July - fun with family

 Whelp – so now it’s the tail of July, and just now I’m getting around to another blog post. I expected to write more frequently now that I’m less burdened with work life, but here we are. On a more positive note, I’ve read four books since procuring a library card, and I just started another one yesterday. Reading has caused me to remember how a person can lose themselves in a good story. 

Earlier this month, Someone and I vacationed in Myrtle Beach – his favorite place in all the world. I have attended the annual Someone’s extended family’s Myrtle Beach trip nearly every year since we’ve been married (perhaps it’s been 32 years – I don’t keep tabs on that statistic). For the first time in so many years, his parents (now 90) decided they couldn’t go. Someone invited our girls to go to entice me to go. As much as I dislike the beach, any beach, of course I wanted to go to spend time with my kids and grandkids. It may have been more delightful for all of us (except him) to visit a different beach or place we’ve never been, but he is always wanting familiar experiences. *sigh*      

Rain was predicted for the entire time we were there, but the weather was mostly nice. We had a great swimming pool. The little ones enjoyed the beach – digging in the sand and splashing around in the surf. Elizabeth was particularly delighted with the ocean experience. Of course, we adults were always standing close by to keep little girls from getting swept out to sea (God forbid such an unfortunate event, but it happens). A few times, Elizabeth lost her balance and face-planted into the water. An adult was always very quick to pick her up and set her back on her feet. She would start to cry, but as soon as the next wave washed in, she would giggle. Joy outweighs fear in most cases.

We also visited Ripley’s Aquarium, which I think we all enjoyed. Elizabeth waved to the big sharks a few times when they swam over her head. Catherine delighted in the interactive exhibits and the strategically-placed climbing/play areas. It was a beastly hot day so spending a few hours in an air-conditioned building designed for entertainment, education, and adventure was a welcome respite.

On our last evening in Myrtle Beach, we had a little birthday party for Someone. How lucky for him that he got to celebrate his birthday with family in his favorite place in the world.

Once home, we retrieved our sweet pups from the kennel. I hate putting them there, but Gracie’s disposition does not lend itself to having our neighbor boys take care of her for us. I hire two brothers to come and do our cats. We are blessed to have wonderful neighbors. The dogs go to a kennel when Erin or Emily can't stay with them. I love our animals. Pets are such a life gift!  

Mick missed us!

Happy homecoming!

With all the rain at home while we were in South Carolina, our garden went crazy!  We’ve never grown so much produce from our pathetic little plot. Our cabbages expanded to the size of volleyballs. Our corn grew at least another foot taller – it’s just now ready to consume. We have more bell peppers than I know what to do with, and they are gigantic! The most notable is the butternut squash! Even though the deer ate or destroyed several of them, there are at least 7 or 8 big ones to do something with. And the beans!  Someone picked nearly six pounds of beans when we got home.

Garden maintenance takes a bit of time, but it’s an enjoyable hobby for Someone and I. My houseplants are barely surviving this summer on the screened porch…I need to start spending more time tending them. Several need repotting. Several need to be cut back. All need to be fertilized and given some appreciation. My plants do better when I give them positive affirmations while I’m attending to their needs. Someone would say that concept is utter hogwash – plants don’t communicate. It must be that he can’t speak their language. 😊  

It's been a hot minute

How has it happened that more than a year has passed since I last posted to my blog? I’ve started several posts, but alas, never finished them. My thoughts are that if I read more, I would write more. My brain has atrophied with mindless computer games, home improvement TV shows, and golf.

Reading more – that’s a goal that I acted on this week. I visited our public library and got a new card (because my old account expired with too many years of inactivity). Our library is small (because the town is small), but now I have access to a great variety of online books. I’ve had access to Amazon Prime Reading for years but rarely find anything I want to read on Prime. Perhaps the great state of Kentucky’s taxpayers will have more selection to offer me.   

