Can June be finished already?

My father always told me how fast time passed when you got older and he was right. When I was young summer seemed to go on forever. I was busy every day with fun new activities and each hour seemed like a day. Now the weeks seem like days to me for they pass so quickly. I blink and another week has gone by. I’ve become busier with routine activities and new exciting, fun activities don’t come along as often as they used to. We all need more play in our lives.

Update

It’s a nice hot day in Bradford…80 degrees with a oft wind. Just perfect for summer. Today I had my throat scope to see if I still had ulcers…Yep…still there. Two in my esophagus and one in my stomach so I’m back on meds for that. But the good news is that Don’s Cat scan on his lungs was clear. Now we both need to get back to normal.

Some Random Thoughts

1. I’m finally on the road to recovery from this long lasting, put you flat on your back illness. There’s nothing like feeling bad to make you appreciate feeling good. I count my blessings every day that I am one of the lucky ones to be able to get up each day and enjoy my life.

2. Into each life some rain must fall, but it’s always nice if it falls somewhere else instead or your umbrella doesn’t turn inside out.  

3. A support group is a great thing to have.

4. No matter what else happens  the dirt in your house will wait.

5. The days pass whether you enjoy them or not. You have to bring your sunshine along with you.

Someday I’ll write a book

One of these days I’m going to write a book titled “What they don’t tell you about getting old or Enjoy your youth while you can. Most of the time I don’t complain about being 66, I love retirement, my freedom to do just as I please and the time to do all I want. But sometimes health issues keep getting in the way. Here is an update on our health. I finally went to the doctor’s office today and although I couldn’t get in they called me in a very strong antibiotic to help clear up this respiratory issue I’ve been having for eleven days. I’m hoping now I’ll get over it. Don also went to the doctor yesterday with a bout of coughing that has lasted him over a month. He got a steroid shot and two strong antibiotics. It’s been pretty hard around here with us both feeling so bad and coughing all night.

Last Wednesday I had my girlfriends up for dinner.
  The centerpiece was a large vase of ferns and Queen Anne’s lace along with a hat.

My sister Linda and I were anxious to try out some new recipes. The savory pine nut and pesto muffins were very different. The roasted red grape linguini with pancetta was a hit with the girls.
I put white Christmas lights under the table to add to the festivities.
We enjoyed bruschetta with roasted red pepper pesto and artichoke spread outside and then came in the dining room for dinner. At each table setting was a favor for each girl…gardening gloves and a cookie.





It’s always fun to have the girls out.

What a week

Every once in a while the best laid plans get sent off course by an unexpected event. This was going to be a wonderful week for me. My sister was here for the kitchen tour and to visit all week and my son was bringing his new girlfriend up for the weekend. Plus I was planning on having a great get together for my girlfriends. But the strangest thing happened. When I was in Buffalo on  Saturday watching a performance of West Side Story a lady sat in front of me with strong, pungent perfume. By the second act I was holding the program over my nose and starting to wheeze. Whatever it was, it irritated my throat and lungs and sent me into a full blown attack of some kind. All week I’ve been very sick with a lot of coughing, chest congestion and sore throat. Needless to say I did not have time to enjoy my sister’s company. I did pull off the party thanks to a lot of Linda’s help. And I managed to take my friend to Buffalo to fly out but Don had to drive us. I’ve spent the nights coughing and the days sleeping. Hopefully it is running its course by now and I will be better soon. here is a picture from the kitchen tour. These clematis have such a beautiful double bloom. I had never seen one like this before.

lewiston tour of homes

On Sunday my sister Linda, my friend Yrsa and I went to Lewiston, New York for the tour of kitchens. Lewiston is located above Niagara Falls so it was almost a two hour journey. We left early so we were up there as soon as the tour opened. We have learned by experience on these tours that it is best to do as many houses as possible before the crowds build up and you have to wait in lines.
   Our first stop was the Water Street Landing Restaurant to pick up our tickets and a brochure. Then we were off. Our fist stop was just a few blocks away in downtown Lewiston. This home was as lovely outside as it was inside.
We were not permitted to take pictures inside any of the homes but I took some of the grounds.
We not only got to see the kitchens of the homes, but the other rooms as well. At each house a different restaurant provided amuse bouche (as small tasting). Here Wegmans gave us a bruschetta with caramelized onions and roast beef.


