When Plans "FALL" Through

 I previously posted how we were going to see our son Craig in Chicago this week.  However, his company decided to do the meeting via ZOOM instead.  I'm glad he didn't have to travel and could be home with his family this week but we were very disappointed not to spend time with him.  We'll get together one of these days, hopefully!  Craig, when you read this just know we love and miss you! And we don't like your new CEO! Ha!  But life goes on and to fill in the week I was asked if I could work. I filled in a few days and will work tomorrow. But I had Wednesday off so we were able to get together with our friends from Church that we meet for lunch every 3 months. John and his wife Chris have a farm and they invited everyone to their place for a picnic.  It was the last day of Summer and the temps were in the mid 80's.  However, there was a lovely breeze all day and in the shade it was quite comfy...although Jack might argue that point! He prefers cooler temps.  So Mother Nature dished some out today on the first day of Fall.  Only 60de and down into the 40's tonight.  Love it! Really feels like my favorite season.  We took  Annabelle with us to the picnic since they live 2hrs away and being gone all day and leaving her here alone wasn't going to work.  She did great and enjoyed the farm and our friends have 3 huge dogs who were super sweet and everyone got along. Today I had off also so I went to a new place to buy pumpkins and cornstalks.  Very reasonable and fun. So here's a few pics to remember to keep on enjoying life even when plans "FALL" through!

Before we started our week we did take time to see our Granddaughter, Lexi, going to homecoming.  She went with a group of girlfriends and I'm sure they all had a great time.

Here she is with her favorite date, her Dad! Our son Phil is a great Dad and Lexi is a super cool kiddo! Love that girl!

Addy Rae was there too but she wasn't going to homecoming...she's only 13! So grown up looking it's scary! She didn't want to smile because of her braces...silly girl!

Over the weekend I also finally painted the retaining wall Jack put up last year.  A nice warm and sunny day to do outside painting.  After working Monday and Tuesday Jack and I took Wednesday to spend with our friends at their farm.

Just a few of the gang having a good laugh!

Burgers and hot dogs were cooked over an open fire and we all brought sides and desserts. It was very good and so relaxing to just sit and eat, talk, laugh and enjoy each other's company.  Isn't the farm pretty?

Lots of cute little places to sit and enjoy the scenery.  They have an orchard and a cider press. They even have the original summer kitchen that many farms had back in the day.  Their 3 dogs were so nice even though they were a bit bigger than Annabelle. Amos, their Newfie fell in love with her.

Annabelle is a hottie but she wasn't too interested in poor drooling Amos!

She finally had to turn away and do the old "It's not you, it's me" line.  Actually it was really Amos since I think he rolled in something and was a bit....how do I say this...smelly.  Oh well. Better luck when we return next year!  We bid everyone farewell with the promise to meet in 3 months.  It was a great way to bid farewell to Summer also.  Today dawned chilly, low humidity, and gorgeous!  I took off for the new pumpkin patch that's owned by our former Veterinarian.  His parents grow pumpkins  and it's a self serve, pay on the honor system, grab your own pumpkins kind of place.

The pumpkins are in neat rows by size and price.  The most expensive ones were only $5.  They also have corn stalks...5 for a dollar.  So I grabbed some pumpkins and stalks for me and also for my sister who's coming to the Pines in 2 weeks.  I filled my car and headed back to the Pines.  After cleaning out the car I again took off to have lunch with Jack and some of his classmates that meet for lunch every month.  That was a fun time too! 2 days of good food and good friends.  Love it!  Jack had to close his office this afternoon because the city was working on the water lines and he didn't have water.  Not good for a Drs. office to be without water and a bathroom!  So  he came home early and I mowed the yard and then we worked on getting 2 rooms emptied out that we're having new carpeting put in on Saturday. So even though we didn't get to do what we originally planned on we did fill it in with lots of "stuff"!  So I'll end with the old line of : "Happy Fall, y'all!"