I retired from University #2 (which was solely adjunct work) in April. Thank the Lord! The students there were delightful, and the people were nice enough. It was just very low pay for the increasing levels of performance expectations. Finally, I decided it was too much extra work for such low pay. Shedding that burden has been a huge improvement in my life.

I am officially retired from University #1 at the end of June, this month. I will return to adjunct teaching there (which I did for nearly two years before they offered me a full time position). I’m less delighted with this decision, but it will be fine in the long run. Life is short, as we all know or come to find out if we’re lucky enough, and it’s time for this old lady to get out and live more. I am on their schedule to teach five classes starting August, all online which is my preference. Upon my last check, all have enough students enrolled in them to go.

Someone retired at the end of December. That was a hard decision for him, but everyone encouraged him to do it – it was time.  For sure, it was a good change for him because job stress was getting to him, and he was becoming increasingly negative. The adjustment was rough for him, but now that I’m not driving into work everyday, he seems to be doing better.

We recently took a “celebratory” vacation to Maui. This was Someone’s dream vacation – he has visited twice (most recently, like 35 years ago) and wanted to return again. My dream vacation is Canada, but alas, he cannot imagine any other vacation until we checked this box. We stayed six full days which was more than enough for me. We played golf five of those days on four different courses. We visited the Maui Gold pineapple plantation which was the highlight of the trip for me. What I liked most about Maui: plumeria trees which smelled heavenly, the mongooses on the golf courses, and seeing chickens everywhere. Literally, everywhere! We stayed on the south side of the island in Kihei where the waves are not much and the water is clear, so we swam in the ocean which is something I hadn’t done in at least seven or eight years. Maui is lovely, but I don’t care if I never go back to Hawaii. It’s a long way to go and it has similar vibe to Florida (in my opinion…it is Florida with mountains).

Emerald course, Wailea Golf Club - this was my favorite

Blossoms on a plumeria tree - these smelled marvelous!

I can’t end this post without mentioning my delicious grandchildren. Elizabeth’s eyes and toothy smile are intoxicating. She is now starting to put a few words together. Catherine is delightful with her cleverness and sense of humor. Most recently, Elizabeth was bugging her with one of her toys, so Catherine took the toy and placed it up high out of Elizabeth’s reach, saying the toy would be in time out for a while, maybe two weeks. Also, Catherine called me and asked me to go swimming with her the next day. When I told her I wanted to, but I couldn’t come this time, she reminded me that it was going to be 90% hot tomorrow. No doubt she had heard one of her parents say that it was getting up to 90 degrees.

Some static and a mindful Schnaggle (kittycat)

Catherine - so creative! 

Elizabeth - such a cutie!

Sarah with Elizabeth

Now that I’m semi-retired once again, I hope to spend more time with the little girls and my girls. There’s also a special project that has been hanging out in a box in my office room and in a corner of my mind – it involves a promise that I made to my brother before he died, and to my living brother when I agreed to take possession of the contents of the box. This involves setting up a new blog site. I will get this done.

Before you think that I may be bored with so much “free time”, let me assure you that I have a very, VERY long list of projects that need doing. In fact, my remaining life span may not be long enough to even start some of them. Let me assure you, it’s all good. I’m blessed with a marvelous life.  

One last item to include in this post, I adopted my mother's two cats last fall. She broke her hip just before Emily's wedding and never recovered enough to care for them. Although I assured her she can have them back if she is every able to get around well enough, it seems permanent. They are beautiful cats and it's nice to have kitties in our home again. Mick is completely chill with cats. Gracie is too old to be a threat to them, but Blossom in particular is fearful of Gracie. Bubbles knows she can easily outrun Gracie. Blossom and Bubbles are sisters from the same litter.

Blossom (formerly named Erin by my mother)

Bubbles (formerly named Emily by my mother)

Mick - sweetest dog that ever lived

My Gracie - 💓

Huge thanks to Emily and Erin for house and pet sitting while Someone and I visited Maui. 

