Back to School/Routine?

 The past 2 weeks have been even more than I imagined, but before I give you a life update I need to share a book.

I have read a good many books this year and haven't shared, but this one is worth sharing. It is the best book I have read in a long time. I started out reading it slow and not because it wasn't good, but so good that I wanted to savor it. I had to give in and read the last third much quicker because it had a surprise ending. It is a beautiful story of age and loss and community and observing nature and people.

I loved everything!

The author grew up in Columbus, Georgia. It was not hard for me to see that he based the town of Golden on Columbus. I have lived there twice in my life and it holds special memories for me. I could see through his eyes the setting...the historic district, the college, the homes, the river and river walk. 

It is definitely worth your time. It is a bit of a newer release and I don't think it has gotten nearly the press it deserves. 

I have been in a stitching slump. I finished one of the fall things that I was stitching for a second time.

I now have this and Valerie's ornament to finish up into their final forms. 

I have started nothing new in 2 full weeks. I haven't had time to read or stitch for that matter, but I miss my needle. I just am in a slump over what to stitch next. I need some time to think and be inspired. It has been a long time -well almost 10 years that I haven't stitched almost daily. I have perused all my patterns and just feel nothing. I hope that changes soon!!!

I have been very busy as I said I would be in my last post and have learned a lesson as well as thinking through some things. Let me break that down for you.

I kept all 4 grandchildren 2 weeks ago. I had all 4 only 2.5 days but had some form of them the others. I learned a BIG lesson. I am too old for that. I really wanted to do it. I wanted to give the boys some special time together and a break before school started. I am here to tell you though I bit off more that I could chew well. Poor Jeff was recuperating and of little help. He is the enforcer and only has to say one time to quieten down where is I am the pushover. He did enforce, but it was still a lot. The energy and the noise and all of it let me know I will never do that again for a week. A teacher workday scattered here or there, yes, but never a week.

Next summer, I will spread out some special days with each one separately.

A caveat I didn't expect was little Valerie REFUSED the bottle from Mimi. It surprised and stressed me and her mommy. That made my first days with her very HARD and had her mommy worrying. I am pretty sure no bottle is ever going to be used. I am working on a sippy cup routine. It is getting better with each day. She will 7 months tomorrow. Who knew? I fed her milk with a spoon one day, but she is taking a cup much better now.

In all of that, Jeff got a painting company to come and do some things needed and then we added to that with things wanted and that amounted to a week of chaos. Just what we needed. I had gotten past the week with all the kids and then I have workers in the house for a week.

The bathroom that I hated the wall color got painted as something wanted.

It is the color that is one half the house and looks so much better and calmer. 

We got a refresh on all the painted trim and doors in the house which is mostly downstairs and in one room upstairs. They look amazing. The fishing room which I have shared before got a new paint job. It hadn't been touched in 41 years.

However, the garage which was the need is still going. It turned in to a BIG JOB and will hopefully be finished this week, but at least the workers are not inside the house anymore. The color on the fishing room and garage is Sherwin Williams Popular Gray. 

The workers got to hear Valerie cry if I put her down at all. The most I can get out of her is to occasionally sit her at my feet to play. SO once again, this past week was a lot! I have sat a lot with her which means I am physically ok, but the crying wore me out mentally and coupled with trying to get her to eat and drink from a cup. Of course, after she wins the battle with the cup or being picked up she gives me a big ole grin.

Meanwhile, her parents are having a rougher time with Miles. You may remember Miles didn't make it to daycare last August due to the crying and repeating over and over ---"Is DaDa going to pick me up?" or some version of that.

This year has been no better. He went 4 days and has cried most of it and all evening as well. Paul Allen ended up staying home with him Friday. It is the worst case of separation anxiety I have ever seen. No clue what they are going to do. I had Paul Allen get him over here Friday about noon and got Miles to nap here and sent Paul Allen down to sleep in his old room. 

I questioned whether I would even log this into the old blog, but it is the main focus at this point in time.

Lots of things are being tossed about as solutions and I am glad I am not the parent and only the grandma who is praying like crazy.

Tucker and Palmer went to their respective places just fine. Thank goodness.

1st day outfits.

