Awwwwww-gust

August is already 1/2 way to it's end... time sure does fly.  I love the cooler nights but not the earlier darkness.  I have no control...What is .......is.... It does introduce us to fall though and that I LOVE!

We spent a few days at The River (St. Lawrence) where Jeff and Lacie were married.. Such a beautiful, relaxing spot for the big kids and the little ones.  Jeff was able to stay for the week-end then head to Syracuse to work early Monday morning.  Everyone swam, kayaked, fished, pontooned and relaxed with a toddy or two. Another great respite.

Jess and Bailee are off for 3 days at Mother/Daughter camp at Casowasco! A much needed vacation for them both...alone together!  Bailee so misses her one on one Mama time! They have been swimming, tubing, water-sliding, wagon riding, camp-firing and crafting.... They have their own room and choose their own schedule.  They even manage a little soul searching and praying..... a necessary time of reflection we all need........even 10 year olds!!!!

Soon it will be back to school shopping and the year really begins. I've always held September as the start of the new year.  January is just..................January! I'm anxious for all things fall. School, football, changing leaves, brisk mornings, Halloween, birthdays and holidays are the very best times

of the year.

Dads' Birthdays

Here we are at the end of July already.  Lee survived another year and made it to 67..... Dad in heaven is celebrating his 97th with Mom.  Buzzy Burgers and Bloody Marys for lunch, I'll bet!  Missing Overbrook today.  We always enjoyed the best birthdays there.   Just another factor of change that I dislike.  I'm learning to deal with it as the senior years appear to be jam packed with change :-/

We enjoyed celebrating Lee's birthday at Pam and Greg's yesterday. It's very comforting to have friends become family.  Lee's biggest fan is grandson, Jett.  Papa was one of his first words. He kisses his pictures and knows exactly where the shop is when he's walking with Mima!  Bailee recently had her hair cut and lovingly made Papa a man bun.....straight from her "homegrown" tresses.

It was a fun day:

How bad is it.....

How bad is it? is a column in my favorite magazine, HGTV. I'm not sure whose opinions they are but some are pretty interesting.... Not as interesting as mine, but interesting. Here are some of theirs:

• To take your dog out in the winter without a coat - not so bad
• To throw away junk mail without shredding it - super bad
• To not take a multiple vitamin every day - not bad at all
• To hang sweaters instead of folding them - really bad
• To keep an opened bottle of champagne - sorta bad....like flat
• To decline travel insurance - not bad at all
• To wear your glasses on the top of your head - pretty bad
• To not clean your grill between using - pretty bad
• To scratch a mosquito bite - kinda bad  ( in my case ...horrible)
• To drive with an expired license - super bad
• To put sandy towels in the washer - not bad at all
• To leave cushions out all summer -  kinda bad ?????
• To eat ice cream straight from the container - really bad

Now, some of mine:

• To miss someone's birthday - really bad
• To NOT send a thank you note - unforgivably bad!
• To shower every other day - not so bad
• To use words that don't exist (like scar-t or fustrated - intellectually bad
• To buy Christmas presents in the summer..........and wrap them - fiscally not bad at all
• To only clean when you can actually see the dust and cobwebs - kinda bad
• To take pictures of ....everything - only bad if they're of me
• To have a lovely kitchen but not cook - kinda bad
• To write a silly blog so your kids and grands can remember what a goof you are/were - not bad at all!!!!!

In My Prime!

Today is a butt sittin', water drinkin', Amazon watchin', $ spendin' kind of day.  It's Amazon Prime Day!!!  For a relatively novice computer gal, I do my best shopping online.   The preview began at 9 p.m. last night and I made it over 2 hrs, finding 3 items that were on my shopping list and saved $120...  This morning, bright and early, I continued my quest for more of my Christmas list bargains... So far I have saved another $83 and I have another order ready to go shortly.  By the end of the day, I will have finished about 90% of this year's Christmas. These are actually intended purchases and not my often "I didn't know I/we needed it till I saw it" purchases.  There are always a few more toward the season gifts that I pick up but for the most part....this is my shopping extravaganza.  I was actually 50% done before I hit my prime....(yesterday!)

