Grateful for Summer Days

 Another week has flown by. I had a very nice Fourth of July in Auburn. It was quiet, but restful and fun all at the same time. I stitched and read and watched more TV than normal for me.

Gus says the hot is making him sleepy.

This summer has been so good for me. It is hot, but I am enjoying the lazier schedule. I still have to fit in some things, but the days are longer and I am letting my hair down to speak.

Katie, daughter-in-law is keeping Daughter, Lindsay's kids for July. Jeff and I have done some things to shorten the days in the morning for her. We have gone to the park, to the library, to the Armament Museum to name a few. We help haul the kiddos since they need car seats to places around town. Jeff and I get to come home and rest while Katie takes them back to her house and keeps them for the remainder of the day.

A few highlights...

Katie let them make chocolate for dipping strawberries.

Snack time 

and 

coming out of the library.

All four standing in front of a C130 like Uncle Al flew.

And all four sitting on a bomb.

Miles and Palmer have learned to ride their bikes without training wheels. Big things! Tucker has baseball camp next week, so Katie gets a bit of a break, but I think they are having fun.

Katie has kept them busy but has also made them play without everything being scheduled which is hard for children today. They do NOT know how to entertain themselves at all.

We had a discussion while at our beach vacation about how teens today don't get out and do things. Our bayou in the summer when my children were teens was full of teenagers wakeboarding or swimming. They all went to the beach to play volleyball. They were busy and active. Mine even had summer jobs.

I Never see teens out and about anymore. I am not sure what happened. I have some thoughts, but it makes me sad that don't get out and interact anymore. I have digressed....

One of the days the 3 boys were being all boys and Katie sent a video of Valerie at the table eating (looks like ice cream) and the 3 boys were making quite a bit of noise and were involved in play. She was just staring them down but not breaking with her eating. Jeff freeze framed this shot of her. She is looking at them and back at her mom with a look to say, "They are nuts. Are you seeing this?"

I have been reading a newer release of books called The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower. There are 8 published but more on the way. They are set in the 1880's (again another book in that period that I am loving). I am on Volume 3. Thus far, I have been able to check them out from the library. Highly recommend them!!!

I make visits every 2 weeks to check out books for Tucker and Palmer. Lindsay has zero time to check out books to read to the boys. Katie does this every 2 weeks which led me to do it for Lindsay. It has been a win win. I am helping Lindsay and the boys are getting good books read to them each night. Our county has the entire library system connected, so you can check out at one location and check back in at another. It makes it very convenient. I also go to another location to check out large print books for Mama. The Mary Esther location seems to have great clean books with a simple story that a 91 year old can follow. Bless the buyer at that library.

Jeff and I are headed to Pensacola tomorrow night to see an author but newsy personality. I have read all of his books which are about history. I am very excited to go to this. Going to Pensacola is a doable trip for us. I do hold ALL plans we make loosely with Mom being 91 though.

Something I didn't think would happen again is the Blue Angels. Normally, the Blue Angels do their home show in Pensacola on the second Saturday of July, but it is not until next weekend. I am guessing all the America 250 stuff knocked it back a week. Lindsay and family are going in their boat and Paul Allen is going to drive our boat. Valerie is finally old enough to make the trip so we will all be going to see the Blue Angels. As always there are friends going so we will all tie up over there in the water to watch the show. I have written about visits there before. It is a big deal in our part of the world. They say it will be bigger and better than usual to celebrate 80 years of the Blue Angels and America 250. Can't wait. Praying it will all work out to go.

I promise this is my last picture of the treasure boxes. 

The final boxes have inside them:

a 1976 half dollar

a 2026 half dollar 

both in a holder to make them even look fancier..

an Apollo 11 patch

an Artemis 1 patch

an Artemis 2 patch

an Artemis 2 lapel pin from a friend who works at NASA.

A little bit of old and new from the 2 things Mimi and Paw Paw collect. Me patches (you wouldn't believe how many I have) and Paw Paw coins.

