goodbye to August



the last day of one of the months with 31 days

it was a nice weather-wise August by my standards - some hot days, but nice ones and cooler days for a usually hotter month, and "good sleeping weather" nights

time was spent with my family, babysitting my grandson, working in the garden, meeting friends for dinner, sometimes breakfast, mowing the lawn, reading books by Joy Fielder, shopping at the Mount Clemen's Farmers' Market on a rainy Saturday, re-doing my Sweat Shop Studio, hanging out with Sophie

several birthdays this month, wedding anniversaries, a 60th birthday celebration for a very special cousin, a bridal shower

as the last August day drifts away, memories is what is left of this last full month of summer
I won't let myself get sad because summer is not over yet and my garden is still a....bloom (whilest the annuals are fading away), the perennials are still blooming

a month ends
but there will never be another August quite like this

thankful for all the memories of this month, I will cherish the special times and not-so-special times of this month


so, boodbye August - thank you for the memories

Vacation Day Friday - a day trip to North Branch and a sleep over at Nana's
Here are some pics at Nana's house.

Beth, Keegan and I did a day trip to North Branch to visit family. It was a rainy but it is always nice to go up to the farm and visit family no matter what the weather. Keegan fell in love with Aunt Dot and she with him. It was so heartwarming to see Aunt Dot open her heart to our little boy. He giggled and cooed and took to her in an instant.

Keegan also got to meet Uncle Buddy, Aunt Nellie and Cousin Kenny.

It was a nice afternoon and I loved Beth and Keegan spending the night. The big people had french toast for breakfast and the little person had yummy cereal.

Anniversary: #3

It was on this day three years ago that I brought Sophie home from the Detroit Humane Society. I have to admit, it was love at first sight - for both of us.

I really didn't think I would ever have another dog. Dogs tie you down and living alone would make it tough. But truthfully, I toyed with the idea of getting a dog - to feel safer. I just couldn't take that step. And then it took going with a friend who was getting a dog of her own.

I walked down that first aisle. And there she was, as if she was waiting just for me. Sitting in the kennel, looking at me with those big, brown eyes. It was magical. It was almost like she was thinking out loud "Well, you're finally here."

So, I am thankful to Jesus every day for bringing us together at that one special moment. And now I love rushing home because she is here waiting for me. Truthfully, I rarely have things to do to delay me coming home.

So, for Sophie and me - life is good - because we have each other. ♥

Keegan, August 14 & 15

I got to feed him cereal for the first time - and boy does he love it. And then we spent the entire day together. I am thrilled when he recognizes me. I'm learning how wonderful it is to be a Nana to this darling little baby boy.

Babies are great.

How cute is this?

Fawn & Bobcat

The Jesusita Fire in Santa Barbara , CA last week caused these two to take shelter together. The fawn is 3 days old and the bobcat about 3 weeks. The fawn came from somewhere in the fire and the bobcat from Carpentaria. They immediately bonded and snuggled together under a desk in the Santa Barbara County Dispatch Office for several hours. Extremely alert reader Fiv3r is reporting that Animal Planet is reporting the bobcat kitten was rescued near Arnold Schwarzeneggers ranch, where it was dehydrated and near death. They rescued the fawn during last week's wildfire. Although wild animals, especially of separate species, are never placed together due to regulations, in this emergency situation, they had no choice. During the mayhem of the fire, they were forced to put animals anywhere they could, since they had run out of crates large enough for the fawn. The kitten ran to the fawn, and it was instant bonding.

Thanks to my friend, Lindy, for passing this story to me.

Picnics

Weekends in what was then "long" summers could find the family gathering together at Belle Isle, Chandler Park, Kensington, maybe Lexington or wherever, to have a picnic. Several families would gather at the picnic grounds. The first order of business was to find the perfect spot. Had to have "facilites" close by, enough picnic tables, a park grill, and lots of shade. And hopefully a playground. Sometimes there was even a beach for added fun.

Once all of the above were found, then it was time to set up "camp". Tablecloths were put on the tables. Blankets were put down, maybe a playpen, a buggy........

It was always a family celebration. Everyone shared food and beverage.

The menu usually included hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, macaroni salad, beans, corn on the cob, salad. Dessert. Pop. Beer (of course).

