things I love, and things I just don't let bother me anymore...

 True confession:  I hate my upper arms.   We can use a slew of adjectives here:  flabby, bat-wing-ish, jiggly...those are true descriptions.  So I used to make sure to cover them up, elbow sleeves are still favorites of mine.  But somewhere along the way I decided who cares?!!!!  I made a decision to be comfortable, wear the sleeveless dresses or tank tops, and let those arms flop in the breeze.  I hope this will actually be a help to other women, they can look at me and sigh and thank their lucky stars that at least their arms don't look like that ha.

But, I LOVE summertime and the chance to wear comfy sleeveless clothes.

I dislike my body, but love all the things like a soft ice cream cone on a hot evening.  A toasted marshmallow over a campfire.  A few squares of Norwegian chocolate.  For health reasons, I try to eat low carb, fast intermittently, limit the sweets, but oh dear it's not easy.  Also, I've learned it's really taboo to talk about these things In Real Life, it can be damaging to daughters.  Either eat it or don't, but don't comment on it.  Let others enjoy their choices without constantly bringing up sugar levels, ect.  I'm still a work in progress about this, but I try to keep my battles to myself.

(There is a nice lady in the swim class who has been eating a Keto diet and has lost 120 pounds, she has a doctor/coach, and is very encouraging to talk about these things, I'm not saying not to talk about it.  But there is a time and a place!)

One thing I love is having what I call sisterhood.   It is SO special when women can be friends without backbiting or cattiness.  I HATE all of that, and it's something God hates too.  There is something so blessed and amazing about lifting each other up and being kind.

Hugs.  Our family is not a hugging family.   Yet, a heartfelt hug from someone you love and care about is beyond precious.  

Traveling:  I love love love/hate hate hate it.  I do love an adventure, and to see different things and meet people and experience other places.  But.  I hate sitting in the confined place on the plane, having no control of how long we might stand in line, and the airplane bathroom is beyond disgusting.  I hate when my feet swell, and they will. (I think it's too hot for compression socks...). I try to travel in comfortable clothes, and then I see these ladies with dress pants and heels, and wonder what the heck is wrong with me, ha.  

Packing for a trip:  I've done both things, under packed and over packed.  I think under is worse.  The place we're staying in Norway does have a washing machine, so for a ten day trip, I should really pack five days worth of clothes and wash them.  Sweatpants for around the apartment, a bathing suit so I can swim in the fjord with the jelly fish!  A long jean skirt, a short one, a pair of jeans, five tops, five dresses, two sweaters, a sweatshirt, a rain jacket, undies and bras, socks.  I will travel in my comfy sneakers, then bring Birkenstocks.  (if it rains, the sneakers will work better!).   Coffee, the portable pour-overs, filters, instant coffee, some protein bars, liquid I.V., helps with the plane ride.  Detergent pods, shampoo, ect.  Hairbrush!  Phone Charger!  Plug converters!  

We're leaving next Wednesday so I have plenty of time!

This fine morning, I have to get up and get moving, as I'm bringing Anya and Elise shopping.  :). I might go swimming with Kathryn afterwards.

Tomorrow, after the pool there's swim class brekky at the place in town, then I'm going to visit my friend Karen.  She has a very nice pool, and it's supposed to be a hot sunny day.  

Thursday I plan to accompany Kathryn to a dr. appointment, then to the store.  

Friday is my birthday, I am turning 61.  I am so old, I had to stop and think how old I am.  I was born in 1965, so that does make me 60.  Yah, I'm not so old, but forgetfulness is real!

Believe it or not, but I love my new knee.  The rest of the leg is not totally in tune with it, which is weird, but the knee itself does not hurt anymore.  The other knee gives me more and more trouble, but I am not at the point where I am ready to have it replaced.  yet.  

