ahhh, home again...

 

Costco the other day...Christmas already?!

And, the lake...so nice

We did not use the jet ski.  

The Airbnb was quite nice, the upstairs was full of windows too.

The ducks, cute and annoying.  There were around 45 of them, quacking around together.

Emily and Camille, the oldest and the youngest...

This looks almost fake...

We spent the entire day outside on Saturday.  I didn't go swimming because it was quite rocky, and the rocks were slippery.  If there were a ladder on the dock I would have gone in, but I didn't want to slip and fall.  But it was lovely anyway, all sunshine with a bit of a cool breeze from the water.  

We grilled steak in the dark, grilled chicken in the late afternoon with the golden hour sun making everything look magical.  We had charcuterie on the comfy patio furniture, and lounged on it later for a nice fire, Miss Cam toasted marshmallows.  We had some wine, only a few sips for me, we laughed our heads off, and we relaxed.  

Home...so nice to see Paul, finally!  He's home from Ireland, and he brought me a Guiness chocolate bar, which I have not cracked into yet.  He is right back to being busy, he tarred the driveway yesterday.  (Good luck with that, with two big Labradors who don't understand Stay Off The Driveway.)(yes, Suri did walk right down it and come in to the house...)

We have yet to cover the pool, but shh, I might get in it today...this stretch of nice weather, some extra summer, so nice.

Now I'm heading to the pool, so have a good day!

life is like candyland...

 ...you're young and happy and naive, skipping down the colorful squares, next thing you know - it's as if you drew the Gummy Forest card, and where did all those squares go?  You sped right over them!  Soon you'll be at King Kandy's castle, and hardly remember the details of Princess Lollipop or Queen Frostine.

But there is today, and that in of itself is a gift, through and through.  This fine day, it's been quiet here.  I've washed some dishes, made coffee, watered the plants, put my bedding in the wash, fed the dogs, let them in and out, puttered around, and here I sit in my comfy chair, while the sun shines and the leaves secretly plot their own beautiful demise.

Yesterday I went to the pool, then out to brekky with my pool friends.  We didn't get all the world's problems solved, but we had a nice time.  I stopped at the little store in town, afterward, to get turkey and bread and some apple cider, as I knew I was having grandkids over.

It was Lasagna Day, I put together some sauce with browned ground beef and mild Italian sausage, then layered it all with ricotta and cheese, with Rhys helping by eating little heaps of shredded mozzarella.  Two pans of lasagna, one for our dinner, and one to bring over to Karen and Hobie today, as she had her hip replaced on Monday.  Camille made some brownies with broiled marshmallow topping, so we'll bring some of those, with a loaf of fresh Italian bread.  Hmm, if I get up and move it, I can make some in the Dutch oven.  

Grace and her three joined us too, so there were six kids here.  The dinner was nice, I made some garlic bread too.  I didn't take any pictures, but there was plenty of cuteness, believe me!

Tuesday was my sister's birthday, so Linda, me, Cheryl (my sister!), our friend Cathy and our sister-in-law Mary, went out to lunch.  (two of Cheryl's daughters and five of her grandchildren were there too!).  Time just flies when spent with such dear good friends.  Cheryl is the most special lady in the world.  We only have to look at each other,  and don't even get us started on the laughing in a serious situation.  Weddings, funerals, oh dear.   She is hilarious, but also very kind and thoughtful and extremely thankful to God for all things, a huge example of faithfulness in her trials...cancer is not good or fun, but she battles fiercely to be at rest in the knowledge that God weighs and measures our trials and truly knows what's best for us.   

We have had so many adventures together, I really treasure her.  

Then there's this young lady who misses Paul almost more than I do...she knows when he gets his suitcase out, she diligently keeps watch for him to get home.

And, a random oldie here, Camille, Mariel, Miss Charlotte Claire...

Yes, life whizzes by...we were the young and dumb ones, now we're the old and dumb ones...I can't remember when we were just the right age, and very smart, ha.  Can I just say that being a grandparent is sometimes more difficult than when I was just a plain old parent? 

Sometimes you do say things, of course, but to be respectful of parenting and not be a know-it-all... Of course it is my house, but also I don't want to be too picky, so they're all comfortable here, because I WANT them to come here, I truly do, love them and the kids with all of my heart, they are what life is all about.  So we learn patience and forbearance and goodness, and learn when to say something and when not to, and give those kids lots of hugs and praise, and tell them how much they are loved.  

Maybe I was too strict with my kids when they were growing up.  Maybe, because there were so many of them, I had to be, so it wasn't chaos.  I know I didn't do everything right, and that parenting takes SO much patience.  Grand-parenting does too!  :)

Ah well...it's good to be awake and in need of help, so we can hear that still small voice which God so lovingly sends.  Life is good.  Have a really good day!

showers of happiness, showers of rain...