Tucker is in 1st grade and Palmer is in VPK. You will hear me say Palmer is in VPK next year too. His birthday is late July and the plan is to start him to school a year late. That has put him in church with Miles. I think that is the only reason Paul Allen and Katie have been able to take him to church is that he is with Palmer for that.

Lots to figure out.

Lots to figure out.

I am doing remarkably well despite all of it and add Jeff's knee and Mom and all her issues. 

Which led me to a thing I finally worked out in my head. 

I have taught some age group since I was 25 at church. I know that serving is important. I have taught young ones for so long, but I have realized I just don't want to anymore. My joy is gone for it. I decided this week to put in my 2 week notice and call it quits. I should have done it in May, but I just kept feeling responsibility more than anything else. I don't have the patience needed to do it. When I finally made the decision and let them know so much peace came over me.

I still open my home to a small group Bible study each week and Jeff and I lead Starting Point at church for people who are seeking. I have shared about that too here. 

But, kids ---no more after tomorrow and one more. Like I said, I have peace. 

That is my 2 weeks in a nutshell. Hoping to get in to a better routine this week. Or course, I have no clue what will happen with Miles, but we will work it out.

Not exactly the most fun post, but such is life sometimes.

Gus said it all after each of these 2 weeks by going to his kennel when the noises of the day quieted.

Stay tuned for more fun things like a new chair and hopefully a freshly painted garage and ceiling repairs....

Sandy

Life Lately: Busy and HOT

Yet another 2 plus weeks have flown by too quick for me. This has turned out to be a VERY busy summer and all my thoughts of relaxing on the beach or even on my back deck have gotten away from me. Of course, it has been August heat for all of  July so you would have to be sitting with your toes in the water or inside with the most wonderful invention ever...central air. I honestly don't know how we lived without A/C. We did though! In school as well.  

Hank Heron hiding in the grasses.

Jeff is a week and a half past the knee replacement. Other than the initial first few hours, I would say he is doing exceptionally well. Apparently, the nerve block they give you these days did little, so waking up to the pain was a lot for him. I have been through many surgeries with Jeff including a hip replacement and a revision. The knee was exponentially worse.  I do think he is recovering well, and he seems to be on the good side of a recovery timeline.  I will take that win.

I took Mother for another round of nerve ablations in her back. I thought they might help. That is to be determined. As of now, she is complaining a bit more. I think the side they did them on feels better, but the other side hurts worse. I am hoping it is just due to the way she was lying and with a few more days she will feel better too. 

We have celebrated 2 birthdays over here since my last post. Pre knee replacement we did Palmer's party. Palmer didn't have the usual party with friends since they had just gone on a cruise with the other grandparents. Lindsay and Tyler  talked him into a day of him getting to choose things like where to eat and where to go for fun on his day. We had the family over here for hotdogs and hamburgers on the day before his birthday. He wanted hotdogs. I did a quick decorate for it with a Pluto/Mickey Mouse theme.

I made the usual cupcakes but this time I put the fudge icing that Mama always makes for a 7 layer cake on the cupcakes. Not as pretty but overwhelmingly everyone agreed tasted much better. 

Tucker and Palmer before everyone else arrived.

Palmer was very pleased with his presents. One present was such a hit that while I didn't get a picture of the fun that took place after this picture, you will see it down below. I ordered it again for Miles.

If you have a grandson aged 3-8, stay tuned for a perfect gift.

Also notice Battleship was out. Tucker had stayed with me that day. I can't even remember why now, but I taught him to play Battleship that day. 

Before we move on to Miles's birthday, I loved this picture. So many things are going on here.

First, is the storm cloud. They can pop up after heat laden days. The past 2 weeks we have had upper 90's with at least 2 at 100. That is not the bad part. It is the humidity which has had the real feel near 120 for far more days than I would like. 

I love summer. I make no bones about it. I love the long days full of fun and adventure, but also a slower pace. Although mine has not been slower paced this year. This summer has taken me to the max though with that kind of heat. Gus thinks he wants to go out to walk, but we go just a bit and his tongue is hanging out and I am drenched. I am not ready to call and end to summer, but will gladly take some low 90's for sure.

