Kids' Kamp revisited

Thought you'd all like to see pictures of the Kids' Kamp, as of today, Saturday.

The blue tarps are gone. (as you had seen before) The walls are all sheetrocked and painted. We decided to paint three walls green and one wall yellow because it was such a large room. There is an almost-finished painted ceiling. The floor has the laminate on it. He added a closet. (From the angle of the picture, it looks smaller than it is.) Paul's now on his way to Lowe's to get some more supplies. The room's not completed yet, but a lot has been done.






This last picture was taken last Wednesday evening outside at our church pavilion. It was the annual Blessing of the Animals. We had easily 20 dogs, an assortment of cats, and cat pictures since some owners didn't feel comfortable bringing them. You can't see many of the dogs - There were a lot of little dogs. It's too far away, but it gives you some idea about it.




Speaking of dogs: Gracie has a "day" sitter. If we intend to go away for just the day, we now have a girl down the street that would be willing to help out. She child-sits two boys across the street. We're still looking into an overnight pet-sitter. I don't think it will be more expensive than the kennel. Of course, we need someone we can trust to stay at the house.

Yes. It's true. I see some of you shaking your head. But - We love that little dog. She can't help it if she's so small. We couldn't take her to the kennel when she weighed only 2 pounds. She'd be too susceptible to illness. She's now a year and a half and she's more than doubled her weight. But - the kennel just didn't work out.

We've had good weather this week. The hot spell is gone. Knock on wood. We had a gentle rain yesterday and the grass is starting to come back.

I talked with Nancy a couple of days ago and she said they had a wonderful vacation. (If you remember, they were at Lake Michigan during our horrible heat spell.) She said it wasn't bad up there and there was always a nice breeze. How lucky they weren't in Chicago because it was very hot there.

She said she decided to start Evie with basic (very basic) sign language. . .using the sign for "that's enough". Evie looked at her and tried to mimic the sounds, "that's enough" instead of the signs. Nancy said it looks like she won't need the hand signals but will go directly to speaking. That's MY Nancy's daughter. . . I can remember singing the first part of ba ba black sheep to Nancy when she was in her crib, and she repeated the "baba-baba-baba-ba". She was about the same age. 10 months.

We're having a neighborhood garage sale next weekend. So - I spent the morning in the cellar looking through boxes. Too much memorabilia and not enough garage sale items. My dear Paul said not to worry if I can't part with some. I did find photographs, etc. that I'm looking forward to showing my "kids" - from their childhood. Even some photos for brother Bob to look at when he comes up.

Okay. Time to do the bills. The end of the month comes quickly. Too quickly.
Hope you all have a great rest of the weekend. And . . . . .

How're things in your neck o' the woods?

Staycation #4 Food for Thought

If it's not obvious, this should be the last post in the order of which should be read.

These pictures are of Bed and Biscuit Dog Kennel in Ithaca. This is where we left Gracie overnight. This was a "trial run."

We were kinda disappointed. She didn't do so well.

The owner said Gracie was really intimidated by the other dogs, and wouldn't come out of her cage most of the time. She had no contact with the other dogs,(she wasn't supposed to) other than to see the one across from her. But I guess the barking got to her. She didn't eat. (except she ate a little in the morning)

He said she liked going outside on the enclosed grassy area. (She was alone out there because there weren't any dogs her size.) The owner, Laszlo, suggested not to bring her cage next time, and it "should give her more courage." He said that it had too much of home. I'm not sure if I agree with that. We're thinking about all this and checking out other options and thinking about his suggestions.

Well, guess that's all for now. Yes. I did use up most of my day writing, but I managed to unpack, do wash, and now will go to Curves and do some food shopping.






So how're things goin' in your neck o' the woods?

Staycation #3

These pictures are in the reverse order I planned - oh, well.

We had a tour of the Farm House, which is filled with mackenzie-child's items. The Farm House was purchased and done over as maybe a Bed and Breakfast, or a place to rent for parties, or to just show off their furniture, ceramicware. They couldn't decide. They had a large budget and spared no expense. Everything is gorgeous, or so they told us.

