Back home with my thoughts.....good-bye Skaneateles : (

As I scanned through my (many) photos taken during our "sister/Mom" visit together, I loved the ones of all five of us together (some of which I will post below).  I look at my family's beautiful faces and recognize the deep love that we have for each other....and the importance that these women have in my life.  Each of us brings something so special and so different to the mix...and that is what makes the experience so rich.

Our roles that we had as children continue as we are now grown ups.  Funny how that happens...I guess that our birth order traits stay with us all our lives whether we want them to or not.

During our visit together we spent a lot of time comparing our wrinkles, body shapes, hair styles, clothing styles, etc. even making up some songs about these characteristics....and, of course, blaming Mom's genes for the ones that we wish we could change. : )

Each of us has the gift of creativity within us....and, that came out as we played in Karen's clay studio....and hand-painted individual plates that we all signed as a memento of our time together.

We laughed at each other's differing traits and ways of handling things and, of course, teased each other mercilessly.... I think that I share the title of "craziest" (in a fun-loving way, of course!!) with my baby sister, Karen. We would burst into song (and dance) at any given moment and then go into fits of hysterical laughter together.  Sometimes, my mom even joined in our revelry. We were probably getting on everyone else's nerves...but, they politely never let on....

As our hostess with the most-ess, my baby sister Karen, puts that special touch on everything that she does.  Her home in Skaneateles is warm and inviting and filled with wonderful works of art, including some of her own fabulous pieces. She makes every day an adventure for all who are lucky enough to stay there. While there, I went to antique garage sales, a fabulous vineyard, a movie, shopping, a concert in the park, took a relaxing boat ride, went to a golf tournament, played Mah Jongg until the wee hours of the night, picked fresh veggies and herbs from her garden and cooked them, received adorable goodie bags filled with fun items (all of the sisters bring all sorts of goodies for everyone....kind of a tradition when we get together!), did a wine tasting at a spa....and on and on and on...such fun!  She makes everything that she does look so easy and effortless as we all stand by and watch in wonder and amazement.

Marsha, the oldest, is (amongst other things) our shopping pro....and, loves to take Mom out to look for great bargains.  She is able to sort through a line of sale clothes and pick out great things in an instant. We even had a "fashion show" of sorts one night after a trip to the Mall. Mom looked beautiful in her new outfits! That is such a special gift that she gives to Mom as she shares her incredible talent in finding great buys and takes care of Mom in so many ways. When I made ceramic pins for everyone, Marsha's said: "The oldest.  I don't look it." and that is so true as she is an amazingly beautiful soon-to-be 65 year old...as well as the head of personnel at a large law firm.  I'm so very proud of her achievements!

My sister, Sherri and I share the middle spot in the group. Her pin said, "The middle child. Follows her own path." Sherri is one of those women who does her own thing....and, always has. She also totally oozes with talent.  From her graphic design art work....to her photography....to her writing....she is wonderful at all of these and more.  For her ceramic plate design, she made an incredibly detailed sunflower in the middle of the plate--- as these are indigenous to the area.....and she painstakingly hand-painted each letter around the flower....fabulous! I am always in awe of her abilities.

Then, there is my mom.  She is such a special person who I admire so very much.  Even though her eyesight is failing, she doesn't miss a beat....and, kept up with the four of us at everything....including our late night Mah Jongg games. She has an easy laugh that can fill a room.  On our last night there, Karen and I had a "crab cake showdown"....and, when Karen came out wearing a hair covering and gloves to prove that her crabcakes came from a sanitary kitchen, Mom was laughing so hard that she had tears in her eyes.  What a wonderful sight.

By the way, my pin said:  "I'm the middle child....always grounded."....  for all the time during my childhood that I got into trouble which was quite often...and, the pin that I made for my mom said: "I'm the Mom--you're grounded!" They all got a kick out of that truism of years ago.

While the beautiful surroundings of our stay in Skaneateles will be forever etched in my memory, the joy and appreciation of my four sisters and my mom will remain forever in my heart.

I am so grateful for the blessings of my family.

(a "mom sandwich"!)

My last night here.....

...and I am too filled with emotion to write tonight.

....more when I get home.

xoxo

A simpler time....

It was a beautiful evening last night in Skaneateles as we headed to a park nestled near a lake to listen to the sounds of the local orchestra playing on the gazebo.

