Is It Hot Enough For Ya?

When someone asks that question it's usually rhetorical so I won't bother answering.

Except to say it's hot. In the words of my grandma it's 'hotter than blue blazes'. Did you know blazes is a 19th century American term for hell? I didn't either, but I checked the trusty internet so it must be true. Also, it's been really hot. I don't remember getting heat advisories when I was growing up, but we get one pretty much everyday in the month of August. 

Question-are we surprised at the heat in August? I'm gonna say no. 

We had no plans this weekend. Whoohoo! Honestly I'm on some meds for my sinus/cough thing and they make me sleepy so there was a nap in the middle of the day Friday which was very necessary. 

We had workers at the house most of Friday, literally on the roof, trying to wrap up a chimney repair that will actually now be wrapped up today. Hopefully. 

They were noisy and it's a messy job so I pretty much stayed inside, read, and rested. I'd made stuffed peppers on Thursday so we had leftovers for dinner Friday night. Hubs and I watched a movie-Arthur the King and we liked it. Heartwarming and based on a true story. 

Saturday morning we went out for breakfast then hit the grocery store. I hadn't been to the market all week so it was time. We had plans to come home and take the boat out, and we got everything ready including ourselves, when hubs texted from the dock saying he heard thunder so it's a no go. 

It died down but the sky was still questionable so we floated for a while which was nice. Hubs grilled a steak for dinner and we spent the evening listening to music. 

Sunday morning was church, a quick lunch at home, then we made another attempt at boating. Daughter1 and Little Miss came over to swim and get in on the boat ride and we always love that. The boys had baseball so they hung out with Dad until it was time for practice. 

Daughter1 brought some pawpaws she'd gotten I think from her in-laws. Have you ever had a pawpaw? I had to look them up to see how you know when they're ripe and also how you eat them. 

Apparently in moderation because according to what I read too much will upset your stomach. They belong to the custard apple family and you can't eat the skin or the big black seeds. They only grow in 25 states with ours being one of them, and are not available in the grocery store. Supposedly they taste like a cross between a banana~ mango~cantaloupe. I'll let ya know. 

We motored to the gas dock but didn't stay out long because we were melting. We came back to our dock and spent the afternoon swimming. So nice. 

Daughter1 and little miss went home late afternoon and hubs and I watched an episode of the new season of Reacher before dinner. I made a simple pasta dish with fresh tomatoes from our plants, chopped shallots, garlic, and olive oil combined with some pasta and topped with basil from the garden, a little mozzarella, and a sprinkling of parm. So easy and delicious. 

We talked for a brief minute about kayaking to the island to watch the sunset, but it was still in the 90's, the air was thick, and it all sounded like more than we had in us. The dog days of summer are here and they're howling. 

So how was your weekend? 

Linking with Holly and Sarah for their weekly Hello Monday blog hop. 

Weekends, Weary, Wedding Dresses, Whew!

We're in the final week of our A to Z Blog Challenge and as always I'll be limping across the finish line. Since it's Monday there will be a weekend recap (with Holly and Sarah) along with my letter post on the blog today. 

There's a lot going on here this week and I'm trying to be a 'one-day-at-a timer' but it's hard not to look at the very long list in front of me. That list includes some things that will be emotionally draining and physically demanding but we can do hard things, right? 

Right! 

The weekend. 

Friday I had lunch with three friends from my old Bible Study group. We hadn't seen one another in several months and it was wonderful to catch up. Lunch was served on one friend's beautiful back porch and everyone contributed something to keep it simple. These ladies have been, and continue to be, such a blessing to me. 

I played Mah Jong at a neighbor's house later in the afternoon. 

Before I left my house that morning I made a big pot of sauce, and when I finally arrived home around dinnertime I congratulated myself for thinking ahead. Hubs had out of town real estate clients in all weekend so he was gone from dawn to dusk too. 