Back to the picture. We keep binoculars handy for nature sightings on the water whether that is the occasional alligator or just birds. Paul Allen grabbed the good ones out of reach of little ones and headed out to look for what he thought was an alligator. Of course, he didn't say that to the little ones. They don't generally hang out in our bayou because it is a little too salty for them, but they can and have been. Usually word travels when one is out there.

I keep 2 pairs of old binoculars for the kids to use handy to do the same. Little Palmer saw Paul Allen (who he adores grab and go), so he did the same. I thought this was just the cutest picture.

Post surgery, we celebrated Miles in the same manner as Palmer. He got his usual party for all of the family on both sides the next day, but with Jeff and Mama being down we didn't try to go and celebrate. 

Same cupcakes but with Star Wars. Yes, Paul Allen has introduced Miles to Star Wars. Paul Allen is an encyclopedia when it comes to SW and Miles is on board.

The food Miles chose--- chicken pot pie. He loves them especially the peas. I don't know if all the adults were on board, but it actually turned out pretty good. 

I only had a video of Miles with his cupcake, so I had to do a screen shot.

Now for the present that was a hit- Lindsay has to get credit for thinking of it. She had told me to order it for Palmer. That blue thing 

rolled up is a race track for hot wheels. It is a winner with parents in that it takes up a small amount of space, but a hit with the boys in that it really makes the cars go fast.

You can place it anywhere. It has suction cups to attach it to a window. Lindsay had it attached to their front door and the boys were rolling them down their long hallway. Here it is just on the coffee table and rolling into our kitchen. You can make hills with the box which they did. Something is slick about it because they will roll down and over a hill and keep going.

Every grandma out there knows nothing makes us happier than our families together having fun. 

Most of the month since my last post has been just taking care of people, trying to keep up with my chores, and staying cool. Not much to share. I am coming back soon though---said the ambitious person.

Jeff got a cute t-shirt from a friend yesterday, so I had to take a picture to send them.

I have probably bitten off more than I can chew, but I am keeping lots of kiddos next week. It is the week before school and I just felt like Tucker especially could use a break before school starts the following week. Katie is headed back for preplanning so I have Miles and Valerie too. 

It should be a hip hopping roaring place over here. We are calling it Camp Mimi. I have made stations downstairs in the big room. I have got all kinds of activities planned and Jeff will be able to help me with Valerie.  I think Wednesday is the only day I will have all 4 for the whole day. There are some other things going on during the week that will take one or some away, but yes, I know I am nuts.

Nuts like the nut grass in my flower bed is making me. My flower beds look bad for me, but dang it is hot out there. I almost passed out one day trying to work in them.

I have so many things on my to do list that I wanted to get done pre start of school. Just didn't happen. Jeff has a painter coming Monday to look at some things that need painting inside. Things I normally do, but you know what? I am no spring chicken and have lots going on, so I am going to let someone else do it. It has been hard to let some things go like yard maintenance. Wish you could find someone to pull weeds...those don't exist. No one does those things as well as you would like, but I am learning that I have to give up on some of my perfection and get help. Like I have said before, we are't world travelers. Our home and backyard are our playgrounds so I am going to let someone paint and scratch those things off my list.

I am trying to make a list of all the things I want to blog about...the new book I just read that was so good, stitching and just random things of life...like things come and go. I hope to be back blogging soon, but I have at least another week and probably one after that to recover. I have seen so many blogs closing. I feel like most are giving up and I have seriously thought about it, but I am hanging in there because I am not the best at social media. The blog is much more my thing.

Little Valerie is growing so fast. Mimi is looking forward to having her here everyday.

Until next time,

Sandy

July 15, 2025 AD

 Shortly after I wrote my last post which has been almost a month ago, I felt like I needed to take a brain break. Back when teaching, I called a brain break for the kids after we had done some heavy learning; when the brain might be tired from all the work the students had done. Sometimes the brain break involved physical activity which is what most 4th graders needed, but for this older lady brain I just needed some quiet from the noise that life can throw at us. I will give a life update after I share my stitching.