Anyway.  Last night I had the most awful nightmare.  I was in a house with all of my kids and grandkids, and when I looked up at the woodturning stove pipe, the ceiling was on fire.  I started to yell and scream for everyone to get out of the house.  There were so many grandkids upstairs!  I went out and climbed up on a roof and leaned in the window and yelled that the house was on fire, and to come to me and get out the window.  Darius was sitting there with the baby, teasing me about my anxiety, and I was trying to scream that flames were coming up through the floor, the window I was leaning on was burning hot, and the whole house was going towards a flashpoint, but I lost my voice.  I yelled but nothing came out.   Wulf and Tenny were prancing around and I was absolutely beside myself.  

The aftermath was that I didn't know who got out and who didn't.  I was out in the yard, I saw Benjamin walking through the smoke and I was sobbing, I had thought he was stuck in there.  I didn't know who was safe and who wasn't, then someone said, the sad part is that Sam and Grace bought this house for so much money, and now it's only worth $5,000.  THAT is the SAD part?  I know it was only a bad dream, but oh dear, my shattered heart and torn apart soul.  I shall give my grandchildren some extra hugs and spoiling when I see them.  

On to better, happier things:  Miss Char is going to her CPR class tomorrow, as she is starting nursing school next month!  I think they're excited to be going back to school.  Also, Evelyn and Nate are having a baby girl next month, how sweet is that?  We are going camping a few times next month too.  

All right, time to get moving...you have a good summer day!

what is better than July?

All of it:  bare feet, sundresses, swimming, those late sunsets, grilled chicken!  It goes by fast, so let's slow down and enjoy the heck out of it!

Yesterday, Paul and I, Char and Cam, got into the new truck and went to clean the apartment we still have to rent out.  I took out all the shelves and drawers and cleaned the refrigerator, Cam and Paul did the stove and oven, Cam scrubbed the sink and helped in the bathroom, Char did the tub, they cleaned windows and ceiling fan blades.  The floors still need sweeping and mopping, and new cabinet hardware installed.  These were clean tenants, so it's a relatively easy job.

We were hot and sweaty, so when Paul stopped to get gas, he got us fountain drinks from the gas station:  a Diet Coke on tap, mmmm.  

Home.  The girls went to one of the Finger Lakes for a swim with Emily, and I sat and put my feet up before going to visit my niece for a few minutes.   My sister had a Silver Cross doll pram, and Evelyn is going to keep it for her baby girl when she grows up, so I picked that up.  

When Emily and the girls got back from their hike/swim, Paul made smash burgers on the Blackstone grill.  I cut up cucumber and carrots, and made salt potatoes, as well as a few pieces of chicken in the air fryer for Miss Cam, who does not like burgers.  

Eating out on the deck, yup.  

This fine morning, I went to my swim class, then came home, and Kathryn was wondering if I would like to Aldi with her, of course I would!  I got to see Achilles, Rhys, Jamison, and Ellis.  I didn't need much, since I was just there a few days ago, but I did get a cauliflower crust pizza, some raisins for my salads, some red, yellow, orange peppers, and two packages of 85% beef that were priced at three dollars a pound, which is practically unheard of these days.  I also got three solar globe lights for the yard, $1.69 each, and a rug for in front of the sink:  89 cents.  (The sign on the shelf said $1.69, but it rang up 89 cents)

Home...ahh, home.  I put the solar lights in the yard, picked up the old rug from in front of the sink and put it in the wash with a few towels, swept the floor there, put down the new rug, put away the cold things, and dang, here I am in the comfy chair.  It's a warm enough day, humid, but bearable.  

My new Birkenstocks came.  They need to be broken in.  They fit, but are not comfortable yet.  I didn't dare wear them to Aldi today, need to walk around the house in fits and starts first.  They ARE lovely though...:).

Slate blue, leather, 3 buckles, what's not to love?

Speaking of "fits and starts", that's how I'm writing this post today.  I just finished vacuuming, and it was warm in here!  80 on the wall thermometer.  We turned on the mini split and closed the door, it'll cool down a bit soon.  Hot summer days are nice, but nicer from the beach or by the pool, not so nice when you're vacuuming.

