2,922 Days

I like to write letters to my grandchildren on their birthdays and today is one of those days. No they don't read my blog, but I keep these letters for them to have when they're older and need reminding of how very much they are loved. 

Dear Mancub, 

2,922 Days. That's how long I've known you. And while that sounds like a long time it feels like just  yesterday I walked into your home on the other side of the country and met you face to face.

You had a full head of very dark hair, the most perfect little face, and a sweetness about you that remains there still today. 

And now you're eight. 

You're kind and tender hearted, and you're funny too. You're such a good big brother to your baby sister, and also to your little brother who loves and admires you whole heartedly. Like your momma, you are so very intuitive about people and their feelings, a truly wonderful quality to possess. 

The change from little boy to 'just a boy' happens seemingly overnight, but you're there now. No longer little, but also not too big to hug your Nana. 

fyi-you are never too big to hug your Nana. 

You love the great outdoors and since moving to our neck of the woods have spent a lot of time literally in the woods. You love climbing trees and wading in creeks and fishing with Daddy and brother, and hikes to the many nearby waterfalls. Exploring the woods and wide open spaces the way all boys should. 

You're a lego wizard and still love building all sorts of things. Currently you're a big fan of Star Wars and are busy collecting the lego sets that go along with that. You are rarely without a book in your hand and love to talk about what you're reading too. 

You loved playing baseball this year and grew so much in terms of skill and grit. You had a lot of fun cheering on the local college team too. 

You still eat and sleep like a teenager and the water is where you want to be. 

After five moves in seven years you're happy to say this is where I live. Happy for friends you won't have to move away from in a year's time. Happy to let your roots sink down deep into the red clay soil of South Carolina.  

We're happy too. 

Happy to be near enough to say come swim. To sit beside you in church on Sunday mornings. To watch you play baseball, rock the paddle board, and celebrate birthdays and the ordinary days in between without a plane ride, a passport, or a Facetime screen. 

Happy birthday to the one who gave me my favorite name. I'm grateful to have a front row seat to watch all the ways God is working out His perfect and unique plan for your life. I pray your love for Him grows more with every candle added to the cake, and that you seek Him daily in all things. 

Know for always your Nana loves you deep and wide xo 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths."  Proverbs 3:5-6

Seven

If you read here regularly you know I always write my grandchildren a letter on their birthday. Today is one of those days. 

Dear Mancub, 

Today you are seven. 

Once again you're marking a birthday thousands of miles and an ocean away from your Nana. This past week you boarded a plane with your family and moved to England, and you know what? 

Nana isn't sad. 

How can I be sad when you have the chance to live in one of my most favorite places in all the world? 

When your momma was a teenager we moved to England. We hugged her grandparents goodbye and flew across the ocean just like you. We had so many wonderful experiences as a family making our home in a country not our own, and I know you will have that too. 

I also know you'll ask at least a million questions in the next six months. I know you'll love the language and the way words like gobsmacked, brilliant, knackered, and cheers roll right off your tongue. I know you'll learn a lot about a lot, that you'll see so many beautiful new old places, and I'm also one hundred percent certain you'll fall in love with the English countryside, just like Nana did once upon a time. 

Seven feels big. You are growing up and we love you so. You and your momma and your brother and sister too, were able to spend ten days with us before your big move and we had so much fun in the sun.

There was of course, the the annual run off the dock with Nana, but this trip what you really wanted to do was paddleboard. You hopped on the first day you were here and it became a fast favorite way to spend the day. 

Nana still wobbles, but you bounced up on that board like you'd been doing it all your life, and suddenly you seemed not quite so little. 

Hey guess what? While we're not in the same time zone on your big day, we will be on mine. Yay! Pawpaw and I cannot wait to visit. We look so forward to sipping tea in your garden, giving and getting big in person hugs, walking along the High Street with you and your sibs, re-visiting some of our favorite old stomping grounds, and most especially discovering new ones too, all with you by our side. 

Happy birthday Mancub! Remember no matter where you roam in this great big world the God who made it all holds you in the palm of His hand. 

Know too your Nana loves you deep and wide xo

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 

Summertime And The Livin' Is Easy And Also Loud

We've had a full house all week and we still have a mostly full house this week, but I want to put some of the happenings here on my blog while they're fresh. It's not short so buckle up. 