Stitching

I mentioned I was stitching something for a family friend's daughter who just graduated from high school. These friends have 2 of the sweetest girls who are just precious to us. I had no idea that either would want something stitched. The older put the bug in my ear that "Laura" would like it. Trying to do something quick I looked for a quick download PDF from Etsy. That pattern had way more little x's than I could have imagined. I did finish it.

The pattern was from Yvonne Sewing World found on Etsy. I did change the outer edges of the flower to a darker color since the called for DMC Ecru just wouldn't show up on my linen. It has been framed in a round matted frame and delivered with notices to both girls when they move out from home and acquire a place of their own that I will stitch them something really cool. After all my home is full.

I immediately switched back to stitching grandchild #4's Christmas ornament. That is now stitched.

I plan to finish it with the tartan plaid for the back when I get some time. 

I haven't had as much time for stitching as I wanted since finishing the verse, but is there ever enough for this wonderful hobby. I have started some fall stitches that I have previously stitched. I did them shortly after I retired and while I love them, I have hated the linen that I stitched them on. I don't know if you even call what I used linen. I was just getting back to stitching after a long break and didn't know how much things had changed and modernized. This stuff was super stiff and hard to work on for finishing. I just loved the stitches and have had it on my mind to redo them for ages. Why not now? There are 2 of them to redo. I started the first this past weekend. 

I also really want to do some Christmas smalls...maybe even as gifts for some really good friends who have held my hand through the trials of the past couple years. We will see how much I can pull off with my plans. One thing is sure -  I love stitching. I have been stitching in my little sewing room as of late. I have discovered that I can lay out all my stuff on the sewing counter. There are overhead lights right there and then the natural light and view of the water are added bonuses to the relaxing feeling of the needlework.

Gardening

Well, my green thumb seems to be taking a break too. Anything planted in the ground is loving life - my daylilies have flourished this summer. Everything is so lush and green. My dwarf bottle brush shrubs have come back from the January snow. They haven't bloomed yet, but from the looks of them I think they will be blooming in September just in time for all the butterflies and bees. 

That clematis that I went crazy over this spring are a big ole dud. I bought 3 of them. When will I learn to just buy one of something and try first? They look absolutely no different - well maybe worse. No blooming. I have tried everything...locations, fertilizer, etc. You name it---I have read and studied. Nope ---just a big letdown. They aren't dying, but not much to get excited about. Jeff thinks it is the humidity. 

It has been very hot and humid even for this summer loving girl. The heat index high for today is 114. 

Even my vincas which I have grown for years are not happy this year. I have lost my edge I think. I think it is just a reminder that I need to not try to do so much. Less is more in this case. A few things to nurture is better than a ton that look sad.

Speaking of heat...

Tourist season has been a doozy this year. So much that I have not been to the beach as often as last year. The last week of June I had to help out with getting Tucker to a golf camp out in Sandestin. He loves golf and is quite honestly good. They signed him up for this camp since he needs things to do in the summer while Mama works. The traffic with tourists AND the fact that we are getting a new bridge out on the island has led to a jam up and jelly tight situation out on the beach road. While it a wee bit of a drive it should not have taken an hour to go and an hour to get back. I got to listen to a lot of podcasts on the drive. So much traffic...just standstill ---at least the views were good. Oh and hot! Tucker was wiped out each day after it. I kept him that week at my house so that he could cool down and rest afterwards. 

And helping with the kiddos has been a lot of what I have done this summer. I am grateful that I can do that. It has kept me hopping for certain.

My leave from the blog was a combination of busy with the kids and just feeling like the world was so noisy. I can read myself when there is just too much going on ---those times tell me to step back and quiet everything but the important stuff which is my faith and family.

I just took this time to slow down everything and be quiet. 

I have made use of my back deck and dock in the late evenings. I am so blessed to live where I live. I really can't complain when I can walk out there and sit and just listen to the sounds of nature and the water moving with the tides. 

I have nothing much to share other than it has been a ton of family time with me just not having to think about what I might blog about. 

The kids are growing up so fast and I love that I get to spend time with them. 

I also had in the back of mind that yesterday was Jeff's 3 month visit back to the urologist. It has been 3 months since the surgery. It was time to check for a recurrence of tumors. I can shout that he was all clear. 

