up late

sharing banter with David Letterman. Finally it was just too hot in my room so I ended up sleeping on the floor in the family room. Always a nice breezy place.

Out walking this am, sorely aware ;-) that I need new walking shoes, but it will have to wait until after a few other big budget items. Thought about precious Hunter and how soft and gentle and everything is so "present" for him. "I'm hungry now" "I want to go outside" (signals with out stretching his hand, taking your hand and walking you to the door) "Mommy" "Daddy" (they are gone and he whimpers and points to the door--any time during the duration--out of nowhere hours into play--just "Mommy" "Daddy" and the point. How he loves to cuddle with a book, a iPhone lotsoffiretrucks.com movie, or just preparing for a nap. How he trusts. when I put him down I'll sit in the rocker and tell him "I'll wait right here while you fall asleep and will be back in a second when you call me later". I tell him "Gma will take care of you, honey" and mean it.

Then I realized I never fed him any veggies. Whoops. He needs veggies!!! I'll do a better job next time. Yep, reflecting on my time with Hunter was a good companion as I walked.

My hip is giving me problems. Shoes and not stretching I imagine. Considering going back to yoga instead of just donating to the Wellness Center and not going ;-) Zumba is Thursday night--now that sounds fun!

Accomplished something big this morning. Actually took the harp outside and down the back steps and stowed it in the lower level (cooler, don't have to run a/c so much). Yes, it was hard. Yes, I usually have Doug help me (a lot) but he kept coming at the wrong time (raining, I was dressed to go out to lunch and pushing/shoving a harp down outside with the mosquitoes was not my idea of how to present at lunch)--The harp got hung up on the top steps, but I pushed and shoved and rocked and WHOOSHHHHHHHHHHH it went down the steps. (I'm sure Marshall thought I was riding a roller coaster over here with all the noise I kicked up)

Heh, a squirrel was eating my tomatoes this morning. Gpa says they do that to get the water. hmm. I noted they only eat ripe ones, not the green ones. Creeps!

Off to A2 today. A few errands, need to pick up ingredients to take care of these very ripening bananas (banana cream pie anyone?) Will make a lot of batter, cook in the cool of the evening (supposed to be 85 and sweaty today) and freeze for quick breakfasts in the morning. . Well, Happy Kristine's Birthday. If you are my kids, drop your Gpa a card or call this week. He loves it and It's the right thing to do. ;-)

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itchy goomey

so I sprayed up and went out to water my plants. I watered them thoroughly on Thursday before I left for Jeanine's, watered them Sunday (yesterday) when I was here and today they were dying and thirsty, Come on guys, give me a break!!! So I spent the extra time taking buckets to the new plants, filling the earthboxes, carting to the individual plants. I now have had 15 cherry tomatoes (yum!!!) and numerous big guys in the pale shade of pink. Jan and Doug stopped by with fresh picked corn YUMMMMMMMMMMMMM. The neighbor farm on Scio Church has the best corn in the county--and Doug is in charge of picking the corn and stocking the outdoor fridge. You drive along, if the frig is out, stop and get a dozen ears ($4 last year) and drop your money in the cigar box. Nifty keen. It is picked fresh daily and stored in the frig.

My cousin David's daughter Angela (Buckeye 2) emailed and said she and 2 of her Buckeye friends are traveling to TC in mid August. Since one is coming from PA, they hope to connect in A2, leave a car somewhere, spend the night and move on. I offered my garage (for the car) and my house for the sleep over. Could be fun. Angela is a pharmacist. Probably will be a late night as all three "girls" are working and then beginning their jaunt. Oh, I should tell her 94 is supposed to be down to 1 lane then (starting this week) from Baker to Jackson County line. (Take note, Jeanine for your Fair Parade jaunt)

Well, I am spent. You'd think I walked a marathon and did 2 yoga classes instead of lounging about with a good book. yawn--none the less, I'm headed to tv land.

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So what did you do today?

I must admit I have had a very lazy day. The bunches of bananas are still sitting on the counter awaiting to become something masterful. I have laid on the floor, stretched out in my brown chair and read and read and read and read--finally finishing "Middlesex". Gosh, what a good book! Gosh what a lot of twists and turns! What a great escape. The chimes rang, the weather switched from sunny to almost rain to sunny to almost rain to windy to sunny.....and I stayed in the book. Felt like I was living the story, following each turn.

Time to move outside. Time to recycle, run to the post office, pick up some dinner somewhere.

ah............

Monday the 27th

Ah, I think it is Mary Ann McGinn's Birthday (or is that tomorrow?) I need to send a card off for Kristine (Kristina Louise) as her birthday is the 29th.

Busy weekend. I spent some time with the precious Hunter. I am reminded how quickly time passes and how each moment is so sacred in a little one's life--the impunity of a puzzle dropping on your sandeled foot, a Mom and Dad coming and going and coming and going and missing them when they are out, celebrating when they are in, wanting something that is bug sprayed and not understanding why you can't have it (a precious dump truck--will need to be nuked in dish soap or plain replaced! would hate to see his little hands on the chemicals and find their way to his soft skin or open mouth) I love being with Hunter. I am reminded to SLOW DOWN.

