Family Ties

 Erma Bombeck had a book called, "Family, The Ties That Bind and Gag".  She was a super funny lady and yes, many families or perhaps all families, have the ties that bind and gag!  Social media has the power to shape, mold, clean up, AI photo shop, and make you think some people have perfect lives and families.  I'm not going to say our group is perfect, but they sure come close!  We had a family reunion this past weekend that Jack and I hosted here in Ashland.  Friday evening started the reunion here at the Pines and Saturday was at a venue called The Fireman's Cabin that's in a county park just minutes from us.  We had a wonderful time with all who were able to attend.  I know this time of year is not the usual reunion time but it's my favorite time of year and this past summer would not have worked for us.  However, we had family that came from all over the country.  We had Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Oregon represented.  The weather was my biggest concern all this time since we last gathered at my sister's last summer.  But God was good and great as we had perfect weather on Friday and Saturday.  Well, until Saturday night anyway!  The rains did come but the cabin kept us dry and the rain held up long enough for family to enjoy the firepit at the cabin until it was time to head out.  There were tons of food and lots of fun.  We also celebrated my brother Jim's 70th birthday that fell on Saturday.  We made it a surprise for him as we had a cake, gifts, and happy birthday singing!  He was very appreciative.  Hearing the talking and mostly all the laughter sure warmed my heart.  If you have kids, you probably remember hearing those first real laughs and giggles from them when they were little.  Well, hearing the laughter from them as grownups as they tell all the stories of their youth, throwing in their quick wit, and just having the time to be together to do that was the best this momma could ask for.  Sunday my nieces took their families to Cedar Point, my nephew stayed here in Ashland with his family to go to a pumpkin farm and enjoy the fun things there and get some pumpkins to take back to Chicago.  Midge and I spent the day together doing some stuff we enjoy like going through a Victorian house that had an open house, getting cheese and things from the famous Grandpa's Cheese Barn, and just chilling out.  Jack and I spent the last year preparing for this, going over plans, meeting with Midge who gave super help with food and prep ideas and decorations.  We couldn't have done it without her!  Our kids here and our son's family that came from Oregon were life savers with setting up tables, food prep, decorating the outside with us, and the final clean up part that isn't the fun part! I miss all those that came from far and wide as some left Sunday, others left today.  I can't believe after all the planning, preparing, worrying, stressing at times, and finally enjoying the gathering, that's it's now over.  Sad face here!  Love all my wonderful family.  However, as we were celebrating here, my brother Phil wasn't able to come.  Phil lives in Florida. My sister-n-law, Cilla became very ill and was hospitalized and he stayed by her side while she struggled with heart issues.  Unfortunately, Cilla passed away on Saturday afternoon.  Phil waited until Sunday to tell us because he said he didn't want to put sadness on the reunion.  During his grief he thought of us.  What a selfless, loving thing to do but how we would have wanted to comfort him and do what we could from so far away.   Yes, my family isn't perfect, but I feel so blessed to have been born into this one.  Many people don't have this kind of family that will always be there for you and love and care from all over the many miles that separate us.  Thanks to everyone who attended and helped make this weekend come together in a perfect way that needed no AI to make it look better than it was!  Love and prayers to my brother Phil and Cilla's family.  Cilla will be so missed but we know she is no longer suffering and is in heaven looking down on us with her beautiful smile.  The next reunion will be in Georgia with my brother Jim and sister-in-law Lori doing the hosting. That is, as they say, God willing and the creek don't rise.  Until then, here's pics from this year.

Always a fire going at the Pines.

Jack being social,

We had pizza and subs on Friday and my sister-in-law, Lori checking it out.

Amy, Eric, Ella, Parker, and Connor.

Our skeleton friend and his dog, Ralph, enjoyed time on the throne!

Skeleton buddies carried the chips!

Phil, Jordan, two Amys!

Set up in the cabin.

Pretty decor. Thanks to Midge and my niece Amy for the balloons!

Cabin entrance

My siblings! Rick, Midge, Me, Jim

Jack and me having a moment.

Us and Craig, Amy and Katie all the way from Portland, Oregon. 

My boys..Jordan, Jackie, Craig, and Phil

The Family. Notice the baby..our great grandson, Gabriel

The whole group.  Notice all the flannel shirts?  I asked everyone to wear one and I called it Flannel Fest!

Jim cutting his cake. Happy Birthday! We love you!

Of course we had to include Annabelle...she was a bit overwhelmed! 

Sadly, everyone was gone by today.  Here's Midge and her family heading out for their home. Thanks everyone for a wonderful gathering and hopefully we can all be together in happy circumstances soon. Love my "Family Ties"!