Acquisition

With University #1 on summer break (well almost…I am on “vacation” until summer break starts), I have a bit of breathing space to work in the yard and garden, take my dogs for longer walks, and putter around…whatever that becomes. Wasting time (puttering around) is truly, sometimes at least, the best use of time.

I got up at 6:45 this morning which is 45 minutes later than usual since I’m not working for University #1 just now, and did my morning ritual which takes about 50 minutes on average. Then, I came downstairs and let my dogs out for their morning rituals, which includes a few minutes of ball fetching for Mick and Gracie making rounds to see if we have any cats or raccoons on property.  Then, I fed the dogs and watered all my plants on the back porch. A daggone Carolina Wren has built her nest in a flowerpot again. *sigh* I hate when they do that. Then I checked emails for my jobs, and took dogs for a long morning walk…because it’s going to be too hot to take them this afternoon. Once back home, I put out my hummingbird feeder because surely it’s just about time for them to return.  I added seed to my other feeders because I love hearing the birds in the mornings.

 my porch jungle

I pulled out my relatively-new weed whacker and went to work on some weeds that are overgrowing the backyard. Then I cleaned the bird bath and watered my raised bed garden where I’m trying to grow some carrots and lettuce from seed. The carrots are up, but the lettuce is still a no-show.

Things are getting done. I was so pleased with my weed-whacker purchase (from Amazon), that I bought an electric tiller for Someone, also from Amazon. Despite his shoulder surgery, he was able to use it in the garden and was quite pleased with it. I’m hoping to plant our corn and beans today. We always plant late…unfortunately.

I remember life before Amazon. When you needed something, you went to “the store” and just bought whatever they had in stock. If it was too expensive, you waited and hoped it would go on sale, or you made some kind of substitution for what you wanted. Large department store chains like JC Penney and Sears sent out catalogs which were oftentimes wish books, but I can remember many times ordering drapes, bedding, and sometimes clothes from a catalog. You used a telephone, spoke to a human, and placed an order. They mailed you a bill if you didn’t have a credit card with them. Typically, you could have your merchandise within a few weeks.

Now with the Internet, it’s almost as if you can buy ANYTHING your heart desires and have it within days. I’m sure I did some online shopping before Erin and Emily were born, but after trying to take them shopping in a double stroller for the second time, I made friends with online shopping. I’m so used to it now that it’s my preferred method to shop. Lord, when I walk into a store now, there are so many distractions, and it just takes me too long. Also, it’s so easy to buy things impulsively.

Currently, I’m awaiting delivery of a patio dining set: table and six chairs. Some assembly required, of course, and no doubt that will take a good day assuming all the holes are drilled correctly and the screws are threaded as they should be. I looked at dining sets at our local Lowes store and online at several sites. Finally, back to Amazon, I found something good enough. Truly, anything I bought would be better than what we currently use – a 30+ year old plastic table and chairs that are discolored and cracked in places. The table legs are duct-taped. in two places. It's all pretty pathetic.  

Last night, I made a special trip to Wally-World (Walmart) to buy the cheapest possible rubber-backed rug runner. I need it to prevent scratching the roof of my car when I load my kayak. Our Walmart did not have any runners beyond 5 feet long, and the ones they had were about $25.  I checked Amazon on my phone (while in Walmart) and decided to order online. I found a 7-foot runner for $15. Yes, it’s ugly as sin, but I don’t care. It’s going to have mud and filth on it whenever I use it. It’ll be fine (and I’m supposed to have it by Thursday). Add to my to-do list, install kayak cradles on my Prius. Cradles were purchased two years ago (not from Amazon), but I never used them because I’ve had a mini-van to haul my kayak in until recently.

The lake is calling me, but not today my beautiful place. I have a tee-time within a few hours. My golf-addiction won out.

Welcome, Baby Elizabeth

Who boy! Yesterday morning started off like spring, but by the end of it and starting today, we are in hard-core summer. Of course, the weather will change again, but for the next few days, the weatherman says we’ll have sunshine and hot temperature (near 90). GIVE ME summer in May. Life is splendid.

