Susan Says . . .

Warm weather dominated the week, with temperatures at or near 90° several days. A balmy south breeze made the weather bearable but we’ve started using fans and dug pairs of shorts out of the dresser drawers. Most of our flowers have quit blooming but the hydrangeas outside the back bedroom have fluffy white blossoms and Queen Anne’s lace and purple vetch adorn the nearby field. Our potted plants are flourishing in the late spring sunshine and tiny blades are appearing in the new pot where I planted lemon cosmos.

The week began with the Memorial Day holiday and several folks gathered at Hillcrest Cemetery for the annual service of remembrance. We had a rare Monday off work and Jim spent most of the day laying bricks and stone tiles in our new walkway. Joe, Heather and the grandkids dropped by for a visit followed by our friends the Holtons, visiting from the Chicago area.

I worked at the office Tuesday morning and Jim and his helper showed up shortly before I left to haul away our old layout tables. When I arrived home we made a trip to Siloam where Jim purchased more tiles, sand and landscape timbers for the walk and I bought a few Gerbera daisies. We stopped in Gentry on our way home for Little Debbie snacks.

Wednesday was a busy day. Jim mowed the yard after breakfast while I wrote a letter I’d been putting off and finished the book I’d been reading. We visited a friend northwest of town that afternoon so Jim could check on some work he wanted done andwent to get haircuts when we returned to town. There was a spectacular display of lightning in the northwest that evening followed by an overnight shower that watered the garden.

Jim went to a friend’s home to do a little job Thursday morning and I drove to Aunt Leta’s to visit with cousin Kay who was here from Texas. I dropped by the library to leave a book and went with Jim to a farm south of town that afternoon. We enjoyed visiting and watching the large goldfish in a nearby pool.

I attended granddaughter Alyssa’s kindergarten graduation Friday morning and was happy when they announced her music award. Jim put up trim at our hairdresser’s home while I worked at the office and joined me at lunchtime forhamburgers from the bank.

I took several items for recycling Saturday morning, then we visited the farmers’ market and bought some broccoli and greens. Spring produce was displayed in the attractive booths as well as handmade fishing weights in various sizes and charming birdhouses. We took grandson A .J. to mow Aunt Leta’s yard in early afternoon and watched a golf tournament and the Belmont Stakes when we returned.

We made a trip to Southwest City Sunday morning and dropped by niece Laura’s on our way home.Her son Austin was anxious to go fishing and met us at the door with his rod and tackle box.

-Susan Holland Susan Holland, who works for The News Herald, is a lifelong Benton County resident.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 06/09/2010