Before I dive in I do want to let you know I've finally added a 'follow by email' option to my sidebar. If you'd like to be notified of new posts here via email, just add your address in the box there and hit subscribe. 

I'm joining Holly and Sarah for their regular Hello Monday link party to talk about the week that was. 

There has been lots of merrymaking with both daughters and their littles here at the lake this past week. It has been loud messy fun and we're all exhausted and ready for bed at an early hour, but we are truly loving all the minutes spent together. I have washed at least 100 towels and cooked 1000 meals. Nine people in and out of the lake and the pool means a lot of towels and all that swimming means we need fuel. These boys can eat and I'm not even kidding. 

I made myself a calendar of menus before everyone arrived and that's been so helpful. I did have to run to the store once but mostly I shopped ahead and hubs has been doing a lot of grilling. My girls appreciate home cooking, plus dining out with five small children might be too much, even for us. 

Going all the way back to Tuesday for this recap...we declared Tuesday a boat day. Sounds simple, right? Y'all. The amount of gear we needed to pack, take down to the dock, get on the boat, as well as five children swim-suited and sunscreen-ed, buckled into life jackets, hats and sunglasses on, water bottles in tow, not to mention our own selves, plus noodles and water saddles and fishing poles, beach towels and lunch in a cooler, well it does make one wonder for a minute if it's worth it?

Totally worth it. 

There are lots of islands in our lake and many have sandy beaches so we headed to one of those. Once hubs set the anchor the process of getting everyone and everything off the boat and onto the island begins. Hubs totes most of the gear while one daughter puts the swim diapers on the babies and the other daughter gets off the boat and then I pass the kids to her and she escorts them to the island. 

Is it worth it? 

100%!  A morning in the sand and sea with little ones is not a walk in the park, but we don't care because it is way more fun than not. 

We got home in time for naps for some, although probably not for the ones who needed it most-ha! Hi hubs!, and the older boys watched a movie while the three littlest slept. 

Hubs had to attend an event Tuesday evening so I made spaghetti and meatballs and we got everyone in bed on the early side. Daughter2's hubs arrived from working nearby so we hung out on the deck until Pawpaw aka 'the hubs' got home. He had just sat down to finally relax with his favorite bourbon when I ever so gently reminded him he was grilling a pork butt for Wednesday's dinner. 

Which means he has to prep it on Tuesday night. 

As in right now.

And also get up at 4 AM to get it on the Green Egg. Hi hubs! 

Wednesday morning he and my son-in-law were up before the sun, so when I came outside with my coffee at 6:45 am the smell was already so good. We swam in the lake that morning, and then late afternoon my older sister drove the hour and a half out from her house to mine with my mama. 

My mama is in town for a few days while my younger sister and her family (who she lives with) are traveling. It was wonderful for her to be here the week the girls were both in town. 

Wrangling everyone for this picture might have been trickier than boat day, but I wanted a pic of my mom with all of her great-grandchildren, and with my girls too. 

My sister was a big hit with the boys especially and they had so much fun with her. I didn't take a single picture of her while she was here because there was a lot going on (possibly a giant understatement! lol). Hubs made maybe his best BBQ ever and I added coleslaw, baked beans and roasted veggies to the meal, with a peach and blueberry cobbler for dessert. So good!

Thursday morning we went back up to the neighborhod pool and everyone had such a nice time playing in the water. We came home for lunch and naps (so grateful these little ones sleep the way they do!), then had an early taco dinner before loading everyone up in two cars to get ice cream in town. Making the fun happen with littles of various ages is something of a production but we all dig in and make it happen. 

And we don't take a lot of photos but we're definitely living it. 

This spot does the Nitrogen ice cream which is exciting to watch, and they loved every single bite. When we got back to the house Daughter1 and I took the big boys to the lake to swim again, and Daughter2 and the younger three hung out on the deck with Pawpaw. 

Divide and conquer is not a bad motto for managing kids of varying ages and stages. 

Friday morning daughter2 and her sweeties headed back to their home in Tennessee.  After they got on the road we went for an easy boat ride with daughter1 and her kids. 

Still a few things to carry but we just brought towels and snacks and opted for lunch at home. 

We hung out in a cove and jumped off the swim platform and had a grand time before the clouds rolled in and we made a bee line back to the dock.  Hubs made popcorn in our big popcorn machine and the boys watched a movie with him while little miss napped. Daughter1 and I sat on the porch with our iced coffee and solved all the problems of the world. 