Tomorrow I'm taking Anya and Elise shopping. We'll go to a few stores, then get lunch somewhere.  :).  Char and Cam are working, and I love going out and about with girls, I hope my granddaughters will enjoy the time with me too.  

This was ten years ago, not sure where Jonathan was, but Suzanne, Sonja, Kathryn, Evelyn, Camille, then me, and Miss Charlotte Claire in the back.  (Suze, Sonja, Kathryn, Ev are all married now...two are mamas, and Ev is due next month) (we know time flies!)

Dinner tonight is supposed to be grilled chicken, I flattened it with the meat mallet, and it's in Cornell sauce.  It does look like rain though. I can always cook it in the iron frying pan or air fryer.  

Ah well.  You all have a really good summer afternoon!
   

happiest birthday, dear America!!!!

 Last evening we went to the beautiful pavillion of Emerson Park, on the north shore of Owasco Lake, one of the Finger Lakes in NY state.  We have been going there for the fourth of July celebration for years and years, and this is the first one without my sister.  When all of our kids were little, we would get Little Caesar's pizza, and Twizzlers.  Well, yesterday Emily came over, and Kathryn with Achilles and Rhys, and we rode together.  The 1812 Overture is Achilles favorite song, he was hoping the Syracuse Orchestra would play it!  

Who doesn't love the 1812 Overture?

Cheryl's oldest daughter Katie brought a selection of red, white, and blue candies, and little lollipop sticks...so my grandchildren and my sister's grandchildren got in line...

Margaret and Emily (Cheryl's husband Bill in the back)

Benjamin and little Declan

Achilles and Tennyson

Emily with Kaia, we did have a downpour before the concert started...but we stayed under the eaves, and then the sun came out...with a vengeance!  It was steamy hot!  What a beautiful summer night though, I had a sundress on and didn't even need a sweater when the sun set.  

Oscar and baby Kaia

Achilles and Rhys

Emily

Some of my sister's grandchildren...

Cam, Char, Kaia, Rhys

That's Elise and Declan getting candy from Katie...

Very hard to see, but a bunch of the grandkids together...I think I had a smile on my face the entire evening.  I told Margaret and Kathryn:  all these kids here are from Cheryl and I. (I teased that it would be them someday!)  wow.  It wasn't even nearly all of our grandchildren, I have 19 and she 29.  They weren't all there, but oh my goodness, it was a joy to see them.  My heart ached missing my sister, but I know she was looking down so fondly.  

Benjamin...so proud of him.  Samuel wasn't here this year, he's in Virginia with Grace and the kids, visiting her family.

Yesterday:  After swim class, I went to Aldi with Paul.  We got popsicles and some burger, tomatoes, arugula, bread, cheese (Cam is making mac and cheese for today's picnic).  Home...but not for long!  I went over to Ben and Ashley's house, and visited...and went for a swim in their pool with them, and Anya, Elise, Declan.  The pool water was 88 degrees, I could have stayed in there all the live-long day!

But, I had to get out and get dressed, and back into the hot hot day, to the Dollar General.  Twizzlers are a must for the Symphony night!  

Our power is out right now, it's pouring rain and thundering.  We might have an indoor picnic today.  Darius is smoking wings and brisket, we're having watermelon and the mac and cheese and hot dogs and a flag cake and cookies and and and...:)

Besides the picnics and fireworks and symphonies, the fourth is very special.  I am super proud to be an American.  I am thankful to be an American.  It's not perfect, but if every citizen started from a point of thankfulness, and stopped finger pointing and tearing each other down...united we stand, divided we fall.  I just love freedom, and there could certainly be more of it.  Leave us alone and let us live.  

Ah so now it's early evening, and we had our wonderful fourth of July celebration, Happy 250th, U.S.A.!

Nine of the kids were there today, some spouses, some grandchildren...

Kathryn's cake...mmm.

Margaret's cake

Baby Ellis with his daddy, letting him have the cookies...