And the uninvited ants.

The men would play cards, talk and drink beer. The women - taking care of "camp", food preparation, taking care of the kids.

And the kids. They did what kids did. They played hard....on the swings, slide, maybe swimming, baseball, tag, whatever they could come up with. In those days it was pretty much about making your own fun. And it was always physical.

Yep, the old days. It was a simpler time. It wasn't complicated. Families stayed close and connected. Cousins enjoyed each other.

I would love to go back and do a picnic with my large family. I loved these times....loved the elders, aunts, uncles, cousins. It was simply FUN.

Happy Birthday to my wonderful and dear sister, Barby!
I wish I could be with you to celebrate.
I hope that F & C take you somewhere special for dinner.



Love,

"We're all products of our childhood, after all. Everything we become as adults springs from who we were as children, how we were treated, who and what shaped our ideas and values. We are who we were -- just taller."

This came from a book I am reading and I just felt like blogging it. Of course I know that we are products of our childhoods. I just like the rest of it, too.

lost dog returns home on ferry :-)

Pets in the UK sure like their public transportation! First there was Casper, the cat who commutes daily on the bus. Now there's Jarvis, a lost Jack Russell terrier from England who boarded a passenger ferry to get back home.Jarvis got lost after taking off after a rabbit while walking in a park near Plymouth Sound, reports the Daily Telegraph. His owner, Vivienne Oxley, looked for her pooch for an hour, to no avail. Luckily, Jarvis knew exactly how to get home. He strolled a quarter mile to a passenger ferry and boarded the boat that took him across the Sound. The park warden, who'd been alerted to the dog's disappearance, phoned Oxley to let her know Jarvis had been spotted on the ferry. Before Oxley could get to the docks to search for him, her phone rang again. This time, it was her husband calling to tell her Jarvis had made it home, with tail a-wagging. The dog had walked another half-mile from the ferry, crossed three main roads, and returned to his house no worse for wear. Oxley told the Telegraph that she had taken six-year-old Jarvis on the same route several times and obviously, he was paying attention! "I just couldn't believe it. I was so relieved. When I got home he was just sat in the window as if nothing had happened!" said Oxley.So what's next for British pets? Planes? Trains? The tube? We're eagerly awaiting the next meandering-pet tale from the other side of the pond.

Jarvis rocks!!!!!

To me Sophie is the most beautiful dog in the world. I am thankful that on August 22nd three years ago she came into my life.
Sure she is still a puppy, has more strength and energy that never stops; needs to be more disciplined, but she is my bestest pal. I cannot imagine life without her, nor would I want to. She is usually by my side. She loves taking naps with me. And at bedtime she is ready to beat me up the stairs to my room. She stays cuddled to me all night long and, just like me, hates when the alarm goes off at 4:30 a.m. But the pal that she is, she accompanies me downstairs to begin our morning work-day routine.

I have no idea what she does all day long when I am at work. Sometimes I notice a pillow moved from a chair to the couch, or a tissue removed from the bathroom basket.

What I do know is she checks out the person who delivers mail. She doesn't bark when someone comes on the porch. She is more than friendly when she is able to greet someone. But mostly, she is waiting for me when I come home from work. Oftentimes she looks out the dining room window for my first glimpse of her. And when I come in the back door, she waits for a kiss and hug from me before she will even think of going out and make her rounds around the yard.

Yep, that's my Sophie (Zosia in Polish). All almost 59 lbs. of her.
She's a cutie and I love her.♥

My backyard garden is a mix of old and new perennials, a few annuals, garden art, and my love for it all.

It has been a busy summer for me and I have not done all that I want to do in my garden, but there is still time. I have several plants yet to put in. That is this coming week's plan. After the soaking rain that came this way most of yesterday, the earth is ready for my shovel. I would have loved to have accomplished some of this earlier today, but it is hot and humid and the kind of weather that makes me wilt. Perhaps later in the day I will get a little done. In the meantime, I have a roaster of Golumpki (Polish for stuffed cabbage) in the oven. Love the smell of it as it cooks in the oven. So a nice Sunday to spend at home with the flowers in my garden and the smells of a Polish meal cooking in the oven. :-)~