I know everybody thinks I'm a little cuckoo for shopping so early but I love having it finished and wrapped and then I can enjoy the season....the movies, the decorating, the anticipation, the lunches with my gal pals and the dinners with my friends.

Hallmark Ornament Premier Week-end is this week-end too and I'm pretty big on ornaments and traditions. My kids often roll their eyes on Thanksgiving night when the new ornaments are given and opened.....but it's tradition here and they're just going to have to "deal about it" (as Bailee would say when she was little!)

I want them all to remember what the holidays were like at Grandma's long after I'm gone.  But, since today I'm in my Prime, that's a long way off...  Maybe I should buy them all some Amazon stock.....after all, I'm responsible for it's success!!!! 😉

Happy Camper

Today I get to pick Bailee up from camp!!!  It's only been 5 days and 5 sleeps but it seems longer.  They have a website called Bunk1 that takes hundreds of pictures of all the campers every day... What a wonderful idea that is!  I can't wait till evening to pop on and see the smiles of these kiddos. I know I've extolled the virtues of Casowasco before but I can't say enough good things about this venue.  Whomever sets the activities, the schedules and the camp content does an exceptional job.  The kids are kept busy, well fed, very well exercised and totally cared for both physically and spiritually....which in Bailee's case, is needed and appreciated.. Our church time is next to nil.. Although I stand by one of my favorite sayings: Being in a church doesn't make you a christian anymore than being in a garage makes you a car!!  As we were going to camp last week, Bailee reminded me that they pray 5 times a day times 6 days! "You know that's 30 prayers Grandma!"   "Yes Bailee! I've prayed every night most all my life and I'm 65....do the math....I think you can handle 30!"  When she spends the night, she'll ask me to say mine out loud.... "Wow, that's a lot and you ask for things for a lot of people!"   "Yep, there are a lot of friends and family that need a little mention every night.....even the ones who have had their prayers answered can always use a reminder!"  Then I'll ask her who she'd like to "God Bless!"  Thankfully Mom and Grandma are at the top of the list...... she gets it!

So many things are learned in 5-1/2 short days.  Last year she talked a blue streak for days about all the activities and positive reinforcement she received at camp.  "They even cared about me so much they would only let me have PB&J one meal a day....... It's the little things!  She and her Mom will be going to a 3 day Mom/Daughter camp next month.... This will be a much needed time away from home together. I hope at the end of that stay..... we'll have 2 Happy Campers!

Many Thanks

My Mom always taught me that it was kind, courteous and politically correct (etiquette-wise) to thank folks for gifts, kind deeds and often just words.  She also explained that putting written thank yous in newspapers and local shoppers was tawdry and unacceptable (her values).  If you felt the need to thank someone, you should write a hand written note expressing your feelings.  I have written my notes, doled out my hugs and told all of those folks how much I genuinely appreciated their kind expressions of sympathy.  I did not; however, write a thank you to all who so caringly sent me a card or a note after Mom passed. I received many♥!!  Most everyone who sent a card, called, texted, or posted knew Mom's diagnosis of Alzheimer's and her struggle the past few years.  It seems nearly everyone is touched in some way by this debilitating disease.  Her progression over the past couple of years made this last step for her....a blessing!

Now this is where we might part company.  Family is who you choose to be closest to you. In hindsight, I probably did not spend as much time with Mom in these last two years as I should have.  She had not recognized us (those who visited) in a very long time.  The past year I probably got to glance into her beautiful blue eyes maybe twice!!!!! The rest of the time she would sit in her chair, head hanging down, sleeping. Who she knew, what she thought, where she was, I have no idea...no one does. That's the tragedy of this disease. Physical diseases can be monitored or tested, Alzheimer's cannot.  I knew from the last few times she spoke that she was back to her late childhood or early adulthood.  When she would tell me that Daddy was coming down the hall, it was her Daddy, not mine.  She couldn't speak in coherent sentences but she could belt out the words and tune to Darktown Strutter's Ball, a song her Dad and Grandpa used to sing to her.!  The last time we were in the car together, she wondered who the men in the backseat were that we'd just picked up from the airport.  I told her we had thought they were very handsome so we were bringing them home with us. She liked that......a lot! ( actually, we had just been at her Dr.'s)