Palmer, grandson #2 and the one on the far left of the picture seemed to like the gift the most. Now, I must say they all seemed to get our idea and liked them, but Palmer is just more crafty and really understood the idea of a box to put treasures in.

While I was in Auburn I got back to stitching on the Pledge of Allegiance stitch. It is a big one and the pattern is divided into 6 pages. I am close to having 2 pages done, so when 

I get there I will share it again. No need to do it every week. I will be working on it for a while.

I did stop this week and pull the bunny back out to finish. I think its yellow sweater will make it cute to have out for fall. I am in no way ready for fall, but I do think ahead.

I have the backing fabric picked out. I did it on 28 count so it is much bigger than the pattern called for. I think I would like the smaller count too. I do however think since they are full coverage I would do them on Aida if I choose to do more of them.

Well that is another week in the books. I feel like the post was all over the place, but I feel that way about me too. I feel my age so much more these days. Thankful for Katie helping out this summer.

Blessed,

Sandy

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

Making the Most of Time

I did not intend to be away from the blog so long, but my stage of life dictates my comings and goings. I shall not linger on all that, but try to pump out some good stuff here.

Stitching Time

My stitching time has just been so limited lately for a few reasons. 

~Sometimes you can just run into problems that take away motivation.

~I am trying out lots of new light situations and even sitting arrangements for evening stitching which was brought on by my lamp breaking and quite honestly my sight... I will talk more about that later.

~And the fact that the amount of light this time of year puts me in a funk physically and a wee bit mentally. I am a light person. When it starts getting dark earlier, I feel like a bear who just needs to hibernate. I will find myself drifting over to the couch to just lay down for a minute to rest and then I am just completely out. I am trying to fight it hard so as to not sleep away to many precious hours that could be spent reading or stitching.

OK, so where am I in my stitching world. I have stitched all of my 12 ornaments for the stitch along...I have not fully finished them, but they are stitched.  I hope to fully finish the last one next week. Lindsay is using most of them as gifting in her work place. I think I will need to do that reindeer with the cardinal again for myself.

For November, I did a quickie.

For December's, I stitched a coastal themed one that I have stitched before. I will share next time. I have enjoyed stitching these. I don't think I will commit to 12 again next year as it is time to stitch Miles's Advent calendar that I stitched Tucker and Palmer a couple of years back. 

For other stitching, I have run into some troubles which I partially blame on eyesight and just my mind these days. I have to restart my Florida sampler. I am waiting on my new linen to arrive. Since I am restarting (thankfully,  I wasn't far along) I am using a lighter 36 count linen. I think my color selections of floss will work better and the size will be much better for framing. I have to say I like the pattern, but I am changing almost every color of floss. When I pull the chosen floss out to stitch it just doesn't mesh with my view of the real item. Maybe that is the flaw in choosing a sampler based on your actual geographical location in life.  Also, the pattern symbols are just stinking hard to see. Could be my failing eyes. Who knows? 

Speaking of eyes, I had said I was waiting until January to do the second eye. I have changed my mind due to more than one reason which I won't bore you with. I have no idea how it is all going to work out, but I feel a strong need to get it behind me. I have my second eye surgery on Tuesday of next week, so that will further interrupt my stitching time. Something to look forward to in 2024. As for the eye surgery, I don't think this cataract surgery thingie is life changing. Yes, I can see better but not as much as I would like. Manmade lenses don't work like God given original lenses. However, my eyes are failing me, so I am just going forward with the decision and hoping it will all work out.  40 count stitching may be over for me. I am feeling that way now anyway, so the surgery is not going to be the reason. 

Reading Time

I have read some lately. I don't always share my books, but I think I will this time. I read, no listened to Under the Bayou Moon, by Valerie Fraser Luesse. It was an enjoyable listen. The one thing that stood out to me was the author's description of the Louisiana bayous. It was obvious she had great love for the area. I relate to that as I love my bay and bayou...

