Held Hostage!

I'd like to think I had no expectations for last night's "al fresco" dinner.  I would love to write that after hours in the wind, dirt and heat cleaning everything that I didn't have visions of us all sitting on the patio enjoying a cool breeze and chatting causally about the day over dinner.  Well, change doesn't happen overnight for most things, so I'll be honest and say that I did.  However, I was very much a realist when my kids came running back inside, plates in hand, all talking in very loud, fast voices, that the cat was back!!!  Ugh!  Well, there you go.  And the hostage situation continues and I was left with an "al fresco flop".  It wasn't a totally loss.  The food was good, the conversation great and it was actually more pleasant to be inside with the cool breeze of the air conditioner and the fan.  Quite possibly that cat was a blessing in disguise... this time.  I even surprised the kids with the first watermelon of the summer yesterday!  It wasn't the best, but I must say it was much better than I expected.  And I can sit from my favorite chair now and admire my clean FINISHED porch!  Yeah!! 

After we put the kids to bed I took part in my favorite household "chore".... watering the gardens/flowerbeds.  I love seeing the changes, the growth, the beautiful flowers, and the yummy fruits and vegetables take shape.  It's so peaceful and I can just let my thoughts wander while enjoying the coolness of the evening and the quiet that it brings.  However, my captors were not going to let loose so easily.  The cat had rallied up some of his "possy"... 3 small yappy dogs to intrude on me.  Not pleased with their approach, I did the most reasonable thing I could think of and sprayed them (gently of course) with the water hose.  They backed away at first, but can you believe it... they came back!!!!  They LIKED it!!!  One of the dogs actually looked as if his mouth was hanging open to catch water!!!  Ugh!  I just can't win.  As if I don't have enough to be held hostage of out here with all the creepy crawlies, now I have a whole herd of stray cats and dogs to fuss with!!!  Sometimes you just can't win.  Not only am I being held hostage to my house, but to my fears of being bitten by some nasty lil' critter out there.  In fact the other night I crawled in to bed and leapt out screaming!!!  I was fully convinced I had been bitten by a scorpion!  After further "inspection" by my husband it was in fact the zipper on my pillow cover that pinched me.  Oh well!  At least I can laugh at myself!!  LOL!!!  And if all this isn't enough, look what we found in the back yard!

Yup!  That's right!  That my friends is a cactus!  Now if you're not convinced we live in the country I don't know what will!  In fact, I've come up with a new Top 5 list of things "You know you live in the country when..."  I'll share it with you soon!

Well, in "honor" of cinco de Mayo we're going to change things up a bit and have fajitas today.  Technically it's still a family favorite so it goes with the "theme" this week.  We are going to attempt to eat outside again.  I refuse to let these animals get the upper-hand! LOL! 

Adios Amigos!!!