Maybe not all, but a few. 

It was leftovers for dinner Friday night because this cook needed a break. And my next door neighbor brought over a blueberry pie for dessert which was so sweet and so thoughtful and we all really enjoyed that. 

Which brings us to Saturday. I needed to do a grocery run so hubs took the two older boys (the mancub and Max as they're known on the blog) to a fish hatchery not too far from here. He encountered a detour so it ended up being further than anticipated, but he made it and they had a ball. 

They were allowed to feed the fish which was exciting and it was a great way to spend a drizzly morning. 

Hubs treated them to lunch on the way home and they came in laughing and happy and full of fish stories. 

I had ordered some legos for the boys and they arrived midday Saturday, which kept them busy the rest of fthe afternoon. They were anxiously waiting for their Daddy to arrive as he wrapped up his Fellowship in Cincinnati on Friday and will hang out here for a few days before they all head to England for their six month stay (you can read more about that on Daughter1's blog linked here-Sincerely Shannon). 

Whew. Who's tired? 

But in the very, very, best way. 

Now We Are Six

Dear Mancub, 

Now we are six. 

I bet you laugh at that because you know Nana is not really six, but in some ways I'm growing right along with you. I'm learning about all kinds of new things including why dung beetles are helpful, what's a pangolin, how to run with abandon, the trick to prying the teeniest tiniest lego away from another piece of teeny tiny lego, why is there a crescent moon, and so much more. 

Mostly I'm discovering how the clock and the calendar wait for no baby turned toddler turned six year old boy. I'm learning to put down the dish I'm drying and read a book on the couch with you instead. 

You are still a complete delight. You're bright and cheerful. You eat like a teenager and ask all the questions. So.many.questions. Pawpaw and I say often how much we love chatting with you. You're interesting and curious. You still never let a new word or phrase go by without asking what it means, and you keep asking until you understand. And you still love books which makes this family of readers oh so happy. 

You're a wonderful big brother to both of your siblings and watching you and Max play together these days is pure joy. You both gained a baby sister this year and she absolutely loves watching her boys. You make her laugh and are so sweet and tender with her. 

You're a master builder, putting together complicated lego projects and creating your own designs too. These days you color inside the lines, tell actual jokes, and think deep thoughts. You're a whiz at mazes and Sudoku and you love to play games. Our new favorite to play together is Sorry. When your momma was little she could never send anyone back to their base without shedding a tear, but you knock Nana's player off the board with a twinkle in your eye and I love it. 

Your favorite thing still is running off the dock, and if you're holding my hand even better. It never gets old and I hope when you're three x six we're still running into water somewhere, hands held tight, shouting Cowabunga as we splash. 

3 x 6 =18. I know you're asking. Numbers are your thing. 

As your birthday rolls around you are once again settling in to a new home in a new city, your 4th! house in six years. You are resilient with a capital R thanks in large part to your Momma and Daddy, and the way they manage all the transitions with patience and enthusiasm. When I write these birthday letters I always like to remind you of how very fortunate you are to have such wonderful parents. Honor and obey them because God says so, but also because they love you to pieces, they recognize and encourage your gifts, and they will always be your safe place to land. 

Six. It feels like time is moving so fast and I sometimes want to tap the breaks and freeze the frame we're in right now. At the same time each new year brings so much joy and the gift of being your Nana is one I never take for granted. I pray today and every day the Lord blesses and keeps you, that He makes His face shine upon you and He is gracious to you. May you grow to know and love Him more each day. 

Happy birthday Mancub...keep jumping in to life with both feet and know your Nana loves you deep and wide xo

'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.' Proverbs 3:5-6

Roads Traveled

The last time I blogged something more than the Wednesday Hodgepodge was more than two weeks ago. As per usual we've done a lot of coming and going since then so let's catch up. This might be two posts or I might just jam it all in to one, so you'll want to grab your coffee. 

Rolling it back two Fridays ago which is when we made the trek to daughter1's house to spend a few days with her crew. Yes, three children constitutes a crew. The drive there should take six and a half hours but we have never made it in six and a half hours. This time it was nine. Ugh. 

Fifteen miles from their exit a tractor trailer caught fire and the authorities shut down the interstate. We sat for over an hour with our gas tank on the verge of empty before we were able to exit. We got gas then wound our way around what turned out to be some of the most beautiful Tennessee countryside we would have otherwise missed.  

