Another hot day

I have learned that here in Tennessee the summer doesn’t end in September as it does at home. Yesterday it was 94 which means we stay inside most of the day. Even if it rains like it did while we were having dinner at the Olive Garden it didn’t last long. And when we left it wasn’t raining as we got in our car but 100 feet away you could see it was coming down. Strange. 

    Poor Sara didn’t enjoy her dinner. She had come home sick from school on Tuesday with a cold, stayed home yesterday but we thought she was ok to go out for dinner. Unfortunately she got sick at her stomach and had to go to the car with Jenny to lay down and eventually threw up. She is staying home again today. 

    We enjoyed having Chris with us for a few days. He went back on Tuesday. We are stopping at his house tomorrow on the way home for a few days. This has been such a wonderful break and getaway and being with family is so important. Tonight we are visiting Don’s sister who just learned that she is cancer free.  What a joyous celebration.  

Of course Sara and I played makeup. Don’t worry. It’s only for fun. She doesn’t wear it out.  She put gold glitter on my eyelids and my face sparkled for two days.  Despite washing it twice and showering little specks on glitter still stuck in places on my face.  She sure is a girly girl.  

This is how we roll

On our way to Tennessee. 

The birthday party. 

Sean made an electric walking robot from the Kiwi Crate that I send him every month. He loves putting these scientific things that are fun together. Sara made a kaleidoscopic with hers. 

It is very hot here..88 today and 90 tomorrow. 

You’ll have to forgive me

Blogging is going to be scattered these days as I get busy with life. Please forgive me that I may not always find time to get here to tell you what I’ve been up to. I thought about just taking a total break but then I find times where I want to journal. 

Yesterday I was busy doing laundry from four beds and remaking them. I’ve finally got the house back in order after ten days of company. It has been raining a lot the last few days and I’ve stayed indoors. Last evening we went over to Eldred to visit Don’s stepmother and his brother. It’s always enjoyable to visit with family. Don’s stepmother will be 96 on August 31 and is in amazing health. She still lives in her own house and goes to the senior center every day to play cards. She is as sharp as a tack and keeps her mind sharp doing Suduko and Cryptoquip as well as jigsaw puzzles. 

This large sunflower is outside the Lighthouse restaurant where we had coffee yesterday morning. That is my friend Joan in the background. 

Look What’s New

I’m sure you are aware of the concept “one thing leads to another” and when the front hallway was painted it lead to a change. This area once was a firebox to hold wood but when we installed a gas insert in the fireplace we no longer needed this space. I tried over the years to put different things there and when the girls were here we brainstormed what would look nice. I suggested a tray on which I could put vignettes. One day we went to the Salamanca Antique Mall. The dimensions of the opening were very unusual and I asked the Universe for just the right thing to put there. And the Universe came through..again. Diane had suggested looking for a trunk and I found one that fit perfectly. It is green and was perfectly rusted. I want to coat it with a clear shiny spray paint but for now I’m trying it out and I love it. I haven’t found the perfect vignette for the top but I love the mirror there. 

Over here is the Chinese table that was in the hall before but not showcased. I love when things change and get freshened up. Thank you sisters for painting!

It’s going to get real quiet here

My sisters left at 8 this morning for their journey back to Virginia. It was hard for us to say goodbye. We have had such a fabulous week and been busy every day. And they have been such a good help to me. Besides painting the hall for me they helped me organize my fall decorations that Josh brought down from the attic and put in my basement. You may remember that the air conditioning system now takes up the entire attic with a huge unit and flexible large ducts (two to each room). I can’t walk up there without stepping over or ducking under a duct. That has given me even more incentive to get rid of things. I am moving most of the decorations downstairs and eliminating as much from the attic as I can. 

  Even though we have another week of August I feel FAll in the air. The temperatures have cooled down and we sat outside in the perfect weather quite a bit this last week. It won’t be long till I’ll be putting out those pumpkins.

  Josh and Caron will be leaving this morning also. They loved eating breakfast at Sprague’s and plan to stop over there again before they leave for Pittsburgh. I will spend the day doing laundry and bedding and going to Giggle Girls today. Then I will rest...and rest...and rest. 

What a busy week

Sister week is drawing to a close. They will be leaving on Monday and so will Josh, Caron and Jackson. The above picture is Jeff, Jackson and Diane at Sprague’s Maple Syrup House where we all enjoyed breakfast this morning. Last night we made our annual trip to Olean to eat at the Beef and Barrel to have one of their famous beef on kummelwick rolls. It has been a busy week visiting Linda’s husband’s family too. We have been on the go every single day. It is nice to have company.

I didn’t ask them...really

Look what my sisters decided to do for me?  I have wanted this hallway painted for a while. It had an outdated color with stenciling...remember that?  They went to work and in one day it changed from rose to a light wheat color. So refreshed!

This picture was from my girlfriend and it looks much nicer in this location 

We are always good for a laugh

No, these are not aliens from outer space. We are three women making the ultimate sacrifice of a collagen mask. I treated the girls to a bag full of makeup goodies.  Our faces did feel better afterwards. Diane said, “Do we look younger?”  Linda said, “It’s a mask, not a miracle.” 

Looking younger and refreshed we ventured to Ellicottville, New York for Taste of Ellicottville where vendors from nearby restaurants set up tents. We bought some tickets and walked around trying to find the best food. 

The choices were varied and Linda and I settled on a steak slider while Diane had salmon and beer Mac and cheese. For dessert at the Cupcake Factory we had a delicious selection of bars....lemon, chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, and peanut butter oatmeal. 