Chairs were scattered about as the music began to play....children danced on the open area right beneath the gazebo....and boats pulled up to the dock so that they could listen to the delightful music coming from the park.

I was sitting right next to Mom as the concert began. I couldn't help but notice her foot tapping to the music as she hummed along...occasionally singing the words of some of the familiar songs. She would pause now and then and relate a story to me of something that she and my dad had done in the past....and, then she would sit back in her chair, sigh,  and just take it all in...immersed in her own private memories of a time long ago.

The whole setting was so wonderful to me as I cherished being a part of this cozy small town event. It brought me back to a simpler time....and I loved every minute of it. So uncomplicated and easy....just a gathering of people....sitting outside in this little park.... enjoying the night and each other.

The night before we had all gone to see a local musical, Meet Me In St. Louis. It, too, told the story of a simpler time....a time when a long distance phone call was an event...and cell phones were non-existent.....a time when it was imperative for the family to sit down to enjoy their dinner together....a time when standing around the piano and singing was the best entertainment.... as there weren't any televisions around yet.....a time when parents were respected and sassiness just wasn't allowed.

While I so appreciate all of our modern day conveniences....there was something so comforting about looking back at those simpler times....and, enjoying being a part of them...even if it was just for one evening at the park....or a few hours at the theater. 

I think that I might have enjoyed living back then...

Sitting by the butterfly bush this morning.....

....just being lazy.

...and wondering who was wearing these little girl socks with her shoes....

..it was the "Queen Bee" having a relaxing morning in Skaneateles.

....but, what's with the shoes, Mom????
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And, so, another beautiful day begins....It is hard to put into words how very wonderful this girl's family getaway has been....for now I am just taking it all in......and, smiling.

Moon Pie for breakfast?!?!

For all of the people who know what a health nut I am...they will be shocked to hear that I actually microwaved a moon pie** for my breakfast yesterday...and, it was delicious!!

**For any of you who don't know what a moon pie is---imagine two large cookies with marshmellow in the middle and then the entire thing is dipped in chocolate.
Mmmm...

I wonder how much weight I have put on during this little family trip?!?

The Quilt

July, 2007....and the whole family gathered in Skaneateles to celebrate Mom and Dad's 65th anniversary...

It was a wonderful few days together as we honored our parent's milestone event. We did songs and skits that had been prepared in advance..... and laughed and cried through the reminiscing.

Before we headed back home we were each given a small square of fabric to decorate as we saw fit.  We used permanent paint markers and created our own individual messages for Mom and Dad .  Everyone created a unique square to be bound together into a quilt. This would serve as a keepsake or our warm and loving family time together.

Unfortunately, years passed and the patches sat in a box as my sister tried to find someone to finish our project.

As luck would have it, my daughter-in-law's mother Judy, is an incredibly talented quilter and she agreed to assemble and finish this soon- to- be family heirloom!!!  She mailed it to us last week so that we could present it to Mom.... as we were all going to be together for the week ahead.

I cannot even describe the emotions that we all felt upon seeing this beautiful work of art.  We are forever indebted to Judy and her amazing ability to weave our memories into an amazing quilt.

Last night, as the five of us gathered for a lovely dinner outside on the deck, we presented this gift to Mom.

She was so thrilled to finally see this piece that represented such joy and loving thoughts.  We stood around her as my oldest sister read each square to her one at a time. 

I felt a deep sense of sadness that Dad passed away before the quilt was finished...but, I am hopeful that he is seeing it from wherever he is now....and, smiling down at his four daughters and his beloved wife celebrating life together.

It was one of those moments that will stay permanently etched in our hearts.....

Serenity

This is the path where I take my morning walks here in Skaneateles....Breathing deeply is the best part of it. Ahhhhhhhh.....

PGA Tour with the guys...

Karen, Marty, Dave and I were able to get tickets on Friday to a PGA Tour that was taking place at a beautiful golf course nearby. Never having been to a golf tournament, I wasn't sure what to expect...but, it ended up being a great day that was lots of fun.

Other than it being an extremely windy day, the weather was perfect...pleasantly cool and comfortable.
There were a few of the bigger names playing....but,not in the same league as a  Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods.

The funniest part of the day was when we all got ready to go to the event and we saw that Marty and Dave were wearing the same exact outfits....light blue shirts, khaki shorts, sneakers and an off-white  baseball hat!! They were going to change....but, we thought that it was hysterical and great fodder for teasing them....