 I thought I'd better blog before the month was over! I can't believe that July and August that both have 31 days flies by so quickly when February that only has 28 days drags painfully along! Could be the cold and snow that keep us inside dreaming about July and August? Anyway, it's September and soon it will be officially Fall.  Next week is the Ashland County Fair but we'll be in Chicago visiting Midge and seeing our Son Craig who'll be there on a business trip. I'd rather do that than go to the fair!  I was trying to think of what I have been up too so I  could have something to blog about.  We're done with the vegetable gardens except for the green peppers. They still are going strong. I've canned the last of the tomatoes:

This batch was made into spaghetti sauce to be enjoyed this winter.

Planting some mums...these were just two of the five I picked up at the nursery.  I still need a few more for Fall outdoor decor.

This was going to be another Fall decor.  I thought he would be pretty impressive at 7ft tall. When we checked him out at home he  had a broken hip so back to the store he went. I'm kind of glad because frankly he would be a pain to store and who really needs a 7ft skeleton?  (I see a few raised hands!)

This pretty guy..or gal....hung around out back and then I saw him out front.

Sedum attracts butterflies and lots of bees but this morning it was chilly and misty so they were empty. I worked all day outdoor and didn't mind the cold and wet.

Annabelle was a big help!

However, she prefers a good TV show.

Or a good nap!  I agree on both activities over weeding!  

She does also enjoy a ride around the Pines on the mower! She sits quietly enjoying the mowing. I know many think that's a bad thing to put animals or kids on a mower and I agree with kids but Annabelle never moves an inch and frankly will even sit on there when we're done until I lift her off.  If she were fidgety or anxious I never would put her there but she's happy to  hang out with me unless I bring out the weed wacker...that she absolutely doesn't like and heads for the house when she sees it. Funny girl!   Last but not least a few things I've been baking:

I made homemade fortune cookies for the first time.  I used them for a Sunday school class and filled them with Proverbs from the lesson.  They are bit tricky to make but I might give them a try again! One of the kids liked them so much he asked if I would make them when it was his birthday! Ha!  I guess that's about all that's been happening at the Pines.  We're working outdoors trying to get ready for family coming next month so we can have our annual Halloween gathering.  Doing things indoors also. Jordan is moving back to Ashland with his job and will be with us until he finds housing. So rearranging some things to make room for him is a must as well as just plain getting rid of  "stuff".  Tomorrow we're getting an estimate on new carpeting for 2 of the bedrooms and that will start a few other projects that need finished.  Throw in working and I'm about full up on the calendar! Have a good rest of the week everyone!

Happy Labor Day weekend!  I could say happy Labor Day but that's tomorrow I guess. I don't know if you have any grand plans but I know we don't! Just hanging around doing "stuff" since it's suppose to rain again. We had some torrential downpours today but Annabelle and I just came back from a walk while the skies cleared for a bit.  Our temps aren't hot..only 71 today but the humidity is a killer! It brings the mosquitoes out and makes working or playing outdoors a challenge.  I'm looking forward to a break in that but probably not happening this weekend.  I have to give a Happy Birthday shout out to Craig...#2 son in Oregon.  We'll be seeing him in a few weeks when he goes on a business trip to Chicago. We'll drive out and spend time with Midge and him for a few days.  We haven't seen him in over a year.  Our trips out west were cancelled when health issues and Covid complicated things and then the gathering we were going to do in June in Chicago was cancelled because of schedules and my sister's surgery.  So we're looking forward to seeing him and hopefully we can plan a trip out there soon.

Craig was a  happy little guy!

Then there was that hair! Oh my!  Now he keeps it very short so no more curly locks!

Now he's a real grown up...45 yrs. old today! Yikes!  Time has flown. He's a wonderful son, husband and father.  He has a really good sense of humor and a way that draws folks to him.  Happy Birthday Craig! Love you!   September has arrived and brought thoughts of Fall and harvest...

This little sign is on the computer desk but I have other "signs" that remind me of harvest:

Canned goods from the garden! Carrots, tomatoes, and homemade spaghetti sauce will join the green beans on the shelves.  Soon applesauce will appear after a visit to the orchard. No apples came on our tree this year...very sad!

Red berries have appeared on the Dogwood trees.

