well now it's Sunday blogging with coffee...

Camille's birthday celebration was lovely. She is a teenager now! She shared the party with Miss Amanda, who turned 12.

Miss Cam made her own fried rice. I cut up 10 pounds of chicken breast, marinated it in vinegar, salt and pepper, olive oil...then roasted it in the oven with a bit more olive oil, to crisp it a bit. Then into the crockpot with General Tso sauce...some boxes of frozen chicken eggrolls into the oven, some bowls of Chinese noodles, and...dinner. I did a last minute "what if we don't have enough" panic, and coupled with the fact that Sam was here in the evening, we NEEDED to order some pizza, too, and a few wings. They just don't do New York pizza and wings in Virginia.

This looks like a lot of girls, but 5 of them are my daughters.

Miss Charlotte Claire...

They played Jeopardy!, which Evelyn crafted on her computer. The played a shoe game, and then karaoke. Such good clean fun, and I am very thankful that this is how they spend a Saturday night.

Of course there were presents!!!! Today, we are going over to Benjamin's and Ashley's house for a picnic, barbecue...volleyball, badminton, grandkids...and sunshine! We're having this warm, sunny weather, strange for November, but we'll take it!!!! I made pasta salad, we have 25 cupcakes left, we're having bbq chicken, burgers, coneys, hot dogs...mmm!!!

Saturday morning blogging...with coffee.

So yesterday, Margaret and Adrian brought the baby and Wulf over, then Marg went to a dr. appointment. (Pray that she finds answers for her pain, and her elevated liver function numbers!). Adrian worked on the pool deck, while Wulf played outside, then came in for a bit for lunch and play and some stories...how on earth did I ever manage, I had ONE toddler, and ONE infant, and it felt like a three ring circus. Plus, Sonja helped when she was done with her classes. What joy though! Samuel drove up from Virginia to go to Reserves (Army), he's staying here for the weekend, and going there during the day.

Well, he got here yesterday evening and little Wulf was so thrilled to see his uncle Sam!

We had pulled pork nachos, some applesauce and crescent rolls for the little ones...

That's me over in the far corner, happily sitting between Benjamin and Samuel...I said, "I get to sit near my little boys!" Then I told Anya how here daddy (Ben) was my smallest baby, 6 pounds 3 ounces at birth.

Anya just turned seven, but she's all about selfies already!

Uncle Sam with Anya, Elise, and Wulf. His shirt says it all.

Ashley playing matching game... It was a really fun evening, so nice to see them all. Today, it's Miss Camille Anaya's birthday! She is thirteen! So we're making cupcakes, cooking 12 pounds of chicken breast, and preparing for a party with Chinese food!

....a little bit of before and after, anyone?

This is the set I bought for the bathroom remodel, and if you're thinking: yuck, oak! That's so 80's! Well, I agree. It is the same stuff we already have in there. But, spray paint!

A can of black spray paint was one dollar from the dollar store.

The set of towel bars, t.p. holder: $9.98. The other towel bars in Home depot were much pricier, the black one I wanted was $17 just for one towel bar. This way, I can spray paint the old towel bar we already have, and it'll match the new set. (I am going to do that soon, Paul had to help me take it down. I feel like such a CARPENTER, so tough and cool with the impact drill, but then dang it, I can only get some of the screws off and have to ask for help. White switchplate and outlet cover? Not anymore!

I just put them on a paper bag, made little holes and stuck those screws in there too, so they'll match, and yay, spray paint! I do love spray painting. I also removed the drawer handles and cabinet pull from the vanity in my bathroom, those are now spray painted...no more white and brass. I was going to start the actual painting of the bathroom today, but something has come up, it's called: grandchildren. Miss Margaret has an appointment, so Adrian has daddy duty, and is bringing the kids over here so I can watch them and he can work on the pool deck. Did I mention I bought flooring yesterday? I can't wait! Adrian will help me put that in sometime soon, after I paint and paint the trim, the vanity, and the door....when I say, "Adrian will help me...", I mean he will do all the work while I keep him company, watch the kids, and stay out of his way. It's a nice day, so nice that I'm going to go put some shorts on before the baby and Wulf get here...

we have joy, we have fun, we have seasons in the sun...

Anne, and Elise...we had a picnic outside yesterday...Miss Char and Miss Cam, along with Davian, Anne, Anya and Elise. I packed crackers, pepperoni, the jar of peanut butter and a knife, some apples, bananas, and drinks. The sun was shining, and it was glorious.

Elise is an expert chicken catcher.

Davian caught one too.

He also found an egg!