Even life's little aggravations and irritations can have a silver lining. 

We wish we'd known about this route on previous trips because it was just that pretty, and this was likely our last visit to their current home. The movers come soon and then it's onward to another new home, new adventure, and lots of Graters ice cream and Skyline chili if that helps you figure out their new 'where'.  

The mileage from here to there will be about the same, and we're always grateful when we can visit by car. 

One bright spot en route to visit Daughter1 was a happy quick meet up with daughter2 and sweet baby J in a shopping center parking lot. Because of road construction on our usual route (always!!), the GPS directed us another way to Tennessee, which meant we'd be passing very near daughter2's exit. She happened to be on her way home from a friend's so we made it happen. 

His smiley face makes a long road trip feel less long. 

Hubs and I had a grand time with the grands doing all sorts of fun things. They have a huge pond in their neighborhood with a walking path all the way around and we are going to miss that for sure. It's been a wonderful spot to safely learn to ride a bicycle without training wheels, power a scooter, and identify ducks of every shape, size, and variety. 

Little miss has grown and changed so much since we saw her back in March and she gives the best smiles, rolls herself literally all over the house, and looks so much like her momma it makes my heart sing. 

You can relax. This will definitely be two posts. 

Saturday night daughter1 had gotten us all tickets to the local rodeo. You can walk to the venue from their house and it was set to begin at 7:30 PM. We arrived at 6:30 only to find the event had been waaaay oversold. There were almost no seats to be had, with long lines of people still pouring in after us. 

Daughter1 was wearing the baby and I had Max by the hand when a very nice lady offered to scooch over, move her kids to the floor in front of her, and let us have a couple of seats. The dads took the mancub and climbed to the top of the bleachers to squeeze in there. People were standing around the ring because there really wasn't anywhere else to stand so we honestly couldn't see a thing from our location. 

It was at this point daughter1 and I looked at each other and said, 'let's go home'. We gave Max to the dads and the boys were able to enjoy the show. I was going to write a review on the host's website but I guess now I can just direct them to this post lol. 

Did you come here to read about traffic jams and events that don't live up to their billing? Let's talk happier things...the great outdoors-

We went to a nearby playground that also has some walking trails throughout, meandered through the woods, along a stream, and then had quite a moment when the mancub alerted us all to a SNAKE!! right beside our feet. Fortunately for all we had the snake whisperer (aka the hubs) with us and all was well.

We walked another day along a trail that's been set up along an old community golf course. It's now a storybook trail and the boys had fun riding their bikes from 'page to page'.  I read online this was an Eagle Scout project so kudos to the creator. 

The setting was lovely with farmland all around, and we talked about how nice it would be to own land that had at one time been a golf course. A little bit manicured, a little bit wild, plenty of room for a house and garden, and a cottage for your parents to live in their old age someday too-ha! 

We have so enjoyed visiting all the places my daughter1 and her family have lived. I think about the staggering beauty of Washington state, the faraway Land of Morning Calm, and the wide open farmland of the Tennessee military town they've most recently called home. 

Moving stirs up all kinds of emotion and I feel the feels with her because I've been there myself. 

The sad goodbyes and the hopeful hellos. 

Pointing your eyes and your family in a forward direction.

Quietly tucking precious friends in your pocket and opening your heart to new people, new places, new experiences.  

To my girl and movers everywhere...

Unpack the boxes, hang the pictures, plant the flowers. Call the new place home. For a year or two or ten or forever. 

"You can have more than one home. You can carry your roots with you and decide 
where they grow." Henning Mankell 

Four

This week's Hodgepodge questions are one post down.

Dear Mancub, 

Today you are four. 

You're there and I'm here and that's okay. God has a plan for each one of us and you there and me here is part of His plan for both of our lives. 

You are a world traveler. 

You've spent one half of your life living on the other side of the world, seeing new and interesting sights, hearing a language not your own, eating foods most toddlers wouldn't dare touch with a ten foot chopstick, and sharing your life with us via the miracle of technology. You are far far away from extended family and that's okay. 

Your momma and daddy have done a most excellent job of forming deep and lasting bonds with friends who have acted as family in absentia these past two years. Friends who will always hold a special place in the hearts and minds of your parents. Friends who will send you Christmas cards as the years roll by and who will go out of their way to visit you in person no matter where you roam.

You ask a lot of questions. 