Speaking of my bayou and bay, we went out for a boat ride Sunday afternoon.  It was a glorious day. We saw 3 bald eagles circling some hopping fish. I don't think I have ever seen the likes of that. One was clearly a bald eagle and the other 2 were younger without the white head. IT was quite a sight. Earlier in the week I saw 2 ospreys putting on a show for me right out back. One kept landing in the pine tree outside the kitchen window and making some wild noises. I think they were mating. Lovely views which I am unable to photograph because I am challenged in photography.

My second book was the new book by Erin Napier called Heirloom Rooms. I had forgotten I preordered it. I am a complete sucker for a decorating book. I liked it but I would not run out and buy it if you are a decorating book nerd like me. The material to read is the best part of the book here. She takes you on a real life journey about REAL homes, not staged looks. I did enjoy the pictures of the real homes. Fun to see them as they really are with drink glasses and used blankets strewn instead of all signs of life put away from sight. I enjoyed it but I probably could have read a library copy and been good with that. It was good and made me think.

My third book as of late was John Grisham's book, The Exchange. It was billed as the sequel to The Firm which is on my list of favorite reads. I read it before children during post planning of the school year. Someone left in the teacher's lounge in the take if you like reads. I took it home and started and spent late nights of post planning finishing it because I couldn't lay it down. The new book picks up with Abby and Mitch in 2006. I was sad I purchased it, not sad I read it, but quite frankly I don't think you can write a sequel to The Firm. The Exchange is an ok read by Grisham. I haven't read many of his lately and it was just ok for me. I had no trouble reading it or wanting to finish it, but it is not great. Check it out at the library and save the money.

Grands Time

I know everyone is past Halloween, but here are my little boys all enjoying their time in their neighborhoods.

Tucker and Palmer ready to go.

Palmer actually wore the Marshall outfit to another even, but decided on the astronaut outfit for the evening. I think it might have had to do with his teachers at daycare commenting on how cute he was in earlier in the day.

Are they not just adorable driving down the sidewalk/

Miles was a banana...and he was eating on a banana. There is a church 2 blocks down from them so they just went to the trunk or treating there to make it a wee bit easier. His favorite thing was glow sticks.

It seems I always share sunrises. Jeff and I went over to a little park on the other side of the bay to see the sunset one evening. It wasn't all that spectacular, but beautiful nonetheless.

I have to say I have listened to the most wonderful message series at my church that was so timely for us. Three parts that caused me to listen multiple times to each one. He is meeting us in our difficulties. 

Hebrews 4:16 

Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

The last line of the closing prayer on the last part of the series really caught Jeff's attention.

"Help us remember we are not the owners of our lives, but the stewards of our time."

I am looking forward to the coming holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. I truly love Thanksgiving and going into December having focused on my blessings with Thanksgiving first. The weather has been just about perfect for about a month here and I have soaked it up. I have sat on my deck and strolled around the neighborhood. I have not been all that productive with chores outside, but I am just loving the time outside. Nature really does soothe my soul. Now, this time change and lack of light make me have to be out there even more during the day.

I have taken a break from Instagram with my daughter. We decided to fast from it for a month. I have a few more days to go. I know when I go back I am going to be unfollowing a few. During this time I knew exactly which things I have missed and things I haven't. Stitchy friends, decorators of homey homes, and joy filled focus on Jesus...

The world is a mess, but I try to focus on what I can do each day. I pray for our nation and for our children and grandchildren. That is all I can do. I remind myself often of the C.S Lewis quote from another time in history when the world was a mess.

Let us do sensible things and cherish the time we have with family and friends.

My Three Hobbies and a Few Reflections

 I am going to close out the year with a nod to my three hobbies.

Hobby #1 is cross stitching...of course.

