Can you FEEL the love?!

So last weekend's "long weekend" did end up being mildly productive, right up until the moment when I was attacked by a horrible flu bug that knocked me out of commission for three days. I can't remember a time in my recent history when I've felt too weak to even talk, but oh yes Dear Reader(s), I was thusly affected. All seems well now for the moment other than a few snifflies. I have come to realize about myself that I am a big baby when I'm sick, on the same lines as most men. I think it comes from having been with a man in the past (who shall remain nameless) that was the world's BIGGEST baby when sick, so now it's my due. In any event I don't think I was too horribly horrible; merely asking for a bit of juice or water as I lay dying on the couch, and perhaps a small request for someone to paint my toe nails.

A girl must still look her best on her deathbed, mustn't she?

So now let me get on to all my productivity from before
the flu. I revisited a quilt top that I had started in November for Baby, but had hated immediately and stuffed into a box. I decided this time to cut certain materials instead of leaving them whole, I channeled my inner Aunt Carolyn and ripped out some seams, and VOILA! A quilt that's still not finished but that I'm excited to work on. Hopefully I can get back to work on that again soon.
I promise to take better pictures when it's finished.

I also worked a bit in the yard, but by a bit I truly mean a bit. Since we rent here and didn't really know how long we'd be staying, we've left everything pretty much as is, which is pretty shabby. I've now decided that I'm only cheating myself by having blah surroundings, so slowly but surely I'm trying to beautify our little corner of Pleasantville. So I took this eyesore next to the front door out, since it's been dead for the two years we've been here.
I put something else in that spot, but I think the new plant is already dying. I also planted two honeysuckles to go up a post in front of where this planter was, but that picture didn't turn out. Alas...

I also noticed that I have a vine going all the way up my chimney on the shady side of my house, that is currently in bloom. I have no idea what the plant is, so if there are any amateur horticulturists out there who want to take a stab at plant identification, here's what I have:

And lastly, just because I love the way it looks... my clematis growing through my butterfly bush. The butterfly bush is one of the trees I hacked away at in the spring, and it sure has made it bloom much more prolifically this summer. Hooray for hacking!
And now for more gratitude: Again with the great new neighbors - who not only have a daughter who will babysit my kids, but a Mom who wants to go walking with me and is willing to go at 7am! What could be better? A yard that I'm fortunate enough to be able to put plants in as time and budget allow; a great place to rent here in Pleasantville; times that are looking up; and a wonderful family. Who could ask for anything more?