Ouch......

Poor baby...got this telephone picture from Naoki earlier this afternoon. Michael fell out of a tree at a party - hello? They have to take him to an orthopedic surgeon to determine how bad it is. Hope it isn't too serious - he just started school and this will also interfere with his other activities. He is a busy young man. Then I got another text message from his Mom asking me for BigD's BBQ Ribs recipe because that is what he wants to eat for dinner. Boy - he is one smart little guy isn't he? Getting his Mom to cook his favorite foods while he is injured - oh yeah - that's my boy! So I got BigD to give me some guess-stimates and put together a recipe for them to use. Then I sent out a mass mailing to friends and family I thought would enjoy getting it also - everyone loves my dear hubby's cooking and I'll have to admit - he does a great job. GG came by and we all ate a bowl of Air-Popped Amish Popcorn. I don't really think it is all that healthy after BigD loads it down with salt and melted butter but it sho is finger lickin good! Bentley called while she was here to thank us for the flowers and good wishes during his surgery. They had just gone to a little country fair close to where he lives. He was telling me how much they are enjoying the GPS and I'll have to agree - I LOVE these little gadgets. I can go anywhere I want to with the knowledge that all I have to do when I get ready to come home is push a few buttons. It is much easier than what Dorothy had to go through and besides, I don't have the right shoes she had either. We also talked about a cough he has developed since the doctor changed his BP - I hope he will call him tomorrow and get it changed. Keith dropped by after service to give me some bad news about a dear friend. I'm trying to assimilate it into the world I live in right now but that world is becoming so crowded I'm finding it harder and harder to do. Is this what Bette Davis was talking about when she said "getting old ain't for sissies"? I thought it was just the aches and pains and feeling your body shifting and changing but I'm beginning to think it is all the rest. I love Bette Davis movies - wish I could find a bunch of her older ones, save them for a long rainy weekend, stock up on junk food and watch her movies all day long. She was a wonderful actress and honed her craft to the nth degree. Overall - it has been a good day today - BigD decided again that I needed sleep so I didn't wake up until 9am. We have had the door open all day, the sun is shining, the airfeels good and I'm still in my PJ's. I have been trying to read a book I started months ago and decided I was going to just "knock it out" today. I used to read all the time and when I got my hands on a good book would not put it down until I was through. I like to think I'm a little more balanced now but I really want to finish this book. I have been taking so long to actually get into it and now it is getting to the part of finding out who, what, where and why and I'm still not getting it done. But we had some company and several phones calls getting caught up with another old friend and for goodness sake - after all - the people in our lives are much more important than the books - right? But just in case you do read this, don't call me for the rest of the day - ya hear! If you want the recipe and weren't on my mailing list - email or text me and I'll send it on.

Better late than not at all....