I must say, the items do look better in the Farm House than in the gift shop. I joked with Paul that he should paint our new upstairs room in the Courtly Checks - each check was individually painted on the walls and ceiling. A lot of items have them. Even the pink bedroom has a Courtly Check vase between the two windows.

The other building was the factory. I'm standing in front of the Farm House. Between the factory and the Farm House was a lovely pond with willow trees at the edge. There were park benches all around for people to sit on.

Overnight Staycation - #2

Skaneateles Lake: 16 miles long, 300 feet deep

After touring Skaneateles Lake in the morning, we started driving over towards Aurora for the afternoon. Half-way there, we had lunch at a little town called Moravia. There was an old-fashioned sandwich shop (with subs, wraps)- and the menu on a chalk blackboard.

Aurora is on Cayuga Lake - east side. Home of Wells College, and MacKenzie-Childs: handcrafted pieces done by artisans using traditional pottery techniques on their unique and extremely expensive style.

The below pictures show the outside of the beautiful gift shop, inside the gift shop - you become used to their trade mark "Courtly Checks" that is found throughout on furniture, pottery, rugs. We weren't allowed inside the factory. Paul had been there before and was disappointed we couldn't go through. But - There was a 15-minute DVD about their pottery factory.

Overnight Staycation

We decided to go on an overnight trip to Skaneateles Lake, one of the smaller of the Fingerlakes. We stayed in Auburn which is six miles from the lake at a hotel owned by the same group as the Harbor Hotel in Watkins. It was okay, but I think it was a poorer cousin.

We went to Skaneateles and had dinner at the Sherwood Inn Tap Room, a very lovely old hotel, that overlooks the lake. (Why didn't we stay there? Rooms were very expensive!) After dinner we walked the pretty main street of town with the rest of the tourists. (Lots!) Unfortunately, it was too late for pictures there, and we didn't get to return to the town on Monday.

Monday morning: At our hotel in Auburn there was a sheet with directions to go around the lake, so we decided to use it. It was fun, but we didn't realize that on Mondays a lot of places are closed. And that was the case. We did get to stop at an Antique Store (closed), and a flour mill (closed). We didn't care though - they were beautiful. And we got some pretty pictures. That took most of the morning. Of course the lake was beautiful and we saw some gorgeous homes, and vistas. The lake picture didn't turn out that well - it was kinda cloudy then, but cleared up beautifully.

I liked the pictures of the Antique Store and the Flour Mill.

More to come.

A Full Weekend

The heat is still upon us, but it seems to be feeling a little better. Of course, I haven't been outside much, so it's not fot me to say.

Friday night, Carole and Tom joined us for dinner at the Mechanics Club, along with Lue and her brother, Scott. As usual, the food was excellent and plentiful. Scott had been here earlier in the season, and then traveled further east to visit with other relatives. Soon he'll be going back to Washington in his 1991 van (approx. 180,000 miles on it). His plan is to go across Canada.

Saturday night we invited Lue and Scott for dinner. Ida also came because her brothers and folks were going to a Pioneer Baseball game. She'd been up late camping the night before and was tired, so rather than keep her up another night, she came and stayed overnight with us - and so kept pretty much to her regular schedule. I joked with Ida - that we were having company for dinner. Did she think they'd taste good? She thought that was rather lame.

Rather than a bath, she went in the hottub - with some bath toys. Then this morning before I was up, she asked Grandpa if she could go in again. So she did, while he sat on the deck and read the paper and had his morning coffee.

Paul has painted the walls and ceiling of the new room. Haven't taken a picture of that yet, but will soon.

So - what's happenin' in your neck o' the woods?


Little House in the Deep, Deep Woods

107 degrees?

Yes.

That's what the temp. was yesterday afternoon (107 degrees) coming back from The Belhurst Castle. That's the actual temperature. . . not the heat index. Needless to say - Records were broken.

Dayle and Darryl came up from South Carolina for a few weeks to get away from the heat (hahaha) and visit friends (here) and family in Vermont. They're headed back down to SC - probably to cool off. LOL.

