Escape is in sight

Tomorrow is a much anticipated day!  For nearly a month I have worn a lovely green cast on my lower left leg.  Tomorrow, I have an appointment to have it removed.  I know fiberglass is lighter than the old plaster casts, but trust me it is cumbersome when trying to adjust position in bed at night and arising from a chair...or a bench or a booth.  At times I must make more than one attempt to stand up.  It's as though I must rock and bounce to make my functional leg gain balance and lift my abundant carcass up!  Crutches are a pain to perch around a table or booth in a restaurant in a place where they do not create a hazard for others attempting to pass.  Zelda Green has been handy at home when I must haul things around the house, but getting her in and out of the car is not a skill we have mastered.  A friend suffered a crash with a similar device and added another six weeks to her recovery after breaking her OTHER foot in the mishap.  With that in mind, I am overly cautious when driving her around the house.

Crutches are not without hazard.  I have stubbed my toes (extended out beyond the front of the cast) on door facings, stomped them with my crutch and hit them on table supports when trying to sit.  When all my fractures are healed, I may require intervention for my toes.  It would appear I am sorely in need of a pedicure, but I fear my black and blue toes will not tolerate any poking and rubbing! A good soaking may be my only indulgence once the green accessory is removed!  Ah, come on tomorrow!

Fine Eating

We continued eating well throughout our trip to San Francisco and back by way of Grand Canyon.  It was a wonderful trip...until it wasn't, but more about that later.  Upon our arrival in Concord, auntie and cousin came to collect us for dinner.  We were tired of driving and cousin volunteered. He chauffeured us throughout our time in the Bay City!  What a treat!  They took us to the Elephant Bar for dinner on our first evening.  We have heard and read about this restaurant often, and without one nearby, never had an opportunity to try it.  All I can say is YUM! Later that night we stopped back at the Crowne Plaza (our hotel) for dessert and warm beverages. 

The following day we met other family members for some wonderful seafood at Pier 39's Fog Harbor Fish House.  Oh my the food was delish!  Since Ol' Abner's aunt had just celebrated her 87th birthday, we added the wonderful desserts worthy of such an accomplishment.  A well appointed seafood menu made me want to return daily until I could try several more entrees, but time would not allow and of course more yummy eateries were on the agenda. We ventured out to Saucelito the next day for another great meal at Spinnaker while enjoying the waterfront view.

Another day we traveled to Land's End Point to see the gorgeous beaches there and again enjoy a meal overlooking the rocks called Seal Rocks just outside our window. We enjoyed a casual lunch.  My mahi-mahi sandwich on ciabatta bread was scrumptious...Ol' Abner enjoyed a cheeseburger!  He gave it a thumbs up.  For some reason, he was tired of seafood!!!    We indulged in local mexican food that night.  Ol' Abner searched the menu looking for carne guisada, and finally settled on a dish called "carne su jugo".  The sauce was made with hatch green chiles, and he was not disapointed.  Now if we could just find that dish in Texas.                   

We sadly left the Bay area the following morning on our way to the Grand Canyon. 
We stopped in Needles that night at Juicy's River Cafe.  I had a scrumptious tri-tip sandwich with au-jus for dipping.  Ol' Abner claimed the spaghetti and meat-balls to be the best he had ever eaten...maybe he was just very hungry, but it did smell wonderful. We slept in Kingman that night and drove into Grand Canyon Village the next morning. Our hotel check in clerk gave a list of restaurants nearby.  Hungry, we headed for a place called "We Cook Pizza and Pasta".  I tried a chicken and green chile pizza...oh my!  It was most tasty.  Ol' Abner sampled their version of spaghetti and meatballs declaring it as good the previous night.  Little did we know it would be our last festive meal on this trip, but I'll fill you in on that another day.

It's Over

Another year is gone!  When did that happen? 2015 passed so quickly, I barely noticed it was getting away.  It was an eventful period in my life, so how did I not notice that it was suddenly gone! An event planned for later this week has challenged me to exhibit my new year hopes in one or two words. That's tough; have you tried it? Of course, I hope to clear the clutter from my closets, drop the excess pounds from my backside (and elsewhere), clear the study and set up a good place to sew, help Son and Ol' Abner get the playhouse better organized, finally make a trip to the west coast, and stay better in touch with my neighbors. Encapsulate THAT into one word will you! Really, it doesn't matter.  The older I get the faster time passes.  