I read recently the average four year old asks as many as 200 questions each day, but that's okay. This statistic only confirms what I've known since you uttered your very first word, and that is you're extraordinary.

One of the things I look forward to most about having you here is listening to all your many questions. When you hear a new word, even in passing, you must know what it means. You don't settle for a simple answer either, and you drill down to the nth detail until you understand it completely. You are growing your brain and keeping ours young and sharp too. 

You still love books.

I cannot overstate how happy this makes me. Nana has piles of books for us to share snuggled up on the couch, sitting on the porch, or riding in the car. Anywhere really. 

You love big. 

You and your little brother are developing such a sweet relationship as you've grown into the role of older brother and we love having a front row seat to your shenanigans.

You've learned to share your favorite people's time and attention, to understand the miracle of family love and the way our human hearts can expand and make room for more and more of it. 

You should know I stole all these pictures from your momma, and that's okay. Once upon a time she was my three-year-old turning four and I see so much of her in you. 

She also loves books and words and her people most of all, and we are so lucky to call her ours. 

To call you hers. 

To be on the receiving end of so much joy and magic. 

Happy birthday mancub. You are so very precious and your Nana loves you deep and wide. 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Marching To The Beat Of The Hodgepodge

Welcome to the brand new month of March and another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for your blog neighbor there. Here we go-

1. Is March coming in like a lion where you live? Aslan, Simba, Elsa, The Cowardly Lion...your favorite 'famous' lion? 

Not a lion no...how about a porpoise? A fish? Cats and dogs? We get a lot of rain this time of year so one of those animals feels more appropriate. That being said, temps are not frigid, snowy, or excessively windy and I'm pretty happy about that. 

I relate often and a little to well to the Cowardly Lion, but Aslan is my favorite. 

2. In what way do you 'march to the beat of your own drum'? 

Don't most adults march to the beat of their own drum? I am not someone who worries a lot about what others think, I don't play the 'comparison' game, and am pretty content in my own skin. I enjoy the quieter and more introspective hobbies of reading, writing, and daydreaming which might be a bit out of step with a lot of people, but it takes all kinds to make the world go round. 

3. What item that you don't have already, would you most like to own? Any chance of that happening soon?

A golf cart? I don't think it will happen soon (not this summer anyway) as we have a long list of things we'd like to do here, and that purchase is pretty far down on the list. 

4. March is National Flour Month...are you a baker? Cookies-cakes-or pies...your favorite sweet treat to bake? What's the last non-sweet thing you made that called for flour?

I bake. Does that make me a baker? Yes. I'm a baker. I enjoy baking and cookies are my favorite. I have better luck with cookie baking than cake baking, and find cookies a bit more forgiving. The last non-sweet thing I made that called for flour was a skillet pork chop recipe that required dredging the chops in a flour mixture. I don't do that sort of cooking often anymore, but they were delish.  

5. There are 31 days in the month of March...where were you and what were you doing when you were 31? If you haven't hit that milestone yet, then tell us where you were and what you were doing 31 months ago? (if math is not your thing, that would be August 3, 2018)

Ahh 31...what a lovely age and season of my life. There was no need to color my hair, I could read a size 8 font unaided, and I didn't worry too awfully much about how many carbs were contained in a slice of pizza.  

We were living in the wilds of northern NJ with our almost three year old little sweetheart and her baby sister, a six month old little darlin' who was not a fan of sleeping and who loved me with her entire being. So much so that she did not like me out of sight for too long, including 1, 2, 3, and 4 o'clock in the morning. Every morning. It was a completely exhausting and truly precious time. 

Just for fun I thought I'd look back at my blog and see where I was 31 months ago too. 

Well that was a mistake, as it naturally sent me spiraling down a rabbit hole. August 3, 2018 hubs and I were in Washington State with the cutest little just turned one year old on the planet. 

Daughter1 and her hubs had flown to Colorado for a conference and a few days of R & R, and we were left in charge of the smiliest, busiest, chattiest, most adorable little mancub around. (you can read the post I wrote about that in this link)

Now here we are 31 months later and baby boy is a big brother, nearing his 4th birthday (what???!) and somehow living even further away from his Nana and Pawpaw. And we thought Washington was far! 

photo credit: Sincerely-Shannon 

On the bright side, we are hoping and praying and it is looking like we will be celebrating his birthday number 4 in person on this side of the globe. Life is hard, but also oh so sweet, don't you think?

