Had a great busy weekend

Picked up my Dad on Saturday and he came out to spend some time here. He enjoyed watching the Tigers baseball game in the big brown chair. It was breezy and clear skies so made for a nice sitting time. Dad enjoyed the chimes (a lot) and watching the birds. Dad said--you need to keep your feeder filled. (Unfortunately then the squirrels come and pig out) Dad's back was bothering him ( a lot) from doing the hedge at home so he had quite a bit of trouble moving around. On Sunday we went to Brunch with Jan and Marshall. We went over to the Hospital brunch--it was very very good!!! I am glad they suggested it.

The landscapers came today. I said goodbye to a lot of old friend plants. The one "kid" who was working was fun. He whistled and grunted and talked to the earth as he worked. He told me he was headed to college in Pennsylvania next fall. He kept hitting things when he was shoveling and would say "I found Jimmy Hoffa!!!" We found a bunch of big stones so we piled them up to put somewhere another day.

I walked this morning with my friend, Jan Stevens. She enjoys a morning walk. Jan Carr will join me some evenings, but keeps very very busy with classes and committees--so our walks have been more hit and miss.

Cynthia has headed to Phoenix to spread her mother's ashes. My heart is with her for sure.

Off to play in the yard. With 60 degree weather it is MOST inviting!

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How did I miss that ?

The Jans and I have been walking off and on. If Jan Carr is busy, Jan Stevens often will join me. They are available at different times so it works out well when I want company.

So tonight when Jan Carr and I were walking she started talking about being at a conference in NYC for Pfizer on 9/11 Boy, that's something I had blocked out, forgotten.

It was a medical conference and she said they were on the Avenue of the Avenues. They were not told of the happenings 4 miles up town until their coffee break at 10:10--when they not only announced what happened but asked for doctor volunteers to go assist as needed. ALL of the doctors at the conference (Jan said 60) volunteered to go. They were people from all over the world. Interesting. Jan said she went out in the street to see and that there was no traffic on Avenue of the Avenues--that she stood right in the middle and looked to the financial district and could see smoke but little else. She said she realized later that the towers had already fallen at that point.

They of course couldn't fly out of NYC so ended up renting a car the next day and driving back to Michigan (8 people in the car). She said they had to walk across the bridge to get to the car rental spots. Pfizer had set up the arrangement for them.

Headed to A2 this morning--as on most summer days, I have a list as I've held off running there until my official going in days. now----where is that list? I should stop past the Apple store as my beloved iPhone is acting up. It quit taking clear pictures, is very reluctant to allow me to touch to make a message for texting and now delivers my mail twice (interesting). Since it looks like my Dad will be coming out to join me soon (who knows, playing by ear) I noticed I need a number of things like-- lightweight bedding, pillow, lightbulb, replacement shade for living room, so it will be a busy spending day.

ah summer!

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on the deck this morning

I was checking the plants and came across this little critter just sitting on the railing.

He has been sitting there now for about 20 minutes. He let me get real close to take his picture so I am thinking he is newer at this woods life. We do have a lot of hawks about so I hope his Mom returns soon and shoos him back to the nest!

My iPhone pics have been blurry in the last week--so I know it's hard to see. Sorry

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Purple Rose

So I didn't like the play. There were moments that it was funny, very funny--but a play about a mortician whose husband has died and she won't leave the house--just didn't do it for me. The relationship with her mother and daughter (both excellent actress') was face paced and comical--but throw in a few dead bodies, including a dead Golden Retriever and it tore back and forth between comedy and tragedy. Three women, two men in the cast. Interesting as I think with TV you get used to lots of people in the cast, or opera there is a chorus--but limiting your cast--that's a heavy responsibility.

It was well done. I'll think on it today....but I don't think I'd spend another $25 to go back and see it again.

Dinner was at la Fuentes the local Mexican restaurant--Mexican without the spices ;-) Made for some interesting dreams ;-)

Off to my Dad's today. Will see what he wants in the way of company this week. Denise leaves today. Bon Voyage!

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Saturday in the Park

headed out to walk this morning before the weather shifts.

Up early and was out on the deck making repairs as needed to fallen tomato plants. The rain and wind did a number on their statuesque effect.

Went to the Farmer's Market hoping to get some more peonies but none to be found--probably the rain. A lady had nice bouquets of many flowers but at $10 a bunch I wasn't that interested. I do still have Wednesday's peonies. Bought sugar peas, yellow squash (from Tantra Organic Farm) and eggs from Chelsea Market. Picked up a loaf of bread for Gpa (his favorite Zingerman's Farm Bread) so set for my visit tomorrow. He is with Denise today at Ben's daughter's Grosse Pointe home on the river. She is having a Father's Day dinner, with her Dad and Denise leaving for Europe for the Medical Cruise (he will have educational classes off and on on the cruise--a way of getting recertified/up to date like teacher and CEU credits).

I was picking up Doris Kearns Goodwin's Angels and Ages book from the A2 library and since it was such a nice day, I decided to sit and read a few magazines. I was reading the June Observer and was surprised to read that they put out a plea to their readers to send money--that they were in trouble. I haven't read an Observer since October so I did note a big difference in this issue--thinner, and 1/2 the advertisers of the past issues. The business card page used to be 2 pages, but now it was 1/2 page with the other 1/2 the Observer advertising for business. hmm

From the library, I ventured to Target to find Gpa a shower curtain then on to Briarwood. I was totally shocked by the lack of people shopping (found excellent parking) and the downsizing, the missing stores, and the large vacant spaces. Eddie Bauer no longer carried any bedding (why I went) but only boys clothes. Macy's was having a White Sale. Very few people were there plus they had their air conditioning set to something close to 78. Everyone was sweating and complaining! I counted 20 people in line at the Apple Store (when I expected to see hundreds really). Many store fronts were vacant--really gave me an icky feeling! Wow, talk about a loss in the economy!

Headed to Purple Rose for the matinee today. New show called "Wake". We're going out to dinner afterwards. Had dinner at Jan and Marshall's last night--smoked turkey (from their smoker--excellent!!!) baked yams, cranberry sauce, white corn, and green beans. Beautiful table. I took the wine--one of our mutual favorites. With the storm fast approaching I left and came home near 10pm to find a message on my machine from a desperate bride looking for a musician for her wedding this afternoon. By the time I called her, she had found someone. This isn't the first time a desperate bride has called due to her musician "canceling" at the last minute.

Received a wonderfully chatty phone call from Hunter this morning. Big Truck, motorcycle, Gma, I wuve you are all beautiful words coming from him. What a precious soul!

Off and running. Hoping to get in a walk before I jet back for the show.

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Doug Fraleigh

came out to give me a quote on getting rid of the dead bushes at the side of the walkway --replacing with something simpler he said. Doug said Kayla kept the bushes engaged for all those years (well, Frisco and Justice, too) but once the dogs were gone from the house the deer knew and that's why they have been eating the bushes. Doug will get someone to shape the Japanese caria also--it has spread willy nilly to wherever it wanted. Ugly and invasive on the azalea and other plants. This is a beautiful piece of land......someone will realize it's serene value!

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ps PU

I think one of those critters that Marshall caught was a skunk.

The striped pseudo cat scent is permeating the woods.

arghhhhh