Not for the faint of heart.
Also, highly recommend. 10/10. Except when it's not, but it's for sure mostly 10/10. Grandparents reading here are nodding because iykyk.
Keeping it easy today with a few random snaps that I'm linking with Kym's most recent Everyday Images Photo Prompts. Linking too with Holly and Sarah because it's Monday and some of these pics are weekend related. Today's photo prompts are:
We were en route to Tennessee and stopped for lunch at a tiki bar sort of place about halfway to our destination. The restaurant sits across the street from a popular lake and is all open air which was nice. We had our pup with us so it was lunch in a covered outdoor space for the win.
I enjoy these photo prompts which are posted every other Thursday. Hop over to Kym's for a new batch this week. I do have a few grandparent-y related thoughts to share still so will get to that one day this week. Happy Monday everyone!
at home (monthly)~in my cup~path ~Tuesday tranquility~ summer~golden hour~
out for a walk (quarterly)
at home (monthly)-
We had a few friends for dinner on a recent Thursday evening and it was a lot of fun. There were twelve of us and everyone brought something. Hubs grilled a cut of meat called a Teres Major and served it with cowboy butter and horseradish on the side. We'd never tried this particular cut before, but the butcher suggested it and we loved it. It's said to be second only to the filet in terms of tenderness and we would agree.
I also made stuffed shells filled with a mixture of cheeses and zucchini and we had yummy appetizers, a delicious and refreshing white bean salad, a cucumber tomato salad, and blueberry cobbler for dessert.
This outdoor dining space is one of my new favorite spots 'at home'.
in my cup-
I rarely drink soda anymore. Almost never. Unless I'm in charge of a two-year old and a four-year old whose parents have been out of town for ten days, then all bets are off.
This was my last night in charge. A glass of wine sounded nice, but I needed to keep my wits about me so opted for caffeine instead.
path-
I snapped a picture of this cool piece by the artist Baggs McKelvey at the Discovery Museum in Chattanooga Tennessee. She primarily does large scale, site-specific installations using a variety of materials, which in this case is toy cars.
Tuesday tranquility-
last Tuesday...
summer-
My daughter's garden is bustin' at the seams and we've had so much heavy crazy rain while I've been here that her tomatoes have been overwatered. I'm doing my best to pick and the kids eat them almost as fast as I get them in the bowl. Still we're not keeping up.
Her okra got ridiculously ginormous overnight. Not sure if these jumbos will taste any good but the kids were impressed. The flowers on the okra plants are so pretty.
We can't pick the blackberries fast enough. It's also been really wet so I haven't tended the bushes the way I would have if everything wasn't soaked, but we've eaten our share of these beauties too.
One more summer snapshot, no explanation needed...
golden hour-the golden hour is defined as the first hour after sunrise and the first hour before sunset. It's when the sun sits low in the sky and creates a soft warm glow. If you read here at all then you know this is my favorite time of day to snap a picture. Here's the most recent-
out for a walk (quarterly)-
Pawpaw and one of his grandgirls...
The grandgirls adore their pawpaw. I hope once in your life someone greets you the way these little girls greet their pawpaw when he walks through the door. It's literally life giving.
I enjoy these photo prompts which are posted every other Thursday. Hop over to Kym's for a new batch this week. I do have a few grandparent-y related thoughts to share still so will get to that one day this week. Happy Monday everyone!
It seems like this summer has been a more wet one than usual for numerous areas. We've had a decent bit but by no means too much. Did your daughter's tomatoes split? Too much rain or too much rain into too little amount of time can make my tomatoes look wonky. I would imagine, though, that for the most part, rain is welcome for the garden. I'm sure you're tired but your heart is quite full! How nice to help your daughter out! My husband and I could never leave town for more than a long weekend and we only did that once or twice. The grandparents were not available for more than that. Have a great Monday!
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are just lovely! You did such a fabulous job with each prompt.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear more about your time with the Grands! We're getting there, and like in parenting, I always appreciate hearing the thoughts of others that have gone before us :)
ReplyDeleteI always think I'd like to try Kym's prompts - maybe today is the day! You might need a day or two to rest up - I'm sure it's WONDERFUL to get back home to that place you have created for retirement. I would need a day or two on the lake to replenish. . .then back to it! Ha!