Last year we saw the end of Pappy's life. Ol' Abner is appreciating life with his younger lung, and celebrated his seventieth birthday.  We finally made the long discussed trip to Alaska, and ended it with a cruise. Our middle grandchild graduated from high school and began her college experience.  The youngest progressed successfully to regional competition as a figure skater. Yes, it has been an eventful year.  Now if I can just approach this year with some "balance"!  

It just came to me!  BALANCE is my word for the new year.

It's Getting Tedious!

Our days are full and it seems lately that every single weekend involves a major event or several little gatherings.  We should both be participating in regular exercise, yet the trip to the curb with the trash and recycle receptacles seem to be the extent of our fitness activity. Aging creates it's own new set of responsibilities.  I recently completed my annual check-up series with all the usual driving around to specialty facilities for preventive evaluation. Who has time for illness? It seems a full time endeavor just staying on top of the little things that might go wrong with teeth, eyes, hearing and of course "let's take a look at that skin tag". Ol' Abner still has ongoing levels of multi-level body check-ups, but he's better at this invasion than I. He's several years ahead of me in body degeneration skills.  A transplanted organ further heightens his medical staff's vigilance.

Now I realize this tedious discussion of medical visits doesn't sound like a busy social calendar.  It just complicates the scheduling of things more fun. We spent two days of eating to celebrate our wedding anniversary (so many choices, we found it necessary to indulge several times) Daughter had a birthday this month and Ol' Abner will celebrate a milestone year next month.  The day prior to his birthday will be my Pappy's 95th, and sister has declared it should be celebrated in his new assisted living accommodations. Our February began with a trip to Houston, with the news that a return will be necessary soon.  Trying to find a weekend suitable for celebrating Ol' Abner's birthday, given that Pappy is several hundred miles away, has involved a struggle. The Friday and Saturday before are already committed for me elsewhere off in South Texas. Daughter and her family cannot come on the Sunday before. Four other couples from Transplant City are attempting to coordinate a dinner get-together. Three of them live near the Capital City of Texas, while the fourth will be traveling to or from Houston from the capital of that state across the Red River. I have been charged with locating a restaurant in a central Austin location where ten people can be seated and allowed to visit for an extended evening. It's not so difficult, I have made the arrangements twice only to change locations and times, and now we have been forced to postpone again. We will meet with three couples from the past this weekend to plan a cruise later in the year. These are people we enjoy and the weekend is happily anticipated, but we have work to do.  That groundhog may have determined that we will have six more weeks of winter, but I can foresee at least six more weeks of constant movement here. Of course, we'll need to make a trip to Houston when they call, there's always that!

A Mystery is Solved

We left the Houston condo just over a month ago.  Ol' Abner made his exit with a loaded pickup as I gathered the last of our belongings and awaited our landlord's visit to retrieve keys.  I had most everything loaded in my car and with only a couple of trips to the dumpsters needed to finish my mission.  She came in and surveyed the items we would leave behind for the next occupants and we had a lovely visit.  One last walk through to be sure I wasn't leaving necessary items, and I was out the door and through the front gate.  It was late that night when I pulled my loaded car into the garage, came inside and promptly crawled in bed.  The next morning, Ol' Abner had unloaded my car and stacked it's contents neatly on a table in the garage, that is the things he hadn't already put away. I was ever so grateful that I didn't have to unload that cargo.  It was a few days later when a certain piece of costume was necessary to complete my look.  I went to the closet in search of my jewelry travel bag. It's where the most of my accessory pieces are stored, and when I could not find it, panic began to build.  Well, perhaps not true panic, but a sick level of concern.  I replayed each step of the load and questioned Ol' Abner extensively about the unloading process.  I called the new occupants of the condo, asked Dancin' Girl to search the room where we sleep when visiting at her house, and finally unloaded all the shelves of my closet, all the travel bags, and boxes with no travel bag found.  I was distraught, Ol' Abner felt guilty and suggested I go buy more jewelry.  I explained that these things can't be found when I'm looking for them.  Costume jewelry just speaks when seen at the the right time and place. Once in a while, when purchasing a new item of clothing, coordinating accessories can be located at the same time.  That's when shopping is really serious and I am not much of a serious shopper. My bag is an ever evolving collection to which I must add and subtract frequently as my wardrobe dictates. 