Someone and I visited Sarah and her kids at Park Lake yesterday. Yes, you heard me correctly – kids. She and her husband, D, have two of them now.  Baby Elizabeth, the sweetest little sugar cookie on the planet, was born on March 22.  She was 8.5 pounds and 20” long - a strong, healthy baby with lots of dark hair. Giving birth is no walk in the park for anyone, but Sarah was a trooper.  She did not have the problems she experienced with birthing Catherine. Thank you for that, God.

I was privileged to stay with Catherine at her house while Sarah and D were at the hospital bringing Elizabeth into the world. I enjoy our alone time because it gives us time to get to know one another on a deeper level. Catherine has a great sense of humor, and she loves to play…anything and everything.  At the same time, she is two years old and as headstrong as they come, as most kids are at age two. Little tyrants who cannot be reasoned with and who expect to be the center of everyone’s universe at all times – that is typical for age two. It’s OK, she’s totally adorable. I adore her.

Welcome Elizabeth...a few days old

Catherine meets her new sister. 

As is Miss Elizabeth, totally adorable. Just as her big sister was, Elizabeth is a very good baby. She cries mostly only when she is hungry, or needs changed. When she’s awake, she looks around and gazes at things that catch her attention. She smiles sometimes when I talk to her. Her eyes are gigantic, and she still has lots of dark hair. She and Catherine look very much alike.

The many faces of Elizabeth

Someone came with me to Park Lake yesterday. It was very unexpected, but when he asked if he could come along, I couldn’t say no. Someone is still recovering from rotator cuff surgery he had last December. Just last week, his insurance finally cut him off from physical therapy.  He started playing tennis again a few weeks ago, but he still can’t play golf. He can’t go kayaking with me. He’s cut back on hiking because he’s afraid of falling and hurting his shoulder. We take lesser hikes together and it’s fine because Gracie is getting old and she can’t walk and climb hills like she used to. Mick plods along with us, but he’s no spring chicken either.  I’m happy to kayak and golf without him, but I think Someone gets lonely here by himself. I’ve been telling him he needs to figure out his life before he retires in December (2024) because I will not be his entertainment director and it’s not good to sit and watch TV as much as he does these days.

Elizabeth naps in the shade at the lake

We had a pleasant visit with Sarah and the babies at the lake. Catherine wanted to go swimming and she was even brave enough to sit down in the edge of the water and lay back on the cold sand. Someone and I shed our shoes and socks and waded out, ready to rescue Catherine if she should actually “go swimming” and need help. Fortunately, that did not happen. That water was COLD.  Mostly, she played in the muddy sand and threw sticks and such. It was a perfectly brilliant day.   

Sarah wraps Catherine in a nice warm towel

whirlwind: catching up and the wedding

I should blog. SO MUCH has happened this year. Where do I begin? It all runs together, so to write about life in a serial fashion is not likely to happen. For heavens sake, I have a beautiful new granddaughter to write about! That will be the next post. 

But…right at this very moment, when I should be building up classes for next semester, I’m still riding the high of Emily’s wedding and writing this blog post. Just two days ago, Emily. my youngest child (by 32 minutes), married a handsome fellow, Logan. Someone and I are so pleased for them – they seem like such an excellent match for each other. She was a stunning bride in her beautiful gown and veil, and he was simply dashing - a handsome, auburn-haired groom.

Emily and Logan: May 11, 2024 
Highgate Carriage House:  Fairmont, WV

Wedding party

Someone’s sister (my sweet sister-in-law) performed the ceremony. It was very personalized, thoughtful, and just beautiful. Emily and Logan wrote (and read) their own vows to each other. It was touching for us in the audience to see them trying not to cry (and mostly failing) as they told (and heard each other tell) how much they meant to each other. I am convinced they are ready to move forward with their relationship. Those of us who are married know it takes hard-core commitment and determination for marriage to work. I believe their marriage has every chance to survive.