So, I guess this blog is written today to appease Mom in the etiquette department, thank those who sent cards, notes and expressions of sympathy, and remind folks who are having their own "senior experiences" to surround yourself with those who understand and truly care about YOU.... (these folks may not be related to you!)  If you're lucky enough to have these folks by your side, be thankful.  If you're also lucky enough to have friends (or family) to share the responsibilities, be appreciative and remember that not all people have the ability to step up.  No matter how many siblings are in your family, eldercare may not be their forte.  I, too, knew I could not care for Mom at home. I was able to make decisions in her best interest, see that her needs were met, her finances were handled and her health monitored. There is always someone who has been through what you have questions about.  With today's technology, answers and support are out there....you just need to ask. Most every county has an Office of the Aging, call them. If you're looking for nursing home care.......... visit each one, find folks who have had loved ones there and ask questions.  I will say that finding a Good Nursing Home is an oxymoron....but there are some that are better than others. Do your homework way before the test.  Be educated, be prepared and be confident that you have done your very best.  I am♥

Graduation... grade 5?

I remember when Jeff's Junior Prom was in view... Everyone was buying fancy dresses (not Jeff,) ordering tuxedos and renting limos.  Jeff was on the shit list of his pals...(or maybe it was their mothers) because he had no desire to spend his (or my) money frivolously!  I was impressed with his decision, others were not.  This meant that by simple division, the others would have to pay more....sorry :-(  His comment, at the tender age of 17, was, "What will I have to look forward to if I do it all now!"

Fast forward 21 years.  Last week Bailee graduated from 5th grade....seriously?  Several years ago, against my objections which literally meant nothing, the powers that be decided it would be a great idea to move the 6th grade to the Middle School (high school bldg.)  These children still can't decide if they want to pull pig tails or pranks, use iPads or mini pads or frolic or flirt. One thing they don't want to do is write silly notes in cursive....because they were never taught!!!!!!   Anyway, that's another whole gripe.

These days, there are ceremonies for graduating from preschool, Kindergarten, 5th grade, 8th grade and then high school.  Ceremonies, programs, awards, music, celebrations every few years sure take the excitement out of graduation..... Which in my day, nearly 50 years ago, was a pretty big accomplishment rewarded with earned pomp and circumstance.  If you've already had four, it becomes old hat!  Kind of like a limo for the Junior Prom.

We have truly become a society of reward.  If you pee in the potty, you're rewarded, if you learn to ride your bike, you're rewarded, if you pass your Regents, you're rewarded and if you get your driver's license, you're rewarded.  everyone gets a ribbon at the Science Fair, all get trophies for soccer, certificates were given to each baseball player and awards were given for being kind.......really?  To the extreme, college students are given days off and pizza when they become so troubled over the recent presidential election that they can no longer function without therapy. I'm pretty sure that one of these Halloweens, everyone will be donning their pussy costumes.... after all, that's what we're promoting.

I am not purporting that we raise military trained kids but rather respectful ones who don't need a reward for completing a test or running to first base!  Kindness should have a self reward that needs no certificate. Verbal congratulations and  encouragement throughout the year should be common place in education and pride in your work should be the unseen trophy.  Teaching respect and responsibility while not teaching grammar and cursive seems a juxtaposition of responsibilities.

5th Grade graduation was nice but unnecessary.  Hopefully their sights will be set on HS graduation  while making themselves good listeners, kind classmates, respectful students and ambassadors for successful adults.  They will soon be our doctors, lawyers, plumbers, electricians, accountants and caretakers......and they will be rewarded with what they have learned.....and so will we!

soccer, certificates are handed out for being kind