Happy October!

 I need to make a quick post welcoming my favorite month!  I've been super busy getting the Pines ready for the family reunion happening here next weekend.  Cleaning, organizing, decorating, and food prep for about 50 family members has me swamped.  But it will get done and I will finally have something to post about.  I've prayed until I'm sure God is sick of me, for good weather.  I just want those coming from across the country to enjoy an Ohio fall.  It's looking really good for now and our trees are starting to change into their fall wardrobe.  I know many aren't crazy about the fact that after this beauty season, cold and winter will arrive.  But for now, I'm happy! So, wish us luck that all goes off well and everyone has a good time!

The colors are slowly arriving.

The middle tree is already bare! It always loses its leaves before any of the others, Over achiever!

Outdoor decorating has begun!

Some pumpkins with warts!

Inside getting Hallowed up too.

Come sit by the fire if you dare!

My good buddy, Kim, that I worked with in the endoscopy lab stopped by and left me this cute little ghost.  She gets me, she really gets me!  Have a wonderful start of this month in your neck of the woods!

Timing Is Everything

 On Monday morning this past week I handed in my resignation.  If you remember, I had retired in 2020.  In 2022 my former boss asked if I would be interested in returning PRN.   If they needed help they would contact me and I could say yes or no.  I received no benefits except for a paycheck.  That was fine with me and I went back.  I ended up working at the endoscopy unit at our facility on Mifflin ave, off of the hospital campus.  It turned out to be a learning experience as I had not done colonoscopies or EGDs much before that.  I really enjoyed the time and learned so much.  I loved the staff I worked with and the doctors were great.  I worked a pretty steady schedule of 2-3 days a week.  However, this past year we had some big doctor players that left our facility.  You can't do surgery without surgeons.  As the work slowed down, so did their need for my services as the regular OR staff would have to go to Mifflin endo if they wanted to work.  They didn't like it much but they liked having their paychecks!  I was down to only working 2-3 days a month.  After not standing for an 8-10hr shift except once in a while, I felt it was too hard physically.  I had a hard time making up my mind to actually hand it that resignation.  When I retired in 2020 the timing was right and I had no qualms about it.  This time was different and I realized it was because I enjoyed it so much more this time around.  But timing is everything and the time was right.  On that Monday I headed over to the hospital, said goodbye to staff and doctors, and handed my boss the resignation, and my badge.  I walked to the discharge elevator to head to the parking lot. The doors opened, I started to go in, and then I dropped my car keys.....RIGHT DOWN THE ELEVATOR SHAFT!  After working there for over 40 years and coming and going at all times of the day and night, that had never happened!  I felt pretty stupid but had to think: "Was God telling me something?"  Well, maintenance got the keys for me and I asked if I was the first one to have this happen.  They said, no, it happens about twice a month! Well, I felt slightly better after that. Then I got in my car and one of my tires was low and we ended up having to get a new one.  Then I decided to mow my yard and the mower broke. Now I was seriously thinking I had a black cloud hanging over my head!  Well, the mower got fixed by Jack and my son Phil.  The tire replaced.  I thought burning some sage in the house might help get any negativity out of my life.  So I did it!  The next day we got a letter from the bank that said we had overpaid on our mortgage we had paid off. I was excited to see a check! I thought, "The sage worked!"  Yep, 3 whole cents were over paid! They actually sent me a check for 3 cents with the admonition to cash it before 90 days or it would be void.  Well, at least it wasn't a bill!  I did tear it up and toss it in the trash.  They can't fool me, there are no pennies!  Yep, timing is everything!

25 Years

 I'm sure today many are remembering the events of September 11th, 2001.  I know I'll watch memorials on TV and the internet.  The stories of lives lost, lives changed forever, heroes made.  Sadness for such a senseless act.  Yet at that moment in history our country was united in a way we haven't seen since. Certainly not seeing it today in our political craziness.  Can we again take a moment to remember and maybe do something good or kind or just take a moment for quiet reflection and even for prayer?  Yes, prayer was a big part of that day.  Some prayers were answered, some were sent up with no intent for an answer but maybe for a hope for the future.  There's a generation now that wasn't born then but have the visuals and words to let them know all about it.  Jack and I describe it like it was for our parents who lived through the Pearl Harbor attack and WWII.  We weren't born then but sure know about it today.  25 years ago I wasn't a blogger.  But the time frame has been burned into my brain like a super blog post. September 8th, 2001, had us moving into our home here at Whispering Pines.  We were 48 yrs old with just one of our boys still at home.  Jordan was a junior in high school.  That Tuesday morning of 9/ll was the most beautiful day.  The temps had been really hot over the weekend we moved in, but that Tuesday was a lovely, cool, crystal clear blue sky morning.  I was sitting in my kitchen with a friend and got a phone call about what was happening in New York.  We did have a TV hooked up in our family room and my friend and I watched in horror as all of this unfolded. After the shock of seeing the planes and sadness for the people in them and the buildings, my second thoughts were about the first responders.  I watched them run to the scene, jump on the firetrucks, be in the police cruisers, and I knew they would put their lives in danger for the ones that were hurt or needed them.  I also knew the outcome for them would not be good.  A lot has happened in these past 25yrs.  We've grown older, maybe just a bit wiser, but I'm still amazed at how fast this time has gone.  I started blogging in 2008.  So my photos today are just a glimpse at how things have changed in our lives: They are kind of wonky since I just clicked the pics from my computer screen!