Reviewing vows (just before the wedding)

Emily planned the entire weekend – rehearsal and dinner, wedding and reception, brunch on the morning after – down to the last minute-by-minute detail.  With no exaggeration – her itinerary, when printed off, was eight pages long, and even color coded!

Did things go perfectly as planned? Of course not! Does anything ever go perfectly as planned? First off, Someone’s mother had a mini-stroke two weeks before the wedding and was unable to travel. Someone’s father never leaves her side, so he didn’t go. Then, the Saturday before the wedding, my mother fell and broke her hip. Logan has no living grandparents, so there were no grandparents to honor at the ceremony. The weather was also a factor. Such a beautiful venue with outdoor gardens, stone walls and stairs, and brick walkways. It poured rain all day the day before and the morning of the wedding. About two hours before the wedding, the sky cleared and the temperature rose. Men began drying chairs. My future son-in-law (Tanner) and I pulled up the plastic aisle runner and drained the water off it, then staked it back down. The aisle runner was dreadful - nearly impossible to walk on. It was easier to tromp on the soggy sod than the runner, and almost everyone just walked up the aisle without stepping on the runner. We got through the wedding and then with about 75% of the photography complete, the rain started again.

Beautiful veil for a beautiful bride

Emily and Logan - first dance

Father/Daughter dance

Sisters: 3 with the same mother. 3 with the same father

Erin’s wedding is next.  She wants an outdoor fall wedding when the trees are colorful. Most likely, it’s too late to begin planning that for 2024, so perhaps 2025 will be their year. Tanner (Erin’s fiancé) already feels like our son. They have been a couple for like 10 years (no exaggeration). They began dating in high school.  

Erin and Tanner 💗

Inspired

 I should be working: menial tasks of cleaning around the house, grading papers for University #1, course developing for University #2, more decluttering and organizing work, etc., etc., ad nauseum. Plainly said with emphasis, I don’t wanna.  Not now, at least.

Today, on this first day of the New Year 2024 (can you believe it), I gave myself a delightful surprise. When I woke up this morning (sans alarm), I realized the dogs should go outside before I take a shower and get ready for the day...Lord knows I have no time for a dog accident to clean up. With bathrobe and slippers on, I called the dogs to come (which they usually do gratefully). We have a night light on the stair landing, so I didn’t turn other lights on. The delightful surprise was that upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, I realized I’d left the Christmas tree lights on all night. There was our tree, blazing in glorious colorful lights and shiny ornaments. It caused me to stop and remember that today is not just another day. I believe every day should be special like that. It also reminded me of Christmas mornings when I was a kid. As soon as we woke up, we’d run to the Christmas tree. It was always lit up with a bunch of presents under it. What a lucky kid I was!

I’m leaving things decorated until next weekend. Some people retire their decorations as early as Christmas Day, but people like me (who decorate in middle of December), are not quite ready to see it all go. Once Christmas is gone, the dreariness of winter takes over. It’s OK, I’m not a person who gets depressed in winter. The cold winter can be a wonderful time for adventure because the snakes are hibernating and it’s easier to see the poison ivy. The woods can be magical in winter, especially when there are icicles hanging off the cliffs and there are animal tracks in the snow.

This morning, because I took time to admire our humble tree, I noted that we have several ornaments of ballet dancers and ballet shoes. When I was young, tap dancing was my thing…I could write a whole blog post about those experiences. I was definitely never into ballet, but for some reason, all my kids wanted to do ballet. Emily, especially, was very good at it. I took the girls to see The Nutcracker nearly every Christmas. Who couldn’t love the music and costumes?