We did have a nice visit - and ended up back at Ruth's for iced tea and dessert. She made her delicious butter pecan cake.

My friend Marcia, from North Carolina, and her husband Hal won't be coming up this summer. It seems she was walking on some blacktop, tangled with a hole, and ended up breaking her ankle in two places. She's immobile for 6 weeks. What a bummer. Hal downloaded some books for her on his Kindle. Bless his heart. We'll miss them.

Northerners head south in the winter - Southerners: north in the summer. Do we call southerners . . . Reverse Snowbirds?

My Florida cousin Alice has been north for a couple of weeks. She flew up to Long Island to visit relatives there, and then went on to Vermont to visit her son and his family. Probably, she's another southerner who came north to beat the heat! I know Rick has a beautiful in-ground pool in his backyard. (I've seen pictures.) I bet they're enjoying that.

Our sheetrock contractor is finishing up this morning. The pictures are from last night after he left. I bet he's enjoyed the a/c up there. I can't imagine working in this heat, BUT, work/life continues all over. How did we manage without it? (a/c?)

We talked with Jil, Mark and Bob on speakerphone last night around 6:00. We like using the speakerphone; it's like you're there and here at the same time. We're in the kitchen; they're on the lanaii. BTW - It was only 93 in Venice. All is okay down there. Mark's enjoying his visit.

My thoughts keep coming back to Nancy, Dan, Evie and Vincent. . . and hoping they're having a great vacation at upper lake Michigan with Dan's family. Take lots of pictures, Nance!

Nancy said, a while back, that they have the best vacations when they leave home, because being college professors, they work a lot from home. When they go away, they try not to take work with them. Good idea. Hope it worked well for you, Nance. (and Dan) and that you come home rested (?) and invigorated (?). One never knows with small children whether that happens, but a change of scene does wonders. But as Dorothy said "There's no place like home. . ."

I have great plans for today. Curves. A trip to Bed, Bath and Beyond, to get a shower door cleaner/scraper. The actual name for it escapes my mind. (This happens more often than not.) Squeegee! (Gosh, thanks Paul.) Then, we're going to the Mechanics Club in Montour for a fishfry. They have an excellent one, with a marvelous stand-alone salad bar buffet. We're meeting some friends.

Okay - so what's happenin' in your neck o' the woods?

Dog Days of Summer

Wednesday:
Thought you'd like to see Paul's latest project, which I describe in more detail below the pictures.

Also, about the picture of Gracie, Bode and Brenda enjoying our conversation time: It seems Bode enjoys popcorn as much as Gracie. I can remember when Gracie could make a meal of one kernal of popcorn. That was when she weighed 2.5 pounds. Now she weighs 4.9. Bode: 4.5. (Wow. Aren't they big? Not.) That's her on the floor. Someone at the reunion said she looked bigger in pictures. She isn't big. She's all hair. Papillons all look like drowned rats when wet. i.e. baths.

Isn't that a nice picture of Paul's foot? Knowledge of editing would come in handy at times.










It's happenin'. . . summer's here. The dog days are upon us. It's amazing that all the green lawns that appeared during our "rainy season" in the spring could possibly turn brown, but that's what's happenin'. We haven't had any substantial rain in quite some time. When it rained so hard, it was easy to become delusional. How can grass that green ever turn brown after all that water?

It's also hot. And it'll get hotter. Tomorrow's forecast is for nearly 100. BUT -We're going to (the air-conditioned) Belhurst Castle, for lunch, with a group of some dear card club friends We have two friends, Dayle and Darryl, who moved to be near their family in NC. They're here for a couple of days. It's an opportunity to touch base.

Nancy, Dan, Evie and Vincent are visiting Dan's folks at the "cottage" they rent at Lake Michigan. It's a chance for them to be with Dan's extended family: cousins, aunts, uncles. Not sure if they all stay at the same cottage, but this is a place Dan's family have rented for years and years. I'm hoping it's not that hot there. But it probably is, since the weather channel said this heatwave is quite large. They do have access to the lake, however. And - Perhaps they have air-conditioning or a nice cool cross-ventilation when the windows are open? And fans. That's more likely. It's probably not a/cing.