This little squirt, Addy Rae, will graduate in May.

Cameron in now a freshman at Kent State University.

Lexi works at the hospital as a PCA.

Anthony is now 24yrs old

This little cheerleader, Driana, just had our first great grandson, Roman, in April.

Her little sister, Summer, just had our second great grandson, Gabriel, in August. Just a few examples of how time has flown but our memories are precious and on this day of remembrance I hope everyone can  never forget what happened this day that changed, not only children growing up, but how much our country, our modes of travel, our security, our every day lives, and so many other things over these past 25 years.  

What We Collect

 First, welcome to the beginning of the "BER" months!  If you love the summer you may be bummed out because in a few weeks the official start of fall will be here.  But I love fall and I'm slowly going to be doing the fall decorating.  We're having our family reunion in October so I'll be a little ahead of when I normally get into the pumpkin spice, fall wreaths, and such as I get ready to host 50 or more here at the Pines.  So in that vein, I've been cleaning out "stuff" and realized I have collected too much paperwork, photos, nick nacks, and general things that I was sure I would use one day.  Two big garbage bags later, I'm getting it down to a manageable pile. I'm really a neat, like a clean house person but I sure can put something in a drawer for "later".  You know, the "later" than never comes!  I did reread some cards that my kids gave me and Jack, some sweet messages from my late mother, some poetry from dad, some photos of people I don't even remember their names even though they are relatives! Sh

Here's the engagement announcement from our local paper when Jack and I got engaged.  Monday was our anniversary.  52yrs and counting! So it's amazing this little piece of history is still around although not in very good shape....sort of like me! Ha!

A photo of my mom and dad under the apple tree on the side of the house I grew up in.  Yes, mom and dad are both in heaven and even the tree is gone. I always enjoyed it's blossoms every spring. Miss my folks and even the silly tree.

This hand print was from #2 son when he was in first grade. Look at how huge his hands were at that age. This really made me laugh!  He's was tall for his age and hits around 6'3 now and we would joke about his arm span with those long arms.  I just never thought about his hands. Not so little! I'm glad I'm almost over going through "stuff" for now.  All the dust has my allergies kicking in.  Here's someone who really is little:

My great grandson, Gabriel, who's one month old today.  I babysat for a bit while his momma was at the dentist. He's a cutie!  Here's a little thing we did last week on Friday.  The Greek Orthodox church had it's annual Greek festival in Mansfield.  Some of Jack's classmates were meeting there for lunch so we went over and had some really yummy Greek delights.

Gyros anyone? How about some dolmades and spanakopita?  There was lamb, Greek chicken, green beans the way my Greek momma used to make them and of course all the pastries.  It was a fun afternoon and since I'd never been there before we took a quick tour of the church.

Very beautiful.  The stain glass windows were amazing and I just wish my Mom could have been able to come here for church when she visited us.  We were always busy doing other things together but I know she would have enjoyed the festival and seeing this beautiful church.  So now my focus will be finishing up projects to get the house company ready..to my standards anyway!  Today the heat and humidity have us hunkering down inside and I'm looking forward to the cool front that will eventually head this way.  Labor Day is this weekend and the Ashland county fair will be this month too.  When the fair is over I really feel summer is too.  The other night I was walking Annabelle and the sun was going down and hitting the pine trees in a way that made it look very fallish!

I clicked this pic and thought the pine trees didn't even look like pines.  A few minutes later, after the sun set some more, they were back to green. Hope you have a good first week of the "BER" months!

