Girl time

Josie came and spent a few days with us while brother was gone to camp. The girls came and spent time with her. They had a lot of fun with the dress up trunk of clothes, and playing pioneers. We loaded everyone's bikes into the back of the pickup and went to a park. There was a picnic lunch, biking, wading, and skipping rocks in the river. When we got home they got completely soaked with the hose, which is totally Bella's kind of fun. That night we made home-made individual pizzas, movie night (The Retrievers), and a sleepover.

Intervention?

Beer Can Chicken. ( I add garlic and onion powders to the rub and glaze.) This was the first of 4 beer can chickens made this past week. It was for the family reunion, and we loved it. Also made a roasted corn, black bean, mango salad, which I liked allot, but didn't get rave reviews from hubby, or mom. (Family Reunion was pretty quiet this year...Jim and I were among the youngsters there.) This trip over, we got Mom's kitchen and utility room painted and some garage sales in. Dad is such an avid garage sale guy. He gets on ....ummm...kicks.... For a while he brought home at least 1 table saw a week ....for months/years. He would repair them and sell them or donate them to a charity shop. He has acquired more telephones than Ma Bell, and gives them to anyone who needs some. He sought out electric typewriters galore, trying to find the best possible one for Mom. Filling a request for me, started a wave of antique typewriters. He's gotten so many computers, I doubt even he can remember how many at this point. He has several, and has donated beau coup to soooo many people. Then..... laptops....
At one point this weekend, He was sitting in his recliner with his laptop, Mom had one on her lap, Jim was on one Dad gave him,
and mine was on the sofa ....with the dogs. Can we say "Family Intervention?!"

First Day of Summer

Ahhhhhhh, the sun! the sun! streaming through the kitchen window! Welcome!

Hmmm, 1st day of summer, house full of kids, a farm full of eggs....what's for lunch?

lemonade and "heavenly eggs."

(Tori doesn't believe we should give the enemy anything.)

The little girls played and played. Riding double on the tricycle, pulling the wagon around, entertaining each other for hours.

Papa gave a "hayride" all over the place.... up the hill, through the orchard, down the lane. The kids loved it!

It was great having the kids here. The cousins enjoyed each others company so much. There were even some tears when the girlies went home. Bella loved all of the company and hugs too.
Unfortunately, little Joe's visit was cut short. We had to make an E.R. visit with an acute asthma attack and he went home with his Daddy afterwards, to spend time with his parents and the babies.

Welcome Home!

This next one cracks me up!

"My what long legs you have, Violet!"

Buster was quite taken back by the whole thing...

and got kinda freaked when one of the babies would cry.

I had warned everybody at the house to put on their crash helmets,

knee pads, and elbows pads, they might just get knocked over...

because I was the only one who hadn't gotten to hold the babies at the hospital!

It's a Jungle Out There!

There is a lot of difference between a Cottage Garden and a Weeds gone Wild garden. Yikes. Who knew all that casual look required a little Miss Marple to work in it....24/7?? It's just not feasible around here. Our life is too fragmented for that. We are busy cleaning out the works, and going for a much cleaner look, with easier upkeep. Larger plants like the hydrangeas and ferns can stay. Flowers are going into pots.

Because....making your way through jungle high blackberry vines, dandelions, dock, and grasses,
is reeeeeally tiring.

Last Week

On Monday, Ashi was here for the day, that evening I worked on sewing the crib bumpers for Kate. They are covered in a gorgeous dahlia quilted bedspread fabric that Kate had. Isn't it wonderful? Tuesday, we went to the city to spend some time with Kate and the fam. She was sick with a fever and on antibiotics. She's on bedrest now, to keep the expected twins all safe and snuggly, til time for their big debut. I loved watching them have family time in the evenings, reading together.

Thursday, we celebrated Kate's birthday. Joe is so sweet, he suggested breakfast in bed for his Mama, with chocolate croissants. (This boy has been payin' attention!) Our birthday present to Kate, was working on the main floor bathroom, with a fresh paint job. The kids made a home Depot run with us. There are a few final touches that need to be done, so no pix yet. The kiddos watching a show together, before we all left on Friday. It was good to have time with them. Anna and Joel took care of Bella and worked things out so we could be gone for the week to shuttle kiddos to school, etc. Thanks Guys!

The Big "O"

O' lovely, Saturday morning, a surprise. Jim took me to breakfast at The Original Pancake House. We used to go there occasionally when he had Dr. appointments on "the hill". It's my very favorite date place with him. It's at it's very best in the dark grayish rainy days of winter when it's little lamps glow against the warm honey colored knotty pine. When I was a freshman and sophomore in high school, our home kitchen had knotty pine like this, and little lamps like this, but with amber shades. It was my favorite room in that house. Going here for breakfast always brings back fond memories of that kitchen. And all winter I've been craving their pancakes. I love, love, love, their tender buttermilk pancakes. I really enjoy Saturday morning breakfasts out. When we were first married, it was something we did often. People aren't tired and grumpy like a Friday night after a rough work week. They're a bit groggy, but smiley and happy to be in their weekend. There's no pressure to be all dressed up, everyone's comfy in their jeans and hoodies. Although, I did notice we were in the city, with a number of 20+ yr old gals in leggings, baby dolls and ballet flats, so very cute...i was envious.

We got our favorite usual booth. Yay! With a view of the rhodies and mossy sweatered tree.

O' sweet: We went over to Kate's for the day. It was good to spend time there with them. Chris went to Buster's Barbeque and got us all a wonderful meal. O' speaking of Buster, here he is resting up, getting ready for his next bout of mischief!

Hey Buster!

We've been babysitting Buster. He's a good little guy, very sweet. A certain little girl is "crushin" on him. They run and play chase around the trees in the front yard, and watch TV together.

I overheard her talking very softly to him...."I wish you were MY little dog"

I don't think Buster finds me that easy to cuddle with. I get off of the couch too often, and when I'm sitting there, I always have some sort of needle in my hands....crocheting afghans, knitting socks or bunnies, or embroidering dishtowels. Jim has mentioned several times at how attached Buster has become to HIM. I keep reminding him that when the little pupper's kids come through that door to reclaim him....he's going to be on them like fleas on a hound dog!

Merry Christmas!

A scrapbooking design by Smilebox

Cat Nap

Birdie....Did I ever tell you how she got her name? One night, her mother started giving birth to a litter of kittens in the closet in Tori's room. I gathered Mama Kitty and the kitlets up and moved them downstairs. The next morning, Tori (age 3) called me into her room and said "there's a bird in my room." "Hear it?" I listened and was appalled to find out that one of the kittens had fallen behind something in the closet, and hadn't gotten moved with it's mommy and it's siblings. It had a strange little squawkey voice, that indeed sounded like a bird. We named her "Birdie", and she still has a strange little voice. I'm not sure how her mama got in the house in the first place, since we have "barn cats" not "house cats" because of both Kate's allergies and asthma, and my very strong aversion to litter boxes. (I think she may have gotten some castaway assistance from a little girl.) Birdie will take assistance from anyone who is willing to not latch the front door properly. She nudges it open and bounds up the stairs, and quickly nestles into the afghan Ashlyn spreads on the floor for her teddy bears.