Miss Catherine’s parents took her to see The Nutcracker in Lexington. There was a shortened performance just for young children, perfect for Catherine’s first live performing arts experience. In advance of the big night, Sarah showed her YouTube videos of ballet dancers. She quickly caught on to the concept of dancing (spinning, leaping, kicking) and ballerina girls. At the tender age of two, she was completely thrilled by the theater and performance…perhaps a little bit too thrilled. From what Sarah told me, it sounds like she wanted to participate rather than sit and watch. Catherine became so disruptive that they left the theater very early in the first half. Well, that happens with toddlers. It was an experiment. For Christmas, Santa brough Catherine a leotard and slippers so that she can pretend to be a ballerina. 

Catherine might get to take a pre-school dance class next year. Oh, but it is next year! It’s more accurate to say that she might get to take a class later this year! 😊That might be a very good way for Sarah to spend time with the new baby while Catherine is busy learning to make friends, stand in a line, take turns, listen, and follow instructions. Those are all good things for young children to learn.  

Blessed Holiday

 Christmas 2024 is all but a wrap. Sarah and Catherine, Emily, and Erin all came home for the holiday. What a treat for this old KY Lady to be all of us together with my girls for a holiday - that was the best present of any. I like to leave decorations up until after New Year’s Day. It seems that people who get things decorated early are ever so speedy to get them all put away again. 

Auntie Em 💖

Reading new books in the new tent

Catherine "learning" music from her mommy

More learning music

so many candy canes

Auntie Erin plays on and off with the lights

Candyland - Catherine knows colors and can count.  The concept of board game is not quite there yet. 

We visited the park to see the lights. Catherine gets a ride.

Catherine loves hot chocolate.

Erin is engaged – she and Tanner made the commitment about a week before Christmas. There is another wedding to be planned, although Emily has most of her planning completed. Emily is a go-get-‘em type of person…can’t say that she inherited that gene from me. I’m a how-much-longer-can-I-procrastinate type of person, mostly.

Showing off those beautiful rocks

Sarah’s baby belly is getting bigger and rounder (my excitement is growing as well). The baby is due in early April. The plan is that I will stay with Miss Catherine during the birth and hang around until Sarah can manage a baby and toddler without help. Catherine will have to learn to share her parents’ attention…as all children with siblings do. I remember all too well when Sarah realized what it meant to have two newborn babies in the house – she was eight years old when Erin and Emily were born. I was busy with one baby (or perhaps both…it’s all such a blur) when Sarah said ever so sadly to me, “You’re just never going to have time to do anything with me again.” I admitted to her that it was going to be a long while, probably. It made me feel guilty and sad, but there was no point in lying about it.

Someone starts his physical therapy tomorrow (to recover from his rotator cuff surgery earlier this month). He survived it, but it’s been pretty rough for him so far. He will return to work next week if he can drive. I’ll take him to a vacant parking lot this weekend so he can experiment with how it will be to drive with only his right arm.

Someone will be recovering, and I will be busy getting courses ready to open for Spring semester at college #2. College #1 has a session in progress…I’m still working that job but thinking about leaving that position this year. The student population has changed a lot since they merged with two other college systems. Not only that, they keep asking me to do more tasks as part of my job with absolutely no increase in pay. It’s to the point that it feels like charity work for the amount of time I’m required to put in. For college #1, I need to create a course for teaching the basics of Python. I’m looking forward to this one, but it’s stressful figuring out how to plan things out. As an experienced IT person and coder, it’s hard for me to gage how quickly or slowly an inexperienced and average person will learn their first coding language (not to mention, I’ve never taught a coding language). I will have to rely on the publisher’s recommendations for this first iteration of the course.  

With the start of January begins the dreariest season.  Don’t get me wrong, I love some aspects of winter. But for me, winter is just the time of anticipating the more desirable seasons. My focus (so as to distract from the dark dreariness) will be getting more fit and getting this house in better shape. Lord knows that me and this house are in great need of vast improvements. Fortunately, the weather can be delightfully variable in the Ohio River valley. Even in the bleakest winter, we can occasionally get sunny days with weather in the 50s.  Hope springs eternal for those days.

Erin loving on our zoo (they don't mind the cold)