Signs Of Summer

Being gone last weekend I realized I missed blogging about the beginning of Summer...the lightest day of the year! However,  I couldn't miss the signs around here.  When I saw this go up I knew we were in the thick of it:

Jack got his tent out to get it ready for tomorrow as he heads off for a week at Boy Scout camp.  It's his 25th year of scout camp and I hope the weather is kind...it's warm and humid for the beginning of the week, but looks cool and nice by the end.  He may not want to come home!

The little pool looks very forlorn out in the wilderness, but if you look closely you'll see these two little heads bobbing around:

Lexi and Addy

I laughed at this silly pic of Addy in her goggles.  She's learned how to swim under water this year and she's soooo excited! Notice the purple lips...and it's not because she ate anything purple! It was time to get out of the pool!  It was getting dark and she and her sister decided that catching these little guys was in order:

Fireflies...Lightening Bugs...whatever you call them, are out in force. I couldn't catch a pic of this guys' yellow, lite up butt!  The girls then curled up with a snack and blankets on the wicker couch on the deck to watch the light show going on in the trees of the Creepy Woods.  If you live out West, you don't see these cool guys...they do put on a fun show! The girls really loved it.

The raspberries are coming along nicely and soon it will be "jammin'" time!

We finally have our first real crop of blueberries coming on! Jack is so proud!

Tomatoes..check

Green beans...check..the okra isn't doing as nice as last year, but we'll see what happens as the season goes on.  The Farmer's markets are coming on so hopefully fresh fruit and veggies will be available soon.  Hope your signs of Summer are making you smile...especially if you survived the past Winter! Bring it on!

One Second

Last week we headed off for Chicago to visit family and have some party time!  Craig and his family were coming in from Oregon to go to a baptism of Amy's nephew.  A few months ago we had decided to make it a  "kill many birds with one stone" type of visit.  Phil and his girls and Jack (son) and his family decided they would come too, since it's been over 2 years since they last saw Craig.  Craig had suggested that we also could celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary.  Our anniversary isn't until August, but hey, I'm game for celebrating early! My sister got all excited because she wanted to put together an "event" as I call them.  Pretty decorations, tons of food, family and also tons of work for her.  I was hesitant about that part.  I just wanted simple, low key.  But I'm not one to rain on anyone's parade so I let her have her way with us!  She's amazing.  Besides all the planning and doing and cooking and freezing food ahead, she and my brother Greg and her son Bill redid my Mom's kitchen....which looks awesome!  Craig had put together a sweet DVD for us of pictures from 40 years of our married life. It turned out great! Everyone loved it and the music he chose. As I watched the movie and then all the events of this past week and weekend, I couldn't help but notice that our lives are caught in the one second of a camera click.  In that one second you could see the joy, the fun,  the sometimes sadness, the silliness, the family trips, the gatherings, the ones who are no longer with us, and the ones who have gone from newborn to all grown up with newborns of their own.  There were a lot of one second happenings going on this weekend.  The weather that had been picture perfect since Memorial Day decided it was time for storms.  We fought time and weather as we put tents up for  a "just in case" moment for Saturday's party which started at 5pm.  It was a beautiful Friday and a lovely Saturday...until 6pm when the rain, tornado and flooding occurred! Anyone who knows me knows Mother Nature loves to pull this on any outdoor event I want to have.  Dang her!  We gathered all the kiddos and families and took group pictures right up until the rains hit.  We pulled all the food indoors and all the 50 or so family members squished into Mom's little house.  The house with the amazing growing walls that encompassed us growing up. All 6 kiddos and Grandparents who lived with us at times.  All in a home with 3 bedrooms and one bath until a fire destroyed the upper floor and then when it was redone another bath and bedroom were added.  No extra family room, formal dining, media room, or finished basement...in fact, that house has no basement. No huge kitchen with an island that you could skateboard on.  But somehow we managed to live and laugh and love as the saying goes.  Everyone was always welcome and nobody ever left or, I should say, leaves my Mom's home hungry!  The walls seem to expand and gather us and hug us and make us happy to be there.  We're not a perfect family by any means. Everyone has their struggles and the imperfections that make us individuals of interest.  I'm going to share a few of my "one second" moments.  I'm so grateful for all that was done for Jack and I and all the family that arrived and wished us well.  These forty years have gone fast.  It truly seems like only a second ago that my kids were little, my Mom had dark hair, I was thinner, Jack's hair was bushier, my Dad was still living, and my dreams about my future were just forming.  Click...one second. Picture perfect.

