British Isles

T also received this postcard...

from a special education teacher who lives in North Augusta, South Carolina.

The postcard shows a school room map of the British Isles.

The British Isles is a group of islands off the northwestern coast of continental Europe that consists of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, and over six thousand smaller islands.  Two sovereign states are located on the islands:  Ireland (the Republic of Ireland) which covers five-sixths of the island of the same name, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the United Kingdom).

source:  Wikipedia

Germany

T received this postcard from Germany.

The postcard shows a horse chestnut in blossom near Le Thoronet, France.

Aesculus hippocastanum is a large deciduous tree, commonly known as horse chestnut or conker tree.

The common name "horse chestnut" is reported as having originated from the erroneous belief that the tree was a kind of chestnut (though in fact only distantly related), together with the observation that eating the fruit cured horses of chest complaints despite this plant being poisonous to horses.

The nuts, especially those that are young and fresh, are slightly poisonous.  Although not dangerous to touch, they cause sickness when eaten.  When consumed by horses, they can cause tremors and lack of coordination.  Some mammals, notably deer, are able to break down the toxins and eat them safely.

In Britain and Ireland, the nuts are used for the popular children's game "conkers."

Cultivation for its spectacular spring flowers is successful in a wide range of temperate climatic conditions provided summers are not too hot.

source:  Wikipedia

Finland

T received this postcard today...from Finland.

Actually, it wasn't a postcard...but rather a card (sent in an envelope).  The only thing printed on the back of the card was "Hallmark."

The sender had written on the inside of the card that she is a teacher, on her third week of summer holiday.

She also noted that the temperature at 7:00 am on the date she had written the card (June 19th) was 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit).

Flowers

I knew it had been a while since I had made a special lunch for T.  When I double-checked, I discovered it had been almost two months.  :/

So...today, I made this lunch for T.

• three flower-shaped sandwiches (one on white bread and two on wheat bread) with carrot slices for the centers
• flower-shaped tortilla chips
• fresh pineapple in a flower-shaped silicone muffin cup
• caterpillar and butterfly Keebler Bug Bites cinnamon graham crackers

The lunch was well-received.  :)

Linked to:
   What's for Lunch Wednesday
   Fun Food Friday

Barbecue Festival

My husband took a vacation day from work last Friday so he and T could attend the Blue Ridge BBQ Festival in Tryon, North Carolina.  Admission is free from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Friday.  (At all other times, adult tickets are $8.)

Here is T, ready for some fun!

Here is T, distracted by his reflection in the window of the race car!

Here is T, spinning in the strawberry ride!

Here is T, thoroughly enjoying his ice cream on a hot afternoon!

Yes, my husband is big into barbecue...and takes a vacation day each year in order not to miss this annual event.  ;-)

Wedding Shower

The wedding shower on Saturday for my niece and her fiancé was a fabulous success!  :D  At least two people commented that it was the best party I've done yet!  Yay!!

It was So Much Fun, from beginning to end...including all of the preparations and the party itself.  I can hardly wait to tell you all about it.  :)

The Happy Couple

Thankful

Our water heater sprang a leak late yesterday afternoon...resulting in lots of water to clean up, lots of wet, soggy boxes to go through.  Oh, what a mess, what a chore!

We are told to be thankful in everything.*  I am so thankful...

• so thankful I was home,
• so thankful I noticed the small puddle of water on the garage floor (caught it early),
• so thankful my mom was visiting (and was able and willing to help),
• so thankful my husband was in town (and able to leave work early),
• so thankful my husband was able to fix the problem (and was willing to help with the clean-up),
• so thankful it was not blazing hot outside (as we hauled box after box to the driveway),
• so thankful it was not raining or wet outside.

I dragged my bone-weary body inside the house at 11:30 pm.  I haven't been that exhausted in a while (at least not since the last party I hosted!  haha.)

*1 Thessalonians 5:18  "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."