I discovered this year that I have been heavily influenced by too many and I have bought and started too many new projects over the past COUPLE of years. '22 doesn't get all that bad rap laid on its head. I would have said pre blog days I was a monogamous stitcher. Honestly, I didn't even know that was a stitching term. It is just who I was. I looked for a pattern I liked and thought about where I was going to put it and then stitched it. If it didn't have a purpose I would have passed over it. I tried to salvage this madness a bit in '22, but I am all out going to bring back Sandy with my stitching in '23. 

I have too many large projects started. I am going to finish them one by one which means they probably won't get finished in '23. I am going to really try and stay away from buying so much that I can't get to. I want my stitching to have a purpose. 

The one stitch that will be finished first is something for Lindsay. I will share more about it in time, but here is a sampling of it.

Then, I am going to get back to this next sampler that I think will fit in lovely on my sampler wall at the Auburn house.

There are other large projects started but these will be completed before I pull them back out.

Now, the one little veering from those projects is that I have decided Miles will need an Advent/Countdown to Christmas stitch that I did for my daughter. Lindsay did make me feel better about this project in that she said I could take two years to do it a little at a time. Tucker is 4 and really got the whole idea this year. She actually made a list of things to do to put in each pocket this year. So, I can take the time and maybe do 1 or 2 a month. AND... I want to stitch some Christmas ornaments over this next year to use as gifts for Lindsay and Jeff to have for choices. When I am getting tired of the large project, I can take a break and do an ornament.

That is the cross stitching plan.

Hobby #2 - Reading

I tend to read a lot of nonfiction and researchy things, but this past year I buckled down and read some fiction. It was such a good thing. I felt like one of the younger people who have the attention span of a gnat these days. I decided that would not do and stretched myself to get back into reading for just pure pleasure. A story ---- not to always being learning something. Well, we always learn when we read, but you know what I mean. 

It really kicked off for me from about September to the end of the year. I am keeping that up for the new year. I read some good books, some that made me think and some that were just so so, but I read and it felt really good.

I use the app Libby and got most of my readings from the library. Our library connects to a regional library so we have a pretty good selection. One day I was in Sam's and bored with all that Jeff was looking at so I wondered over to the books. I saw what looked like a good one. I pulled out my phone and looked it up on Libby and checked it out. I read them on the app on my iPad. I prefer a book, but the app is really nice because it lets you flip back and forth very easily. 

My tastes in books is so eclectic. I don't think anyone would use that adjective with me in mind, but when it comes to reading that is me. That causes me to very seldom list my books on the blog. My tastes in reading don't always match my personality. 

More reading in '23.

Hobby #3 - Gardening

Oh how I love puttering in my flowers. I just love to watch something grow. I know I downsized many of my houseplants and outdoor pots in '22, but it was a good thing for me. Too many is when you can't take care of them and it is more of a burden that just fun. Inside and out I had joy with growing my little plants. 

I mentioned the lack of pansy color choices this fall, but let me tell you I have fallen in love with these orange ones.

These were all brought in and survived the cold weather. 

We are thinking we may have lost the lemon tree.  4 nights of low 20s all night may have been too much and even the heat lamps may not have helped it survive. I suppose we will just have to see what spring brings. I think it will lose all of its leaves with the rain. We are in Auburn, so I will see when we return.

And spring, I never want to rush days, but I love spring. The beginning of new things. As Gladys Tabler always said, it should be the beginning of the new year. I like that. Just planning for spring flowers makes me happy.

*****

As I say goodbye to 2022, I am choosing to be hopeful and live life to the fullest in the days ahead. 2022 wasn't exactly the easiest year, but as always, God brings us through and throws in blessings to sustain us. Our family got little Miles added in a year of chaos. I will be keeping him as Katie starts back to work on the 5th. I am pretty sure he will cry a ton as he is attached to her BIG time. 

I am going to miss my little Palmer and honestly not sure how it is going to feel not seeing Tucker and Palmer everyday. I know I am so blessed! Lindsay is going to have to share her weekend time with me. I love those boys so much.

