...awe!

Lucy just might be the cutest dog in the world!

...survive!

This is what I found as I came home from James' promotion.  The tree that was marked for destruction is gone.  So are all the paving stones.  However, we have some survivors in the back! 

My geraniums are still there (minus the middle one I transplanted).  I wonder when they will go...

...pin!

In the middle of nowhere, as the wind pounded sand on the outside of the K-Span (think modern day Quonset hut), while several Marines waited at parade rest (stand at ease), I pinned on my husband's new rank insignia. 

Congrats to my hubby for being promoted!  I'm proud of him and all he's accomplished in these few years.  I have to say it's a very good thing that I brought in those homemade cinnamon rolls.  The Marines had to wait around for quite a while as a mock folder was created.  They didn't have the paper to read for his promotion because it got sent to the wrong unit.  Marines are very ceremonial/professional.  So, the proper wording was found, quickly typed up, and read to get things all squared away.  Now everything is all official! 

If only he can remember to change his voice mail message over to his new rank...

...baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

We saw this on the way back from the store today.

It's not your average truck bed passenger!

...roll!

You guys are good! Bethany (blog comment) and Meagan (facebook) both guessed it. 'Good job, girls!

These little yummies (three plus trays) are to be packed up in my little car and headed off to see James. Don't worry. They aren't all for him. They are for his Marines that will be at his promotion ceremony. That's right. James will be promoted tomorrow!!! Sorry. I can't say to what rank on this public blog, but we are excited about his advancement. Soon, I'll be headed up to his work to help pin on his new insignia. Yea! I promise to be gentle. *wink*

Time is running short, so I'd better roll! (Yep. 'Couldn't resist that one.)

...ask you a question.

What is this? Can anyone guess what my latest creation is? No. It isn't abstract art. It's much, much sweeter!

Hint: This is not it's final form.

Good luck guessing. You won't have long to wait. I'll post a picture of the finished product soon!

...be marked for destruction!

"I live in base housing."

"I rent from a government contracted rental company."

"The common area outside does not belong to me."

I keep telling myself these things so that I keep my positive attitude over some big changes here. I feel sad over new landscaping because my geraniums have been marked for destruction! Yep. The flowers that I've fretted over--that prevailed over almost certain death, will meet their fate at the hands of our landscape specialist tomorrow. He was wearing a big, straw hat as he told me the news. "My boss says these go!" It might as well have been a executioner's hooded mask.

Okay, perhaps I am being a bit dramatic. I'll let you be the judge. Won't it be sad to see these go?

This little guy is the one that I thought was a gonner back in March. Remember this sad little picture?

I had to save him! So, I scrounged up a pot and some potting soil. I even made sure his good luck gnome went with him to his new home. Hopefully, this little trooper will survive the transplant!

There are some things I won't be sorry to see go. The paving stones protruding from my dead grass will not be missed. My tree that keeps threatening to grown over our little passage between it and the house wasn't good for much more than a place to park Lucy. Here she is keeping watch while I saved the geranium. The orange spray paint (circled) indicates that these have been marked for destruction. The good news in all of this is that Lucy will end up with a fenced portion of our yard. She will be able to go outside for longer than it takes me to tend my flowers or walk her. That will be a big relief for her and me. So, this change is good.

"This change is good."

"This change is good."

"This change is good!"