Saturday we sipped our coffee with the sunrise, then hubs was out the door early for another day with his house hunters. I had some errands to run in town so made the loop and was home about one. I spent the afternoon getting things ready for my mom's move. I am not going down that road on the blog today, but I'm sure will eventually gather my thoughts and put them in writing. 

We had plans Saturday night to celebrate a friend's birthday in our neighborhood clubhouse. The menu was tacos and margaritas and a delicious homemade cake baked by another neighbor. A fun night spent  chatting and catching up with friends. 

Sunday morning we went to church, then hubs and I stopped at Waffle House for a late breakfast. We needed energy for the afternoon's activity aka porch cleaning. Honestly we have had so much going on this past month we have not gotten to this dreaded but very necessary task. 

The pollen sits about an inch deep so all the porches and decking and outdoor furniture need to be hosed down and cleaned. We roll up our outdoor rugs during pollen season so they needed to be put back outside. Hubs operated the power washer and I had the tedious job of wiping down all the deck railings and spindles. We have over 200 spindles, not that anyone is counting, but yeah. It's a lot. 

And you have to keep changing the soapy water out because it turns black very quickly. 

But! we're getting there! The upper deck and the screened porch are mostly done and he made a good start on the lower level patio and dining space. Still more to do, plus there's also the boat to clean, (well for hubs to clean) but we're making forward progress and we can once again enjoy our favorite thing about this house, which is the outside space. Cheers to summer porch sittin'! 

I still need new pillows for the deck sofa and a few more flower pots but that will happen soon. Not this week though because this week is already a doozy. 

Now for today's letter which continues my theme of The Things We Keep: Ordinary Objects From A-Z. 

Day 23-W is for Wedding Dresses

Do you still have your wedding dress? When we returned from our honeymoon I took my dress to the local dry cleaners and they boxed it up in that fancy way dry cleaners do to keep it from yellowing through the years. 

You hope. I mean I wasn't even certain it was my dress in that box but we trusted the cleaners. I don't know if in 1984 I dreamed of having a daughter who might wear it someday, but I wasn't ready to part with it either. Into the box it went. 

From there it moved with us umpteen times, always in the unopened box. There it remained for 30 years, until in 2014 daughter1 was engaged to be married and thought she might like to try it on. I have a picture of her in it somewhere but I can't put my hands on it right now. Anyway...

She actually loved the idea of having the dress reworked and made to look a little less 80's bride, but logistics were not in our favor. I was in one state, she was in another, and the wedding was in a third so it all felt like an additional stress we didn't need. 

She found a dress that looked like it had been made just for her and she spun and twirled and smiled from the moment she put it on until she and her brand new husband left the reception. 

My dress went back into the box, and then a few years went by and now daughter2 is getting married and she took a turn trying it on too. 

Not 80's at all-ha! However Daughter2 had already fallen in love with a dress we'd seen in a fashion show so that was that.

But! I heard about a company that made dressing gowns/robes from wedding dresses and I decided to surprise daughter2  with a gift for Christmas before her January wedding. I had my wedding dress made into a getting ready robe for her and it turned out beautifully. 

She was, quite literally, overcome with emotion when she saw it. 

I wrote about it here (Let's Review) so I won't recap again, but suffice it to say I might never give another gift that lands as perfectly as this one did. 

And now here we are with one daughter married ten years and one married five, yet somehow we have their wedding dresses in our storage area. These boxes are not small either. 

Question-why did I tote my wedding gown from pillar to post but my girls dresses have stayed with me? I'm thinking I should hand them over and they can decide what they'd like to do with their gowns. 

They both have tiny daughters so maybe someday I'll get to see granddaughters walking down the aisle looking every bit as beautiful as their mommas. 

That makes them worth keeping. 

Jammin'

As in jammin' a lot into a single post because I'm behind here. If you neglect your blog for a few weeks  days life just rolls right on by without comment. Still I'm going to go back and comment. We've had a busy couple of weeks here and I want to catch up. 