Now we move on to his knee replacement scheduled for the 23rd next week. One thing at a time. So grateful for yesterday's test result. 

We have 2 little ones with birthdays coming up soon and before I know it school will start. I am looking forward to having Valerie then. She is adorable. I am ready for her.

I don't have a ton of pictures to share because part of my brain break has been not thinking too much about stuff like that. 

I think I am ready to get back in my groove.

Sandy in the summertime!

Oh I did see a thing on Instagram to share a song that said high school to you. I chose Stay by Jackson Browne. I can visualize that song on the tape or radio while sitting on the bridge to get to Pensacola Beach between junior and senior year. 

Trip to Cape San Blas

Since my last post, our family made it back to Cape San Blas for a weekend. After one trip was canceled and trying to find a house for another weekend, Lindsay said why not just go sooner than we had planned. I feel like it was a fast decision, but we were lucky enough to find a house. We just planned and packed quickly. This time we stayed on the bay side rather than the Gulf side. 

One thing is for certain, the bay will win out for future trips. We always went to the bay when the kids were little, but when we went in 2020 we got a Gulf side house. Hands down all loved the bay side, so Sandy will just have to walk over to put her toes in the Gulf side. Now, the bay is actually just trapped Gulf water so really I am getting my salty experience on either side. If I am honest, I liked the bay side too. The one who didn't or maybe he did was Gus. Gus was a bad dog though. He couldn't relax because he could see everything from the window so no one was leaving out that back door without him. He didn't understand the salty taste of the water. He threw up all the salt water that he ingested despite my best efforts. Next time, he will stay home with a sitter.

Other than that we had a marvelous time together soaking up the quiet life the Cape holds.

Here are a few photos of the trip.

Sunrise and you can see low tide. The tides are very prominent in the bay and bring with them loads of sea life. We didn't keep any of it...just enjoyed seeing it. All of the sanddollars and starfish are alive.

Tucker did reel in a small shark. He was quite proud and asked if anyone his age had ever caught a shark before? HA!

View from the porch. The water you see is wonderful for swimming. Shallow and clear. Pure Gulf water. Lots of patches of grass for finding starfish and sand dollars and other things too.

Jeff and Paul Allen's birthdays were last week but we waited until we got to the Cape to celebrate. I felt like I rushed their birthday a bit, but I think they would have chosen the trip over the regular day we usually have.

The boys put each one of those candles in the cake. I also felt he cake was rushed. It is the fudge frosting that I know is popular in the south. Not sure about other parts. It is time consuming and I didn't even clean up the cake pan. I was making it the night before we left.

I failed to get a better picture of the birthday boys. When you have 3 little boys around, the mind doesn't work as well as it once did. They did however get the candles blown out and the cake was delicious! All that icing was cleaned up off the pan before we left for home. Paul Allen is 33 and Jeff is 64. I have 9 months on him.

I am back worn out and spent most of yesterday moving slowly. Grateful that we got to go and now there will be a knee replacement for Jeff in July and of course the usual with Mom. I am still planning a day a week for tutoring Tucker. I am also doing something each week with the kids. It is a busy season, but I am grateful to be able to share time with them. 

In my next post I will share more about what I have been stitching on and a book I read. I have 2 new books sitting in my stack ---deciding which I will start today. Both look like they will be great.

The stitch is a gift for a family friend that graduated from high school this year. I had no idea she would like a stitch, but I got word she would.  I am just trying to finish it by the end of June. More details later on it.

 

Tired, but oh so grateful for time with family making good memories. 

Sandy

Summertime Is Here

 After the surgery mess, I did take a full day to myself on Friday. Jeff and I did go and take a short walk on the beach early Friday, and I took Gus on a shorter walk than usual. He wasn't all that happy about that, but I plopped myself down in my clean house and read and stitched most of the day. I pretty much rotated between my 2 books and my stitching all day long. It was a very nice day if I must say so myself.

This did not seem to be Hank Heron (named after Hank Aaron). He didn't fly off and he let Gus and I walk around on the deck. Hank would not do this. Do we have a new guy or girl on the bayou? If so, he may be Lenny or Linda Longlegs.