Nursed a sinus headache Saturday night, so didn't make it to an invite for a party. Oh well. Was up Sunday to cheer and applaud the "Make a Wish" cyclers into the fair grounds. (300 miles in 3 days!) and then join the party there. (fun!) Doug came by later with 7 crates of bananas (gave me 4 big bunches!) I'll make banana bread and muffins today. Doug was on the clean up committee at the Fair Grounds and there was a lot of leftover food, shirts, etc. He was delivering around the neighborhood then headed to St Louis to drop off the majority there.

Sunday evening I was very tired, very lonely. I was/am done with being alone in the woods.

I decided to NOT go to my Craigslist class today but will see if I can't get back on track. Laura invited me to a party in FH for her son (fund raiser at relatives).

No contract yet for teachers. The district is dragging their toes on negotiating. They know they have the workers over a barrel in this economy. People are afraid to talk strike. District is talking "no money" when we know that is not true. First time in 4 years, we don't even have a calendar. (Though we do know we are "slated" to start with kids September 8th--no start up date for teachers yet)

My friend, Ken returned safely from his motorcycle trip through the UP. He is getting practice for his big out west, northwest tour in the fall. He discovered his back wasn't quite as happy sleeping on the ground as in past years.

My sis, Emily was in Yellowstone this past week. I couldn't help but remember when Jeanine was there, what a difference that summer made in her life.

Off to the kitchen--or at least to thumb through cook books

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hmm

I think I missed a few posts sorry:

This is what I've been doing.

Watering the new bushes daily, deck gardening, tracking the sandhill cranes in the back woods/pond area, listening to the F16s overhead (today anyway), replacing flowers the deer ate (3x) spreading Irish Spring soap around to keep the deer away, visiting my Dad, walking almost daily (well up until this weekend ;-) playing a wedding (hot and outside at the Tecumseh Country Club--but next to an occupied bluebird house), shooing a naughty 3 year old off my harp "Why????" she asked, cleaning up after an elder cat (argh), visiting Jeanine, Brad, Hunter, Cherry and Bill, talking on the phone with friends, attending Sights and Sounds in Chelsea on Thursday nights, catching up on lost episodes of NCIS, wrestling through a few book and garage sales for Hunter, reading various books including "Middlesex", "Personal Finance for Dummies" "Team of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin (what can I say, we are a family of readers), attending lectures at the A2 library (Yankee Air Museum talk was outstanding!), attending a few computer classes, and while on the streets of Royal Oak or at home- wearing my halo with streamers ;-), and reading the last Sunday edition of the A2 News.

Buckets of fun.

This week I hope to dig more into the clean up chores that are always waving at me (cold storage room, cabinets (sell or ???), and contact the realtor again (yes, Jean I didn't do that this week but will next). I found the Spring House street listed in the Sunday paper (no open house though)--I think it is doable at $259,000. I will go see it this week. (Also saw that BIG brand new houses in a subdivision in Chelsea are going for $150,000 --not good for me!) So........if I end up here, I end up here--just not giving up as yet.

Have a Palmer Ford appointment Tuesday--brakes somethin' (I think they (Palmer) need money) and oil change, go see Della Ram (friend) before she leaves with her family for her Iran trip (home), lunch with Cynthia on Wednesday (She elected to teach a summer school special needs music class M and T this summer).

Headed in to see Gpa in a few minutes. He was FULL of stories from Kristine's party yesterday.

Later gators.

Love you

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Yawn but smiling

So.....my friend, Laura called late yesterday afternoon and said she was given some tickets to Gladys Knight at Hill (Ann Arbor Summer Festival)--would I like to go! We had a great time. Main floor, row 3....cool when you actually can see the performer's eyes, smile, shoes, belt! Gladys was great. One pip showed up--her older brother--so that was a riot. We ended the evening at the former Escoffier now called Earle 2/drinks and dessert. Got home about 1am, Queen Oaks dogs were barking (argh) until 2am. Up early, no walk yet but cool like I like. Went to Farmer's Market--fresh flowers (love flowers in the house), raspberries, blue berries and the appearance of green beans! YEAH!!!! I love green beans!

Off to the beach today so will float and smile.

Happy 4th of July my lovelies

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itchy itchy scratchy scratchy

Been spending more time in the yard. ;-) After my morning walk I often will stay outside to water the 7 new plants (2 gallons a day) and spoil the others. The tomatoes are going great guns but I found a beetle and family taking up residence in one of the plants. I used my Dad's super organic spritz to encourage them to find other lodgings. I have little beans beginning to grow--this is fun!

All well and smiling. Spent time with Dad yesterday, taking him to the grocery store. He found some great buys on wild caught salmon. I think I may venture to A2 later to go to Krogers myself. (wow, I just said that--go to Krogers! I haven't been in an A2 Krogers for probably 3 years.) My other pleasure of course will be to read around the fireplace at the library.

Spotted this license plate on my walk and in honor of my Jean who got us all started on this, I decided to post.

Happy 3rd everyone!

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