Am I always saying that, because it feels like it? 

Backing up to last Friday when we celebrated Mardi Gras with some neighbors. So fun! The hostess grew up in New Orleans and funnily enough the couple who not that long ago moved in next door to them also have roots there. 

The couple hosting made a wonderful New Orleans style meal of gumbo (delicious!), red beans and rice, and shrimp creole. Guests brought a spicy crab dip, a spicy sausage dip, and I made Emeril's creole relish tray with white cheddar crackers which I will definitely be making again. So good! 

Our hosts had a king cake for dessert because I think that's the Mardi Gras law. We ate all but two pieces and guess where the baby was? Not in one of the twelve pieces we cut. Is that considered unlucky? 

Another guest brought some bourbon balls topped with gold glitter and the next door neighbor from NOLA brought homemade pralines for everyone to take home. Si délicieux! We all had a cup of brandy milk punch too, which I'd never tried before, and it was so yummy. 

Hubs and I got up early Saturday morning to make the drive to daughter2's house in Tennessee for Sugar's birthday celebration. She's officially 2 and completely adorable. There was a sweet Minnie Mouse theme and everyone had 'ears' to wear. 

My son-in-law grilled a brisket, and his parents were in town for the weekend too. Friends came by with their little ones and the kids played while the adults chatted. There were of course cupcakes for the birthday girl made by her momma, baker extraordinaire. She even made the edible bows for the ears, which were mini Oreos.

It was low key and perfect for this age. Three dogs were also in attendance and they mostly behaved. 

It was a chilly weekend and we spent most of it indoors watching Olympics with a side of If You Give A Mouse A Cookie. Sunday the grandparents were left in charge while the parents had a little day date. We let the kids nap maybe a little too long, but everyone was partied out. The kids too lol. 

We watched the Superbowl Sunday night, but were not invested in the teams and overall the game wasn't very exciting. I finished my book club book while listening to the game and my book was much more interesting. 

We drove home Monday morning and were back at the lake by lunchtime. I unpacked, did laundry, then washed my hair to get ready for our monthly wine club dinner happening that evening. 

Never a dull moment. 

Tuesday hubs had his guitar lesson, I made some phone calls and did some paperwork, took a walk, then had book club that afternoon. We read The God Of The Woods and it received mostly positive reviews. I was home for an hour, then back to the clubhouse to play Mah Jong. 

Wednesday morning I was guess where? You guessed it. Back to the clubhouse to help with a Mah Jong lesson. Hubs and I had lunch then we headed to the store. I don't know if you've seen the ads for having a song personalized, but hubs had one written for me and he played it when we got in the car. It's a beautiful song and the lyrics are so so sweet. A truly thoughtful special gift I will treasure. 

After the shopping and errands were done I came home and made sugar cookie dough for Thursday. My granddaughter was coming over for a little while Thursday morning to spend some time with us while her momma ran an errand and I thought it would be fun to make some heart shaped cookies. 

With lots of sprinkles. 

Pink of course. 

After Little Miss and her momma went home hubs and I headed to a friend's house for a welcome home celebration. Our friend has been in the hospital for months following an accident and was finally able to come home on Thursday. Friends and neighbors lined the street, made signs, waved balloons and pompoms, and cheered as they pulled in. It was fabulous. 

There are so many good people in the world loving their neighbors well. Don't let the internet, the news, or the angry loud voices on social media tell you otherwise. 

Everyone left once they were in the driveway as it was a long day and I'm sure overwhelming on many levels. 

We got home and my daughter called and said the boys wanted to come by so we could see the Mancub's school project, and I'm gonna say we are here for it. Living a few miles apart is everything I hoped it would be. 

As soon as they left I showered and changed for a fun author event with a few women from my book club. It was billed as a conversation with two local writers, Shelley Burchfield and Carolyn Newton. Your ticket included light refreshments and a signed copy of one of their books. Both of these women were so engaging and they complemented one another well. 