 

Wedding shower for our Miss Suzanne Eleanor:  Camille, Emily (youngest child, oldest), Sonja, me, Suze, Molly Rose, her Lydia Eleanor in front, Margaret, Evelyn, Kathryn with Rhys, Mariel (nine of the girls were there, Abigail is in Delaware, Char in Germany)

Evelyn Joy, maid of honor, with Suzanne

Suze and her fiance, Zechariah...

Paul left for Ireland yesterday afternoon, for work.  Blythe wanted to help her Grandpa with his suitcase.

Auntie Evelyn with Jamie and Blythe, little double cousins!

Aunt Evelyn on the deck with Wulf, Elise, Achilles, Tenny

Jamie visiting Blythe...

Oh, too cute.

This fine day, after I came home from the pool, Cam and I went to the bank so she could open an account.  She got to pick two prizes, a speaker and some earbuds, her lucky day.  She will have her very own debit card.  

Kathryn messaged that she needed to go to the store, and yes, we would like to go.  I always like to see the kids.  We got home, and made soup...chicken gnocchi soup. 

I chopped and sauteed the chicken breast in olive oil and pepper.  She chopped celery, carrots, garlic, and onions, added heavy cream and chicken broth, rosemary and thyme, oregano, salt, and the gnocchi.  I'm telling you, this was excellent soup.  We ate while watching Downton Abby, then left to bring her to music practice.  

Emily was watching Kathryn's kids this evening, so I visited there. 

Aunt Emily with Achilles.  I got to read lots of stories, and play blocks, and tell Achilles again about the dump truck that tipped over on our road, true story.  It was a HUGE dump truck, ten wheels.  I heard a huge BANG, then the power and internet went out.  I didn't realize that it was a dump truck tipping over, until my sister sent me pictures from a news article.

Here they are with the winch truck, pulling it upright

It was lying right on it's side, right on our road, down a bit...

I don't know how it tipped over, but it was definitely the BANG I heard.

Achilles liked the story and the pictures.  

We had some really dark and rainy weather this afternoon, thunder storms too.  I do love a good dark storm.  It's stopped now, and the rest of the week should be warm and sunny....which is good, because I'm going on vacation this coming weekend!  Yay!!!

Random thought for the day:  the #1 reason I couldn't ever be the president of the United States:  if anyone was mean to me, I'd cry.  How on EARTH can anyone control when their mouth starts to quiver and have hurt feelings and their eyes start to water?  How could one stand there in a debate or whatever, and not cry?   The second reason is that no one would vote for me, followed by I can't wear high heels, who would vote for a fat middle aged woman in Birkenstocks?  Also, during the debate I'd have to ask everyone to wait a minute so I could drag over a chair and sit and put my feet up.  

Remember Amy Carter used to roller skate in the White House?  I was just a kid, and was so jelly.

I am continuing to be in love with my new vacuum cleaner.  

That is not me, not my dog, not my dog's hair...ha.  

That's not me either, but I also look beautiful and blissful when I vacuum.

This is my new vacuum cleaner.  I did not, however, pay that much for mine.  It was $150 at the bargain store which buys Amazon stuff by the truckload, and they had a 50% off sale, so I got it for $75.  One of the parts, a stair vacuuming piece, does not rotate, but I decided not to return it because I love love love the whole rest of the vacuum, and don't even need that attachment.  It glides along my floors, picking up all the dog hair like magic.  It's super light, and easy to empty, and has a 30 foot cord.  No, I am not getting a penny to speaking lovingly of it, I just happen to have a thing for vacuum cleaners, and am enjoying the heck right out of this one.  I mean, I vacuum every single day, may as well use a nice cleaner!

Tomorrow my very favorite and only sister has a birthday, so some of us are going out to lunch.  I am very excited about this.  :).   I will be sure to get some pictures.  

And...I am tired, very tired.  I am looking forward to getting into my nice snuggly bed, wish it would rain some more because going to bed with rain drumming on the metal roof, what could be nicer?    Have a good night, thank you for reading!

happy days...

 

The happiest of times are just the hum-drum days when we can spend time with each other.  Sonja needed to go to the store, Kathryn did too, so we met up.  Rhys, three years old, was busy taking pictures and videos with nice Aunt Sonja's phone...she got this one of Sonja and I, deciding to buy the one pound packages of 85%, organic ground beef.

We went to Target too, so I could pick up the shower gift I got for Suzanne.  Of course I got her a few more things, and already have a few things, just have to wrap it all and get a few gift bags.  In Target, there were three packages of chicken breast, dated the next day, marked down to 97 cents a pound.  Five pound packages for less than five dollars.  Yes, I did take all three.  Yes, I did give one to Sonja.  As soon as I got home, I sliced, chopped, marinated in lime juice and seasonings, and bagged it into ten baggies, two are in the refrigerator for tonights butter chicken or stir fry, the rest in the freezer.

This fine morning, I went to the pool, it was glorious...hadn't been since last Wednesday.  I am SO thankful I get to go, feels great.  Update on knees:  much better than before the injections, but not perfect.  I walked around Target, Aldi, and the thrift store yesterday with minimal pain, just some aching.  I still had a very hard time getting back into the car, have to sort of manually bend the knee, they seem to get stuck, which is a very painful and strange sensation.  