This surgery tried to ruin our mini vacation to Cape San Blas, but I have recovered that. Woohoo! As for the surgery, the next date the doctor can do it is August 1st, but that is if United Health Care approves it. I am actually not holding out hope for that and honestly that is not a good date. I am praying and thinking to myself right after Christmas sounds about right. We shall just have to see what happens. I am not in charge of this...All in the Lord's hands. I will say I am thinking the insurance company is going to slow roll it until I am officially on Medicare. I did sign up the first week of June. Don't have my card yet, but I am sure it is in the system. I am going to go with Florida Blue which is Blue Cross in other places for my supplemental insurance. My mom has it and it has been a good fit for her. Enough of that. The waiting game is on.

Vacation had been canceled but a mini one has been rescheduled. I am all in for that.

These lush ferns look like they are suspended in air, but they are on the old wagon wheel and obviously loving life.

Gus turned 8 yesterday. Seriously, it seems like just yesterday we drove to west central Georgia to pick him out. 

He is a loyal boy. 

He goes everywhere I go. 

He loves to swim, take the same old paths for walks daily and is a good pal to the grandkids. 

Tucker has had his first tutoring day here and it went well. I think he was quite proud of himself. On one of his breaks he entertained himself by throwing a rope in to the water like he was casting a net. I'd say he did this about a 100 times. His form was pretty good. You may notice Gus is wet because he seemed to think he needed to go get the rope about that many times too.

Summer is here and it is time to be on the water and enjoying the fact that we live where people go to vacation. Valerie is learning young as each of the boys have.

The kids have all been getting out on Saturdays to either fish or swim. I have made it a point to sit on my deck in the mornings or evenings. 

Jeff's therapy went so well. I am so pleased about that. He is really trying to keep up with the things he taught him. I think he is early enough in his walk with this ugly disease to see the value of the therapy. I am grateful for that. One day at a time.

If I have learned anything about the trials that have come along lately, it is to value each day. 

I will be checking in with everyone today and I will share what I have been stitching on soon. 

Until next week,

Sandy

Cancellation News

Well folks, my surgery was canceled less than 24 hours prior to go time.

I don't know who is responsible, but I have had all the phone calls I want to deal with today. I will share more later, but for my surgery day I am going to give myself a hey day. My hey day is going to be watching a movie on my recovery list, reading one of my books in my stack and stitching on my latest stitch.

Bottom line is - it is the doctor's office saying my insurance, United Health Care had not approved the surgery. The UHC person says the doctor didn't get the information to them in time to review and approve. Both are accusing the other. 

Jeff doesn't handle things like he might once have, so he was so unhappy that I had to just be so quiet and stable. He was saying no insurance that you pay that much for should have the approval process at all. He also thinks they saw I am about to turn 65 and decided to hold out on it. Who knows?!!! Lindsay was pulling out all her contacts since she is still at the district office for the schools which is where our insurance still comes from.

This I do know, God is in control and I am a believer in things happen for a reason.

Remember, when I was supposed to go to Haiti and the trip was canceled at 8:00 PM.  Katie and I were supposed to fly out at 5:00 AM the next morning. At the very time we would have landed in Port-au-Prince, riots were breaking out and Haiti hasn't been the same since. A week after that a church group was taken hostage. 

So, I will just go with the flow.

Be back later after I have come down from the high energy levels I have been at all week trying to get my house perfect and so much more.

Just wanted to give my prayer warriors a heads up. Thanks, guys.

May Days

 May Days went quickly for me. I really like May...it is such a pleasant month post teaching. Some of the loveliest weather is in this merry month of May. I think the young people call it "Maycember" because of its busyiness with school ending and all the activities. I remember those days and don't exactly miss that. However, the last 2 weeks of May have been very busy for me. I had many appointments and then we went to Auburn where I generally rest and catch my breath, but this time even that was busy. So, I have been AWOL and now heading in to June trying to catch my breath. 

My daylilies are so pretty at the moment. These will take me in to June and I have a few varieties that go on into July. It keeps a happy pop of color near the front of the house for a little longer.