We knew we were in for a trip when the torrential rains and these skies followed us!

But the skies were clear when we arrived and we loved what Mom had done to her kitchen..

Very sleek and cool!

We took time to head to the Chicago Temple..love that little Temple!

Can't have a bunch of Greeks gathering without lamb!

Mom and our Grandkiddo Summer looking at old photos.

Friday night it was pizza night.

Brothers seeing each other for the first time in 2yrs...Phil on the left, Jack in the middle and Craig...where's Jordan? He and Eddy stayed home for this trip. He's getting ready to move in a few weeks.

Cousins always seem to find the swing and meet up....left to right...Andrew, Lexi, Addy, Alana.

My sister got the new doors on her outdoor oven area...she designed, and with the help of my brother and nephew, built it.....very nice Midge!

The tents and tables are ready.

Family picture time...Phil and his girls...Lexi and Addy.

Craig and his family...Sophie, Amy, Craig, Taylor, and Katie.

Jack and his family..Summer, Anthony, Driana, Jack, Cameron, and Evelyn.

Jack and I and 3 of our guys!

Mom and her whole gang.

After the rains stopped we all navigated back to the outdoors and enjoyed a nice evening. 

Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful "one second" moments of our lives.

A Delayed Message

Today at work one of my co-workers said to me that she bet I posted on my blog about Father's Day.  I shook my head no and said this was the first year I hadn't put anything on the blog.  In fact, it's been a while since I posted...well, a week anyway!  I'm behind on visits to other blogs as well.  I really enjoy reading posts that are put up about the Dads in everyone's lives.  Maybe you aren't a dad yourself but hopefully you had a Dad who was an inspiration, a guide, a loving parent. Not everyone has or had that.  I was one of the lucky ones because my Dad was Superman! At least he was to me! He passed away in 1976 and I think of him everyday. I've written about him on many occasions. He's missed many things in our lives these past 38yrs,  but I really have a feeling he's not that far away and truly does know what's happening here!  He was the life of any party we ever had and he could make any day a special day.  Each of my siblings has a different memory of Dad. My older brothers were with him the most when it came to "guy" things. You know, fishing and car repair and other manly stuff! My Sister and I have our memories of a loving Dad whom (or is it who?) I can't ever remember getting a spanking from! (My Sister was the one who deserved a spanking but I don't think he ever spanked her either!...can't claim the same for my brothers!..they were stinkers!)  I guess my delayed message today is a belated Happy Father's Day to everyone...those here and those who have passed.  I want to thank my awesome hubby who is a good Dad to our kiddos....all grown up and Dad's of their own.  (except Jordan who does take care of Eddy!)

   "Happy Father's Day Babe!"...."Awww..thanks Kate!"

A Sit Down Tour

The weekend has flown by as usual.  I realized I was a bit behind in blogging so I took a tour of the Pines to see how things are progressing. Spring will officially be over in a few weeks and I know Summer will go as quickly.   So have a seat:

The red chairs are ready....come see what I found.

My feathered friends have left the nest..I saw the last one to leave the other day..I'm hoping they are snuggled in the pine trees somewhere...Good job Momma Robin!

Roses are blooming.

Window boxes overflowing.

Impatience patiently waiting for Summer.

Birdbath in the hosta garden is full from the torrential rain this morning!

Tomatoes are happy campers from the torrential rain this morning!

We just might get a few blueberries this year

The Creepy Woods is dark and lush.  Took a walk up there and the smell of the wet earth and quiet, except for chirping birds, was soothing.

The pool is also waiting...for some warm days to enjoy it! Days only in the 60's and 40's at night does not make for pleasant splashing!

The angels in the garden are praying for a colorful season ahead..and..

Whoooooooooo can blame them! Thanks for visiting with me!