I decided to put up a few pictures from our family vacation early last month at the beach. To say I was still feeling quite raw from the previous few weeks would be putting it mildly. We had lots of company the first part of the week that kept us all busy and brought much joy with them. Kurt and his family got to our house Friday night and Page and Bentley got in Saturday evening after I got home from the DC. I got up early and went to the DC and everyone else left for the beach. Page and Bentley stayed in town to wait for me so we could all ride down together. Page enjoyed taking Bentley to meet GG and out to the farm to meet dear friends out there. I think she was happy to show him some her "hometown". I really appreciated them waiting for me. Ann, Boy and Biscuit were already there when we arrived and Fran and Katie came up Monday. Ann and Biscuit both got sick and were still sick when they got home later in the week. Page, Katie and Boy had a ball. Leah blew up the big pool, Ann pulled out the smaller pool and the little sandbox for the yard.Bentley liked his new shirt. He sent me a picture of him and a nurse showing him wearing it when he went for his pre-op appointment. I knew it would make his blue eyes stand out.BigD and Kurt liked their new shirts too. I realized I only took videos of Katie so this is Page, Katie and Fran watching TV. For some reason, I can't upload the videos I took with my camera. My old camera's video's uploaded fine. After everyone went home, Lynn and Mae came down to Mae's cottage and we got to enjoy them for the rest of the week. It felt like old times getting caught up with these two dear friends for all of us. Kurt got a little too much sun - it isn't hard for him to do but it is funny to see where Leah tried to get enough sunscreen on him and missed. On Friday, Dee and BigT came up from EI for dinner. We had a New England Boil or New England Clam Bake - with fresh crabs we had caught off the dock, fresh shrimp Dee and BigT brought, fresh clams, stuffed sausages, potatoes, onions, corn on the cob and all the other fixin's that go with it. We used BidD's friend's electric cooker for it and it turned out perfectly. After we stuffed our stomachs, Lynn and I went out on the dock with Mae and Kurt who did a cartwheel off the dock into the water. The tide was in so the water was up high on the dock. I pulled my pants off and talked Lynn into going in too. She pulled her pants off while Mae told us we were nuts and then I realized I wouldn't be able to get out. There are barnacles on the bottom rungs of the old ladder and I am way too heavy to pull myself up without those bottom rungs. I finally convinced Lynn to jump in followed by Page1 who pulled her pants off. Dee ran back to the cottage and grabbed one of BigD's tee shirts and told everyone me and Lynn were going skinny dipping. Leah got her and Page2 into their suits and jumped in followed by Dee wearing BigD's tee shirt. Kurt said her legs were still running when she ran off the end of the dock. I wish I had gotten some pictures of all of them but it was so dark, they wouldn't take. They enjoyed their evening swim - it was a great adventure - especially when everyone saw one meteor streak across the sky. We didn't see them like we had hoped - it was a little cloudy. Everyone finally got back on the dock and ran into the yard to jump into the kids pool to rinse the salt off. What a fun way to end a great day with family and friends.Page and Bentley left Saturday - they had a long drive South and needed a day to recover before getting back to work. Everyone kind of slowed down and relaxed the rest of the time. Leah, Kurt and Page went to the beach for the afternoon and really had a good time in the surf. I took tons of pictures of Page in this dress. I love the color against the golden sun kissed hair and skin. One of the best parts of this trip was having the opportunity to write a check and leave it for a cleaning lady to come in. After we washed all the dishes, cleaned out the refrigerators and got packed - we headed home.My speedometer on "Ava" passed the 200,000 mile mark on our way home. She sure has been a good old girl - just hope she can hang on for the ride. Don't see any new cars in my future. I do see the coast in my future and soon. I almost called to see if I could rent the cottage for next weekend but am going to try to act like a responsible grown-up and hold on until we go down in October. Whether I'll be able to hold on that long remains to be seen. To be continued.......I told you to be continued - snatched this picture of Katie from her family's camping trip from FB - entry would not have been complete without her pretty face.../AND like I said - better late than not at all......

Multiple Size Syndrome....

Kurt and Leah suffer from the same disease I do - I call it "Multiple Size Syndrome". As a rule, we can make our wardrobe work for our "various" sizes by adding a jacket or long sweater - but then comes that moment when you have to look your best for a special function and nothing you own "fits" the bill. After Kurt and Leah moved from Virginia Beach, two of their friends (Mom and daughter) stayed in touch with them, coming to visit several times. Leah and Page are supposed to be in the daughter's wedding this month. They both have their dresses and after alterations, they should be pretty much set. Recently, the bride asked Kurt if he would escort her Mother into the wedding! He felt so honored but found himself suffering from MSS. Since the bride asked him to wear a specific color, he knew he would have to purchase a new suit anyway so this is the one he got. He sent me a telephone picture and personally I think he is definitely a Studly Dudly. I hope they find someone they can trust at the wedding to get pictures of them - they are ALL going to be IN the wedding so who will get pictures of them????

Matryoshka or Nesting Dolls ...

Page sent me a telephone picture of Bentley's "nesting dolls". I have always loved these dolls and now have two sets. One is missing the top half of the smallest doll but Page2 still enjoys playing with them. My friend and fellow blogger recommended this little book. Depending on where you purchase it, you can get the dolls to go with the book. I'm not sure I'm going to purchase the book because it may be a little young for her. I also have to exercise a little self-control when purchasing more "stuff" to go in this little house I live in that is already bursting at the seams. Ruth and her sweet hubby came for dinner last night - BigD's BBQ Chicken, Cole Slaw and Mashed Taters - yum. We drove over to Ruth's Mom's house this afternoon after the meeting to visit with them and Ruth's brother who is very sick. I hated seeing him looking so thin and weak but we still had a lot of laughs with them - talking about fishing, boats, cooking and I want to think other happy memories. Ruth has been living under more stress that can be imagined these past 5 weeks so we are glad her sweet husband has been with her for a few days. She made a joke about needing to rent a room and get a part-time job so I offered her my back bedroom with the stipulation that she could help me de-clutter and clean this nasty house - she passed. What does that tell you? :-)

It's the little things in life.....