We've decided to finish off the Kids Kamp upstairs. It was really rough-looking with blue tarps for walls, area rugs on the floor, and a general unkempt look to it. But the kids liked the privacy. And it was heated in the winter and had a window a/c in the summer. I've never known someone like Paul who takes the bull by the horn and jumps in immediately to whatever project is decided.

Paul decided he wasn't going to do the sheetrocking this time, (I mentally jumped up and down with this news). He dislikes to sheetrock. Yesterday he contacted someone to come by and give him an estimate. The cost wasn't bad, so Paul gave him the go-ahead. Now Paul can do just the work he wants to.

I'd thought it'd be a few weeks before the contractor got started. It's amazing. He's working upstairs right now. Today. He said he'll be done by Friday and it'll be ready for paint. Paul met his three workers: his girlfriend, a young boy, and another man. I think Paul wasn't too sure about them, but he said they're working hard up there.

During our family reunion, Gracie barked a lot. We wouldn't mind it if Gracie just did it when people came in and then stopped when she got to know them, but she kept it up longer than needed. We know she's trying to protect us, but enough is enough. Case in point: right now with the contractors.

A couple of days ago, I decided to check my old friend Google to see what could be done. They suggested: Have a spray water bottle nearby. That's crucial. After she's barked a little, immediately say "Gracie, Thank you, but that's enough." The "thank you" is recognizing her doing what she thinks is her job. Gently spray her if/when she doesn't stop (which she won't at first). It's such a simple solution.
Now, we have to keep practicing it. It will work.

I could write more, but it's lunchtime again. Funny thing . . . Lunchtime always seems to come up at noontime when we're hungry.

So - how're things goin' in your neck o' the woods?

Life continues - Full Steam Ahead.

Here we are. Home alone. We miss Brenda though, and little Bode. They left yesterday from Elmira Airport, fly to Philadelphia and then to San Francisco.

Life is interesting . . . when flying from Elmira. There's usually stories to be told.

Brenda's flight was to leave at 6:21 PM. Brenda had an hour between flights at Philly, but the airline computer-site said the time dropped to thirty minutes - due to air traffic in Philly. So - that meant a lot of running. She didn't want to miss what was the last flight of the day, because then she'd need to get a hotel room. AND there was a lot going on the next day at home. The commuter plane from Elmira landed in one terminal. She had to take a shuttle bus to the other. And then race to the next gate. Nothing unusual. Just the usual.

When we left, we used our computer to check her flight's progress. And all was okay. They even made up time in the air, so she gained some "running-time" at the Philly airport. All's well that ends well. Sigh.

Earlier in the day: Brenda and I wanted to go to see Harry Potter's last movie. The premiere was held Friday - at midnight to 3 AM at the local theaters. This was everywhere. Yes. All over.

Emma: Back in California - Emma wanted to go with a group of her friends to their midnight premiere. A lot of cellphone calls went back and forth to make sure Emma's ideas coincided with Brenda and Eric's.

You see, Eric's folks came down from Santa Barbara and stayed with Emma, while Brenda was here, and Eric was at a conference in Wisconsin. Brenda, Eric and Emma live on a wild-life preserve that is quite a distance from town. Finally - everything was settled. Emma ended up spending the night with her friend Ashley, who lives in town. So, grandma and grandpa didn't have to pick her up and bring her home from the movie theater at 3 AM.

Brenda and I: Earlier in the week, we decided to go to the midnight Harry Potter movie. (We wanted to brag to Emma, that due to the time change, we'd see the movie before her!) BUT by the end of the week - We came to our senses and realized how tired we'd be if we went to the midnight show, and decided to go to the first show of the morning (9:40 AM). Good choice. Good sense. Good movie. Great movie.

Proof: When you still think about a movie, even hours after it ends, you know it's a great movie. I'd easily see it again.

Paul wouldn't have liked it. You had to listen carefully to understand the British accent. After a while, I could.

