the farm state...

 ...Did you know that New York ranks fourth out of the fifty states for dairy production, with almost 4,000 dairy farms, producing over 15 billion pounds of milk a year?  New York State ranks first in the US in production of cottage cheese, yogurt, and sour cream.  So.  Soft ice cream here is a big thing, and it's very good. 

...Did you know that sometimes I am NOT busy?  Today, for example, was a quiet day.  The girls went to work, I puttered around.  I vacuumed, did laundry, then steam mopped the floors.  I bleached the sinks and counters, and put some things away. I picked up my car from the garage, it passed the annual inspection.  I read, I did the crossword puzzle. Then I joined Kathryn and Darius and their kids for a nice swim, ahhh.  

Now the girls are home from work, and they're making dinner.  They put chicken breast in buttermilk and pickle juice yesterday, to marinate.  Now it's in the air fryer, and they're making fries, and a chipotle sauce, for sliders.  We bought rolls yesterday, and picked some tomatoes from the garden.

(Yesterday we brought a car load of stuff to the thrift store, which always feels so nice.  It was too nice of a day to dilly dally too long, cleaning out the storage room, but we got a nice start.  It was the only day of the week the girls would be home.  We stopped for a coffee, and to BJ's to get milk.  We didn't get just milk, of course, we got some seltzer, heavy cream, and a bag of Ghiardelli mint cookie chocolate squares.)

We went for a swim, then home.  I was not feeling the greatest and skipped dinner.  I just didn't want to eat.  That never happens to me, ha.  But it was hot out, and I think I had too much coffee.  

This fine day though, all day when I would think about dinner, it would be like a little bubble of contentment:  Char and Cam were making dinner.  :).   I felt fine today, but made sure I didn't overdo the coffee.  

I wrote this earlier, now it is after dinner, and it was good!  The Hawaiian rolls were so good, I had one, could have easily had more.  

Tomorrow is swim class, then maybe I'll get some of the things for Sunday's big birthday bash.  I'm hosting the party here for Samuel, who turns 30, and little Ruth turns four, and Maeve turns two.  The birthday cake has to be pink with strawberries and raspberries on it, as per Ruth's request.  I can do that!  Sam wants bbq chicken, the kind with bones in it, which I totally get.  I will get that and marinate it for a few days, bake it a bit, then grill it.  I did say that I would host the party, not sure I can grill too...there is a lot to getting the house ready for a big crowd, and I love it, but my body doesn't always love it.  Our grill is down the deck steps, and no matter how efficient I try to be, it's three trips up and down.  

Sam said he would grill.  It's his own birthday, but...:). We're also having sweet corn, and Kathryn is making macaroni and cheese.  Cam is making some special cookies, and I'll make cupcakes as well as the cake.  I have birthday presents bought, just have to get some wrapping paper or gift bags.  (I think kids like unwrapping presents better than just taking them out of the bag...)

Summer is speeding by, like it tends to do.  I am not tired of it yet.  I am living in my yearly state of denial, not wanting to even know the date, trying to pretend it's endless.  

We are talking about a puppy.  We want a Black Lab puppy.  I know there are dogs to be rescued, and it breaks my heart.  but.  Having small children in the house so often, I want to make sure any dog we have here is good with kids (it goes without saying that the kids have to be good to the dog too).  So, I would prefer to raise a puppy.  Our experience with Labs has been that they are so gentle with the kids, nothing phases them.  Suri would look mildly exasperated once in a while, but the worst thing she would do would be to get up and move, but mostly she would just sigh and put her big clunky head on her big fat paws, then close here eyes.  

Charlotte Claire and Camille are starting college this fall, but will have mostly online classes the first year.  They say it's a perfect time to get a puppy.  What about my surgery?  How on earth will I be able to help with a puppy!?  I am voting no for now, but oh dear, I am tempted.