Dancin' Girl and Guitar Man made a quick trip to the lake this weekend.  They have been unable to come down since we have been back. They brought our mail and checked in with neighbors to keep our homeplace going while we spent the necessary months in the Houston Medical Center.  When a funeral appearred to have sidetracked their plan to come this weekend, they decided a short trip was better than no trip and came anyway.  We gathered the makings for dinner, marinated meat and chopped some veggies to meet them as they arrived.  She has been concerned about a spike in the water bill.  I make a trip over and walked through the house listening to running water.  We stopped by and looked at the water meter to see if it was running with no apparent activity, but still no clue to the mystery water flow.  She texted to let us know they had arrived, and that a mystery had been solved. She told me she would show us when we arrived.  As we walked in she pointed out the shampoo bottle I had left on her counter (over a month ago).  I was horrified that I must have left the shower running or some such stupidity.  I'm not always good at reading clues.

 She sent me into the room where we had slept when we were home before the move with an ailing air conditioner.  We took advantage of a cool place to sleep at their lakehouse and I left for my quilting retreat the next morning.  I suddenly remembered unloading several undergarments AND my jewelry travel bag to lighten the load I was carrying.  I'm relieved to have found it.  Once again, Dancing Girl has resolved a trauma in my life and I have added a few pieces that may become favorites to my collection.

Music for some ears, Noise to others!

Our oldest grand daughter has been driving for some time now.  Her little hand-me-down SUV was outfitted with new tires, brakes and cleared for safety long before she began the process of learning to drive it.  Equipped with the original radio in it's non-working state, the vehicle has provided a silent ride to date.  She hasn't complained, but did check into the cost of repairing the accessory. She opted to purchase gasoline instead, a lot of gasoline.  Balancing the cost to repair the am/fm radio with cd player vs an after market installation of one with bluetooth capabilities as well as compatibility with her music player and phone, it required little thought.

Ol' Abner had searched for a couple of weeks, finding acceptable radios in places where the installation kit and other tools to make it fit and play properly seemed elusive.  It was our mission today to find the entire set of equipment.  Grand daughter's birthday is later this week and we were out of time.  He is distraught because he will be unable to go install it himself, but found a workable alternative with a little help from son-in-law.  

The package is on it's way and she should be able to enjoy her tunes as she rides, and talk on her phone hands-free.  It was Son's birthday today, and no package is headed it's way to him.  We did have a nice phone conversation with him, but I regret that not even a card was mailed. We'll have to make that one up to him!

One Fine Dog!

She posed just for us!

Our dog is difficult when it comes to photos.  When I hold up a camera or a phone, she either turns away or lays back her ears making her face look strange.  She is staying at Son and Daughter-In-Law's home for now and we are missing her terribly.  Yesterday, Son sat down in his chair and asked her if she wanted to let Dad and Mom see her.  She actually posed for him, and this was the result.

Cheers

Yesterday was the annual President's Luncheon for the Women's Golf Association.  Since I just became eligible to play with the ladies on the golf course, there are many I didn't know...and perhaps a few I might not care to know (mind you that opinion is not my own, but a bit of advice offered unsolicited).

Scheduled starting time was 12 Noon and I walked in at 11:55 only to be the last to arrive.  Must remind myself, this group arrives early and I must follow that lead if I want to choose my seat in the future.  Other gatherings I have attended have been outdoors, a pool house barbeque and a picnic, so seating had little relevance.  This time I was positioned with my back to the people I knew best.  You might say I was squarely in the middle of the Catholic Ladies group.  Just across from me was a disheveled irreverent woman wearing red sparkly reindeer antlers.  By the time our lunch was served I had learned that she would need to leave soon to pick up her brother as he arrived at the airport.  OK, holiday arrival of a relative no big story.  She explained that her sibling had "no useful brain matter", having purchased his plane ticket after arriving at the airport, then complaining loudly at the price! After all, he had long ago taken a vow of poverty and all that goes with priesthood. Even though he is president of a prestigious Catholic University in the North, he finds little ability to navigate the most mundane daily tasks. He prefers to bless those that see to those banal requirements on his behalf.  She was clearly looking forward to his visit despite any shortcomings.  My other companions discussed the services provided to the poor and underpriviledged by the local church.  I was offered advice for assisting my aging Papa and dealing with Ol' Abner's ailments.  A couple of them only live here in the winter months, going to a cooler climate when the summer heat comes. 

