Oooo...so cool! Yes!

I know all the folks who love summer will be sad with this cool weather we've been having.  If I still had my pool, I would also be a little bummed.  But I'm an autumn gal and being able to go out and enjoy a sweater day or sweatshirt walk in the woods makes me happy.   It's been a hot and humid summer and because of that our apples seem to be a bit earlier than usual.  I've been picking them this week, and I've froze some and will make applesauce this weekend from what we picked today.  One more pick trip will probably finish it off.  But after picking we took a stroll to the Creepy Woods to see what branches came down and how much we need to saw up and move.  Annabelle loves to walk up there.

While we were picking, she was looking longingly up at the woods.

Please YaYa, can't we go now?

First we pick, then we walk!

We got a good bounty this year.

What's this you ask? Oh, just the ground hornet nest I stumbled upon and got stung from last week! Ouch, it hurt! This dude is dead and hopefully the group of them down there are gone too.  They are not pollinators so I don't feel bad about their demise.  My knee that swelled up and my ankle that hurt like the dickens didn't feel bad about that either.  If you zoom in, his face looks demonic! Gives me the chills! But then we hiked up and made Annabelle's day.

 

Man and his dog...or really my dog but she loves Jack too!

This big stump is hollow and I imagine animals might live it.

Can't beat the beauty of the morning in the woods.  But soon we had to hike back and finish out our day.

Back home and then I'll have the apple task!  But in the winter, we'll really enjoy the applesauce and the memory of a cool morning harvesting and hiking!  

The Yummy Summy

 August brings happy days if you're fond of the heat and humidity of Ohio.  I can't say its on my favorite things list but I can say I love the fruits of the season. The tomatoes are ripening and biting into one fresh from the vines brings a yummy to the lips and memories of being a kid with a big ripe tomato, a salt shaker, and a shady spot to enjoy it! Jack and I headed to the orchard today and came home with donut peaches, sweet cherries, and early premium honey crisp apples. Jack threw in a few Amish fry pies just for more yum factor. Have you had a fry pie?  So many flavors, so delish!                     

The donut peaches are shaped like little donuts and have a wonderful flavor!

Fry pies are a treat and easy to eat!  This heat is keeping me indoors so cleaning is on my to do list. We got our 2nd shingles shot on Saturday and its had a few side effects that made us a little under the weather yesterday.  Feeling a little better today. If you've had that vaccine did it bother you? We didn't think of taking it until my brother got a horrible case of shingles in the Spring.  I can put up with a little discomfort instead of what he had to deal with! Anyways,  all's good this summer day and we have some good yummy stuff to enjoy! Carry on August!

         

And The Summer Rolls On

 August came in with cool breezes and low humidity.  It's been a hot summer with many 90 degree days and I'm sure those with pools aren't complaining. However, it's been nice to have windows open at night no need for A/C during the day for the past week.  That will change by the weekend with the hot and humid returning and the hazy days from the wildfires making it not so pretty out.  Last week I wasn't needed at the hospital and enjoyed the days and it has me thinking that I'm about ready to call it quits with working.  I'm putting in 3 days this week and the next few weeks look busier than this summer has been.  So, we'll see when I finally say enough is enough.  For the time being I'll just buzz along and try and enjoy the end of this summer season.   Last Friday we went to camp/picnic night at one of the members of our church who hosts this campout for the church each summer.  

They have a nice area for camping, or you can "camp" out in the cabin that they use for an air B&B. 

We didn't camp, just came to participate in the dinner portion and enjoy sitting around the fire and socializing with our friends.  Everyone brings a side dish and dessert, and our host provided the hot dogs and hamburgers and fixings.  It was a really pretty night and even cool enough for a sweatshirt! My kind of weather!

Tents here and there and a pop-up camper too.  We're over the overnight, sleep on the ground days, but glad young families came and enjoyed the event.  