Cousins:  Blythe and Jamie, they're besties.

Emily with Jon and Rosi's Emilia

We just got home...it's cooled off a little bit now, and that's good.  We made macaroni and cheese this morning for the cook out, it was so hot in here with the power off...it came back on before we left, so I could run the water and do all the dishes.  

We are watching soccer and just chilling...I hope you had a nice day, and if you are so lucky and blessed to live in this fine country, Happy 4th!

ah, Thursday!

 This fine morning, as I slept so comfortably due to the a.c. unit in the window chugging away, I realized that I did not HAVE to get up, because there is no swim class on Thursday....it's the little things.  I love swim class, but also love not having to hurry.

I wish I could say I accomplished amazing things this morning, but alas, I have done very little.  It's warm in here, even with the mini split...77.  Not terrible, and much better than without it of course.  I cleaned out the roller edge of the vacuum cleaner, plugged it in, then decided to have another coffee and chat with Charlotte Claire and Camille.  :)

We are headed out today, even though it's 98 and sunny.  Char has to go to the uniform shop to be fitted for some nursing school scrubs and a lab coat.  My glasses are in, so another stop.  We are going to BJ's for some popsicles and a watermelon.  Hopefully that's it...but now there's talk of needing a few things from Walmart.  For the record, I could do an order pick up from BJ's but I don't trust them not to melt the popsicles.  The no sugar added Outshine bars are $9.29 for 36, and they need to be kept in the freezer for as long as possible.  

We are leaving in an hour, and I sort of dread it...the heat is suffocating, with the humidity.  The "real feel" is well over a hundred, as the dew point is 72 degrees, which means there is so much moisture in the air it is oppressive.  You feel like you can't breathe.  (yesterday was 96 degrees, but with the humidity so high, ugh)

(see why I don't want my popsicles out of the freezer for very long?)

Anyway.  I like the warm weather, but this is something else. 

Ah well.  You have a good day, and stay cool!

home and hot!

 After a few days in the camper, and spending most of the time outside, it's nice to be home.  I sleep well in the camper, I love it so much, but my own bed, you know, always nice to get back to.  

This fine morning, I went to the pool, and it was SO nice, the water cool and refreshing.  It's very hot and swampily humid here in central NY, if you spend any time out there you WILL sweat.  

After the pool, I stopped for gas, because the station in town has good prices and pumps the gas for you.  I like to tip the kid who pumps, but I don't always have cash.  Today I had a five, and gave it to him because it's so hot out.  I went to Dollar General after, just for mouth tape, and I got some dill pickle peanuts and a Prime low calorie drink.  

Home...I put my backpack down in the driveway, and pulled weeds and invasive mint from the front garden box.  The spearmint plants smell wonderful, and they are wonderful to have, if you want to make a watermelon slushy or just some tea, but they take over pretty quickly.  

By the time I got in the house, I wasn't cooled off from swimming anymore.  :). Then Paul brought out his treadmill/walking pad...he has the idea that if I keep getting on it, my gait will improve, my ankle will bend properly.  So once I rested up and cooled off, I got on it for five minutes, I do think it will help.  

My birthday is coming up, so I bought myself something: 

Aren't they just the cutest?  I love them.  I like the soft footbed better, but the prices on Birkenstocks have gone way up, these were in my size, and for these days, a good deal.  The three buckle style is comfortable for me, and I wear Birkenstocks pretty much from April to November, and of course on non-snowy days in December.  :). I want to wear them in for my trip to Norway!

Tomorrow is going to be even hotter, 98 and sunny AND humid, so I'm thinking of going to the store in a little while, to get some basics.  We're having a Fourth of July cook out at Kathryn and Darius' place, so I need to get a few things for that too.  

So off I go, you all have a good day!

oh it flies...

 Where does a lifetime go?  It's a vapor, just seems like I was too young forever, then so busy I my head was spinning, for years, then boom...life slowed down, and where did it all go?  Those years of youth and busyness, my body did what it was supposed to do, and I didn't pay it much attention.  Now it rather screams to be noticed.   