The Buckeye tree is always the first to show some color.  Kind of like teasing us that Fall is soon here.

This probably is the real first of Fall...pumpkin spice in everything including this icecream.  Frankly, it was pretty good! (If you like that sort of thing!)  I don't drink coffee so I get my pumpkin spice this way.

I have some of these little milk jars that I've saved and thought they would make cute centerpieces.  So as you can see, the Pines is gearing up for the coming season. We had a nice summer and it flew by quick. Working has taken up some time that I might have spent doing more things outdoors but it was my choice to return part time and so far it's worked out.  Not sure if that will be my choice next summer however.  So for now I'll just say hello to September and enjoy the change of seasons soon to come in all it's glory! 

Stay The Course

 I know that many feel the last day of August brings the reality that Fall is just a step away.  The last day of August for me always says: Happy Anniversary! 48 years ago we tied the knot and bound ourselves and our families together.  As kiddos arrived and moves happened we stayed the course. As careers continued and all the regular family things happened, we stayed the course.  Troubles came here and there in the form of health, finances, and just plain life happenings.  We stayed the course.  There were times we both felt like taking the high road when frustration and, again, life happenings closed in.  However, we stayed the course.  Marriages fail for many reasons that are personal to those involved. They happened in our kids lives, my sister and brother's life and many friends lives. I have no answers or words of wisdom for a long marriage.  I'm just grateful we have stayed the course and are able to be together now through life's happenings.  Thanks for the journey Jack and for being my pilot, co-pilot, best friend, lover, father to our kids, and partner in all things.  Now on to life and we'll just keep on keeping and staying the course! Happy Anniversary to  us!

Beautiful flowers for me! Thanks Babe!

Gift card for Jack. Last year all he got was a package of Fall Oreos so I had Annabelle help me pick out the perfect card this year. Plus she got a treat from the cashier! Win-Win!

Where have all these youngsters gone? Time goes fast...enjoy the journey and hopefully stay your own course.

Garden Of Weedin'

I really needed to get a blog post in before this month is over.  I can't believe it's only a week away from being September.  Schools are back in session and a few signs have been showing up here at the Pines that Fall is knocking on the door.  I'll save leaf pics for a bit later but the buckeye tree has visible orange and yellow leaves that are always the first to turn.  I'm still trying to catch up on weeding and gardening.  I've been canning and mowing and trimming to keep up with the growth due to the rain and warm temps we've had.  I think I could mow 3 times a week! It's as green as Spring grass and I know I should be very thankful for that.  I'm very thankful we haven't had the devastation that Kentucky has had.  Many of the members of our Church went down south to help with the clean up.  Jack really wanted to go but I said no way.  Not with all the surgeries he's had and the work down there would be pretty challenging.   Sorry Jack! I know how you like to help in situations like that.  So this summer we've been playing catch up from not being able last year to get it all done.  Many projects to keep us busy plus a few surprises in the way of appliances having a suicide pack and deciding to all conk out at the same time!  So a new refrigerator followed by a new washing machine, followed by our van  A/C also taking a dive! Ouch! We also just replaced all our windows so our bank account is a bit bruised. But that's life and all will be good as the food stays cold, the clothes are clean, and riding in the van in the heat is comfy and we can see out the windows and know they are holding in the cool and will help in the Winter cold.  So just a few pics to show what I've been doing...which isn't much! Ha! I hope everyone is doing well and if you have a real desire to grab a few weeds I have plenty to share!

Working on the garden across our driveway.  Soon I'll have it mulched and looking much better.

Slow but sure.

These nasty pests are back....web worms.  We have to cut the branches and burn the webs...yuck!

Annabelle is happy to sit and watch me work!  She's smart like that!

Annabelle does like to explore when she's not watching me work. I had a time trying to find her one day.  Can you see that stinker in this pic? 