...which we did incessantly all throughout the day!

(see photo below for the "blue twins")

I may never go home again......

Just a few days in Skaneateles and I am already SO relaxed. This photo of me was taken on Karen and Marty's boat when we went out on a early evening cruise. We had all of the necessities....crackers, cheese, spreads and, of course, wine!

It is like being in a fairy tale world away from all of the noises, issues, etc. of real life....

Ahhhhhh....more wine please....

 

So far, so good.... : )

The flight in to Philadelphia was smooth and easy except for the landing.  We were runnning about 25 minutes late so the pilot decided to "make up the time"....and he did!!  We were going so fast that I thought that I was on the shuttle, heading to the moon.  As we approached the landing strip we all kind of braced ourselves.... quietly saying a little prayer  that this ship had good brakes!

All was well in Delaware as I got to visit with most of Dave's family during my short stay......and, then, Thursday morning we headed out by car to Skaneateles, New York, where my baby sister and her hubby were awaiting our arrival.

The drive was beautiful....rolling hills...lots of farmland....rows and rows of corn....peaceful and relaxing.  We even found a quaint little Italian place to stop for lunch.  It looked like a "joint" as it sat amongst other stores in a little strip mall....but, once inside, there was a whole different feeling. 

Things didn't get off to a good start when I accidentally knocked over all of the toothpicks that were neatly in place in a container on the counter....followed by my being "stuck" in the ladies room when the door would not open.  The good news was that the toothpicks were individually wrapped...and, I did eventually force my way out of the bathroom.  I think that by then Dave was pretending not to know me!

Anyway, the sandwiches were yummy...and we were glad that we had stopped there.

Arriving in "Skinny" to my sister's summer home was great fun as we quickly relaxed and let the laughing begin.  Dinner out was delish...and, then we headed home to an early bedtime....looking forward to another day of adventure today.....

...more to come.

And so, the adventure begins....

Today will be spent watering plants, filling my bird feeder, stopping mail/papers, checking alarm system, alerting my neighbors, packing....etc. etc. etc.

Tomorrow morning I am off.

First stop, Delaware, where I will meet up with Dave, have dinner with his family, and then spend the night at his mom's house. Early Thursday morning we will drive approximately 5 hours to our final destination, Skaneateles (pronounced skinny-at-alas), New York, where my sister and her hubby await in their beautiful summer home there.

When the weekend is over, he and my brother-in-law will head home....and I will remain as my other sisters and Mom join us in "Skinny"....... as it is affectionately called by the natives there.

I am not sure what the eight days of family togetherness will bring about for the five of us....but, I feel certain that it will be quite an adventure! 

I am sure that there will never be a dull moment as five women of varied ages and personalities celebrate being family.....together.

I will post whenever I can so that you can join me on this fun trip....so, hang on and enjoy the ride....more to come!  : )

XOXO

If you follow my blog....you will totally get this!

Oh, to have those eyelashes back....and, other laments of the day.

Going through old pictures makes me feel..........well....... old.

Looking at this toddler photo of me...several questions come to mind:

1.)  Where have all of those nice, long lashes gone?
2.)  Mom, what's with the short bangs???? Was that one of your famous "bowl" cuts?
3.)  Where did all of that tooth fairy money go for those cute baby teeth?
4.)  Why did I ever pluck those full, lush eyebrows?
5.)  Where are the wrinkles that now adorn my face?

Oh, to know then what I know now.....

*sigh*

Harmony?

"The life of inner peace, being harmonious and without stress, is the easiest type of existence."- Norman Vincent Peale

No kidding?!?!

I had to laugh when I read my "Daily Inspiration" this morning.  I mean who has that kind of life today with all of the stresses surrounding us?

I could probably re-word that to say: "The easiest type of existence is a life where you can handle stress with a good cry and a nice glass of your favorite wine."

I try not to be stressed....but, it seems to want to follow me around.

Now that I have had several floods in my finished basement, I have decided to begin to name them....like they do Hurricanes...

Speaking of that, we are finally dried out (the downstairs, not me) from Flood Connie.  The plumber, the air-conditioning specialist, the Sears technician, and the candle-stick maker (just thought that I'd prove that I still have a remnant of humor left in me) have all left their mark....and, their bills.