A couple of weeks before Memorial Day I popped into a store and bought some flags. All of mine were really needing a replace. Since I have no where to hang a flag on the front of our house, I bought several to line my only pots out front. I took this picture soon after I purchased them. The flowers are so much bigger now, but I am too lazy to walk out and take a new picture.

I got 3 taller ones and 2 shorter ones to lean out a little bit. I was quite pleased with myself. The month had been so busy with things that Memorial Day slipped up on me as well and I got my little patriotic stitches out on Wednesday before Memorial Day. We left on the Thursday that week to go to Auburn. It was quiet but we had friends there so it was go go go.

As I was standing in line to purchase those flags, it hit me that next year the country will be celebrating 250 years since that Declaration was written. I started reminiscing about 1976 and the Bicentennial. That was so much fun. I am now looking forward to getting my patriotic game on for next year...well, this year too.

Tucker got on the bus for the last time as a kindergartener. Seriously, how can that be?!!! He has had a growth spurt as of late too. He is looking like such a big boy.

Palmer will be attending VPK in August at the same little church school that Tucker attended. I was so happy Lindsay decided to move him to that school. The church daycare that both he and Tucker have gone to is starting VPK this August and has been a great daycare, but the one Tucker went to for VPK was just amazing and I just know in my gut it is the right choice. I had been praying about it. She is going to let him attend VPK twice since he is so small and has a late summer birthday. 

Kristan, our niece and family are in town and we had our annual pizza dinner this past week. I remembered to grab a couple of photos. The twins Katelyn and Tanner will be 16 in August. For those of you have followed along with me for the years know that is hard to believe as well. Katelyn is sitting by the TV and Tanner is on the couch on the phone in the next photo.

Practically grown. Katelyn plays soccer and loves Florida. She says she wants to come here for college and Tanner is a baseball boy and is all Texan.

Valerie was sleeping in this picture but came out later and enjoyed watching all the boys' antics.

Jeff has grown quite a few tomatoes in buckets this year. Another blessing of the pine trees being removed. Enough sunlight to get these little goodies.

We went out to Lindsay's for Memorial Day afternoon to eat. I snapped this cute photo of Palmer with Valerie.

And this one of the Three Musketeers.

As I was placing the dolphin stitch on the shelf next to the whale, I realized how cute it would have been if I had turned him on the diagonal for his pillow, but he looks cute in the dish anyway. Live and learn.

A cute story about the candy below which illustrates what Paul Allen will be dealing with when Miles becomes a teen. Might there be a little payback for the son who argued his case on a daily basis with me and gave me all my gray hair???

The candy is now known as "Ovals" at our house. I have been a fan of this candy for quite some time. I really like the dark chocolate coconut candy bars (much like Mounds or Almond Joy). I like them too much in fact. This brand has quality ingredients that I don't react to and while they are expensive, I do let myself indulge occasionally. I kept my stash in a drawer and really no one ever ate any but me, BUT then Jeff discovered them and likes them way too much too. He likes the above chocolate covered peanuts and the ones like Reese's peanut butter cups. So when he started coming home with bags of it, it wasn't long before Miles discovered all of in the pantry and took a great liking to the ones above.

One day he came over asking for the "ovals." Finally he explained it enough that we figured out he was talking about the candy. He knows his shapes and these are indeed oval shaped. The name has taken over the Palmer house.

Here is the case making chip off the old block part. One day Paul Allen and Katie were over and Miles asked for the ovals. Jeff proceeded to make the case for his large amounts of candy to them. He made them sound too healthy - so much so that Miles began to say when asking for more that Pa Pa said they were healthy.

I just had to smile, because he really is quite good at making his case even at his age. He is going to give his daddy a little bit of what his daddy gave me all the time. A constant case for what he deemed important to do that I didn't always agree with. I just can't wait until he says his dad's name 50 times in a row. Oh the teenage years.

I have my pre op appointment on Monday for my surgery on Friday. I am going to go look for a knee scooter after that because there is no way I can walk on crutches for a month at my age. 

Not looking forward to it, but also ready to get it behind me. I have a busy week trying to get my house clean enough for me to last 4 weeks not being able to do it like I want to. Gonna try to throw a beach day in there too. 

I will probably be off the blog again for 2 weeks.

Happy summer everyone. It is the best time of year!