Moving Right Along

 This month is more than half over and I feel the beat of our October family reunion pounding in my head. I know, I know, it's about 8 weeks away but I keep going over what I need to do to be ready inside, outside, food side, fun side.  Ahhhhh!!! My ADHD brain is bursting but I'm trying to be calm on the outside!  Anyway, we've had some crazy weather this summer.  Hot, cool, very wet, stormy.  The storm on Sunday knocked out power from 1:30pm to midnight.  With 3 lines down I was sure we were in for a long few days but thankfully the electric company came and did some magic and we had our power back.  First thing I did was wash my lunch dishes at midnight! Ha! I don't like to wake up to dirty anything so a quick clean up was done.   But then we realized our internet was also down.  So the cable company came after the OK from the electric company and by the afternoon on Monday we were hooked back up. Phew!  You realize how dependent you are on technology when this happens.  Oh well, I'm glad I live in this day and age with electricity, water from a faucet, A/C, and TV.  Sorry, not sorry!  Oh, I need a big shout out to our son, Phil, and his girlfriend, Kim, for surprising us with some food and fun chit chat around the kitchen table by lantern light Sunday night! Thanks for that!  We are blessed with sweet kids who care about us!   With all the rain this summer I will say the yard looks as green as it did in Spring. 

Much different from last summer when we were in a drought. I'll take the wet over dry! We seem to be heading in for some cooler, less humid weather.  The temps haven't been bad but that humidity makes it not as nice.  Since we did have a nice cool day with rain I made some pumpkin bread:

I like this recipe since it makes 2 loaves.  We ate one and I froze the other for another day or to give away!  On Saturday we went to the farmer's market.  I got some green beans and I also bought a cute sign that's made by some disabled folks.

Jordan will be moving into his new home in a few weeks and I might just sneak this over and put it on his porch.  He actually sold the house he bought last year but that's another story for another day.  We wish him well on this new chapter as he, thankfully, has recovered from the scary illness this spring that put him in the hospital for a few weeks.  This house is closer to where he works and has less land to take care of.  I'm betting he gets a dog too.  Good luck Jord!  I also bought a beautiful mum plant from the market.

The Mennonite lady that sold it said it was a second and soon she'd have her better ones out. It was only $5!  If this is a "second", I'll be interested in seeing her #1 mums!  Yesterday Jack and I stopped at my new favorite cute shop to check out what they had for fall.  It's also a nursery and has tons of plants, trees, a lovely greenhouse that is fun to walk around in and feel the peace of fresh plants!  So this is what I spied, or I should say bought:

Silly ghost and a pumpkin picture.  Turn over the ghost to see his back and this is what's there:

Yes, I'm thinking Halloween already and truthfully, I need nothing more in decor for that!  But a quick stop at the dollar store and then this fell into my cart:

A big hanging ghost....enough already! Like I said, I'm getting ready for our fall family reunion and decorating outside and in for it caused me to grab this guy.  I'm such a sucker!  To end this blah, blah, blah, I was outside working in my garden of weedin' when I heard a noise that had me looking up:

It was a great night for a flight!  Hot air balloons are so fun to see but I would never want to be in one.

However, I have no trouble clicking a pic and waving bye bye!  That's what I call "Moving Right Along"!

It's August (As If You Didn't Know)

 Look at me posting so close to my last one.  I'm determined to not let this month go with only minimal posts.  Time has a way of flying as you all know!  Our weather has been pretty good with some cool temps.  It was in the 50s last night so this morning the house was a chilly 63de.  I have on a sweatshirt until it warms up later.  Jack had a patient this morning but thankfully he's a sweet Amish friend that is dressed warmer that us English.  I'm hoping his horse didn't poop in my new driveway! Cleaning up that is a lot different than pooper scooping Annabelle's!  I've had many mornings now that I'm not working as much to enjoy a beautiful day like today.  I can hear the birds singing and the neighbor's rooster crowing. Somehow that's soothing!  I had a phone visit with a healthcare worker and I sat out on the deck in the morning and while she was talking the rooster next door was crowing his heart out.  She thought that was pretty funny!  So for this first post of August I have to announce that we have another great grandson!  Our granddaughter, Summer, had her baby on Sunday. Her due date was suppose to be August 25th but Gabriel had other plans!  He came in at a whopping 5lbs, 8oz of cuteness.  About 3lbs lighter than his cousin, Roman, who was born in April to Summer's sister, Driana.  The pitter patter of little feet will grace the pines once again!

Congrats to Summer and hello little Gabriel!  I know he and Roman will be best buddies!

Speaking of Roman....he's growing like a weed!  Almost 4 months now. As I've said, time goes quickly!

Well, I'm off to enjoy this beautiful day.  I hope it's good by you all.  I feel so bad for those out west dealing with the devastating wildfires.  Our #2 son lives in Oregon and hopefully they aren't having too hard a time with fires there.