Another stress-producing thing in my life is getting packed.  OH, how I hate doing that....especially now that they have imposed that 50 pound weight limit on our luggage....not to mention paying big bucks for each bag.  I am pretty certain that a man decided that weight limit.  For a week long trip, Dave can take a pair of dress pants, a pair of shorts, khaki's, a couple of shirts, a little underwear, socks and a pair of shoes.

I am a different story.  Just my cosmetic case alone could weigh 50 pounds.  I take things that I need....AND, that I might need.....just in case I find myself stranded somewhere and there isn't a drugstore in sight.

Who am I kidding?  There is a CVS, Walgreen's, and Rite-Aid on every corner in America!

Have a harmonious day everyone....  Ohmmmmmmm.....Yeah, right.  : )

"Sure, go ahead of me'" I said to the gentleman....

As I stood in line at Sam's Club today, the woman in front of me was buying so many things that it looked like she was going into hibernation for a while. I mean, can anyone use that much toilet paper?

Well, anyway, I found myself feeling a bit impatient as the gentleman checking her out was moving v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y...However, I took a deep breath and waited for my turn.

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a gentleman get behind me with only two towels that he was going to purchase. At first I tried to act like I didn't see him ( C'mon....you know that you all have done that!)....but, remembering how I have felt in that position, I told him that he could certainly go on ahead of me in the line.

So, he did.

And, I waited some more as the woman finally finished up and then the guy began to pay for his two towels.

After he was done, he walked away with a scowl on his face.

A little "thank you", a smile, a wave of his hand... any of those might have been nice......

What happened to being gracious?

Grrrr.
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If you have been reading up on things, you probably know that dark chocolate has now been deemed "good for us"! You can bet that I jumped right on that bandwagon...almost as fast as when they said that red wine was therapeutic!

So, there I was in Target, on my second errand, when I spotted something chocolate that looked incredibly delish.

It was a bag of M and M Premiums called "Chocolate Trio". It is described as "tantalizing layers of milk chocolate, white chocolate and dark chocolate to tickle your fancy...with a new shimmering soft shell".

Be still my heart.

So, I did what any health conscious woman would do.  I bought it. I ate a third of it before I even left the parking lot. There was just a little bit of dark chocolate inside of each one...but, that's okay....every little bit helps, right?

I feel healthier already.
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Talking about being healthy....I just read another article about how important women's friendships are to our well being.  I totally concur.

I can't imagine my world without the Girlies in it.  They are my confidants, partners in crime, listeners, life savers, etc. etc. etc.

Women to women friendships survive because we are all from the same planet. We like to discuss our feelings.  We like to get other's opinions.  We relish our time talking about "men"...in fact, we just like to talk! Oh yeah.

Let's be honest.  Men just don't "get us"....and probably never will.

Here's to Girlie Power!  : )

yada yada yada

As I looked out of my sunroom window the other morning, I noticed that something was different....very different. Where were my beautiful birds that were usually feasting at the bird feeder as the sun came up? Actually, where was my FEEDER?!?!

I ran outside to see the entire feeder had crashed to the ground spilling seeds all over the place.  Not only had the feeder crashed....but, the branch that has held it up for all of these years was also down!

I imagine that the weight of the many critters who roam my backyard at night must have finally caused the branch to crack.  Maybe, in their frustration over my newest "squirrel proof" feeder attachment, they decided to take it down?  Or, possibly, there was a party going on that got out of control.

Maybe, they ate one too many nuts.
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The good news is that my hero, Dave, was able to reposition the feeder wire on a much higher, and hopefully stronger, branch in the same tree.  He got up on my tall ladder and worked the wire over the branch securely....the feeder was attached....and all is well in my backyard birdland once again.

And, the seed that spilled all over the place provided a lovely all-you-can-eat buffet for everyone!
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Speaking of birds.....Dave has managed to get his hummingbirds to drink the sweet nectar that he provides while he was holding the feeder!  Now, that is trust.

Mine fly away at the first movement that I make to get a better view of these tiny fascinating creatures.

He now calls himself, "The Bird Whisperer".  : )
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Don't you just hate the "waiting" to get diagnostic health reports back? I finally found out that my mammogram was clear and all was well.  That's always a good feeling...

Ladies....take care of yourselves and don't put off doing this important test.
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Let the packing begin! 