Sandy

Stitching and More

I have stitching to share, thoughts on this time of year and my plants, and a little life thrown in the mix.

Stitching

First up. I finished the dolphin. I was obsessed with stitching it. I know. I know. How can one love stitching something you change colors every 30 seconds? It is weird, I get it. I was that way too with the whale I stitched. Watching it come together is strangely fun. Lest you think it is just a blob of different colors; there are swirls and lines and circles all through it to make it come to life with patterns.

I finished it yesterday and cut it out and ironed the cloth to go behind it and found myself in the sewing room fairly early this morning stitching the pillow. 

As I started putting the trim around it, I realized there is a lot of blue underneath the dolphin compared to the whale by the same pattern. They are different for certain. I think I will leave it like that. My initial thoughts were maybe it needed a nautical charm of which I have a bag of, but I think I like it just plain. I will live with it awhile and see.

The pattern was by Awesome Pattern Studio and was stitched on 36 count peacock linen.

I shared that I had hung my sandpipers, but needed to sit on the location a week. I have landed on that I quite like it in my guest bathroom. At first, I wondered if was lonely on the wall and did I need to move the turtles on the opposite wall ---do a swap a roo.

I have decided after walking by it many times during the week that I am pleased with it. I can even add to it. It doesn't look as small in person as it does in the photograph.

I ended up liking the frame more too. The bathroom has cabinets similar in stain.

I don't think I ever shared the final home for Valerie's name.

Future Stitching

I think I have a plan for Valerie's Christmas ornament put together. That will be my next start. Oh, and I have some of that peacock blue linen I used on the dolphin and whale left, probably enough to stitch 2 ornaments. I am thinking some retro Christmas ornaments in the pinks would look good on them and I have a flamingo pattern that I picked up last year with some cute beading that might look good on that color. My creativity is being fed by the possibilities.

My Flowers

My daylilies are really starting to pop now. I love how I have something in bloom almost all the year in the yard. That took a lot of years to put together, but I am reaping the rewards now. Summer only really has my potted plants blooming, but my goodness in summer everything is green and lush.

Alabama Jubilee

Fly season is upon us in Florida...not that they ever really go away, but something about May brings them in with a new gusto. You can't leave anything food related stuff out even for a second. I have to hit up my sinks with Clorox for the drains. It is probably one of my least favorite things.

Don't even think about cracking the door. Enter and exit quickly. HA!

I got rid of most of my houseplants last year about this time. It was a big step, but one that has proven to be just what I needed. When do you have too many plants? When they become too much to care for. 

I downsized potted plants outside as well and have found it all to be much more enjoyable and enough for this gardener but not so much that it is a burden.

Life this Week

It was a slower week than most in things outside the home which meant I got a good bit done, but eventful nonetheless with incoming phone calls.

My toe surgery is scheduled for June 6. Yes, I dread it!!! More so, because I don't think I am going to like not being able to put weight on that foot for 4 weeks. That is going to be very tough on me. I am going to share a photo at the end and will give you a warning that it might be just too much to look at. I am doing so because in all my research I have seen every kind of toe deformity imaginable, but not very many like mine. I have had it for at least 10 years and it has gotten worse with time. It is very difficult to tape at this point. I tried to strap it and tape it and it hurts like the dickens after about an hour, so I guess it is time to try and repair the tendons. I actually went to a doctor about 8 years ago and he said it would come back, but this podiatrist swears if it is done right it will remain in place.

I think it is combination of rheumatoid arthritis and injuries from jogging. I always struggle to call myself a one time runner because I am not winning any contests for sure. Once upon a time I did jog and really liked it. I did all the 5K races around the area. Never got less than 30.5 minutes ( I could never break 30 minutes) so as you can see I am not a real runner, but for the non athlete here I was proud of those times.

All is about the same here, but Jeff did schedule an appointment with a knee doctor. The one he used to see has retired. We shall see how that goes. All the things of aging I suppose.

That is it for me. Until next time.

I will scroll down and add the toe picture so if you don't want to see it...goodbye.

Sandy

The surgery will be on the left toe, but as you can see this is going to eventually have to be done on the right. Pooh!!!