again. Another beautiful day here today as well. Temps creeping up but more to glorious summer than to hot, miserable summer (that will come back next week, I'm told).

Been being busy. just cooking to do now (if one counts cutting watermelon, cantalope, etc. as cooking plus as little real cooking). And then a few days with some of my fave peoples.

Exercise was tough so far this week. Went to tai chi yesterday only to find it cancelled for some reason. Went to pool this a.m. only to find it summarily closed, again for reasons unknown. Walking grocery store for more than an hour today will have to cover it.

Onward to July Jubilation.....................................