Birthday!

Today my sweet grandson turns one. It’s been quite a year....  both moms had maternity leaves, then the pandemic, then summer break and here we are. It was a small gathering but I think I prefer it that way. He stand unassisted but doesn’t try to walk.  He says Ut-oh.  He laughs if you tickle his arm pits, or if you say BONK.  He hardly ever cries. What a pleasure and joy to have him in our lives, 

Ventura Highway

A few years back I was really into finding blogs to read. When I found a good one, I would scroll all the way back to the beginning.  I read some fascinating stuff! Now I am Facebook friends with some of these people ... which is great, especially since some don’t blog anymore. 

But one blog that I really miss was written by a woman in Nebraska. She was a social worker, married to her wife who was a teacher. They had a daughter who was in her teens. Their song was Ventura Highway. Ow, I’ve always loved that song...  I’m a sucker for great guitar parts, and harmonic singing. 

Anyway, the blogger never ever used her real name.  And she had a blog stalker that she wrote about...  it upset her very much. I’m sure that’s why she stopped but I wonder sometimes what happened to them. 

She told a story about their next door neighbors, a single mom and her son. The son was like a big brother to the blogger’s daughter. There were tearful goodbyes when he left for college. But he fell apart while away, and lost touch with everyone.  One day he showed up and they were ridiculously happy... but soon realized he had an addiction. He disappeared again, after stealing from his mother. They were all Heartbroken. The blog was so well written and her stories would unfold day after day. With some editing this easily could have been a book! 

Anyway, Ventura Highway. Go listen to it. 

Hot hot hot

Today was crazy hot. Len played gold and I stayed in the house. 

I’m working on making birthday cards. I started a new series on Netflix called Indian MatchMaking. 

And that’s about it. 

Friday

Well, although most days it feels like time is creeeeeeeping along here it is Friday already.  

The kids are headed to South Dakota. They saw The Bean in Chicago, and I just heard they are laying on a beach at a lake in Iowa. Hopefully they will be able to reach Mt. Rushmore by nightfall, which is their goal for the day.  I found a photo of my dad's Aunt, Uncle, and cousins at Mt Rushmore in 1954. I will try to share it here.  I"m so glad they are still having fun. 

Yesterday hubby and I had lunch at one of our favorite places, Riverwinds.  It's along the Delaware River, and although it's expensive I justified it be remembering how often we used to go out - that has really changed.  I have a Caesar Salad with a crab cake and OMG the crab cakes are sooo good. Definitely a great spot for crab cakes. 

Then I went to Wilmington to hang out with my buddy grandson.  He reaches for me when he sees me.  He says Ut-Oh.  That's really his only word, if we can call it a word.  He says MomMomMom too when he sees Ashlee. I very much enjoy playing with him, and I"m so glad we decided to be "safe" for each other. I could play with him all day.  Unfortunately he doesn't live with me.  

Mr. E will be one next Saturday, and his moms want to do his party here.  Great Grand mom, two grandpops, two Moms, and me. That's it for birthdays during a pandemic. 

I've been working on my church job.  Working on Sunday stuff.  My plan is to do one Sunday every day until I have thru September 6 done. Not much changes in the worship guide week to week except for the prayer of the day, the hymns, the readings, and the prayer of intercession. It's so easy to cut and paste.  Each week the prayer list needs to be updated and it's good to go.  I've also completed the sheet of announcements, and the weekly email word doc. When I go on my vacation I will submit two weeks worth of documents, so I have a week off from worrying about it. 

Let's see... what else.  The collision center called.  They were able to repair the back panel and won't have to replace it.  That reduces the estimate by $700.  I hope it looks new when I get it or I will fuss!

Looks like I have figured out how to place photos on here.  The girls have encouraged me to upload my photos from my phone to Google photos. This creates space in my phone, and the photos are accessible on Google.... so essentially, anywhere. I need to work on the albums in Google photos but so far its been pretty easy to find what I want. 

Ok.  Gotta move laundry.  That's enough for today anyway. 

Stay safe!

Smooches, 

Karen

On the road

Yeah, it’s Wednesday. My apologies. 

I wanted to share this with you. I’m not posting on Facebook about it 

Lenessa, Tyler, and Cassie left yesterday for a cross country camping trip. Yesterday they visited Luray Caverns, and camped last night in West Virginia. 
The pic in front of the car is From yesterday before they left. 
Other group pics are from throughout the years. They’ve been friends all thru high school, and even tho they went to different colleges they are still very close. 

Just keep them in your prayers, please? 

They wear masks and stay away from groups and wash their hands. They have GPS and a road atlas and a well thought out itinerary. 

But I still worry. 

Today I did notary job. Went to CVS for a car phone charger, coffee, and a prescription for Len. Then I went to the church in Oaklyn. Had a nice two hours with Pastor talking about all our projects. 

Stopped at Duffields on the way home. Their corn is so good. Got half a watermelon, and a hoagie for our lunch. The corn and watermelon was for dinner. 

I’ve been working on church stuff. I’d like to get the next eight weeks done. Then all I have to do is email each week. 

I constantly have the fight the thought that I’m bored. I’m only bored when I laying on the couch. If I get up there’s plenty to do. Weird monkey brain. 

That’s enough. 

Wash your hands! 

Karen. 

Sunday July 12

I am not ignoring this project! Not at all.  

Yesterday we took the MIL and drove to Baltimore to see $#2 and her family. They have a new house... much like her old house, but with some incredible ceiling detail, two extra bathrooms, and a much larger floor plan. Still a row home but wow what a difference.  

We sat around and talked.  I brought a dolly stroller that was a big hit and I have a Sandra Boy tin book on the iPad.  That got me some what closer to the baby.  

Today we got up and hubby asked about using the jacuzzi tub. But something went wrong and water was shooting all over the bathrooms and dripping then the floor and everybody freaked out for about twenty minutes. Whew. 

So now we are home. DIL made her Sunday dinner and it was delicious.  Chicken kabobs, roasted potatoes, and corn salad. D#4 is home from her weekend but asleep upstairs. 

I’m going to run some errands. 

Enough for now! 

Smooches!

Karen

Wait.. what Day is it?

Thoroughly confused about if it is Friday or Saturday.  Sure feels like a Saturday. 

D#4 left for a weekend with friends in the Poconos. It downpoured all day, and she says it rained all the way there. But they all made it, and she called to ask about microwaving corn on the cob, so all is well.  

D#3 called to get info about the insurance man she needs to talk to. He is looking for photos and a statement from her. His client says she hit him! Which if you saw my car you would know is ridiculous. 

D#2 sent a text and asked us to come for the weekend.  She has a new house we haven’t seen yet. We will bring MIL along. I have a baby doll stroller for G#4. Nothing for g#2.  And I feel bad about that. Maybe I’ll think of something before we go.  

What a day. The rain was ridiculous. There’s water in the basement that we soaked up with towels THREE times plus used the wet vac. Hubby moved everything out of the way so hopefully nothing gets ruined. 

We had Red Lobster for dinner. It was delicious. 

I so feel like this blog is a waste of time. But I will keep going, just in case....

Karen