I hadn't read anything by Carolyn so opted for her novel called Songs Of The Dead Road. It's described as a work of historical fiction about Jan Balik, a Polish composer who uses music to cope with the trauma of WWII, including the loss of family and his time in a Soviet orphanage and labor camp. 

And that brings us to Friday. Or Valentine's Day as we're calling it here. I'm headed out of town on Saturday leaving hubs here to man the fort, so we decided to celebrate a day early. 

By celebrate I mean cooking a nice dinner at home together which we haven't done in a while. 

I jammed a lot in here, but I think you know jammed posts are kinda my jam. Wishing you a weekend filled with the people and things you love. 

Linking today with Friday Favorites hosted by Erika and Andrea

Hello Monday. Also Last Tuesday Wednesday, Thursday.

Mondays are when I link with Holly and Sarah for their weekend recaps, but since all of last week felt like the weekend, I'm going to start with last Monday, and hit the whole week's highlights. 

Of which there were many. 

You'll need coffee. 

Friends we hadn't seen in a decade arrived Monday afternoon, their first trip to the lake. Since the weather was so nice we went for a short boat ride, then hung out at home and hubs grilled steaks for dinner.

We had a leisurely late breakfast on Tuesday, then took the boat all the way up to the dam.

 

It's a long ride, and we don't go that far very often, but another beautiful day weather wise so really enjoyable. 

Later we went into town for the 'grand tour' then stopped at a local distillery for drinks and apps. This a newer venue and it's always a fun stop. We went across the road to an Italian restaurant for dinner and ran into two different couples we know. Small town livin' is the best. 

Our guests left around noon on Wednesday and hubs and I declared that afternoon our day date. It was the only real window of time we had the entire week so carpe diem. 

We walked. 

That might not sound like much of a 'date', but small moments are what you make them. 

Also, I haven't really walked in months and the doc said to start slow and easy so we went to a local park and walked their flat path that runs through the woods and around the ball fields. I wore my new shoes and it all felt okay. I'm getting a shot in two weeks so hoping that knocks out the remaining pain. 

Anyway, it was nice. Day date episode 4. Check. 

Not that it's a check list but counting helps us stay on track. 

Thursday I worked my usual volunteer stint, then hurried home to make snacks and set up for guests. We have new neighbors hubs and I had not yet met, but a mutual friend let us know about them because they're from her home town in Illinois. So on Thursday we had them all here for happy hour along with our next door neighbors. 

We did heavy hors d'oeuvres by the waterfall. The weather was wonderful and it was so nice to sit outside. We turned the fire table on once it got dark and passed out blankets for anyone who needed one. It was a fun little gathering.  

And now... the weekend. Finally. 

Daughter2's father-in-law celebrated a milestone birthday recently and my son-in-law organized a fun weekend at a Georgia quail hunting venue. My son-in-law's brother drove up from Florida and met them there. The father-in-law was driving from closer to our neighboring state and was going to pick up hubs at a meet up spot just off the interstate to save him the extra time it would take for him to come to the lake, and then have to backtrack. 

Are you following? 

I was driving hubs to the meet up spot at the crack of dawn so I threw on my cozy earth comfy wear and off we went. As we were driving to the meet up spot (about 45 minutes away) a warning light came on in my car saying there was a transmission issue and don't stop the car or it might not restart. Sigh. 

I dropped hubs and went directly to the dealer another thirty minutes away. They were already busy but were so nice and said they'd figure it out. They put a little computer thingy-ma-bob in the car and voila! It's not the transmission. I needed a new battery, plus 'as long as you're here...' 

I ended up getting an oil change, several filters, and some brake fluid. They said it would take about two hours so I settled in to their comfy lounge, in my comfy clothes, drank their delicious hot coffee and watched HGTV on their big screen while I waited. It seems you can buy shoes and luggage while you wait but I opted for coffee only. 