The food was good and the wine cheered my spirits. We toasted the outgoing President and toasted again to the incoming officer.  I think I'll join the group for a round of golf next week.  

Christmas Tree...it's a start!

I prefer to be completely over Autumn before I begin my Christmas decorating.  The first full weekend in December is usually the time I start pulling out the Yuletide festive items.  It took me awhile but I found many of them in the attic...and some I have not found yet!  

From the Attic

I spent the better part of two days first staring at this batch of boxed decorations, then unloading a few at a time.  My first goal was to get the already erected Christmas Tree decorated.  Every one of these totes had to be opened and unloaded before I found my hand carved ornaments from the years we were in the Ozarks.

So here they are, and if I was more adept at blogging and arranging my photos and posts these views would not be so strung out on the page.  Maybe one day I will master this, but for now the tree is up and the ornaments are on it along with other handmade decorations from the last few years.  Now what to do with the remainder of the contents of all those totes.  

I still haven't found the items used in my new mantle decor purchased last year.  It was rather expensive and my plan was to use it for many years.  First, I must discover it's hiding place. It may be time to go over to the off site storage facility and begin moving those boxes around.

It's up and decorated!

Maybe not, It's cold out there!

Sing it!

Ol Abner's class reunion was a great success. We began the weekend on Friday night with a backyard jam session at a friend's home.  I had no idea such musical talent lurked within the ranks of his schoolmates.  Tunes from the sixties through current day pop sounds with a little country twang were included.  A Cowboy Poet entertained us when the singers were done.  Our host had advised that we could each bring the beverage of our choice and a finger food if we wanted. This gang provided fruits, veggies, chips and dips, meatballs, small sandwiches, salsas, baked delights and even a little beef jerky.As the sun dropped behind the fence, the music played on and the conversation and laughter continued.  We loved this opening for a delightful weekend and so hope it's the beginning of a tradition.  Next year's main event will be at the Frazier Pavilion on the Texas Tech campus and I do hope we can kick off the reunion with the same kind of joyful noise.

Wake up now!

I indulged in a sleep-in this morning.  My bed felt so good, it was hard to give up the squirming and stretching and finally crawl out of it.  The weekend was wonderful and a good night's rest just reaffirmed that I'm not as young as I was once!

We began Thursday with the arrival of Guitar Man and Dancing Girl.  After they closed on their house Friday morning, we reviewed the inventory of things to move in and things to buy.  We had just arrived at a burger place for lunch when Stan the Golfcart man called to tell them he was on his way to deliver the little blue jewel they had purchased.  We finished eating and returned to take delivery...and as yet I'm not sure the wheeled baby has a name, but she cruises between our homes quite well, even with some oversized behinds loaded!  The remainder of the afternoon was spent purchasing nuts and bolts, blinds and appliances to make the new home ready.  A plumber met the men while we finished the purchases, and again I am in awe of Dancing Girl.  She can find a bargain and dicker it down every bit as well as Ol' Abner.  Friday night, exhausted and satisfied that the process was begun, we traveled into town for our favorite steak dinner and West Texas Wine.

Saturday was a day of working at the new home.  An empty house always requires serious cleaning, and Ol' Abner and Guitar Man worked diligently with minor and a few fairly major repairs.  I observed all this industry for a time, then bailed on them to meet Daughter and her family to see the newest action flick episode.  We returned to my house in time for the tired workers to begin cooking on the grill.  Oh yes, I made it just in time to see the Kentucky Derby sans my hat and mint julep.   Dancing Girl sliced and plated vegetables while I made a big pitcher of Lemon-Drop Martinis. Son and Daughter In Law arrived and we all indulged in a few hours of eating, drinking and reminiscing.

