Pursuing backyard bliss

The weather has been nearly perfect lately, averaging a high of mid 70s to 80, with sunny blue skies and a sumptuous breeze. We're lacking backyard recreation equipment such as a grill, fire pit or gazebo, but we're making due with what we've got in the meantime to enjoy the outdoors.

Sipping on margaritas near the fence since it offered the only shade from the sun, which can get pretty hot beating on ya.

A pleasant surprise was the decorative grass bush things in our yard have sprung a bunch of lovely flowers. Two of the bushes have these flowers, and two have the ones below. They remind me of a hybrid between a lily and an orchid.

The downside of these plants is they seem to be a habitat for the slugs and snails. The battle with the invertebrates has been brutal- they ate/killed all of our black beans and green beans which were really starting to take off- but after a heavy assault and some replanting, we are hoping we've bested them for the rest of the season.

One variety of hops has broke the ground surface- hooray! Crossing our fingers the other type will too....

One day we'll get some patio furniture, but for now, flopping out on the ground with a red vine is one way to sunbathe. Later Patrick used his flip flops for a pillow. How very resourceful. :-D

Speaking of our outdoor wish list though, we may be able to purchase some of the items on it in the not too distant future since I was offered a job Friday afternoon! As the Assistant to the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Business and Financial Services, I will be offering office support in UC Merced's downtown building (not the main campus location that Patrick works at unfortunately, so we'll have to rethink transportation). I will receive the official start date and offer letter on Tuesday, but most likely it'll be June 1st or June 6th that we can start debating again which of us is "The Professional." :)