These little minis were  pretty tempting as I know the grands would love them, but one unexpected car bill is enough. 

When I knew I'd have a whole weekend to myself I imagined spending the whole day Friday taking care of stuff at home. Oh well. Sometimes life throws a punch and ya gotta deal. 

I stopped at daughter1's house on the way home because she was having a small party for Little Miss who turned three on Thursday. (Her birthday letter from Nana aka me, is here-Ode To A Wildflower). There was a mermaid theme, nothing over the top but my daughter did put together this super cute balloon arch. The littles all happily played together and there was lunch and cupcakes and a color sheet tablecloth we moms all enjoyed lol. 

I left before the party ended because the pup had been cooped up all day and needed to be freed and fed. I ate popcorn for dinner and stayed up too late watching tv. Not a super productive day, unless of course you count preventing a future breakdown on some country road as being productive, which I do, so maybe in hindsight it was a good day overall. 

Saturday I had plans to meet a long time friend who lives one state over for lunch. We meet halfway and catch up in person now and then, which is so nice. No pics but lots of gabbing. 

After lunch I came home and let the dog out, fed him, let him relax for about an hour, then went back to Daughter1's for a family dinner with the birthday girl, her siblings, and my son-in-law's mom, plus his sister and brother-in-law and their precious new baby. 

While my son-in-law grilled our actual dinner Little Miss made me pretend dinner in the adorable new kitchen her momma and daddy got her for her birthday. We had the best time making 'soup' and discussing the menu options. 

We ate our real dinner and enjoyed the beautiful strawberry cake my daughter made, then I headed home to the pup. He was not happy hubs went hunting without him. 

Sunday I laid low because I was exhausted. For real. Hubs got home about two and we had an early dinner/late lunch of roasted red pepper soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. I worked on my blog and did a little laundry while hubs napped. 

And  that was the week. And also the weekend. This week looks somewhat crazy too but October in recent years seems to be busier than May and December. Am I wrong about that? 

So what fun things did you do this weekend? 

If you want to share jump over to the Hello Monday link party happening today. Have a nice week everyone! 

Ode To A Wildflower

A birthday letter for my granddaughter...

Dear Little Miss, 

Today you are three. You tell us you prefer age two, and while we love to give you everything you want, time marches on and now you are three. 

Whew. Where do I begin? How do I describe what you're like in this most magical season of life? 

You're bright. You're hilarious. Your voice is just like your momma's was at that age-full of emotion and music. Your hair tumbles down your back in the most beautiful ringlets, the kind people stop and admire. 

You're shy in new places and with new people, but once you're comfortable you carry on the best conversations. You talk with your hands too, so full of life and feeling, and we could listen to you chatter all day long. 

Everything about you is precious. You wear your emotions right on your face, and we never have to wonder if you're happy, mad, or sad. You keep us all on our toes, and we can't remember our family without you in it.

You love to wear a crown, but will sometimes settle for a headband. You love all things pink, especially your pink velvet shoes, your pink dresses, your baby dolls Rosie and Ruby, Winnie the Pooh, and books.  A current favorite is Miss Lina's Ballerinas. 

I pray you always know how very much you are loved. Your momma and daddy positively beam when they look at you, and your big brothers think you hung the moon, even when you tell them exactly how things should be. 

And then there’s your Pawpaw...you've got him wrapped around your delicate little finger and tied with a pretty pink bow. When I watch you with him the world feels softer and sweeter than your favorite strawberry Starburst. 

Never lose that sweet sparkle in your eyes and that fierce little spirit that makes you you. I  pray your mom and dad, with wisdom, patience, and humor, direct that fierce little spirit and your tender heart to do great things for God's kingdom.  

You're our joy, our wonder, our firefly who brings sparkle to all our days. Happy birthday Little Miss... know your Nana loves you deep and wide xoxo 

"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11 

Friday Fragments and Favorites

Linking today with Andrea and Erika for their Friday Favorites hop. 