I will be heading to Wilmington, DE in a few days where Dave will be already visiting with his mom.  The next day, he and I will then drive a rental car to Skaneateles, New York (near Syracuse) where he will spend 3 1/2 days filled with being with my sister and me and playing golf with my brother-in-law, etc. etc.

When he heads home, I will remain.... and my three sisters and Mom will join me for a week together!!  We will be celebrating birthdays, eating a lot, drinking some great wine from a local vineyard, relaxing, boating, talking, talking, talking, and just enjoying being together!

I can't wait!!!!
More to come on this trip....
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My friend's precious granddaughter, Maya, will be heading back to Costa Rica at the end of this week. This little bundle of joy has totally taken Birmingham by storm....leaving smiles and laughter wherever she has been.

I know that her parents will be glad to have her back home after this three week visit...but, I will miss her wonderful spirit and love so very much. 

Safe travels, Maya!
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Stay cool everyone...in spite of the sweltering summer temperatures!

Messages from Marsha

Last night I began to receive email messages from my sister, Marsha, as she sat on a plane in Atlanta awaiting departure.  Each one came separately as she typed away on her Blackberry to me...obviously, and understandably, quite frustrated.
While I totally empathized with her situation, I couldn't help but see some of her sarcastic humor in the messages and decided to copy and paste them for my post for today.
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"There are 25 planes (those are the 25 that are visible!!!!) ahead of us and none are moving because of storms on the way to Raleigh. All flights on hold. This could be one of those flights you hear about where we sit for hours ."
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"Captain just said some (planes) have been sitting for three hours!!!!!!!"

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"So far one hour and not moving. Why did they put us on the plane???"

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"The newest estimate is approximately one hour to leave. But the sky is now pitch black. Who knows!"

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"We now have a screaming baby.

And this before we even took off!!!! "
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"In the air after 2+ hours. We hit turbulence and the young lady in front of me starts screaming oh G-d, oh G-d. Her "whatever he is" is holding her down and everyone else is staring. I guess you will get this when I finally land. "

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"Just arrived. No agents available to open the doors. 10 more minutes of waiting.

What a fun night."

California Ca$h

 

We know that when we head to California in October, things will be ridiculously expensive costly....so, we have begun to save a little money each week in a little container that I made.

Besides shots of San Francisco, I have glued a photo of me and Dave saying the following: Me: "Where's the shopping?" "Let's taste some wine!" "I love to people watch..." and Dave: "Where's the food?" "Is there a TV in here?" "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives!"

I am hopeful that, by the time we leave on our trip, we will have accrued enough to do something fun....maybe a nice dinner out...or a wine (yesssss!) tour....or even to defray some of the cost of staying in San Francisco.

Whatever. It just feels good to be putting some $$$ cash away.

Too bad that it can't be earning interest...

Saturday

Dave and I went to hear Mary Chapin Carpenter sing last night. For any of you unfamiliar with this wonderful American folk and country music artist, she is a 52 year old, multi-Grammy award winner who has had many recording hits through the years. In 2007 she suffered a pulmonary embolism and gratefully survived it, enabling her to go back on tour this year.
There is something very soothing when she sings....as well as when she talks. She wove a few personal stories into her set and it made me feel like we were two old friends talking. Nice.
Thanks, Dave for surprising me with these tickets...that included "bar-b-que and brew" (or wine!) served prior to the concert...
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I went for my annual mammogram on Thursday. That's always a bit of anxiety until one receives "the letter" in the mail that is either good or not so good news.
But,I feel the same way about this test as I do a colonoscopy....I am so grateful that I am living in a time in which these diagnostic tests are available...allowing the doctors to see things that aren't visible to the naked eye....and, hopefully finding issues in their earliest, and treatable stage.
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HOT is the word around here! Yesterday we got to 100 degrees...and, with the humidity factored in, it actually felt like 500 degrees.
Right now I would like to kiss the person, or persons, who invented air conditioning. ahhhhhh.
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Well, it has been a week and the squirrel-proof bird feeder seems to be working. The birds are happy...and, so am I.
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While cleaning out the closets in my "boys rooms-now guest rooms" this past week, I spent a lot of time reminiscing. It is interesting to me that, even though my sons are both in their 30's, I still have a lot of their "things" here in my house.
They don't know it yet (shhh!), but, when they come to visit in September, I'll be passing some of their stuff on to them. Maybe I should tell them to bring along an empty suitcase or two. : )
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Have a great weekend everyone and try to stay cool....