I wrote a nice entry under this heading and accidently deleted everything but one picture. How sad is that? I'll try to re-create what I can recall and hopefully it will be shorter. I do believe it is the little things in life - that make life worth living, that make a difference - that..... you fill in the blank. Think about it - when things slow down - what do you think about or pay attention to? As most of you know, when I'm outside, I'm constantly taking pictures of trees, the sky, old buildings being reclaimed by nature - those little things that catch my eye and make me smile or become nostalgic... When I am inside, I have so many "little" things that accomplish the same thing starting with my dear Miya...I love to hold her against my body while she sleeps, feeling her slowed breathing matching mine....

Then of course I have all the pictures around me of people I love, fresh flowers that I hold on to until there is no more color, little treasures that mean nothing to anyone but me, little gifts from loved ones that represent their love for me...
like a small handkerchief with my initial on it along with a "perfect" shell from the beach my dear Linda brought me. I just got off the phone with her - they are going to the mountains to visit family and escape the horrendous heat we are still experiencing here.

The cute clock Dee bought me a few years ago to tell me how much she appreciated me opening my home to the family when Barbara Ann came down for her last reunion with us. She ordered it from Esty which has also become one of my favorite places to buy gifts and speciality items. Lately I have been staying away from that site - no $$$$$. :-)The market basket Rosemary bought me - I love baskets but try to refrain from purchasing too many. This little cottage I live in is bursting at the seams as it is. The last of my sunflowers - been two weeks!!! I love sunflowers - heck - I love ALL flowers.And then of course this little bit of humanity - Paige. What a sweetie - feels so good laying on your chest - can certainly see why her Gma Ruth enjoys keeping her so much....And of course my little bit of love - Page2. I never get tired of looking at this beautiful child who has turned into such a sweet little girl. I have already told all my kids how cheated I feel because they all live away so will not belabor that point again here. So as I said before - it is the little things in life........

Cards and Thank You Notes.....

I had just taken down the wonderful sympathy cards we had received for Barbara's death and I started getting thank you cards - from Page and Bentley for gifts given to them at the coast and for the flowers we sent for Bentley's surgery as well as one from Gerl for her party and two nice ones from Rosanne just because. I love cards and if I had a nicer handwriting I would send tons of them. I appreciate people taking the time to go out, pick out and purchase a card that always seems to say exactly what you need to hear, sitting down and writing a nice expression in it, addressing it and "paying" to have it sent in the mail to you. Here it is Thursday night and most of my flowers are "holding on" which still brings a smile to my face every time I look at them - especially the gorgeous hydrangea's right beside my chair. They have lasted longer than any of these kinds I have every had. Made myself go to the meeting tonight. I got a little nap this afternoon and feel that helped. I was feeling a little better this morning when I went for my monthly checkup with the doctor and then my tummy did some more tricks most of the afternoon. Feels good that I made it tonight - also that I got to have a nice conversation with one of my favorite people - Jeri.

Old friends, new friends and brand new friends....

My beautiful "old friend" from high school days has been here over a month now helping her younger brother who is very sick. She comes over during the weekend and spends a night with us to wind down. I love this picture I took of us sitting on BigD's back porch one night when he was at the coast fishing and we lit some of the sparklers I bought for the kids to have at the beach (we forgot we had them). Her gorgeous son and his beautiful wife and new granddaughter drove up to help with some things and we had them over for dinner last night. BigD and I both love babies as you can see from the picture to the right. She is such a cutie pie - and so happy. I really enjoyed meeting Ruth's daughter-in-law who is as gorgeous in person as she is in the pictures I've seen. I feel like I already knew her from FB and she is just as sweet as Ruth has told me. They brought their wedding album which is so nice - it is a book and the picture are the book. BigD grilled some steaks baked potatoes as well as some potatoes cooked on top of the stove with onions, green peppers and butter. Yum. I know Ruth hated to see them leave for home today but her son had to get back to work. It was so nice of them to drive up so Ruth's brother could see Paige (yep - she is the Page I mentioned earlier after she was born - Page3). Ruth's sweet hubby is driving up tomorrow and we are having them over for BigD's famous BBQ chicken. We are going to have Ruth's hubby help make it so he can teach Erik how to make it. So it was nice to be with old friends, a new friend - Chris and of course the brand new friend - Paige.