Speaking of enjoying the event....Annabelle enjoyed taking a walk with me through the trails in the woods.  New smells and sounds for her!  It wasn't even buggy.  Good time!  In other news, my Granddaughter, Katie, graduated from BYU Idaho.  

Congratulations Peanut! She's back in Oregon with family and I'm sure will be job hunting soon! We love you, Katie!   Other news from the Pines involves a new ride!  No, not a car but a new ride never-the-less:

Does having a golf cart make us old?  Good thing it isn't really mine then!  My neighbor across the road was having a garage sale and had 2 golf carts.  My niece's hubby had been saying they would like to get one to use in their neighborhood.  They live in the same neighborhood as my sister.  So, I texted Midge and sent a pic of the 2 carts and asked if they would want to buy one.  Well, she bought one instead! She decided on the electric one because it has more seating and is quieter.  I'm sure the family out there will use it for going back and forth between homes and Midge can use it in her business too.  Anyway, my nephew will be coming out in a couple of weeks with his trailer to pick it up.  In the meantime, I will just have to keep trying it out to make sure it's a good ride!  Time to hit the hay as tomorrow is a get up early day.  It should be a short work time though and then Jack and I will have lunch with his high school group that gets together once a month.  Have a good rest of the week everyone!

Just Because

Just because the morning in the Summer can be so lovely.

Just because I never knew cactus can grow in my yard. (In Ohio)

                                        Just because even weeds can be beautiful.

                                           Just because fog can be magical.

                                            Just because a walk down a country road is the road to home.

                                 Just because beauty at the end of the day gives hope for a better tomorrow.
 

Girl Tripping To The End!

 It's been a really fun and adventuresome 8 days for our little girl trip crew.  We finished our last full day in Portland, Maine on Thursday and a half day while Midge was in dialysis, on Friday.  The weather has been warm but only a few showers one evening.  The food has been great, and Amy and Katie did a fabulous job of driving between here and Maine and back with side trips to Niagra Falls, Boston, and Salem, Mass. The weather turned perfectly cool and not humid on Friday, and we did get some final shopping done in comfort.  I brought home just a few souvenirs.  Some hand painted oyster shells, lobster magnets, books, Christmas ornaments, the mandatory sweatshirt with Maine across the front, and even a broom kit from Salem! Jack got a couple of items that I brought home for him.  He's not a tee shirt, sweatshirt dude so Maine wild blueberry jam and a figurine of a boyscout for him.   I collect those Lori Mitchel figurines and had never seen one of a boyscout but since Jack was a leader in scouts for 30yrs I thought it would be fun to get him one. (Maybe it was a little for me too? Ha!)  After Midge got out of dialysis around 2:30pm we headed for home with a stop in Syracuse, NY for the night.  That drive was a nightmare!  I swear the whole state of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York were on the road with us.  So much traffic. I'm from Chicago and have driven in big cities but this was ridiculous and tiring.  We should have gotten to Syracuse by 8:30pm but rolled in around 11. Whew! After a good night's sleep, we were off for home yesterday.  Thankfully the weather was great and no traffic problems.  We made it to the Pines around 2:30. Then the girls wanted to visit our cute downtown and check out some more shops.  We then had an early dinner and came back to make our broom kits into cute brooms.  Jack said we looked like a witch's coven putting those together. Very funny hunny!  A remark like in the 1600's would have gotten us burned at the stake!

When we were in Salem we had matching T-shirts that said; 'There's a little bit of witch in all of us"  I thought they were cute and was happy the girls liked them and wore them for the day.

Not to be out done we wore matching T-shirts with lobsters on them for our full day in Maine. We got lots of comments about those from folks wanting to know where we got them because they wanted some.  Again, they were cute!

We hit a few beaches.  Not really to swim, just see the ocean, wet our feet and grab some shells.  I always look for heart shaped rocks and found a couple there.  Midge found some smooth rocks to take home to paint. She's turning into quite the artist these days.