It wasn't too long ago I was knee deep in small children.  

Miss Charlotte Claire and Miss Camille Anaya...the final two, numbers 15 and 16...

Char, friend Amanda (the graduate!), Linnea, my granddaughters Elise (in front), Anya, and Camille...

Doesn't time fly?  

Here's little Blythe, Margaret and Adrian's little one...she had a cupcake with blue frosting.  

The rain stopped when the party started, and it was lovely.  Grilled burgers and hot dogs, watermelon, cantaloupe, kettle chips...mmm.  

This fine morning, I got up and went to the pool, which I never fail to appreciate.  There is a good group of old people going, and the class goes by fast.  I didn't come home after, I decided to drive to Target.  I didn't find much, but it was nice to wander around.  Baby clothes are too cute, I picked out an outfit for baby Samantha, then decided to get dresses for her big sisters Ruth and Maeve, then a shirt for Grant.  I can't do all the grandkids all the time, but sometimes I pick a family and get them something.  I also got a new shower curtain and a few hand towels that were 40% off, and that's it....then to Aldi for strawberries, a cauliflower crust pizza because it had a $2 off sticker on it, some fruit snacks, lemon juice, and some snacks.  

This fine evening we are towing our camper out to our church grounds, as there is a summer gathering there this week.  Paul and I will commute because of Sunny, dogs aren't allowed, which is understandable...1000 people, we don't need doggies too, although I would be a fan.  The girls will stay in the camper, and we will use it during the day for meals.  

Also I wanted to give a knee update, to all of you who had to bear with me through so much bellyaching, and I don't blame you if you skimmed over most of it, ha.  But:  I can finally say that I am super glad I had this knee replaced.  It was a long difficult recovery, and I am honestly a bit shocked it took so long to be able to walk again, but I can walk again.  It's still not A-Okay perfect, but I can get where I need to be, without knee pain (in the new knee anyway!).  So I am thankful!  

Although I hated going through the recovery phase, having difficulties makes you appreciate mobility so much.  

We are in a nice stretch of weather now...

Look at that!  Can't complain!  

Ah well.  I have to vacuum, and there are dishes to wash, and things to pack and get together for this busy weekend.  You all have a really good day!

rain rain go away....

 We're going to a graduation party today!  The forecast looks wonderful, hope this rain dries up soon this afternoon though.

This is from Monday, a mama deer and her little one.  After they safely crossed the road, the mama trotted, then stopped to make sure little hopper was still bounding behind her.

Ruth Eleanor...

Maeve 

Jonathan, Benjamin and Samuel, three of my five boys...

Sometimes Jamison comes over for a visit, and sometimes Sunny just doesn't eat her food.  James gets her to eat, one piece at a time.

It is very darling.

This fine rainy day, I went with Kathryn on an outing...I waited in the car with baby Ellis because he fell asleep.  Well, he woke up, so I got out and opened his door, took him out of his carseat, then tried to get back in the passenger seat of Kathryn's huge-0 SUV..I couldn't figure out if it was better to set him on the seat, then sit next to him, pick him up, then scootch in...but I decided just to hold him and climb in, and somehow I did it.  :)

We went to Costco, with her four kids, and Char and Cam.  What kind of calculator do they have that turns a moderately filled cart into over two hundred dollars?  Is it that the carts are so big?  Or the packages?  One Costco rotisserie chicken, grapes, raspberries, blueberries, croissants, heavy cream, iced coffee, seltzer, kielbasa, cauliflower rice, a big huge bag of chips, chocolate covered almonds...I don't know.  Each item I put in the cart seems like a decent deal (except for the chocolate covered almonds, no way now how are they even remotely necessary, but they are SO good!)

Anyway.  We sat with the kids and had the hot dogs and pizza and drinks, and people watched.  

Home....ahh, home.  We are leaving soon for a graduation party for the girls' friend Amanda!  

It is time to get up and get moving...have a good day!