Last night our new neighbors/house guests departed for their permanent residence, tired but still excited. They'll be back next weekend with a load of stuff and to take delivery of more purchases.

This morning, at my house, plumbing is disconnected and the granite installers and plumber are on their way...soon I hope.  Breakfast is a bit of a challenge without a kitchen sink or counter tops.  We bought  granite to replace the bathroom counter tops, too.  Now I better go get those cleared.  Oh yes, I did deserve a few extra minutes of snooze time this morning.

No daisies

It seemed like a strange time for Easter to come along.  After all, it was still March! I casually mentioned to daughter in law a week or so ago that we should think about an Easter brunch.  Actually I was thinking one of the yummy presentations offered by the great eateries in the area would be a nice way to spend a cool spring morning.  I hadn't yet gathered any spring flowers or for that matter, no friendship with a florist has been struck in our new surroundings.  Yep, this circumstance is making me miss my friend, Flower Girl.  It seemed like turning the celebration over to strangers for hire might be a good option.

Maybe I didn't make myself clear.  Shortly thereafter, DIL posted and tagged me on a social network with a recipe recommendation for a brunch casserole.  Sounded easy enough.  The foundation was set.  I was serving Easter Brunch!  I didn't quite get into it until Saturday afternoon, when it occurred to me that we were out of eggs!  With a promise to cook soon, I lured Ol' Abner to the grocery store.  I texted DIL that she should spread the word that brunch would be served around 10:30 or 11ish.  She would have preferred a little earlier, but my little oven only cooks so fast (not to mention, I don't often get moving early).

Not a single flower adorned my brunch table, but the simple food was good.  DIL arrived in time to stir up a big batch of tiny biscuits to complement the casserole, avocado-tomato mix and fruit salad.  Did I mention the mimosas with which we primed the appetite?  Surely no one else noticed the lack of floral offerings.


It's a nice Monday morning after the quiet celebration, and with no wilting flowers to  salvage, leftovers are the joy of the day. Oh wait, now I remember why I like to have holiday celebrations at home.  It's the leftovers! Yes, that's how we stretch the celebration over several days. Now what on earth will I do with the Blueberry-Banana dessert, Lemon Icebox pie, and White Chocolate Cheesecake.  This crowd does love desserts, but why wouldn't they take some home!   We will just have to persevere...


Brother In Law cannot go home to West Texas until this dessert is finished!

A Beautiful Life

Pat and Cherry

My only first cousins on the paternal side of the family.

Laughter, tears, smiles and hugs filled this week.  A call Saturday afternoon pulled my heartstrings in an unexpected sudden urge to review my childhood.  The photo above was taken a few years before my birth.  Cherry was ten years my senior and Pat was ten years older than my sister.  We were the four granddaughters of Gordon and Nan.  After losing Pat just a few days shy of four years ago, the news that Cherry was in her last hours of life brought my own early years bubbling to the surface.

The two cousins were teen-age girls in my early memories.  Pat was always so "cool and glamorous". Cherry still enjoyed "little girl" toys and was challenged by my first grade study tools.  My mother explained that she was "mentally retarded" and would probably never learn beyond an eight or nine year  capability.  Little did we know how she would expand those capabilities.  Yes, she remained childlike in so many ways, but she led a full and productive life thanks to the plan put in place by her diligent, protective and thoughtful mother.  That plan was followed by Pat after loss of their parents. Pat's older daughter stepped in to protect and enable Cherry's continued success when we lost Pat.

As I went away to college, Cherry was embarking on her own life away from home.  She moved into a "dormitory" where social activities were coordinated with a supervised work environment.  We discovered Cherry's aptitude for detailed shape recognition and sorting translated into a skill for earning wages.  Contracts were acquired for her group to earn a portion of their living expenses and develop money handling.  She loved her work and felt a strong sense of responsibility.  For years she had made potholders on a loom for all family and friends.  I still have two of the six she made as a wedding gift for me.  There will be no more.

Cherry had a stroke and died a few hours later. She had lived her final years in her own home with twenty-four hour care-givers under the guardianship of her niece.  I had never visited her there, but felt her presence when Karen and I went to the house to clear her personal belongings.  It gives me peace to know that she lived a life, not of limitations, but of limitless talent!