Noah has nothing on me....

...and, ark-building may be in my future.

This morning I am awaiting the arrival of a huge dehumidifier that is to be delivered to my soggy downstairs.

The flooding yesterday has saturated part of my brand new carpeting that was recently put down after my first, and more severe flood a couple of months ago. I guess that the old adage, "What goes up must come down" is very true in this case, since it seems that the excess water was coming down from my upstairs. So, everything in this house seeks the lowest place to show itself...my finished basement.

I am going to try and keep this all in perspective...I am going to try and keep this all in perspective....I am going to try and keep this all in perspective.....I am going to.......

Sorry, I got a little carried away!

If this keeps up I may be getting carried away.....but, for now, just pass the hammer and let's get this ark built.

All aboard!

 

The plumber was baffled....

...so I awaited the heating and air-conditioning technician's arrival. If they can't figure it out, Sear's refrigerator specialist will be here tomorrow between 1 and 5.

"Why?"...you may ask.

Well, again, I had (dare I say?) a F-L-O-O-D downstairs. (Didn't I say that calmly???)

Aack!!!!!

Going back a few hours.....It all started as I walked back into the house after being gone all morning, I felt a familiar "squish, squish" sound under my feet. And, then I noticed the water that was beginning to fill the carpeting.

I ran into the downstairs bathroom to check it out, since that was where the first flood originated. Nothing wet there. Phew.

I checked out the room where the water heaters and furnace were located. F-l-o-o-d-e-d.

But, where was it coming from? That was the question of the day!

Besides this mess in the downstairs, my refrigerator was making some strange (and loud!) noises the other day....so, I called Sears to come and check it out. They couldn't come until Friday.

However, I had a thought...so, I pulled the huge side by side refrigerator away from the wall. F-l-o-o-d-e-d. (I'm beginning to notice a pattern here...)

While I kept thinking that the two floods were connected....the plumber pointed out that the refrigerator was all the way at the other end of the house, one floor above the basement. He couldn't imagine that much water coming all that way. He was convinced that wasn't the source and suggested that I call the air-conditioning people.

So, I did.

They examined the ac unit and cut apart condensation pipes... looking for anything that would cause that large amount of water to soak the carpeting. They also checked out the hot water heaters....no leaking there.

We were about to give up...but, I again mentioned the refrigerator upstairs.

I saw a light go off in his head as he asked me if the ac intake vent was anywhere near the refrigerator.

"YES! YES!" I said, as I dragged him up to the kitchen to check it out. The vent was right next to the refrigerator.

Well, it turns out that, after much inspection, he saw signs of water going down the ac vent. When he followed the course of the vent pipes, he found more signs of water all the way down to the basement.

AHA! I was actually right from the beginning.

But, being right really didn't matter...

I still had to pay both bills...and, tomorrow I will be paying the Sears guy when he, hopefully, fixes the refrigerator...not to mention the mitigation people who will have to set up their heaters and fans to dry everything out... (again)

Doesn't "expertise" count for anything these days???

Little treasures can sometimes mean the most....

It isn't the size of the gift that matters, but the size of the heart that gives it. ~Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994

During a casual conversation with my mom the other day, she mentioned her small perfume bottle collection. She was thinking of passing it on and I immediately told her that I would love to have it! I had two bottles of my own and would love to add hers to the mix.

Being one of the daughters that moved away (over 40 years ago), I am not always privy to some of the "pieces of Mom" that are shared with the two who live in the same town...so, I was thrilled to be the recipient of a few of her perfume bottles.

When the package arrived, I slowly opened each piece that Mom had wrapped ever so carefully so that everything would arrive intact. I then found myself wandering around the house looking for the perfect spot for these treasures.

They ended up in my bedroom where I can see them most often...displayed with some of my favorite family photos.

It's amazing how these little perfume bottles can make me feel closer to home.....and Mom.

Squirrels 2-----------Grammie 1

Okay, so the backyard squirrels figured out how to get to the birdseed on two of my "squirrel-proof" (ha) feeders....BUT, I believe that I may have stumped them on this latest one!