After a free beer tasting we went to the Steelbound Brewery for a drink and chips and dip. 

We stopped at a farmer’s market on the way home for some fresh corn and after we take a rest we will make fajitas for dinner and then watch a movie. What a great way to spend time with my sisters. 

It’s sister time

Every summer my two sisters come up for a visit.  You can’t beat Bradford’s weather in the summer where the temperature usually is in the seventies. But with global warming these past few years have increased to the eighties. But it is still cooler than Virginia temperatures. They will be here tonight so if I’m MIA for this week don’t be alarmed. 

  This afternoon I am going to Mayville once more for another watercolor lesson. I so enjoy doing that and get satisfaction creating.  

AUGUST

Ah, air

I really got to enjoy central air yesterday as the temperature reached ninty.  I hadn’t realized how hot the house gets and how we had to huddle in one cool room with a window air conditioner. Just being able to walk all through the cool house was amazing. And the Giggle Girls enjoyed being inside too. It has really made a difference. 

   Today I am going to friend’s home to help her with Facebook. I am happy to show her how to do something because I know sometimes it is easier to just be shown instead of having to figure it out yourself. I have been in situations on the computer where I have googled myself into a coma trying to solve a problem. 

   Later this afternoon is my weekly art class. I have enjoyed this weekly painting ritual and admit that my skills have improved with practice. It has brought me so much joy. 

   My job for today is cleaning the spare bedrooms in anticipation of my sister’s visit on Friday. We don’t have a lot planned for the week except on Sunday when we will be going to Erie for a dinner theater. It will be great to have them here. Then the next weekend Diane’s youngest son and family are coming. I love having people around and am looking forward to it. 

Downton Abbey, the movie, is in production with most of the original cast. Can’t wait. How I have missed looking forward every Sunday to Masterpiece Theater.

All ready for the Giggle Girls today. We will enjoy fresh fruit salad and 7 up cake.  

These two watercolors in the style of Monet are my largest attempts in my Mayville class. 

Having less

I never understood my mother and my mother in law when asked what they wanted for their birthdays. They would reply “I don’t need anything.”  I couldn’t imagine that there wasn’t anything they didn’t need. Now I know. They had reached that point in life where having things wasn’t important. It wasn’t that they couldn’t have used a nice fluffy new set of towels. But it was that they were content with just what they had. 

    I think that is the state of life I am at right now. To my surprise. I love to shop...at least I always did. The thrill of the hunt, the excitement of bringing things home and finding a place for them in my house and the pride in making my home pleasant to the eye delighted me. So what has changed? I am trying to eliminate things from my life...less clothes, less decorations, less to take care of. Maybe it is the stage of life that I am in. Or maybe a change of attitude? 

   

Recovery

This is my friend Lynda. I snapped this photo as the sun was setting over the Ohio River. Lynda is a very young eighty four. She exercises every morning of the week except Sundays at the YMCA either swimming or taking aerobic classes. She is a great role model for me of how to live a full life. She loves to travel and volunteer. She was a former school nurse and I call her an angel on earth for the way that she is always there when someone needs her. 

  I can’t believe how long it took for me to recover from my trip to Pittsburgh. I got home at two and was asleep by two thirty. I didn’t wake up until ten thirty yesterday. I was so tired and groggy that I went back to bed at eleven thirty and slept till almost four. Then climbed back in bed at eight thirty and didn’t wake up till seven this morning.  I have never, ever slept that long in my life. I guess the old mare ain’t what she used to be. 

Perfect ride...not so perfect ride

Look at this sunset. What a perfect night for a cruise. The weather couldn’t have been any better..just right. Not hot, not cold, just perfect. This picture was taken from the top of the deck of the Pittsburgh Clipper. 

We arrived at Station Square in the heart of Pittsburgh after a longer than normal bus ride because we got stuck in a traffic jam on route 80. We had to be there by seven. The boat does not wait for anyone. We were really sweating it as we sat still moving only a few feet every minute. 

We had two of the greatest tour guides who tried to keep us relaxed and happy as we moved so slow. This “horse race” game helped us keep our spirits up. 

We pulled in to the Clipper parking lot at six minutes to seven and quickly boarded. Whew! Made it. We were led onto the downstairs portion of the boat to have our buffet dinner. After eating we climbed the stairs to the top deck. 

As we traveled to the dam and lock we chatted and listened to the DJ play upbeat music. 

Here we are entering the lock which would lower us into the other part of the river. The dam helps control the flow of water into Pittsburgh. It was quite an experience to go through this lock. The gates were closed behind us and water pumped out as we gradually lowered. After we went through we turned right around and went back through and headed home. 

This is the back of the ship with the lock closed behind us. 

On the way back we passed the outlines of the skyscrapers in Pittsburgh. It is a beautiful city. 

We climbed back onto the bus at ten o’clock for the four hour ride home. I was very tired to say the least and slept in till ten thirty and went back to sleep till three thirty. Finally I think I am caught up on my rest. It was a fantastic experience. I would love to do it again someday. 

Something new

I am so looking forward to this afternoon when I am going on a bus trip to Pittsburgh. For years I have read about the river dinner cruises on the three rivers and wanted to do that. When the opportunity came from Bradford travel I knew that it was for me. We leave at two in the afternoon and probably won’t be back till two in the morning since it is over a three hour drive there. There is sightseeing, going through locks, dinner and entertainment. I love to do something new and different.