Tonight we'll have three children staying overnight with us. Sharon is having her 25th high school class reunion at her house tonight. She was in charge of planning it, collecting the money, etc. And some had reserved hotel rooms. The place for the reunion required a 25 people guarantee to sign up. It didn't happen. There were only 14. So . . .At the last minute, she cancelled the restaurant. . . deciding the best way to handle this was to move it to her house, or they'd all have to make up the cost difference. Sharon called and they're bringing the movie "Tangled" with them! Great - we haven't seen it.

I heard from my kids too. . .Nancy, Dan, Vincent and Evie are leaving today for their annual Lake Michigan week with his parents. She called earlier this week, but I was out and didn't get around to return it. Brenda talked with her though. I wonder if she has cell-phone coverage while there. Hmmmmmm. . .

Jil called last night, and we could hear the problem in the background - the fridge was making an awful noise. It's done that before, so Paul gave Jil several ideas which he tried, the last being - unplug the thing. He did and quiet descended. He was to replug it in, in 6-8 minutes, and call us back if this didn't work. He didn't call.

A change of subject: I'm wondering if he got a Kindle. He sent an e-mail requesting ebook choices under $9.99. He didn't mentioned getting one, but that's kinda a hint. Somehow the fridge took precedence.

Time to fold wash, make lunch.

So - how're things goin' in your neck o' the woods?

Family Reunion 7-10-11

Here's the pictures I took on Sunday when we had our Family Reunion at our home. I have to apologize for backs in several pictures. I have to get used to saying "look at me!" "Say Cheese!" Also - please note - I snuck a picture in of our shed. Didn't Paul do a nice job?

We had 37 in all - which was more than we had anticipated. We thought perhaps no more than 30. Not sure how we miscounted, but it was a really pleasant surprise to have everyone come and bring so much food. I guess the amount of food wasn't a surprise - because family reunions are noted for that! (At least Paul's are. . .)

The pictures are in the reverse order of importance - the last picture should have been first - Siblings: Paul, Howard, Edna, Bonnie and Bob. They're arranged in birth order - from L to R Paul being the youngest, to Bob being the oldest. Oops - didn't mean Dorothy and Gary were unimportant. . . Just meant the most important picture was last!

Using only first names: Bob, Bonnie, Ray and Gary, Edna, Mike and Sandy, Howard, Alicia and Karen, Dave, Sue, Angie and Paulie (16 months), Kathy and Lloyd, Barbara, Roger, Vic and Max and 3 nieces (not related), Jim and Ellen, Lue, Brenda, Sharon, Dave, Lee, Charlie, Ida, Jeff, Dorothy and Alaina.

Since Lue was "adopted" for the reunion - she was the one designated to take the whole group pictures so that everyone could be in it. Thank you Lue! You should have seen her holding all the cameras, and making sure that each one was used for each shot. Amazing and much appreciated.

Paul's brother, Bob, stayed with us on Sunday night and Dave, Sue, Angie, Kathy, Lloyd Barbara, Jim, Ellen came back to pick him up and take him home Monday. I made a ham/cheese/egg stratta for breakfast to eat before getting on the road. It's my dear friend, Marcia's recipe, and I have used it several times with great results. Thank you, Marcia! Everyone raved about it.

Last night Brenda, Paul and I had reunion food leftovers for dinner. Surprise, surprise.

It is hot and humid today. Brenda left early to go "walk the Glen" with Sharon, Ida, Charles and Lee. I don't envy them, but, sure . . . they had a good time. I know it's not something I could handle.




















So - that's all the up-to-the-minute news from the Woods Edge. How're things going in your neck o' the woods?

All's Well here at the Woods Edge.

Some pre-view pictures before tomorrow's group arrives. The middle picture is of our vegetable garden and Bode checking it out. Yes. It's small - but serves our purpose for daily lettuce, etc. Waiting for the tomatoes to be ready! BLT's . . .here we come!




Paul and I were commenting how everything seems to be going according to plan so far. We're pretty well organized for all the company to come:

Beds are made. . .including both futons. House is clean. Tent is set up, lawn mowed, (I take that back, he's out there again.) gas grill tank filled, ice made. Casseroles ready. Wimpies (FYI - Wayland name for sloppy joes) made. There's a lull. Before the "storm." Thus - I'm writing.