When the folks at Droll Yankees sent me the new bottom for my feeder, I must admit, I was a bit skeptical. This one supposedly "flings" the squirrel off of the perches when they try to get onto it. It is run by a rechargeable battery and doesn't affect the birds at all. The weight of the squirrel sets it off.

I decided to take a "wait and see" attitude over the last week occasionally checking it to make sure that the squirrels weren't on it having a great time going around and around.

So far, so good.

My birds have been feasting undeterred and the food is not disappearing within one day anymore.

Ah, life is good.

Playing in the dirt???

When I woke up Saturday morning, I was shocked when I saw about 8 large black circles on various spots on the lawn.

It turns out that they were mounds of rich, dark dirt placed in areas that weren't level.

I then realized that the yard people must have done that when they were here all day Friday working on my landscaping repair from my flood. Because of the damage that had been done to my yard, they had to put down large amounts of dirt to fill in the places that the plumbers, sprinkler system people, and the concrete guy had displaced.

Now, I know that one way to level bumpy spots on a lawn is to put a mixture of sand and dirt lightly on top of the grassy area that is not level. The rule of thumb is to only cover the area with about a half an inch of soil mixture...and, to allow the grass below to still come through.

Well, this was about 6 inches of heavy, dense soil that was pretty much killing the grass underneath!!!

So, I did what any normal person would do....I went totally crazy calmly decided that I needed to get that dirt off of there before I ended up having eight large dead grass areas...

So, I took the hose and began to "wash" some of the dirt away.

Big mistake! This just made it heavier and caused it to become compact and almost impossible to remove.

Undaunted and terribly frustrated determined, I got out my pitiful rake and began to try and remove the dirt.

Did I mention that the temps were in the high 90's and the humidity was off the charts?!?!

I did what I could...but, finally gave up as I stumbled into the house to take a shower and attempt to get the black dirt off of every (and I mean "every"!) part of my body...especially under my nails which looked kind of hopeless.

This morning I begged recruited Dave to help me finish the job. The two of us worked for about an hour and a half...finishing up with running the hose over the areas to remove the last signs of the dirt. Of course whoever was holding the hose acted on the temptation to totally spray the other person with water. We screamed, but, in all honesty, it really felt good.

Then, dirty fingernails and all, we jumped into the pool to cool off and soothe our aching bones.

When the yard people come this Thursday, we are going to have a little "chat" (ha!). I am going to express my discontent...and....I am thinking that, at the very least, they owe me a free manicure...

Maybe it is my age.....

She was only 64 years old and had been fighting cancer for more than ten years.

A brilliant lawyer, I only knew her as an acquaintance...but, enough to know how well-respected she was in the community.

She was close friends with two of my closest friends...so, I felt like I knew much about her through their words.

Sadly,I attended her funeral today and it touched me so deeply. Tears were rolling down my cheeks as the Cantor beautifully sang songs in honor of the deceased. And, when her very best friend got up to speak, she had us laughing and crying all at the same time. The stories that she told made me sad that I didn't have the chance to know this exceptional woman better....yet they made me smile to see the strong and meaningful bonds that she had with others.

Maybe it is my age. Maybe it was that her age was so close to mine. Maybe it was that I was sitting with and near my closest, dearest friends. Maybe it was watching her extended family in mourning...

Whatever it was, I found myself taking it all in.....in a very personal way.

I listened to the tales of her friendships...and, I thought about my own friendships and how much my wonderful friends mean to me. I listened to the stories of her community service and other accomplishments....and, I questioned whether I was doing enough in my life. I listened to the talk of "family" and I found myself missing my own family so deeply...and wishing that we could live closer so that we could share more of the everyday moments together.

I felt a little guilty when my mind was wandering to some of my own feelings instead of just concentrating on this remarkable woman's life and the void that she is leaving behind in the hearts of all whose lives she had touched...

I guess that funerals can have this affect on us. There is this realization of our own mortality and this need to embrace our lives with all that we can. We again recognize the importance of making the most out of each and every day as we get a glimpse of the finality of it all.

As my thoughts went to the many people in my life that I love so dearly, I wanted to be with them all at that very moment, hug them, and let them know exactly how I felt about them and their importance in my life.

As I left the synagogue and headed to my car, I made a decision to not wait until I experienced loss in life to live my life to the very fullest.....a very clear message that I took with me as I honored the life of the friend who had passed away.

I wish that I could have had the opportunity to thank her for this gift...