When I couldn't find her in the house one afternoon I looked up the stairs and saw this little face. Problem is she can't get down these stairs and we have to carry her down each time. So we have a gate to keep her downstairs when we don't want to haul her little hiney down....until we forget to close it and she troops up there.  Oh Annabelle...good thing you're cute!  So that's about all that happening for now at the Pines.  I'll finish all my weeding and will probably blog before August is over.  Annabelle and Jack both have birthdays on Thursday and we have a wedding anniversary next week. So take care everyone and enjoy these final days of summer!

Birthday Boy!

 Saturday our Grandson, Cameron, turned 15! How can that be?  He wanted to celebrate here at the Pines with his family and of course we said...."Of course!"  He's a very quiet, nice kiddo who doesn't like being the center of attraction.  That's a problem when you are the center of attraction for at least one day a year! So Happy Birthday Cameron!  You're a great kiddo and we had lots of fun celebrating with everyone!  His Mom and his sisters did the planning and everyone helped with food and then clean up.  It was a hot and humid day but the rain held off until the last car drove down the driveway.  Perfect timing and that's unusual for us.  If you've followed me long enough you know we usually have some kind of weird weather or disaster going on when we plan events here!  Of course I have a few pics to share so here goes:

Our Granddaughter made this cute birthday banner with pics of Cameron through the ages. Nice job Summer!

Granddaughter, Driana, set up games and even had a scavenger hunt for everyone to play.  Cameron won the most money with lottery tickets that a grownup will have to cash in for him.  Like I mentioned it was hot and humid but that didn't keep us indoors all day.  Fun under the big oak tree.

Some sisterly love from Summer!

Annabelle had fun with her "cousins"...We tried a group shot but Kip was the only one willing to sit and pose! This was the best we could capture. 

Cameron loves cheesecake so that was  his birthday cake to load up with 15 candles. 

Presents followed and we all laughed at this shirt his Mom got him. Cam loves his video games and even makes money playing.  So this was a pretty true statement for him!

Our son, Jack is watching the games and I'm sure wondering how his youngest is already 15. I've been blogging since Cam was a baby and I think I have a few pics of him from over the years.

Playing basketball

With Great Grandma and his siblings.

Other birthday parties.

Halloween fun at the Pines

Enjoying the pool.

Finally growing taller and trying to catch up to big brother, Anthony.  Also trying out new hairstyles! So happy birthday Cam-man! We love you! 

The Boogeyman

 Did you have fears when you were a child?  Fears of a ghost in the closet or something scary under the bed? I remember we always scared each other with talks of the Boogeyman.  That crazy, scary, unseen thing that went bump in the night.   So a light on in the hallway, or maybe a night light?  Tales during a party to make you shiver?  Looking at yourself in a mirror while repeating Mary, Bloody Mary?  Yep those were the scary things of childhood that we can look back now and laugh.  Yes, there are really scary people in the world. We hear about them daily on the news.  We take many precautions to prevent them from being in our world.  However, there are other "Boogeymen" that are not hiding in the closet or under the bed.  This scary thing is hiding in our bodies.  We go about our daily lives and then will hear of a friend or family member that has been attacked by this monster.  We call it "Cancer".  It's often unseen until symptoms appear or a routine check up reveals that something scary is hiding within us.  I faced this Boogeyman this past week when a call from my family Doctor had me calling a thoracic surgeon to rule out a mass on my lung that looked suspicious.  I've had lung nodules that we've kept an eye on for about 3 years. These haven't changed and are usually of a non cancer variety.  But my scan this year picked up on a very tiny new mass that looked suspicious.  So I've had those boogeyman scary feelings for a week until my appointment today.  It's a mass too small to biopsy and in a place that would be difficult. However, the surgeon feels it's only a 4% chance of being cancer and would suggest doing another scan in 3 months and we'll keep an eye on it.  It could even go away on it's own.  To me that would be such a blessing.  So for now I'm in a better frame of mind and even though that Boogeyman is still hiding I'm hoping to be the one to scare him out of existence! I know many of my followers have dealt with a cancer diagnosis for themselves or a family member or a friend.  Prayer does help and I'm grateful for my family and friends these past few days that have prayed for me.  I hope one day for a cure for all cancers and that stinky Boogeyman to be gone from all our closets and under all our beds.