A PERFECT ENDING TO A BUSY MONTH

(First, I want to apologize - I am still not able to leave a comment on most blogs – very frustrating.) 

We were able to spend a few unexpected days on Longboat Key (Tuesday-Sunday).  Our daughter’s family had rented a cottage there and they invited us to join them.  We had a great time with the grands and some much needed rest and relaxation.  This is one of the most peaceful places we have ever visited.  There are a group of seven cottages with private beach access and no crowds.

Walking down the path to the beach.

The view as you enter the beach area.

The path as you walk back to the cottage.

View of the beach to the south.

View of the beach to the north.

Caelyn and Kevin playing in the sand.

Carlie headed into the water.

We also took a couple of day trips while we were at the beach.  One day we drove to Sarasota and had lunch at Yoder’s Amish Village Restaurant.  The portions were so large we all brought home leftovers and there was no room for dessert, so we each had to bring home slices of pie – apple, peach, peanut butter, banana cream, coconut cream and shoo fly pies – Yum!

On Saturday Adolph and I went to Arcadia for their monthly Street Fair.  It was hot and there were fewer outside venders than usual, but Maddy’s Antiques hosted some select venders inside, who had great prim goodies available.  Maddy’s is my favorite primitive antique store – I have my eye on a small cupboard that I saw there on Saturday.  I didn’t buy it because I couldn’t think of a place I could use it, but when I got home I couldn’t get it off my mind and found the perfect place for it.  I hope we are able to get back there before someone else grabs it up.

Of course I found a few things to bring home.

I put the wax pantry cake on my stove board.

The brown coverlet pillow went in my blue & brown guest room.

And the treenware bowl is on the kitchen counter for now.

Beach, resting and relaxing, eating good food, and antiquing – a perfect ending to a busy month.

Thank you for visiting.  I hope you are having a wonderful summer.

Blessings,
Sue

BLOGGER PROBLEM?

I am having a problem.  When I try to post a comment on someone else’s blog I am not able to do so.  I type the comment and then when I click publish the comment disappears (out of the box I just typed in and is no where to be found).  Is anyone else having this problem?  Does anyone know what to do about it?

Any help is appreciated,
Sue

MAKING MEMORIES - AND A BIT OF THIS AND THAT

The first three days of July were spent at the hospital with my Dad, but we were blessed to bring him home in the afternoon on the 3rd.  (See end of last post for details about my Dad.)

On July 4th we celebrated Independence Day and Family Night at our son and DIL’s home.  After eating way too much food, our son treated us all to a fireworks show in their cul-de-sac.  The neighbors all came out to watch and the kids had a blast.  It is always such fun to view things through the eyes of children.

We spent the weekend of the 7th-8th enjoying as much time as possible with our dear friends who headed back to Texas on the 9th. 

On the 10th I took our granddaughter, Caelyn, to lunch to celebrate her 7th birthday which was on the 11th.  She had a joint party with her brother, Kevin, on the 21st.

On Friday the 13th we worked in the yard and I took a couple of pictures.  The crepe myrtles were prettier the week before but I didn’t get around to taking pictures then. 

I took my Dad for a follow up visit with his doctor on the 16th and he continues to do well.  He doesn’t have to go back for two months unless he has a problem.

Caelyn and Kevin celebrated their birthdays with a joint bowling party on the 21st. Kevin turns 9 on the 22nd.

The birthday boy and girl getting ready to bowl.

Opening presents.

They were joined by several of their cousins and friends for bowling, pizza, and cupcakes.  Everyone had a great time.

We are looking forward to a short get away later in the month.  We haven’t decided yet what we are going to do, but we are going to take advantage of a few days that we will not be babysitting the grands, while they are away on vacation.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you are having a summer full of special memories.

Blessings,
Sue

OUR SUMMER GOT OFF TO A BUSY START

(This is a lengthy post as I have a lot of catching up to do.  Thank you to those of you who hang in there with me.)

We kicked off the month of June with our Family Night get together on the 2nd. We hosted the get together, with a backyard cookout, and then enjoyed sitting around and visiting as the grands played. (Since our family has gotten so big and everyone seems to always be busy, our kids decide they wanted to have a Family Night each month and rotate the location between each of their homes and ours.  We are really enjoying spending this time together.) 

On June 7th we attended our granddaughter Abbey’s Fifth Grade Graduation.  It is hard to believe she will be in Middle School – they grow up so fast.

I forgot my camera and had to take this with my phone.  I didn’t know I had it on black and white until I got home, so I don’t have a color photo.  I had to get my granddaughter to change the setting back to color for me – don’t know what I would do without my techy grandkids.

Our dear friends of over 35 years arrived from Texas on the 9th for a month long visit.  They were our neighbors as our kids were growing up and moved to Texas in 1990 along with two of their grown children.  One of their daughters remained in Lakeland with her family.  So when the Downey’s come to visit their daughter, granddaughter, and great granddaughter we get to enjoy time with them too.

On June 11th and 12th I went to a mini retreat for MOPS Mentors at our coordinator’s beach castle.

What a beautiful place to fellowship and plan for our 2012-2013 MOPS year.

On June 14th we celebrated our 43rd Anniversary by going out to eat at our favorite steak restaurant. It was a much needed quiet evening in the middle of a busy month.

One week later, on June 21st, we left for our vacation.  We spent the first night in South Carolina with my brother and SIL and then headed to North Carolina the next morning.  We have had many vacations in NC but have never been to the High Country. We stayed near Linville and took day trips to visit some of the area attractions.  Some of the places we visited were Boone and the Daniel Boone Inn Restaurant, Grandfather Mountain, Blowing Rock, Linville Falls, and we drove endless, yet beautiful, miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We did a lot of walking, hiking, and riding, but we enjoyed every minute of it.  This is definitely a vacation we will repeat. 

The views were gorgeous.

The rhododendron were beautiful.

Linville Falls was peaceful.

The only picture we had taken together. 

Every chance he got Adolph was climbing.

I didn’t know if I could do it – but I really did walk across the mile high swinging bridge at Grandfather Mountain.

After spending six days in NC we headed back to SC and spent a couple of days with my brother and SIL visiting Charleston.  We enjoyed sightseeing, eating yummy Low Country food, and spending time together.

We had a wonderful and restful vacation.  And it was a good thing because…

Ten minutes after we arrived home my Mom called to tell me that they had taken my Dad to the hospital by ambulance for chest pains.  We hurried to the ER to find that he had had a heart attack.  After several tests, including a heart cath, and a five day stay in the hospital we were able to bring him home.  We were very blessed that the heart attack was mild and did no damage to the heart wall.  After a rough week of additional recovery he is doing very well.  God is good.

Wow, June was a whirlwind and I was ready for things to slow down – but I wonder sometimes if slow is a word that can be used to describe my life.

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer.  Thank you for stopping by.

Blessings,
Sue