  At this home the outside table was decorated.
There was a beautiful koi fish pond and beautiful grounds.

We’re having a heat wave

It’s another hot day out there. This will be the last one for awhile with temps in the mid eighties. Now people are complaining about the heat as much as they complained about the rain in the spring and the snow in the winter. I guess we are never satisfied unless the temperature is a mild 72. Well, look ahead to next week with a forecast of low seventies all week. It’s going to be a busy weekend for me.
     On Saturday I’m going to Buffalo on a bus trip to see West Side Story. That ought to bring back a lot of memories. I was in my first year of college in Edinboro when the movie came out. We were all singing, “Everything’s free in America”.
   On Saturday night my sister from Virginia is coming and on Sunday we are going to Lewistown (above Buffalo) to tour kitchens. It sounds like a wonderful event..you tour six homes with kitchens full of tablescapes and different restaurants provide food at each one. Then there is a wine and dessert tasting at Water Street Landing. What a fun time.
   Then next Thursday night Chris and Scott are coming to visit and bringing Chris’ new girlfriend and daughter. I haven’t met Michelle yet and can’t wait. We hope to go boating, roast marshmallows, play Pictionary and just have a great time!
  I love it when family are around!
Today I spent a lot of time reading the new Steve Barry book, The Emperor’s Tomb. It’s been a long time since I sat and read for hours.

It’s a scorcher!

Bradford isn’t known for its hot temperatures but today it’s 95 and we are sitting in the sunroom with the only house air conditioner on. We welcome these hot days remembering that it wasn’t too long ago that we had freezing temps. We work outside when it is cooler and stay inside during this short hot spell. Luckily it’s been raining at night and watering the flower gardens.


This is one of the favorite pictures I took when I was in Tennessee. I photoshopped it and added the words.


I added the verse to this one. I liked this picture of Jenny and Sara.

Another favorite shot.

A touch of France

Ever since I visited Paris and Provence I have been a Francophile. Anytime I see an Eiffel Tower in a picture my mind races back to when I was on the boat in the Seine and turned around and there lit up by millions of lights was the Eiffel Tower in the distance. Smelling lavender takes me back to standing in a huge field of lavender in Provence with bees buzzing cheerfully gathering lavender to make lavender honey. It is only natural that I wanted to recreate that feeling in my home. Each time I add something to my outdoor courtyard I try to get that feel back. My newest addition is a French streetlight.
I love the way it reminds me of a little French park. I debated about what to plant around the light. I finally decided that hostas and some annuals would be the right thing.

The spouting fish makes a soothing bubbling in the pond.

Now I can sit outside and be reminded of happy times.

Happy Birthday, Linda

My friends and I have a little tradition of taking each other out on our birthdays. Last week my friend Linda had a birthday and we celebrated today by going out to lunch at the Westline Inn. It’s a lovely drive out in the country to a wonderful restaurant filled with trout fishermen who came inside to avoid the rain. It was cozy and by the time we were finished the rain had stopped.



Around the corner from the inn is a country gift shop called Our World. We had a great time shopping around.



I found a unique shawl with buttons which just happened to match the outfit I had on, so of course it walked out the door with me.

Afterwards we stopped at another country store and an ice cream parlor. It was a wonderful day of chatting and laughing.

Happy Birthday, baby!

Today is Don’s 69th birthday.  We celebrated by eating dinner at the Nickel Inn with our friends Aline and Jerry then returning home for cake. It was a cold night but we stayed outside as long as we could around the fire.

Did I say how cute my grandchildren are?

Sean and Sara can’t get any cuter! I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.