Summer Begins in May this Year!

Summers are always busy. I've always considered summer to be from Memorial weekend to Labor Day. It's not unusual for us to either be out-of-town or have out-of-town company 12 out of 14 weekends every summer. This year, summer is no different, except it is starting early---in May. We have out-of-towners this weekend, then leave for the beach the next. When I get back from there, I have my two favorite cousins visiting---then we're at Memorial weekend. Just like that, May is gone!

In June, I'll be going to South Bend for my niece's graduation. The next weekend we'll be in St. Louis for a family party to celebrate Steph and Nicky's marriage. I'll have several days scrapbooking at the farm. Our family vacation to the Smoky Mountains is at the end of June. Then I have my sister's weekend and another family visit. Amidst all that, I have one weekend that I am trying to plan a little surprise get-away for Jordan and Morgan---not sure that's going to happen with work schedules.

Don't get me wrong, we love summers and all the craziness. This year we add another granddaughter going off to college---this time to the University of San Diego. I'll be going to help with that "move in." Then, at some point, I'll be going down to the University of Tennessee to help Jordan settle in to her apartment.

Aside from all the traveling, I am looking forward to our bi-weekly pool parties and floating with my friends. Plenty of fun to look forward to.

How is your summer shaping up?

Eeew! What's That Smell?

When Jordan and her roommate got back from spring break, she said the stench when they walked in to their dorm room nearly knocked them over. They started hunting for the source and discovered the pumpkin they had gotten in October. Somehow, it had gotten buried on a shelf.

You can see how disgusting it is---this is just the same pumpkin from different angles. Jordan said that when they went to move it, it literally exploded and went everywhere. She said it was so disgusting. They spent the rest of the evening cleaning up the mess---it had splatted everywhere. 

Teenagers---sheesh!!

Guess Where We Are...

Here's a hint:

We bought a condo in Santa Rosa Beach, FL last summer. This is the FIRST time we've come to enjoy it. Butch has been down here a couple of times for a half day to check on things. We came for a day and a half to clean in January, but this is the first time we've come for pleasure.

 It's the Lapps family spring break, so we decided to join them for a few days.

 We love the snow white sand. Well, most everyone does. I like the color, but it's still sand. The emerald green water is gorgeous.

 I'm lucky to have a couple of cute "cabana boys."

 The weather is perfect---sunny---around 80. The pools are heated.

We thought this was interesting, roofers---on a very steep roof. They are tethered. The guy on the top uses some sort of tool and hands it to the next guy below him. Even at 80 degrees, it had to be hot up there.

Posing for pictures before going to dinner at Nick's on the Beach.

Last night, we had a shrimp boil. Sandy made a Greek salad to go with it. She discovered that the kalamata olives had pits. Greg immediately turned to Mitchell and said, "Mitchell, I told you to get pitted olives." Mitchell heard "imported" and that's what he got! Greg was all frustrated, but we all thought it was pretty funny. You just never know what these kids are going to come up with.

We have a mystery that we need help with.

What do you think this red, gelatinous mass, larger than a football could be? Sandy and Greg found it on the beach. It's nasty. I've tried to do an internet search, but came up empty. Any ideas?

Days at the Farm

It's always so much fun to go to the farm for our scrapbook retreats. We started going once a year, but now we're up to every season. It's so nice to have no responsibilities---to be able to do whatever you want---whenever you want. We enjoy early happy hours and rocking on the porch with a good book or magazine. But that wasn't in the cards this trip. It was too cool---until the last day. I spent several hours outside reading. I did 16 scrapbook layouts which I'll share when I get a chance to photograph them. 

Views from the deck.

The cows always bring some excitement. Once they got out in the middle of the night and were in the back yard. I slept through that. This time the owner of the cows was coming by quite a bit. Turns out, one of the calves was born with a pretty severe cleft palate. It died within 24 hours. Karolyn and Pam went to take a look. I didn't want to see that. I'm not a farm girl. I love the outdoors and seeing animals, but I don't want to deal with them.

