I posted last time on 6/12 so posting on 6/21 has me in reverse! Being in reverse has me thinking of the past. Summer has arrived full force at the Pines. Our temps have hit the 90's along with humidity that makes the hair frizz. We are blessed with A/C to keep us comfy. Our son has a pool that he welcomes us if we want to take a swim. Tomorrow will bring some relief as rain arrives in the evening. We're heading to Chicago on Wednesday for a family reunion this coming weekend. What does all this have to do with the past? Well, last night I let Annabelle out for a final pee run around 10pm. I stood on the deck and felt the warm breeze and saw a light show from the lighting bugs, (or maybe you call them fireflies?) As a kiddo I remember summer nights like that with warm, humid air that didn't seem to bother us and oh those lovely lighting bugs! Out would come the old mayo jars or whatever we had, to catch them and watch them light up. Gross boys would smear them on their shirts to glow in the dark! Yuck! That memory brought back memories of the folks sitting on the front porch chatting with a neighbor or else my Aunt and Uncle who lived across the street while we played in the yard or across the street in an empty lot that became our baseball field of dreams. Always a game being played or hopscotch on the road. Not many cars came down our street then and riding bikes or playing in the road was OK. Dark time brought ghosts in the graveyard games or maybe statue maker. The boys in the hood used to tease me that the bats flying in the sky would fly into my hair and get all tangled up in it! Scared me enough to head for home! (Probably that was their intent!) One of the older boys bet me I couldn't hop up the front cement stairs of his house on one foot. I said I sure could! Not only that, but I could also do it on one foot with my eyes closed. And I did the hop but missed the stair and hit my head and ended up in the emergency room with stitches. Another story for another day! I think I was in the ER more than my 4 brothers ever were! Hot days running through a sprinkler, drinking from the hose, not coming home until the 6 o'clock fire whistle when off and we had to head home for dinner only to head out again until we were called in for the night. We didn't have A/C in our home, but that old GE oscillating fan was a welcome relief. Mom and Dad eventually got an air conditioner in their bedroom and us kids would camp out on really steamy nights. I was blessed with good friends, a safe neighborhood, a good family, and lots of good memories that come quietly and sweetly on a hot humid night as I'm back to my future with lighting bugs to greet me at the Pines.
Sweer dreams all!Monday, June 23, 2025
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Swoon For June
After a fairly cold and snowy winter and a fairly wet and chilly Spring, we are almost at the Summer Solstice and the brightest day of the year. If Summer is your heart season, then you are probably loving the hot days and maybe that humidity too. Me? Well, if you follow me regularly you know I'm a Fall lover but working in the garden, fresh picked tomatoes, farmer's markets and some travel has me enjoying this season just a little. Work has been sporadic. We've lost some physicians due to retirement or just moving on to bigger and greener pastures. Rural hospitals can have a hard time recruiting young docs. Even though we're owned by University Hospitals of Cleveland, we still need docs down here in Amish country! So, with that in mind, I'm finding that I'm only working about 2 days a week or even just one day in a 2 week pay period. But you know what? I'm not complaining about that! Jack and I find adventures to go on and lots of work to do here at the Pines. I sleep later and enjoy that more! We're getting ready for a family reunion in Chicago at the end of June and then my sister, 2 nieces, and 2 great nieces, are going to Maine in July. We invited Jack to come too but he decided he'd rather stay here with Annabelle and he and I take a trip East another time. Smart guy to avoid all us gals. Should be a fun trip but lots of driving. My sister has to get her dialysis in between so we're working on that schedule, and we only have a week. Yep, Jack is probably the winner here instead of a fast road trip. So, helping with the reunion plans from here and doing what I can has kept us busy. Here's a few pics of life at the Pines this June so far:
My climbing roses are blooming. I have a new one on the other side that's doing well but too small to see in this pic. Hmm....pergola seems to have a little lean going on?
Even the weeds in the Creepy Woods put on a pretty show. However, all that walking in the wilds, and planting and mulching leads me to a nasty spider bite. I get these about every other year. I really need to wear long pants when gardening.
Ouch! After an antibiotic and cortisol cream, I'm happy to report all is well. Dang bugs.One of the nice things about a cool evening is a fire in the pit. It was a lovely evening the other day and a fire was a nice way to end the day. I made a new to me Greek recipe called kalitsounia. It's made with feta and ricotta cheese and eggs and some fresh mint. I wrapped the mixture in puff pastry in a muffin tin. I took them to a church social and everyone seemed to like them. They look cute too!I decorate for the summer holidays like Memorial Day and also July 4th. I found that picnic basket at a thrift shop on my trip to Chicago last month. I think it's found a new home here!One of my pleasures is walking with Annabelle and she always like to stop and say hello to her buddy next door...little Beano the Alpaca. He comes to the fence every time he sees her. Too cute. Finally, this month has had me getting some pics made from slides to put on posters at the reunion. This following pic is one that sure brought back some memories and makes me smile. Me, Midge, and my brother, Jim. Midge and Jim are only a year apart and could have passed for twins back then.Midge has always hated her picture to be taken, even as a little kiddo so seeing her full on laugh here makes me love this even more. Photos are a quick second caught in time that can bring smiles, or tears, but mostly memories. My son Craig and my daughter-in-law Amy went to Europe for a few weeks to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. My parents went to Europe to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary back in the early 70's. He wondered if there were any pics of them on that trip that he and Amy could stop and take a shot at the same place. Well, while looking at slides I found only one. It's of my Mom standing by the Eiffel Tower. So, Craig did this:I guess he did a google search from her photo to get the same spot. There was a fence blocking him from getting any closer, but I know my Mom would have really loved this photo. Moments captured in time. This did bring a smile seeing Craig, and a wonderful memory of my Mom. Thanks Craig! Love it! Yep, just one of the things that makes me swoon for this June!