We lost Danny in '22 and I lost a good friend in March. Life is short and every good day is such a gift. Kim was my age...only a few months older. She was a week away from turning 62 at her death. I turned 62 this year and as I have always said, "I am happy to have a birthday!" This year though has made me pause and realize how little time is left and how much time has passed. 

My goal for 2023 is to not waste any days on things that are not worth my time. I want to shine a light for Jesus in all that I do and count my blessings.

Here's to a new year! I will most likely be snoring when it actually comes in, but I am looking forward to tomorrow.

Sandy

Weekend Wrap-up and More

 We left for  our Auburn home Thursday evening after Jeff got off work and had a wonderful longer weekend. It seemed like forever since we had been. While many have been a little slower with work during Covid, I feel as though Jeff has had very little breathing room. I feel like he has more on his plate due to the condition of people's minds over many issues and has been busier than ever. 

That said, we finally just decided it was time to break away and we enjoyed every single minute.  The house was fine, but we did throw a bit of fertilizer out on the grass and water that in. Other than that most of it was spent enjoying friends and down time.

I sat out on my little hidden porch and stitched and read. The Confederate jasmine was in full bloom and smelled divine. I did sneeze a good bit but I stayed through the sneezes.

This was my view from my chair.

The view of the chairs and the jasmine covered fence. All of the oaks that are so different than the ones here were so pretty and lush.

This is the view from the other side that the neighbors see.

I also finally hung my flower stitches up. Can you believe it has been that long since we have been up there? I have had them done so long and just waiting to be hung. I intend to remedy that by going up myself during the week before the new baby gets here.

We also took a chair that we had downstairs here to the master bedroom. I love that room and will enjoy the chair so I can sit up there. Jeff wanted it just to have a place to put on his shoes. I still sit on the floor to put mine on in the closet, so I didn't need it for that, but I could see how it would help him. Otherwise he has to wait until he gets downstairs to put on his shoes. I didn't need the chair here and had thought several times about getting rid of it. It worked perfectly for that spot in Auburn.

We took in an Auburn baseball game. I am telling you right now----it was wonderful to be back at a sporting event especially baseball. The weather was perfect. I enjoyed every minute of it. We were spaced out so our seats were down by left field. Again, it was just perfect.

I put my phone away and just soaked up the feelings. I had Jeff take two pictures for the blog.

Proof I was there.

I had told the kids they had the weekend off:) Actually Lindsay had her in-laws for the weekend, so it worked out well.

I ate lunch with them today and got the sweetest gift from them. Lindsay found this on Etsy. I have the digital link to size it however I want. It is just so thoughtful.

It is our family of dogs. Sally and Murphy on the left were black and white Springers. The only thing she couldn't do was make Murphy's butt look large. He had an extra large ham. Then Lucy and Gus are liver (aka -brown) Springer Spaniels and then Miss Lemony our Golden. What you can't see in this picture is that the coloring is correct for the black and brown ones. All but Gus have earned their angel wings and how appropriate that they are all sitting on a dock. 

Of course, I teared up. It is just so perfect.

I will close out with sharing a good book. Don't you love it when you actually read a book that is good and it leaves you with so many thoughts? This one did. I had to spend some time this morning just writing down some of those thoughts it had me pondering. A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith.

It is probably not for everyone, but I told my kids it should be required reading for Florida residents. It is historical fiction and as good a book for telling the story of Florida as I ever read. I taught Florida History for many moons and loved it. The scenario with the mosquitos brought to life what a textbook can't. 

It begins in 1863 and ends in 1968 (well, it actually had its beginning in 1968 and I had to reread the first chapter at the end). It brings a family from Georgia to Florida hoping to stay out of the Civil War. It follows them through three generations and has all locations and historical events accurately placed in geography and time. The final generation would have been born similarly to my great granddaddy Byrd. I have really thought lately of how much he went through in his lifetime. One of the wisest and most wonderful Godly men I knew. 