"Chuck" the woodchuck lives here too. We see him all the time

We have a lot of animals in our own backyard. The difference is that we don't take the time to just sit around outside and enjoy nature at home. There's always too much work to do. Then pretty soon, it's too hot. But for now, I've been enjoying reading on my own front porch--- relaxing on the porch swing.

It'll do.

New Easter Clothes

Whatever happened to new Easter clothes? I remember when I was little, we went shopping for new Easter clothes. I was thinking about that. We got a new dress at Christmas and then again at Easter. At Easter, you also got new white shoes and a hat---we had to wear hats for Church---and dresses. Plus, growing up in St. Louis, it was usually chilly at Easter, so I would get a new spring coat too.

I figured out why that happened---the new dresses---twice a year. With the change of the season, you needed something else. What fit you the year before no longer did. That was it. You got a new dress and that was your Sunday dress all summer. Growing up in a large family, you only got one. You had a good pair of shoes and a pair of play shoes. That was it.

Now-a-days, everyone has multiples of clothes and many pairs of shoes. Kids get new things all the time. You shop for the season. You have many choices. And you can wear pants to Church---eliminating the need for dresses.

Still, I miss that excitement of finding that special pastel colored dress with matching hat---maybe gloves, purse and shiny new shoes. I guess there's nothing keeping me from buying myself something new. Except, I don't need anything new.

This is just a little reminder of what used to be---circa 1954:

My little brother, Ronnie and I with my Easter bonnet and new purse.

And this one with the whole family---circa 1965:

I should have posted this on "Throwback Thursday" but I didn't think about it until now. All of us in our Easter finest. That's me in the sailor dress. I still remember it. I loved that dress. My grandparents in the background. They always looked so old---yet my grandmother was about 51 in this picture. My grandfather was in his 60's. Grandparents just looked older back in the day.

Here we are today, Easter Sunday, 2014. We're in our 60's.

On second thought, maybe we look it after all!

Happy Easter!

Last week, I got my first Mother's Day gift. Mindy wanted me to have it for Easter. You can see why.

From left to right: Peter Cottontail, Jemima Puddleduck, and mother rabbit with Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton Tail. Mindy couldn't believe I remembered all the names. I have the books! Okay, I confess, I looked some of them up. I always thought Peter was Peter Cotton Tail. but he had a brother. The only way you can tell them apart is that Peter is the only one with a blue jacket. Hence, Peter above, is just Peter Rabbit not Peter Cottontail.

And there you have a little Beatrix Potter trivia for the day.

How Old is Too Old for an Easter Basket?

I hadn't planned to do Easter baskets this year. In fact, I hadn't done Easter baskets in many years. But, Mindy reminded me that I did baskets last year. I immediately disagreed with her until she reminded me that----that was how Nicky proposed to Stephanie---by putting her ring in an egg in her Easter basket. 

I really thought I was done with baskets. Mindy, being the baby---albeit 29 now, whined a little and brow-beat me! I agreed, but told her this was going to be the last year!! And it is. By the time I bought just a little candy and a couple other little things, it cost a fortune---for eleven people!! Do the math. A $3.50 chocolate bunny adds up to---wait, let me get the calculator. That's $38.50 and doesn't even include the tax!! Now you see what I'm getting at. It ALL adds up!! 

And now, for your Easter entertainment, a little Easter quiz.

1. Which Easter candy is most popular among Americans?
A. Chocolate  B. Peeps  C. Jelly Beans  D. Lollipops

2. How do more than three-quarters of Americans eat their chocolate bunnies?
A. Feet first  B.Tail first  C. Right leg first  D. Ears first

3. Why are jelly beans a part of the Easter tradition?
A. Because rabbits eat them  B. Because they're only sold in the spring  C. Because they symbolize peace  

D. Because of their egg-like shape

4.After chocolate, what is the best-selling Easter candy?
A. Peeps  B. Lollipops C. Jelly Beans  D. Twizzlers

5. Chick-like yellow is the most popular Peeps color. Which hue comes in second?
A. Pink  B. Lavender  C. Red  D. Green

1.A   2.D   3.D   4.A.  5.A

And just like that, with a little pre-planning, 6 blog posts while I was gone this whole week without internet access!!

Happy Easter!!!