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.