Precious sister time; GREATgrandchild!

I just went outside to check my flowers a while ago and was surprised how cool it felt.  72 degrees feels almost cold after the extreme heat we've had so much of this summer.  I'm so excited that we finally have sunflowers blooming, and also that our tiny new knockout rose is starting to take off at last.  

But look at our dry grass!  We need rain so very badly!

My Lancaster County sisters finally came to my house on Friday and Saturday!  We had set a few weekend dates for their annual visit which needed to be canceled due to COVID concerns.  This was our third try, and we decided to go ahead and be as careful as possible.  

They arrived right around lunch time on Friday, and I had ordered pizza to be delivered.  After lunch and lots of chatter, they relaxed and we talked and talked some more as I worked on prepping dinner for Anthony and Lori and for us.  I love that my kitchen has this "window" so I can keep up with the conversations while I'm working!  I hate to miss anything!

Later in the afternoon we took dinner (roasted sausage, veggies, and sweet potatoes) over to Anthony and Lori's place.  We sat by the pond for a while, but it soon was too hot to be enjoyable.  On the way back home we stopped at Wegmans for a few things.

We ate dinner on the side porch and sat out there talking till the bugs were biting.  But none of us took any pictures.  Then we came in and watched a really funny movie called "Guess Who."  It was great to have some good laughs when there are so many troubling things.

In the morning we enjoyed coffee on the porch in our pajamas.  Mary Ellen took this picture of Doris and me.  I wish we had gotten one of all three of us.

After we got ourselves cleaned up and prettied up we went downtown to Sowers Harvest Cafe for brunch.  We had scrumptious food, really good coffee, and more great converstions.

From there we went to the arboretum for a very relaxing stroll.  

After we finished there we came home and sat for quite a while on the front porch.  We also looked at some of my old pictures from the days when we were the oldest three at home, after our brother and our oldest sister had married and left home.  We had some good laughs over them.   

And then they packed up to go home.  A shorter weekend than usual, but we had gotten in the most important things we always look forward to.  

On Sunday morning we had our outdoor service.  I always take a picture during the service for the church's Facebook page.  This time, as I was taking the picture from the cemetery across the road, I heard the sounds of the Westminster Chime song that plays every day at 10:00 AM from the airport.  Each Sunday when it starts I always think, "I should record that sometime."  So when I heard it this time, I quickly switched my camera to video mode.  You can hear it faintly in the distance. 

We took it easy the rest of the day Sunday. 

On Monday evening when I went outside to water the flowers I noticed our very first sunflower.  I was so excited!  I also said goodbye to our last lily.  I really, really hate to see them all gone. I was happy to see that my coleus are growing nicely in their shady corner.  The lower right picture was taken Monday morning.  Again, you can see how dry our grass is. 

Yesterday was an exciting day!  Destiny and Alex's baby boy was born at 12:23 PM, weighing in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces, and 18 inches long.  He's a tiny one, healthy and perfect!  His name is Elizer Yamil Andino.   I absolutely cannot get enough pictures of him, and I can't stop looking at them!!

Some Daddy-son time.

Because of COVID restrictions they are not allowed any visitors.  They'll be going home tomorrow.  I'm hoping to get to see him on Saturday for a little while.  

And one last picture that I took this morning.  I'm glad that the sun is no longer full blast when I get up at 6:15.  But I am not looking forward to dark mornings and evenings either.  I need to stop thinking about it and enjoy what's left of summer daylight!

Have a good rest of the week!