I little jealous of all that garden goodness but then I remember what it takes to get it to that point. . .and, well, I think you were in the right place at the right time this year - all the bounty with none of the work (except harvesting - certainly more fun then weed-pulling)!
Great photos! The one of grandpa and granddaughter is so cute. Now I want to make stuffed shells this week!
ReplyDeleteI bet you are tired in the best way! Love a Diet Dr. Pepper once in a blue moon. It's my choice, too. I almost never drink soda anymore, either.
What a beautiful place to live! Wishing you much rest and recovery this week :)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have had great fun with your Tennessee grands!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great get together with your friends and all the food sounds good!
That art work is so cool and it sounds like your daughters garden is doing so well! I love blackberries but ours don't come here until later in the year.
Aww! The last photo is so sweet.
Beautiful photos!! I had to smile at your Dr. Pepper. Had to bring out the heavy stuff!!:) Hope you have a good week ahead!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely mix of real life moments and golden hour magic! Such a sweet photo of PawPaw and his grandgirl. Memories to cherish forever!
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday and new week to you, Joyce! I enjoyed this post and the photos you shared!! Busy, busy... good busy!! xo
ReplyDeleteOK, so I couldn't help but notice the circular brick layout in your outdoor dining space since I'm contemplating various brick designs for the floor of our new screened in porch. Do you like the circle? Is it easy to keep clean? And were there any other brick designs you considered? Any and all brick flooring insight or advice would be sincerely appreciated when you have a spare minute!
ReplyDeleteThis post made me smile -- sweet photo of girlie and pawpaw! Our grandgirls all adore Pops. I know you are exhausted. Did you keep them the whole ten days? What a gift!
ReplyDeleteA whole week! Not for the faint of heart indeed. What a sweet treat for your daughter and hubby. Glad you survived. Hope you recover quickly. Fun everyday images! What a special spot outside that you fill with family and friends!
ReplyDeleteNothing quite compares to the glorious exhaustion that comes from a week spent with our grandkids! Your photos tell a beautiful story of your time together! Hopefully you can rest up a bit this week! I also loved your outdoor dining space - what a perfect place to gather with friends and family!
ReplyDeleteA great post with great photos
ReplyDeleteI love seeing all the garden goodness. The okra flower is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe sweetness of your granddaughter and pawpaw... makes me smile.
Happy New Week.
Carla
P.S. I plan to make jelly with our grapes.
I'm so glad that you had a lovely time with your grands- 10 days is a LONG time! I try not to drink too much soda, either, but man- sometimes after a long week, I just need some caffeine and sugar haha!
ReplyDeleteHi Joyce, I sure enjoyed all the pictures. I am glad you have had time to be with your grands. I have always had mine close by. Lots of good memories. Now they are teens. They don't need us as much anymore. As soon as they turn a certain age, they want to be independent. Enjoy them while they are little! I already did my HP.
ReplyDeleteOh, girl, my hat goes off to you. I have kept my El Paso grands for 2-3 days (at their house) and while it was definitely a 10/10 it was also a lot of work. My youngest had a set of press-on nails that she insisted on wearing the whole time, except we were never in possession of all ten nails at the same time. I was CONSTANTLY trying to reglue/restick nails back on. That little angel!! I finally put on my mean Gabba hat and took the nails away. Bravo for being such wonderful grandparents that your grandgirls love to be with.
ReplyDeleteThe dinner sounds delicious and my mouth is watering just looking at all of those blackberries. Oh, my goodness!!
What a beautiful sunset in both photos. Great captures. You have such an eye for photography.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had that time with your grandchildren. That dinner with friends sounds lovely. Yes, a glass of wine would have been nice but I totally understand why you couldn't. Love that photo from the museum. Her garden sounds awesome and how nice that the kids enjoy the treats. Beautiful photos of the lake. Sweet post.