Not sure it would interest just anyone, but I do love history and I do love Florida so it was a win win. Paul Allen had put me on it. Katie had read it too and said I should read. Lindsay is currently reading. It was a book that started out somewhat slow and I felt no need to rush, but of course after 2/3s I wanted to rush but I forced myself to continue the slow pace to absorb the lessons in it.

That is it for now. I will share some stitching maybe soon. Oh ---one more thing. I really need to update my sidebar, but oh well. And Blogger is making me so mad...taking away some features such as subscribe by mail and it is so hard to do some things that used to be so easy. ALL THAT to say...Leslie Anne over at her blog has written some good articles lately. Her feed doesn't renew in my blog roll, nor can I even comment on her posts now. She is working on all of it. I loved her posts "Are Manners Gone with the Wind?" and "Grateful". You will have to scroll down for them. 

See ya later alligator,

Sandy

Boating, Reading, and Farm Day

Dropping in for a quick update.

I thought July 4th was going to be a slow day at our house, but it ended up being rather busy.

My aunt and uncle (Mama's sister and her baby brother) slipped away for a visit with Mama. They have managed to come quite a few times, but usually my uncle's wife comes too. She had to work, so they slipped off for a quick overnight visit. 

We took them out on a morning boat ride. My uncle is exactly 20 years younger than my mom. Their birthday is one day apart. Baby boy of the family.

Mama was super excited. The three of them and one other aunt have a great time together.

Then that afternoon, we ended up having Paul Allen roll in with all his friends, so we had to quickly throw food on the grill.

Honestly, last week got away from me. I can't really tell you what I did with the days.

I did read a bit.

After finishing Killing Reagan by Bill O'Reilly, I read I Love You Ronnie: The Letters of Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan by Nancy Reagan. I am done reading about them, but both were interesting reads.

I finished the letters one on Saturday evening, while on a boat ride. Hubby fished and I read while we drifted along.

He looks pretty serious...

I have also read The Summer Girls, part of the Lowcountry Summer trilogy by Mary Alice Monroe. I seem to be in a reading funk, because I really didn't get too excited about this one. It is definitely a beach read. It started off good, but I lost interest and just kind of ho hum read to finish. I haven't run to get the second one.

I have started the last of Susan Branch's books, A Fine Romance: Falling in Love with the English Countryside. I will have actually read the three books in chronological order with this one, but not in the order she wrote them. I liked the others, so we will see.

I have almost finished cross stitching my August cottage. I am really ready to be done with them. I like seeing them on display, but I am so ready to cross stitch something else.

Hubby took the day off, so we went to the farm. We trimmed all the plants around the farm house and  I cleaned up the Hoosier cabinet. Hubby sanded some on it and we discovered it has a pattern etched on the doors.

I played around with just seeing how things might look on it. This is not the plan, but I just used some stuff laying around and snapped a picture.

You can see all of Lindsay and Tyler's stuff still there, but Tyler has two job offers....HERE!!!

He may have a nervous breakdown trying to pick the right one, but I think it is a good or better situation, so that is good in this mama's book.

They drove around looking for houses Sunday afternoon.

I am definitely smiling.

Sandy

The Baxter Family Is Coming to TV

I am so excited. The Baxter Family is going to be a TV series. Don't know the channel or when, but Karen Kingsbury announced today that the books are coming to TV. Finally! I always felt these would make a great TV show. Roma Downey is going to behind this. 

My mom introduced these books to me way back in 2006. We had purchased the cabin at the lake, and  it became tradition as soon as school was out that we would take a trip to let me unwind from the school year. She was deep into the series and told me all about it. 

Like always by the time school was out, I had a stack a mile high that I wanted to read, so it would be  almost a year before I dug into the Redemption Series. The first one started a bit out there, but I stuck with it and was completely hooked.  

I stayed with it through all the R's...

