Yes, that's right....I actually used the "H" word.  But I just can't think of a better way to describe my feelings towards the curse that afflicts our home state every spring and fall.  I hate....

Lovebugs! 

I'm not talking about the sweet type of lovebugs...

Or even the famous type love bugs...

But the type I refer to are none other than those grotesque little black flies with a red thorax that have been invading our lives every year in April-May and August-September for as long as I can remember here in Florida .

The little nastys congregate in unbelievable numbers along highways, where they fulfill their life's ambition by splattering themselves on windshields and grills of unsuspecting, passing cars & trucks.  Windshields become covered with the fatty remains, and vision is obscured. During flights, the flies clog radiator fins causing cars to overheat. They also get into refrigeration equipment on trucks causing them to malfunction. The fatty tissue will cause pitting of the car's finish if it is not removed within a few days. Flies enter cars and sometimes drivers and passengers soil their clothing by sitting on lovebugs. They are also a considerable nuisance to fresh paint. The flies enter houses under construction in such numbers that carpenters refuse to work. Beekeepers complain because worker bees do not visit flowers that have been infested with the flies.

However, never to leave you on a negative note, here are...

Four Things to Like about Love Bugs!

So here we are again.  Time to start in on a new school year!  For us, it is our 14th year of homeschooling, and we have two students left in our little academy.  The twinnies, Sami & Kellen are in their junior year of high school this year.

The temps are in the 90's during the day, the sprinklers are hard at work this morning and our TV meteorologist tells us that there are already tropical storms out in the Atlantic . 

Summer is here!

Even though our normal school routine is over for a few months, summer is still a busy time and I still love using the slow cooker.  We also love to cook on the grill a lot during the summer months.  Grill cooking is a favorite of mine too, since it usually means that I have a helper willing to do the grilling for me!  :)

Here's this week's plan:

Monday:  Grain Burgers with all the fixins

Tuesday:  Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry

Wednesday:  Spinach & Swiss Quiche

Thursday:  Bayou-Style Pot Pie

Friday:  Smorgasborg Night (Leftovers)

Saturday:  Roasted Veggies & Fettucine

Sunday:  Crock Pot Roast Beef with potatoes & carrots

Have a blessed week and be sure to click over to Laura's Organizing Junkie website for more menu planning ideas and, this week - a free giveaway!

Thirteen years ago, our homeschool journey began.  Two years ago, we graduated our first homeschooled student from high school, painstakingly planning, in great detail, the perfect homeschool graduation ceremony.  (You can read a little about it here: http://www.homesteadblogger.com/LakeLady/56311/ )  It was a beautiful thing.  Surrounded by 80 of our closest friends and family, we celebrated with a slide show featuring pictures of the graduate from birth on - complete with sentimental music (...wasn't a dry eye in the place), catered food, centerpieces, cake and a diploma presentation featuring encouraging words from the pastor. 

Fast forward two years and our son is now graduating from high school.  As we did with our daughter, we allowed him to choose the type of graduation ceremony he wanted.  Cap & gowns with other grads, private ceremony like his sister's...?  Not a chance!  And what a blast we had!!  Here is a pic of our grad (top right) with his sister and the "principal" enjoying part of his "graduation ceremony."

Congrats Class of '09!!!

For more "Show & Tell Friday" visit Canada Girl's Blog.  The pictures and stories you'll find there are amazing - not to mention, entertaining! :-)

Last weekend, my daughter and I had the opportunity to take a somewhat impromptu road trip.  It all started when my mom and her hubbie, who were wintering here in Florida, had an emergency and had to fly home to Illinois, leaving their Airstream camper, truck and two little dachsunds behind.  Any pet owner can imagine how hard it was to leave those two little doggies, not knowing how or when you'd be able to get them back home to you. 

(Rusty and Spike)

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!  Hope you get lots of love and attention on this special day!

Here is a pic of a stuffie I made for a swap entitled, "Valentine's Stuffie" on Swap-bot.com.  We had to make an original stuffie at least 5" tall with a valentine's theme.  My kitty turned out rather goofy - in a lovable sort of way, but Mona, the gal I sent him to - loved him! 

It was just like any typical Sunday morning around our house...or so I thought! 

I had been up, had the coffee brewed and the roast in the crock pot, when the next item on my morning agenda was to let the dogs out for their morning, pre-breakfast romp.  Gracie our older doggie, was easily located in her usual place - the pillow bed where Sami tucks her snuggly each night.  However, Scout was not in his usual place - the basket in the boys room.  I softly called his name and whistled...searched under the beds...on the beds..in the closet...in the other bedrooms...the zone...the laundry room...

Even though our kids are older and can put themselves to bed on a Saturday night, I still usually tuck everyone in at night before I go to bed myself - just because I enjoy it.  :-)  But the previous evening had been different for me and I came in from my studio, worn out and just managed to get myself in bed, much less the kids and dogs! 

The Sandhill Cranes arrive in October and leave us sometime in early spring, but we certainly enjoy hearing their haunting cries and seeing their playful antics as they feed in the cow pastures while they're here! 

Where, oh where, did she go??  Was she accidentally locked away in a neighbor's shed? .....Trapped in someone's garage? ...Or...maybe even holed up and hiding out in the barn on the hill, awaiting the departure of the two little weiner dogs who were visiting us?  Only Mac, herself, knows for sure...and she's not talking (...not a word, other than repeatedly telling me her name..."Maaac - mmmaaac").  All I know is that after four days, her mommy was happy to see her once more! 

Welcome home little prodigal.

I knew I was in for a wonderfully marvelous treat when I opened the mailbox and there sat a beautifully decorated package with the cutest, happiest drawings...