She's been taking a watercolor class and is going to try and do one of this lighthouse.  

Ella finding treasures and Midge enjoying the water. Notice the fog in the background? We were going to take a boat tour/whale watch, but it was cancelled due to fog.

Maine 25.  I guess you could say we hit that trip running!

You get 3 guesses to know where we are here..the first 2 don't count!

We had to stop by and say hi to George Bush since we were in the neighborhood.  He didn't even invite us in!  Talk about prime real estate! 

We are such tourists!

We bid a fond farewell to the streets of Portland tourist trap...I mean, area.  Thanks Maine! It was a wonderful trip, and I would love to go back one day and travel more up the coast. It's on the list!

Before I forget, here's our brooms. Midge made a big one...she has to fly farther than me I guess! I made mine small to fit on a spot on my kitchen fireplace. (Those matchy matchy shirts were not planned. Great minds thinking alike?)

We sure had fun and this morning when the gang took off for Chicago and their homes there were a few tears and lots of hugs and "I'll miss yous!"  Not sure when we'll be gathering again but thanks Midge, Katie, Amy, Ella, and Brooke.  I was happy to tag along!

They made it home this afternoon safe and sound and full of souvenirs, car snacks, laughs, and lots of memories! Love you guys!

It's Bewitching!

 Our girl trip adventure took us to a place i was reallt looking forward to. 

I would ask for guesses as to the destination but I already mentioned it before.  Salem, Massachusetts was on the list and we checked it off! This is a statue to Elizabeth Montgomery who played Samantha in the TV series Bewitched.  However,

Salem is a town full of history that isn't all about witches. The witch trials are an unfortunate part of the town's past but we took a tour that gave us a good Salem history lesson. It's a mariner town and the people here are very proud of that.

They have beautiful harbors.  The ship in the background is being refurbished. It's 400yrs old.  But what most of the tourist here are looking for is the witch history lesson. Salem brings in the curious and odd from all over to hear the stories of how gossip, speculation, and total untrue accusations brought terror and death to the innocent.

The witch memorial and cemetery was a humbling, almost spiritual experience. 

So sad.

I enjoyed taking a quiet walk through this cemetery that had graves that date back to the Mayflower.  As my niece, Amy, walked by the grave of the judge who sentenced the innocent to death, her ankle starting hurting and she

had trouble walking. Once past his grave she

felt fine. Hmmm..I report, you decide. Besides this part of Salem the movie Hocus Pocus has a fan base with houses that were used in making the movie.

If you've watched the movie you know this house. Any guesses? Very pretty in real life. We left Salem with a better understanding of this part of American history, some cute souvenirs, a yummy lunch on the harbor and a very bewitching day!

Girl Trip

Saturday my sister, Midge, my nieces Amy and Katie, their daughters,  Brooke and Ella arrived at the Pines. We celebrated Brooke's 19th birthday that night.

The #9 had a little accident! Sunday morning we piled into Amy's van and we took off for a road trip to Maine. We stopped first at Niagara Falls so the kids could see them .

After lunch we headed to Albany, New York for the night. The weather took a stormy turn.

Katie did a fabulous job of driving through that and getting us to the hotel safe and sound. A van full of us gals is full of crazy stories, lots of laughs, snacks and a few naps. It was pretty quiet through that part though! Monday we loaded up again and decided to stop in Boston and check it out. So dang crazy! Worse traffic than Chicago for sure. 

Sorry, all out of tea! Then it was full speed ahead to Portland, Maine. After getting settled we left Brooke at the hotel for a virtual college class and we went to dinner.

Pretty view from our outside table.

Me, Midge, Ella, and Amy. Katie was snapping the pic. We did bring food for Brooke to enjoy after her class.

Lobster roll anyone?

Oh bouy!  Thats all for now.  Tomorrow we're going to spend the day in Salem, Massachusetts.  Bye until the next adventure!