Brenda and Bode arrived yesterday on the Red Eye. Brenda was plenty tired yesterday after the long over-night trip. Paul picked her up while I finished up (I hoped) the food shopping. We are so close to the airport, that she could call from her cell when they landed, and Paul could leave the house and arrive there as she collected her luggage. How wonderful that is.

So - Bode and Gracie have been having a great time running around the house, chasing each other and playing tag with toys. And teaching each other bad habits - like barking at nothing. One starts and the other follows - usually it's Bode who is unfamiliar with the noises here. Gracie then assumes it's important and joins in. I think though that she's wising up. She's been sitting by me listening to Bode. Now they're both lying on the futon.

Brenda is out shopping and visiting her sister, Sharon, and Ida. It's nice she can do this. We do miss Emma and Eric and wish they were here, but as I've mentioned, all of a sudden this year, important events are happening that are not family related. Thus said:

It is unbelievable how easy it is to get in touch with people. Emma and Brenda talk via cell phone without even considering it - just punch in and talk about anything. What clothes should I wear to . . .? Where did you leave . . .? Can you locate . . .? We wouldn't usually call long-distance for such matters, but not the case for nowadays. BUT - I'm not knocking it. I think it's wonderful.

Tonight, we've invited anyone who is traveling in, today, to go to The Old Country Buffet for dinner. We don't know who'll show up, but we've done it before and it works out well. What I like is - I don't have to cook. I didn't last night - we went out to a fish fry. And tomorrow - Paul will be firing up the grill. Lots of things to do tomorrow, of course, about food. Then we'll have lots of left-overs. Everyone will be bringing a dish to pass.

What is wonderful is that all five siblings will be here: Bonnie and Bob (the oldest and twins), sister Edna, brother Howard (and Paul - of course). Paul is the youngest, and Bob and Bonnie are considerably older. Bob was in WWII. He graduated from high school in the early 1940's. And other than some age-related aches and pains, all five are all in good health.

So - that's all for now.

How're things in your neck o' the woods?

It's Tuesday. . .Not Monday.

I seem to have lost the pictures I tried to publish last time. But - I do have some new -
Ah yes. We did get to make a bonfire with my papers! Paul said the shredder was exhausted. I'm sure.



I have to keep reminding myself that it's Tuesday, not Monday. That means the week will fly by. That's not such a good idea for summer! Stop it. And next weekend we're having a family reunion of Paul's. We're expecting around 30 people. I just called a rental store for 3 - 8' tables and the appropriate number of chairs. We'll be picking them up on Friday and returning them on Monday. I was pleasantly surprised how little it cost.

We had a nice fourth of July weekend. The weather cooperated quite well. It began with Dave's birthday on Saturday. After supper, we joined Sharon, the kids, Lue, and his side of the family for cake and ice cream. It was very pleasant.

We went out for breakfast Sunday morning before church. Weather: Cloudy. We knew it was going to rain eventually. So . . . a while back, I got matching small black umbrellas for Paul and I. They just fit in the covered compartment between the front seats. They only cost $5 ea. at Walmart's. (I'm so proud of myself.) It looked like rain, so we brought them with us. It did rain, and they worked well. Paul wore his red, white and blue striped short sleeved shirt, and I wore my new white shirt with the small red stars along the edges. We looked quite patriotic together. Stars and stripes.

Monday - yesterday - we had a cookout here - just hamburgers, hotdogs. Lue brought fruit salad. Wonderful. Sharon brought potato salad. Delicious. And home-grown deviled eggs from their very own chickens. The Corning crew came also and brought baked beans and a "lead cake." We had people come for an early noon cookout because they had tickets to an evening ballgame up in Rochester.