Redemption

Remember

Return

Rejoice

Reunion

Redemption - book 1

Then through all the Firstborn Series, 

then the Sunrise Series, 

and the Above the Line Series,

and the Bailey Flannigan Series, and 

finally 

Coming Home.

You can see them all here.

By far the first five were my absolute favorite, but I loved the Sunrise Series a ton, too.

By the time she wrote the Bailey Flannigan series, I really felt she was writing to a younger audience, but that is awesome. I feel they are realistic, yet good reads for young girls!!!

My daughter got into the summer after her senior year as well as all her friends. I think they all liked them.

Mama and I loved Karen Kingsbury so much that we went to an Extraordinary Women conference years ago because we heard she would be there. That led to us making those a regular event for us until two years ago. We are probably going to add that back to our spring.

Karen Kingsbury and Mama

I have read lots of her other books as well. None lately because my reading list is VERY LONG.

A cute picture just because...

I found a puppy picture of Lemony while I was looking for the photo of Karen and my mom.

Is she just adorable?

Excited,

Sandy

Catching Up Part 2

I didn't feel like I finished my catching up with the previous post, so I decided to do a part 2 to finish up with all the goings on around here.

I very rarely watch TV. Just not a TV fan these days. When I was still teaching, I was just too busy to ever settle down long enough to focus on a show. I am also a news freak, a nonfiction kind of girl. The idea of researching stuff on the computer is far more intriguing to me these days.  HOWEVER, when I saw the ad for ABC's new show, The Astronaut's Wives Club, I knew I would be checking in. First all of all, I have said before I am a space nut. I was known for that in all of the school's that I taught in. It has been a obsession for most of my life. 

I absolutely loved the book! 

I am loving the show. 

I have to set reminders everywhere to tune in since I am not a TV watcher. 

I love ALL of the cast.

 Love the sets. 

I just love the show.

Source

Moving on.... Hubby and I spent the quietest 4th ever! Both kids were doing other things. It was kind of lonely. I didn't even make homemade ice cream, which is a tradition, but believe me... we didn't need it. We did watch fireworks though on the island. Nothing like fireworks on the 4th.

I did a major clothes purge. I mean major. I realized I had so many clothes that I just don't wear anymore. My method of keeping my closet in order has always been to turn my hangers around backwards every summer. If it hadn't been worn in a year, there would be proof of that because the hanger would be turned around. Let's face it, if you haven't worn it in a year, you are probably not going to wear it. This time, I dug deeper. Now, that I am not working, I just don't need that many clothes, so I was brutal. That was very freeing, and my closet looks a ton better.

I have also been reading as that is one of my favorite things to do.

Let's see... I have read the following lately.

The Town that Came A-Courtin' by Ronda Rich. I love her books. On of my all time favorite books was by her. This one is a great, light, beach read.

And the Good News Is by Dana Perino. I really liked it as well. Of course, I really love her. I love the behind the scenes look at the White House during her tenure as Press Secretary. She has great advice for young people, and they definitely need the advice.

The Blue Zones Solution by Dan Buettner. It was an interesting read about the longest living people in various places on the planet. I read it mostly to see what they ate, since I am always looking for a solution to the aches and pains of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Lots of veggies!

I am currently reading a children's book by Deborah Wiles. She was one of my favorite authors. I am reading Revolution, the second in a planned trilogy about the 1960's.

AND, YES I AM WAITING PATIENTLY  for the new Harper Lee book to arrive on my doorstep. I preordered the first day I heard about it. To Kill a Mockingbird is on the very top of my list of favorites. 

The time that it was written (pre civil rights) and growing up in the south very near Monroeville, well, let's say I thing Miss Lee is AMAZING. I have already read the first chapter.....Can't wait. I need to get busy this evening and tomorrow, because once I start I am sure nothing else will get done.

Well, I think I am caught up. If you lasted to the end, I hope you have a blessed week.

Sandy