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

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.
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.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,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.
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!
Many families gather in the summer to have a family reunion. It can be a time to reconnect with cousins, aunts and uncles, siblings and so on. Our family hasn't done that in a while. We've had gatherings for funerals..my mom's and my brother Greg's. Those occasions of sadness can be made more joyful by the sharing of memories and the support and love of those of us left to carry on. But don't we all prefer the happiness of a great party instead? Well, last weekend we traveled to Chicago to have a joyous gathering of family and friends at my sister's home. She went above and beyond, with the help of her kiddos, to make it really wonderful. Even the weather cooperated! Rain was forecast but the sunshine won out! It was a 2-day event. Friday, we had Mexican night (although none of us are Mexican! We just love the food!) and Saturday was Greek day and night! And we are Greek and also enjoy that food! We had about 100 or more attend.
The first night the food was catered but Saturday my sister and I made most of the grub with part of it bought from a Greek restaurant. Many of the family brought desserts, and appetizers, and drinks. So, we all shared a part as we all also have a part we play in a family. Tribute was paid to past generations in the form of photos, memories shared and even some things that were given to anyone who wanted them. Those "things" were in the form of written family history books that were done by my sister for a reunion many years ago. There were blankets that were made by my grandmother when she was a young person in Greece. Those blankets finally found a home to those who wanted a little bit of family history and I'm sure my mom and her mom were smiling from above to know they were going to good homes! Here's just a few pics of those days. I have more on my "real" camera but have to find a way to get the SD card printed. Anway, as always just a glimpse of our fun!