The Wiley Walk is created by Wiley Mission resident Jon

Greetings –

The end of July actually arrived. Took forever. I waited to capture the exciting bus ice cream trip to Daddy O’s creamery on the 30th. Then I missed it. Forgot to check the kitchen calendar. Senior moment. There was no Coffee Hour on the last Monday. I think that threw me off track. The rest of July was rain, rain, rain and hot, hot, hot . . .  with several Wiley events going on during the month. I “discovered and covered” a couple of things of interest (or maybe not) in the Marlton area, too.

On Wednesday, July 9th I walked over to Christina’s Art Class to discover it was cancelled. So I went over to the Fellowship House to sign up for the Coffee Hour to find out it was cancelled, too. But there on display was Theresa’s “Star Spangled Summer” painting from the art class.

A week later things were happening again at Ann’s Place, aka The Art Room.

Christina from Activities, works the room. This is a scene of making art and quiet conversation. Bud Ledwell from Bridalwreath brought in his sunset photographs to chose one to create his painting.

Christina and Bud confer.

This painting caught my eye. It was propped on a side counter, a work in progress. Turns out it is Christina’s.

A July 15th church sanctuary performance by Hannah drew a good crowd.

She was accompanied by her instructor Frank.

My Wiley friend Diane passed on July 16th. I had many photos of her guest performing, and at the Cherokee car wash, and neighborhood lunches on Honeysuckle. She would join various singing groups because they knew she knew all of the songs included in their programs.

Once in awhile the sun would shine and that’s when I’d look around for something to point my camera towards. Here is a rare orangebyapipeium.

Didn’t have to look far for this because it’s on my own porch: The Queen’s Forever Orchid. Just keeps on growing and popping out blossoms (whatever their called in orchid-talk).

Off the Wiley campus we joined my niece and her husband for dinner at a very nearby winery in Voorhees. They were heading to Maine from Maryland and made the reservation. They paid, too : > ) Saddlehill is vineyard, a farm and has restaurant services as well as tasting areas.

Saddlehill grows everything served “farm to fork” style. There are horses, alpacas and sheep. Probably chickens somewhere, too. People not interested in wine have a whole restaurant experience to enjoy.

If not raining there is old farm stuff to look at on the property. It’s on Whitehorse Road off Evesham Rd. https://saddlehill.com/

Friday July 25th was Pick Up Your Hoagie Day in the church lobby. It’s an Auxiliary fund raiser the Duffy’s on Balsam organize. I think it was a  success because there were three hoagie pick up stations. Next year I’m  hoping colorful wrapping paper takes the place of plain white : > )

On another not raining day this sunflower popped up right here at 19 Snapdragon. A short walk out the back door put it right  where the camera wanted it to be. Couldn’t easily find out what the back side of a sunflower is called. It has to be easy or I just give up!

Seeds, petals and leaves all go together to create this flower. And roots. And a stem, too.

Since it remained unmoving by wind I just kept shooting.

Out near the Whole Foods market on Rt. 73 North there is an empty TGIF(riday). It’s currently becoming more empty as destruction is underway to make room for construction of a new Texas Road House restaurant. T R H used to let you toss peanut shells on the floors. Not sure about the peanuts thing now. Probably lawyers got in the way of that fun.

Here’s a flashback showing the Wiley Garden before it grew all green with stuff. That’s my neighbor Richard tilling the ground in his plot.

Wow! What a difference two or so months of growing time and rain makes. Over on the top photo, sort of right side, is Joanne Mason in a blue shirt.

Did someone say peanuts? Here’s Joanne watering her peanut crop. In another area she’s growing that emerging corn.

Ahhh, ha! A broad daylight bandit felt drawn to Pam Pratt’s garden on the corner of Balsam & Snapdragon.

First seemed to evaluate the quality of tasting options.

Undisturbed it advanced further.

Finally threw all deer caution to the wind and dove right in.

The Wiley version of “don’t park on our lawn”. Here’s an amusing scene. Amusing because I know that as soon as I include it in the July edition the finishing rope barrier will go in and I’ll be shooting the finished view in August.

There is no better way to end the July Wiley Walk than with the baby photo.

A bonus is a new photo of a previously featured baby and her admiring Mom. She is now into her second six months.

Cheers to all!

Jon-