ZZZZZZ zen?

Relax and enjoy!  That's the spirit for the rest of the holiday season.  Fort Worth is one of my favorite places to indulge the holiday senses.  I love Sundance Square with all the festive decorations and the lights at night.  This year construction is all around the cental square and the TREE...oh the poor treeee!  Rumor has it that some damage delayed it's arrival, then efforts to "repair" it left gaps not evident at night. During the day, the big bare places show and now those dismembered, reattached branches are dying.  Oh dear!  I just cannot bear to look!

We'll go east to the other side of the metroplex today to indulge a bit of Christmas spirit with daughter and her family.  Son and Daughter-in-Law made the trek North with us last night.  Traffic was awful but no road rage was erupting from either of our vehicles.  The trip may have taken an extra hour but we were none the worse for it.  Calm...that's the mood for this season.  Yep, we'll just relax and enjoy!

Limited Revelry

Last weekend we traveled to a wedding a few hours to the north.  It's never cold in North Texas until the days leading up to Halloween. This year was the exception.  An Autumn wedding long anticipating the warm autumn evenings required sweaters for most of the guests.  The ceremony and dance to follow the reception were both planned as outdoor events.  The bride and groom took their vows while the sun was still low in the sky, barely warming the cool air.  As we moved inside for the dinner, I shivered and was thankful for the sweater Ol' Abner had suggested I bring, even though it didn't exactly complement my attire.  As the dinner and cake times passed, the music warmed up outside in a large dance area.  The bridal dances were all  shortened by shivers and I retreated indoors ahead of the crowd.  It wasn't long before the tables were being cleared and the music being lured indoors.  The celebration became cozy with the guests sitting and standing around the perimeter of the makeshift dance floor.  I understand the celebrations continued well into the night, but Ol' Abner was tired and we had enjoyed the visits and views to our satisfaction.  We are now the older generation allowed to leave the party early enough to get our necessary rest.  Can our second childhood be far away?

Up to Speed Again

A lively luncheon (actually it was snacks and drinks) with a few ladies of the mountain allowed me a chance to catch up on news in Dogpatch.  Flower Girl is on a new diet/exercise program and came to indulge in the company but ate nothing.  With a five pound weight loss behind her she explained that she must eat only protein for today.  I was surprised to see that at least five pounds appeared to have exited her waistline (note to self: do some research on this Dukan Diet)

Other news involved activities of the Dam Knitters.  I am seriously behind on the latest two projects, but it would appear I am not alone.  Summer heat encourages activities that do not involve large quantities of wool yarn on the lap and in the hands.

A Dogpatch resident long known for her walking and reading at the same time has been a dilemma for city officials and law enforcement staff for years.  She chose to traipse around the countryside on a Forest Gump kind of journey.  No running, just walking and walking and walking, all the while reading a book alongside the streets and highways, oblivious to oncoming and passing traffic.  Apparently she has reached a level of dementia that will probably require an institution soon.  For now though, her poor spouse has humored her as she looks for activities.  She arrived at open knitting last week with a duffle bag full of tangled yarn.  During another visit she brought her trash with her and deposited it in the bathroom of the shop.  In desperation, the city leaders had given her a membership to the local gym to keep her off the streets.  The fitness center had no choice but to ban her after several similar (actually much more offensive) incidents.  Oh dear, I do hope the knitters will not need to cope with her behavior much longer.  This could suck the joy out of productive gatherings.

A friend's home is nearing completion on the hill over the river.  Much of the decor has been purchased in large cities far away. Local craftsmen are disgruntled over the defection.

Mountain Girl and Ol' Taxidermist have left town for the weekend to visit Eureka Springs. They will indulge in a bit of pampering and much needed togetherness.  I do hope their suite isn't one of those sometimes revisited by past guests in the  "dead" of night.

Life goes on in our little village, and I really must get the recipe for the gaspacho, mango sangria and even that devine margarita cheesecake, Mary made.  Oh gee, I might as well just ask for the entire, light but oh so yummy, menu.   