I'm out of sync with my blog these days mostly because I'm not doing a whole lot besides rest my foot. Hubs says I'm not doing great with that and gave me a talkin' to yesterday about how we're going to the beach and I'll be in this boot unable to keep up. Even if I'd done a solid nothing it's likely I'd be in the boot when we go to the beach. I have not driven one time and have spent most of the month with my leg propped up so I think I've done pretty great. There's been a day or two I've overdone it, but for the most part I feel like a slug. 

I volunteer on Thursdays making lunch in a soup kitchen, but after hubs said he thought it was too much  I called in last minute yesterday to say I wouldn't be there. Then he left for the day and I planted myself on the couch. Except he was suddenly buying a car and needed me to make four, yes four!!, separate trips to the office downstairs for information. I told him I'd have done far less walking and definitely no stairs had I gone to the soup kitchen. 

Anyway, I guess we have a new car lol. And it's been purchased in my favorite way. I wasn't there. I saw it online before he went to look, and honestly this is how I feel about a pick up. It's a truck. The end. Hubs is excited and even though he babies his vehicles his current truck has over 200K miles on it so it's time. Apparently there are a lot of variations, and he does his homework. Since it will be his mode of transportation if he's happy, then I'm happy. 

This particular new vehicle ticked 'our' must have list-the color both interior and exterior (those are my must haves-ha! ), something about the running boards and the tailgate, very low mileage (we never buy new) and price. No pictures because we won't get it until next week, but yay! We have a new ride.

We've spent very little time on the boat this summer so on Monday morning we spontaneously decided to pack up breakfast and go for a ride. 

Yes in my boot. Are you tired of hearing about it because I know I am. 

I made us a scrambled egg with cheese on a bagel to go. They were so good. 

It was a picture perfect day and we had the lake pretty much to ourselves. Weekends are busy, but weekdays it's like your own little slice of paradise. 

When my sister-in-law was here over the 4th she brought us these ginormous rubber bands (linked) which I think she said are made for patio furniture, etc but they are also perfect for keeping your towel from flying up on the boat. 

I ordered the most adorable little sundresses for my granddaughters to wear at the beach, matching because I like matching-

They're from Janie and Jack, which has so many cute things. 

Monday night we had plans to get sushi with some friends we haven't caught up with in a while. My roll was so pretty and just the right amount of heat. Hubs and I each ordered a roll and split an order of their Brazilian street tacos too. 

Our tomato tree. Y'all my hubs has the green thumb here. My daughter1's in-laws gave us a teeny tiny tomato plant back in the spring and hubs has cared for that thing so well that it's now what we call our tomato tree. And it's loaded! 

The in-laws were here over the 4th and they could not believe the size of this plant. Yesterday we picked our first tomato and I will probably make us BLT's for dinner. Hubs is golfing today and I'm sitting and it's hot so a BLT will be easy and won't require the stove. 

His lemon tree is also thriving.

We watched the grands on Wednesday evening while their parents had a middle-of-the-week date night. They had fun with these water guns which are more powerful than they look lol. 

Especially at close range. Nana got it in the face more than once and I wasn't even armed. 

Hubs made smash burgers on the griddle, and the boys put together new legos I'd purchased. We had fun just hanging out. 

Thursday morning's sunrise was a beauty. As are they all, but Thursday's was really pretty. 

My limelights are making me happy too. 

I spent the day on the couch when I wasn't running up and down the stairs to get hubs the paperwork he needed to buy the car. 

Also, I wasn't running. 

My next door neighbor invited us and two other friends over to float on Thursday afternoon so we went over there around 4:30 and floated for an hour. Afterwards we went for Thai food at a place we hadn't tried before, and it was really good, just very very slow. We weren't in a hurry so no biggie. 

Today I'm back for more sitting and reading and catching up on a few things blog wise. Hubs is on the golf course so won't be calling lol. 

Enjoy your weekend everyone!