This weather!  It's chilly and crisp at night, then the days warm up with brilliant sunshine, high almost 80 today.  I've given up on the pool for the year, because it's so cold!  The night time temps make sure of that!  I got the autumn decorations out yesterday...washed a few fall blankets too.  It's strange to think these things will be out until I decorate for Christmas!  

Last evening, Camille made a pepperoni hot honey pizza, I put an Aldi cauliflower crust pizza in the oven, and Paul made venison chili.  I don't care much for venison, but I tried the chili and it was really good, so I had a little more.  It was very spicy though!  Camille and I watched a few seasons of Downton Abbey.  She was little when it was on PBS on Sunday nights, but she has seen the movies and a few episodes here and there.  So we decided to start from the beginning...

Our little red car had to be inspected, it passed, it's ready to pick up, so off we go...have a really good day!

how on earth did that happen?!

Tennyson is four years old!  He's just so cute.

I am a bad picture taker, but here's baby Blythe, Sam, Ben, Emily, Margaret, then Anya and Elise on the bench, with Tennyson

Margaret made the birthday cookie

 

Tenny's big brother Wulf with their baby sister Blythe

Achilles and Wulf, cousins

The cupcakes and the cake...it was supposed to be a dirtbike track...Ten liked it though.

(The bigger ones are Mariel's caramel cupcakes with caramel buttercream, practice for Suzanne's wedding)

Blythe approved of the cuppy-cakes

Rhys pushing her little cousin Blythe

Oscar with Wulf, Elise and Anya and Ben talking to Blythe, being held by Margaret, her mama.

Adrian (Wulf, T, Blythe's dad, Margaret's husband), Mariel, Jon in the Hawaiin shirt holding the little doggie (Adrian and Darius's sister Rosi's dog, Juniper), Sonja holding Jamie

Blythe turned one year old and I got her a present!

Darius (Kathryn's husband) holding Blythe and his Jamison

The day was anticipated, planned for, it arrived, and disappeared, just like that.  I woke up this fine morning, vacuumed and mopped, folded some laundry, and went to Aldi.  I headed home and started the meatballs, and made buttercream for the cake and cupcakes.  

Magaret made a lasagna, Evelyn made one too.  I made gluten free meatballs and pasta for Mariel, and dairy free, for Emily.  I cut up peppers, celery, and carrots, and got out the hummus and French onion dip.  

One of the gifts I got for Tennyson was a cap gun, it was loud, much to their delight.  I think they burned through all the caps today, but it was a fun gift.  They ran around outside, and they got rides on Uncle Jonny's four wheeler.  Evelyn brought a helium tank and the balloons kept them busy too.  

Of the 16 kids, Emily, Benjamin, Mariel, Samuel, Margaret, Kathryn, Evelyn, Sonja, and Jon were here, and three of my son-in-laws, 8 of the grandchildren, and Rosi, Adrian and Darius's sister.  So 23 of us all together.  

The day sped by...I got some grandchildren hugs and some talking time with the older ones.  I had a tiny bit of lasagna, some meatballs, and I sampled the caramel cupcakes...and one small vanilla one with vanilla buttercream...mmm.  There's one caramel one and one vanilla one here for Camille, I sent all the other ones home with Kathryn and with Emily for her co-workers.  I can't/won't eat them, and hate to waste them.  :)

Anyway, it was a good day, and I'm super thankful for the injections I had in my knees, life is easier when the pain is more minimal, very thankful indeed.  Have a really good night!

all in all amazing...

 

The woods are so pretty....with the sunlight streaming in...

The beach, Lake Ontario:  yup.

The sunset from our campsite

Happy!

Coffee is good.  Camping coffee is excellent.  Below:  the little lanterns, so cute!  

The dogs!

The husband...I certainly enjoyed the time with him, and I know he had fun with me too.  It's nice, after all these years, to still get along so well.  We really needed this time!

Eating dinner outside...grilled steaks, salt potatoes, salad with lots of strawberries.

We got home this afternoon, the camper backed into the driveway, in the rain.  We brought in most of the stuff, put most of it away, started the laundry...talked to Miss Camille who was heading out the door to New York City with a few friends...I made a batch of cupcakes for Tennyson, and had dinner, leftover grilled chicken on salads.  

Sleeping in a camper is lovely, especially when rain drums on the roof.  Waking up in the camper is nice too, especially when Paul makes me coffee.  

The three nights went by too fast, the campfires and the walks and the swimming in the clear chilly water, sitting on the beach with feet in the sand...we solved life's problems and had some laughs, some hugs, some really good conversations.  We drove around Henderson Harbor and around Sacketts Habor, went to the Dollar General twice. 

The DG market, a step above!

Anyway, we're home now, and it's nice.  I like home.  Have a really good Labor Day!