Yesterday, I didn't end up getting any bathroom remodeling supplies. Camille and I went to Marshalls, where we started some Christmas shopping. We also went to the grocery store and got a pork roast for pulled pork nachos for tomorrow night...because SAMUEL IS GOING TO BE HERE! He is in the Army Reserves, and has drill in NY state this weekend, so yay! He's driving up from Virginia, it'll be so nice to see him. So Charlotte Claire is done with her school work for the day, we're heading out to scope out the supplies for the bathroom, plus getting things for Miss Cam's birthday on Saturday...she wants to make her own cupcakes, and we "need" fortune cookies...and chicken...Cam's making her own fried rice, too... Sunday is supposed to be warm and sunny too, so we're planning a cook-out. You have to live your life! Be safe, be smart, but don't waste your days! As I mentioned in the comments, the election stuff, ugh. Some things are fishy, unfair, or just upsetting, but, at the end of the day, what can you do? I have chosen to NOT let it get to me. I actually put that invisible election frustration into the palm of my hand, squeezed it up, then opened my hand and let it all float away. I am not going to worry about what I cannot change. I voted, I prayed, and I continue to pray. I pray that God has mercy on us, and gives us freedom, gives our leaders wisdom, so that we are free to be together, and to live how we have faith to live. God sees the big picture, He does NOT make mistakes. To bow down in spirit, acknowledge that He is in control, and fight to be at peace...then we can have good days. Not a one of us is promised tomorrow, so TODAY if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts...(Heb. 3:15).

some good news here in New York....!!!

Sunshine! Sunny skies! The trees are mostly bare, but there are still some gorgeous colors clinging to the branches, and the country roads still beam with muted oranges and golds, mostly fallen leaves. When the sun shines on all of this, you forget the desolate weather to come, and hopefully you forget about the election. So we are getting new flooring for our bathroom, which for me, is BIG HAPPY NEWS. I've mentioned our old linoleum, we moved in here in 1992...and where the flooring meets the shower stall, it's curled up, and oh the yuckiness. You can clean the bathroom, but you can't make it look nice. So I'm going to go shop for that, decide whether to go with a new vanity top or buy a used one I've got my eye on, get a new faucet, a mirror, some towel bars and get going on this project...next week of course, when the sun goes back to where it usually is in central NY, behind a thick blanket of clouds. I am going to prime and paint the vanity, spray paint the toilet paper holder and existing towel bar, paint the door and trim, spray paint the door handle...oh, the fun! I love love love doing these projects. I want to get some little night stands for near our bed, too, some that need to be transformed...put them away for the long winter when I am itching for a project. I don't NEED them, now or ever, but they're something I think would be nice. Yesterday, all my tentative plans changed with one phone call from Wulf: "Grandma, can I come to your house?" Well, yes, you can, little guy! His mama came with baby Tennyson, and his daddy, Adrian, came too. Adrian measured the bathroom and gave me an estimate for how much flooring to get, he seems to think it's an easy enough project...

I got some toys ready for Wulf to play with. The doggies ran through and knocked things down, then decided the blanket on the floor looked comfy...oh well. Today, I have some little friends coming to spend the day, and we're going to spend some time with Anya and Elise, my sweet granddaughters who live down the road a few miles... Tomorrow, I'll get going on gathering supplies for my projects. But the election, oh dear! Who will win? Will the cities be destroyed by violence? If you haven't placed your trust in God yet, it might be a good time to consider it!

a dark and stormy night....woo hoo!

Well, we went adventuring in the snow last evening! It coated the trees and bushes, and made us think of Christmas! There's nothing like the joy of the Christmas season, and when your kids are in that spirit too, it's way fun! Yes, I know that is not proper, but it just sounds right. We went to Target, no leftover candy to be found! We got some makings for paninis: turkey, French bread, ect., and some nuts (Target has these big containers of Peanut Butter Monster Mix, so good, so scary because you can't stop eating it. I try to behave and have just a handful after dinner, and avoid all the giant M&M's in there...but oh dear, it's good! And no, I don't get a penny to say that). We got one little $3 Christmas tree, some seltzer, and an outfit for baby Ophelia.

We went to Starbucks for hot drinks for the way home...the girls thought the white hot cocoa was divine, I stuck with a hot decaf coffee. Today, they are all in school, and I am deciding what to do. I have that bathroom project to do, but need some things before proceeding...I'm thinking to put new flooring in, because 29 year old linoleum, ugh. The sink NEEDS new faucets, and I have to buy them before Paul does, if I don't want the $19 ones, ha. I really want to replace the whole sink top, so I've been looking on marketplace...I need a mirror to replace the medicine cabinet with...I'll take the door off of that, paint it, and move it to a different part of the wall...that's the plan. This evening is Activity club at church, and I'll be bringing Lydia out. Jonathan is one of the mentors for the boys' group, so he needs a ride. I work with Emily with the younger girls' group, it's so much fun! They like to color and sing songs and run around. They have to wear masks, of course, and it's sad, but at least they can be together! So today I'm thinking to go out and try to get a mirror, new towel bars, maybe a new faucet...take a look at the flooring...get some marked down candy for Christmas stockings...something for Camille's birthday...she's sharing the party with her friend Amanda, they have the same group of friends, so why not? I have to get Amanda a gift. Well, pray for peace, above all. Antifa was out in all their evil thuggery, harrassing the general population in Portland last evening. I hope the election goes smoothly. I am praying today....

where have I been?