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

What's a blog good for if not a little nepotism now and then? Daughter2 has once again dusted off her blog, and is back writing there this month. If you have the time, pop over and say hi.  And if you're a teacher you'll especially enjoy Tuesday's post. The link is here-It's Elementary

Three

Dear Mancub,

Today you are three.

And of all the three year olds in all the world you're my favorite.

I was looking back at my post from one year ago today and my oh my but the world has done some shifting and changing and groaning and grieving. It's a pandemic year, an election year, and a chaotic year in so very many ways yet there you are, spreading all kinds of sunshine and happiness from seven million miles away.

Okay, but it might as well be seven million.

We are grateful every single day for the miracle of technology that allows us to watch you work and play, to hear the sweetness of your voice, and to feel all the feels we hold in our heart bubble right on up and over because you're ours.

And you're remarkable.

Smart and tender.

A little bit o' Momma, a little bit Dad, and the rest all extraordinary you.

Two parts curiosity, one part mischief.

Always happy to see us and now old enough to understand you miss us.

We miss you too darling boy, more than words can say.

You love throwing the football with Daddy and baking with Mommy. Helicopters, trains, kids, the splash pad, Mickey Mouse, new words, big words, vacuuming, and baby brother, not necessarily in that order, but every once in a while in that order. teehee.

This year you became a big brother and speaking as one of four children myself I can tell you that with every candle added to your cake you will become exponentially more grateful for the gift of siblings. Little guy watches you with awe and wonder and you make him laugh from his belly. You are growing a friendship whose roots go deep and will last a lifetime.

You were born into a family of readers and you love your books.

You're a charmer and comedian. A mover and a shaker who loves to throw and catch-run and jump-ride and climb. You eat and sleep like a teenager but still snuggle onto Momma's lap because mothers love us like no other and you were gifted the best of the best.

We love watching you learn and grow and love your people, and know we're the luckiest grandparents in the world to call you ours.

Happy birthday mancub. You are so very precious and your Nana/Didi loves you deep and wide.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He makes straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 

September Is My Favorite

Sometimes I sit down to catch up on my blog and instead end up reading back through old posts feeling envious of my former self. The one who wrote about what she saw and felt and thought instead of the girl I am now. The one always playing catch up with lists and what I did on my summer vacation type posts. I try to give myself grace because it's been a weird hard year, but I miss that girl.

I plan to bring her back here one of these days.

But not today because today is playing catch up with a list and a what I did on my summer vacation type of post. Might as well embrace it, right?

I celebrated a birthday yesterday. My birthday is the third family birthday in the month of September so everyone's a little caked out by the time mine rolls around.

Not so caked out we won't dive into this scrumptious German Chocolate Fudge Pie Daughter2 baked for her momma, but we won't eat it all in one sitting either. My favorite man cub face timed so he could join in the singing of Happy Birthday and also help blow out the candles from 7000+ miles away. The happy birthday song is in his current list of top ten favorites.

Hubs suggested we go out for my birthday but we eat out a lot, and on my birthday I want a home cooked meal I don't have to home cook. I love something on the grill that I don't have to a) plan for b) shop for, c) prepare or d) clean up. Honestly I'll eat whatever is put in front of me if I don't have to do any of the above.

Hubs obliged by grilling the most delicious pork chops he'd purchased from his guitar teacher/ pig farmer and Daughter2 made garlic mashed potatoes and a spinach salad and that fantabulous pie and it was all pretty perfect.

Low key is the name of the game this month because next month we will amp up into supersonic speed with four separate trips covering multiple states, flights, road miles and countries so we're trying to rest up. Hubs doesn't quite get the concept of 'resting up' but even he's not operating at 150% power like he normally does.

It has been exceptionally hot and humid here for the past month but this morning we woke up to 70 degree weather and sipped our coffee under a blanket beside the fire on the porch. Pure bliss in my book. Fall is my favorite and I'm so ready for it this  year.

I've been reading a lot of books and hubs and I have binged on The Americans on Amazon Prime. I really need it to end so I can quit thinking about it, but we're almost there. My Bible Study group is back in session and I've also started a book club in my neighborhood which has been fun. And because it can't be all cake all the time I'm still plugging away at my exercise class a couple of days a week too.

Also today's weather is not the norm so we're still boating and swimming and we're not even mad about it.

The air still says summer but the sunsets whisper fall.