I didn't know what a lead cake was until I saw it and recognized it - my family had another name for it - we called it a "jello cake". The way I understand it is made is: bake a yellow or white cake in a 9 X 12 pan. After done, take a tooth pick and poke holes all over in the top. Pour liquid jello over it. It seeps into the holes, and then refrigerate it. I think she used strawberry jello. The cake was decorated to look like an American flag - with white coolwhip, blueberries for stars, and strawberries for the red stripes. Delicious. Somehow we lost one blueberry and had only 49 blueberries, so we joked that we lost Hawaii.

Dave and the boys left Sunday for a special scouting week. Ida and Sharon are planning a girlie week. They started it out by coming here for the cookout, and then going to the movies to see Monte Carlo. Ida is very excited about Sharon and her being alone. I bet by the time the week's done, Ida'll be glad to see her brothers. And vice-versa.

Brenda is flying in to Elmira on Friday morning and staying for a week. She and Bode, her little male papillon, are taking the red-eye Thursday night from San Francisco. Brenda's hoping that Bode'll sleep in his carry-case since it's his sleep time. I guess he tends to be just "a little bit fussy."

So Gracie will again see her little kennel-mate. I wonder if they'll remember each other.

Emma and Eric couldn't come this time. They both had important commitments they couldn't cancel. Emma is taking some college courses this summer, and Eric has a conference. It's inevitable. These things happen. Greg's children are going to summer camp and then they'll all be going to Thailand.

Paul and I realize that the grandchildren are getting to an age when these things will begin to pop up.

So - how're things in your neck o' the woods?

A New favorite eating spot. . .

I am having difficulty uploading pictures now. Somehow they're not coming through. I'll try again later and see what happens. The Summer Camp came out okay - after two tries. Our anniversary pictures didn't.

We did have an enjoyable time at the Hilltop Inn. We sat outside on the covered deck which had a magnificent view of Elmira and the valley below.. Paul got my jacket from the car because it was cool. . . even though the sun was shining right at us. (Even the local radio station thinks its a great spot and has a camera there for its weather shots.) Actually, the pictures we both tried to take, didn't do it justice - the pictures came out dark because it was partly cloudy and the valley was not in sunlight.

We were surprised at how many people were out for dinner on a Wednesday summer night. . . because in our little area of the world, it's unusual. It was fun to "people watch." Our meals were delicious. I think I've found my new favorite spot to eat.

Paul got me a huge hydrangea plant for our anniversary. Bless his heart. He knew I really wanted one. (That's also one of the pictures that wouldn't print.)

The thought of hydrangea bushes brings back memories of my childhood, when we had three huge blue bushes at the back of our house. Mother would cut and make bouquets of them to put on the fireplace mantel or the dining room hutch. (We always seemed to be having a celebration of some kind - a wedding shower or baby shower at these times and the hydrangeas were an absolutely beautiful addition to the decorations.)


Cousin Carol likes to write and let me know her thoughts about some posts. Her latest e-mail about cursive writing had some good thoughts and I asked her permission to mention these.
She wrote:
"I, too, rue the day that Cursive writing is passe. We'll probably be dead and gone. However, it may not be the way people write to each other some day, but I think people will always be able to read it."
Carol - I hope you're right. I'm sure it won't go the way of hieroglyphics! There's too much cursive writing history.

BTW Carol - I also liked your idea of having a bag nearby to fill for the shredder. That makes so much more sense rather than piles on my desk of either or. . .! And yes - a shredding party is a good idea! LOL.

Nope. No pictures forthcoming. Will try again later. I even had pictures of the shed with siding!

So - what's happenin' in your neck o' the woods?

Summer Camp

Yesterday afternoon Sharon's American Heritage Girls Summer Camp had their ending ceremony and Paul, Lue and I were invited. The girls performed some songs and dances they learned. Cute.

I think I can say this without any "ownership or bragging" because I am just her stepmother: I couldn't help thinking how lucky those girls (and Odessa) is to have her. She puts her whole self into all that she ever does. If it wasn't for her, this group would not exist. Adults and teenagers, helped out, but she did a lot of the work herself. The whole family supported her in this endeavor. Whenever they do something, it's bound to be a family affair:

Charles and Lee both helped and Dave was there when he could be.





Ida is second from the left in the picture below.