Nowhere too far, that's for sure. My official quarantine period from our last little trip to Florida ended on Friday. We woke up to a bit of Old Man Winter this fine morning.

It's chilly out there, windy too! Now you know I don't mind winter, I love the crispness, the muffled quiet of the freshly fallen snow, the twinkling transformation of stark naked tree branches. I love the whole Christmas season, except for how much I hate actual Christmas...well, I LOVE/HATE it, but that's a whole different story for a different day. I have already stocked up on some new decorations, can't wait to decorate! I feel like I was JUST saying this last year, but this year, even more!

Shall I put Christmas lights on the pool deck?

The snow brightens up the house, gives it that holiday feel. The kids are doing virtual learning today, it's nice. We had some of the older kids and grandkids over yesterday for dinner...roast beef and gravy, mashed potatoes, and some roasted cauliflower, carrots, and brussel sprouts.

Anya, our oldest grandchild, with Margaret and Adrian's baby, Tennyson.

Uncle Jonathan reading to Wulf.

Anya's little sister Elise holding cousin Ophelia. Ophelia is only 10 months old, she's almost as big as 3 year old Elise!

We booked a campsite for a three day weekend in August next year, on Lake Ontario. Who knows what will be going on then? But it's nice to reserve things, to plan, and to hope. We're looking at vacation rentals in the mountains, we would like to do a few long weekends. I would really like to buy a small, used camper, but...if money grew on trees, right? Camping is great when the weather co-operates, but a rainy weekend in a tent is not so heavenly. Camille Anaya is turning 13 this coming weekend, the girls are having a small gathering of friends here. The theme is Asian cuisine. They will be making some of it, ordering some of it. I'm kind of excited, as I am also invited ha. Well, tomorrow is Election Day here in the U.S. of A. I am praying for the re-election of President Trump. He wants to reopen the country, and I feel he gives us the best chance of more freedom. Freedom is what I'm big on. Freedom to gather, to see our friends, to visit my kids on the west coast. (Our governor just made it mandatory to test TWICE for anyone who travels to ANY state or place outside of a few neighboring states). Who will pay for those tests? And all of these positives, which are increasing everywhere, do not mean people are sick! But that's another story for another day.(I know some are still getting sick, and that IS rough) I'm hoping the president gets re-elected because he's pro Israel, against abortion, has done a fantastic job with North Korea, and is good for the economy. I admire how he says what he wants! Now don't get me wrong, I think sometimes he's a jerk, he tweets, he comments, and ugh, just shut up already. But, he's definitely my choice. And shh, if I can't say it on my blog, where CAN I say it? The prevailing idea seems to be that only the liberals are allowed to speak out. If you say anything against abortion, you are cancelled. If you support "Orange Man", you are cancelled. I can't wait to see if the Hollywooders actually leave the country this time, if the president wins. So mostly I want to see things opened up more. Yes, there are more cases, but closing everthing up only postpones the inevitable, ruins liveliehoods, wrecks kids' lives. Here in our county, a small rural county, the overdoses and overdose deaths have multiplied. Suicide rates, attempted suicides, ect, have multiplied. In the whole world, the suffering from messing with chemo schedules, postponing and delaying medical procedures that governing authorities, with NO MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE, have deemed "unnecessary", oh all the troubles....(One of the saddest things is the "no visitation" policies in hosptials and nursing homes. I don't pretend to have an answer, but it's awful. Being in the hospital in the first place is scary, unpredictable, often tragic and terrifying...but to have NO ONE ALLOWED AT ALL, unless you are actually dying (or under 18, or mentally impaired)??? That is HORRIBLE. Mariel is a charge nurse in an outpatient chemo facility, and this past Friday, with no warning, the visitor policy was back to NO ONE. So grandma goes in and gets her chemo without her son, anyone over 18 has to be alone, no fond auntie or devoted mama, nope, all alone. The visitors cannot so much as enter the building. Now, this place has patients who travel from all over the state to get chemotherapy, and the ones who drive them there can't even go in and use the bathroom, let alone sit and hold and hand and comfort and encourage. It's just sad. Can we all pray that God has mercy on us, gives our leaders, whomever they may be, wisdom? Pray that this virus disappears as fast as it appeared, and that we all learn from it, how precious life is and to be thankful for each day? I've been praying so much lately. It's a good thing to do.