Fire in the Sky

It's the first time in ten years that fireworks over Bull Shoals Lake was not part of our July 4th party.  The times, they are a-changin'.  In Dogpatch this day is always a jubilant time.  We have cooked out, cooked in, attended large gatherings and family reunions every year since discovering the joy of  this little  mountain town.  We found our favorite places to gather for a view of the much anticipated display.  Grandchildren were issued glow sticks and glow bracelets to wear.  It made it very easy to keep an eye on them and they thought they were just playing with fire!  The parties continue in Dogpatch, but we were not there to share.  I have felt a sadness most of the day with this loss.

We actually had a great day with Son and Daughter In Law and a couple of friends.  We met more of our  Texas neighbors and they have made us feel welcome and included.  By next year, I bet we will be well into planning for my favorite holiday.  The cookout hosted by Son and DIL was delightful, but we almost stayed too late to see the fireworks.  No matter where I may be, I always insist on seeing public displays of fireworks.  It's one of the major joys in my summer.  Family and friends all know they cannot be missed.

As we sat munching on the last of the watermelon, one of the friends mentioned that the fireworks should be underway in our little town on the lake.  That was our cue to make a quick race for the new hometown. We were told the display was awe inspiring from the city park.  That could have been an understatement.  As we followed the road through the hills, an occasional burst would appear.  By the time we arrived, the build up to the finale was in progress.  You can bet I will be here in time for the first light of sparklers next year.  Happy Independence Day!

Pearls

This year Ol' Abner and I will celebrate our fortieth wedding anniversary. That is identified as the "pearl anniversary" with a gift of pearl being appropriate. Since I have owned a lovely strand of pearls for many years, that isn't on the list of possible special anniversary mementos. A delicate necklace bearing two small pearls was a part of one of my favorite designer's collections. He surprised me with that necklace at Christmas to celebrate our fortieth holiday season together.

Hints for a luxury vehicle in the pearl color finish have been side stepped just as were conversations for years regarding my choice for a new car. He can be creative with his gifting...or at times, downright obtuse! I guess I'll just have to wait and see where he lands with this one.

I have just over a month to find that perfect "pearl" for him. Stay tuned.

Peace, Joy and Love

The house is quiet this morning. We are at daughter's house planning to meet son for a lunch halfway across the metroplex. Our children lead such busy lives and their paths usually only cross during the holiday season. Since retirement, Ol' Abner and I have done the holiday traveling. When we made the move to Dogpatch, we knew winter travel for our children would be next to impossible. We were much more mobile then any of them. We love having the flexibility to come and go as we like. Some years we have been in the Lone Star State to celebrate a bit early, then return to the mountain for Christmas Eve and the remainder of the holiday season. I wonder how future holiday seasons will evolve.

This year I feel a strange calm. No sense of frenzy usually felt during this week of the year. Could it be I have finally accepted my role as Yuletide observer in lieu of perpetrator? It's a joy to listen to the plans of grandchildren and visit while they go about their activities. After Christmas, we will travel home with son and daughter in law. They are in a new home this year and I can hardly wait to see how festive it will be there.

Peace on Earth, Good Will toward Man! That's the spirit...and maybe I'm beginning to get it.

Sweet Summer

Loving the lazy summer days, and today was an especially good one. Ol' Abner has diabetes and it's been a struggle controlling his blood sugar and dealing with the side effects of the high side. Today he visited his medical practitioner for lab results and was pleasantly apprised of the success of insulin usage. We left the office feeling a sense of relief that the frightening trend has finally been slowed or maybe even reversed.

This evening we joined friends along with some of their visiting family for dinner to celebrate a birthday. The company was pleasant and we ended the visit at their home with a dessert of birthday cake. Ol' Abner indulged in a very small piece and noted a slightly elevated blood sugar level when he tested on our return home. He didn't seem to be feeling the awful effects usually resulting from ingestion of sugar. We know he cannot enjoy large quantities of his favorite sweets, but an occasional small serving probably will not cause serious repercussions.

An appointment was scheduled with a local podiatrist today to deal with his chronic ingrown toenails. High blood sugar previously precluded this intervention and he has suffered all summer with constant foot pain. Our hope is to resolve the toenail issue so he can enjoy his walks with the dog and wear his boots for a motorcycle ride.

Ah yes, summer is getting better all the time