Beach week 2014

Just read everyone else's blog about the beach. It was so great. I must admit Sophie has the best pictures of all of us. I can't wait for a new phone. So here is my take on the week. Hope I can find my pictures in the cloud where Ed sent them.

 

 

Ok, I found them! Let's start with this fun photo from the road trip down there. I rode with Mary Grace and Ryan in their truck. Mary Grace drove giving Ryan plenty of time to keep me laughing. I had to snicker at this scene at a truck stop. What else could you do here but drink and loiter?

 

 

We all met at Felix's in Mobile for lunch

 

Parker was checking out the bay.

 

Puzzling commenced immediately.

 

Followed by sitting around being together

 

 

More puzzling

Brody getting to know his cool, old uncle. (We gave him a hard time about turning 30)

 

Loved our little pool

 

Nana steps in so Cary can enjoy the beach

 

Need I say more?

 

I brought mandalas to color. Candy introduced me to them. They are addictive. Andrew was especially talented at them.

 

 

MG and Ryan's night to cook. No he didn't really eat it raw. It was like this.

 

 

Grilled...and fried and crab cakes and ...

 

...bang bang shrimp.

 

 

Puzzling got serious

 

if a Family Guy puzzle can be serious

 

Mom's quiet spot. She had a great view.

 

More sitting and eating ...except for new moms. Great face David.

 

 

Sunset out my bedroom window

 

Brody had lots to pull up on

 

We spent a lot of time on that deck

 

The only pic I managed to get in. Love the hair

 

 

Taco night by Sophie and Paul . Grouper and beef

 

We fought a valiant battle with these slipcovers

 

Not sure who won...there were daily skirmishes

 

So cute. Notice all the mandalas behind him on the wall

 

 

view from the tent. some of our crew

 

Kitchen prep

 

Bryan and Cary teamed up to make burgers one night. Roasted Brussels sprouts, grapes and walnuts were the interesting side.

 

Karis was glad to see her dad.

 

Just saying...so stinking precious

 

 

Reading session

















too busy to blog

This has been a crazy busy week. Had a couple of work things and for some reason had something to do every evening. Some fun things too. Joan's 60th with girlfriends at Sombra. Priscilla always writes a song for that special birthday and we all sing it together. It was very clever. I hope I get one in 4 years. Yes I turn 56 this month. But for some reason I thought I was 56 all year. So do I do 56 again or can I be 55 this time? It is all just numbers to me.

 

How about unfried okra? A lady shopping at Freshway fruit stand shared this recipe with me, years ago. Saute trimmed okra (be careful not to cut too deep and let the goo run out), in olive oil , just 'til crisp. Season with salt, pepper and cumin

 

 

Have to brag a bit. Went to have my blood sugar situation reassessed and my NP said she was very proud of me. I've lost weight and lowered blood sugar. I don't have to use medication if I keep up the good work.

 

 

I really do like good food like this , but it takes planning and cooking. Oh and yes those are black cat feet behind my plate.

 

Here are a couple of funnies for y'all.

 

Don't pictures like this just crack you up? Guess he needed a little nap after those 20 years working for Mayor Mary

First let me say this is not our trash...so also not my Ed. I couldn't help but laugh at poor Ed losing his sentimental stuff. Jan walked ahead pretending she didn't know the crazy woman taking pictures of trash. 

 

You are only 18 once

Candy got a job and started Monday. I've been a bit of a stand-in for her. Lucy turned 18 Friday so I took her to lunch. We tried Local 463, even though they forgot Mom and I last time. It was very good.

 

Veggie burger for her

 

 

Vegetable plate for me. I wish they would put the salad on a separate plate. It was piping hot...not good for salad.  Then we went to Pine Cone and I bought her a new charm bracelet and a little nurse hat charm. Guess nurses don't wear those hats anymore but they are still the universal symbol.

 

 

Selfie in the store.

 

Saturday morning Mother of the Bride (hereto for known as MOB) and Maid of Honor went to help bride look at wedding dresses.

 

 

 I completely expected not to find one on the first try. And the visit started out very poorly.

 

 

They had scheduled the helper with 2 brides at once and put them right next door in fitting rooms. Well the other bride looked about 18 and had brought her whole country family with her. Now the dressing rooms are situated on little stages with chairs surrounding them for the critics to sit in. Mary Grace was already frazzled by having to wait 15 minutes for the sales lady to help us after picking the dresses she wanted to try. Sophie stepped up to the plate and got dresses in and on MG. It didn't help that the country family was watching our show as well as theirs. Nor did it help that the child bride was young , tiny and looked fabulous in every giant poofy dress she tried.

Our bride found one she liked. It won't ruin things to show you how we tried to make a size 14 let her see how it might look in her size.

 

 

One more big accomplishment done. 



Great party...

...terrible pictures. Once again I was having too much fun to remember pictures. The party for Rob was just right. Only good talk of memories and hope for the future. Sophie and Paul's house was the star of the show. People sat inside and out.

 

actually got one with Rob in it.

 

Lots of people came and went. I just didn't think about pics until it was almost over.

 

Here is where the food used to be. Ha ha

 

Lucy went with me to look for a swimsuit. What a trooper. I have bought my last several at TJMarshalls (you have to admit that title fits). Anyway , they had a terrible selection this year so we went to the mall. I had major sticker shock in Penney's and then went to Dillard's and had sticker shock to the point of feeling better mental health. Except that the prices were the crazy things. We knew the new H&M store was opening at noon so we strolled on down. We were wondering exactly where it was until we heard rock/rap music blasting so loud we could feel it in our bones. We bravely went in and wound our way through myriad bodies to get to the stairs. We were so close to the merchandise that we couldn't even see it. We saw a rack of really cute dresses for $7, an opening special. But who wanted to wait in line with 35 people ahead of you? We staggered back out into the cool (did I mention it was hot as all get out in there?) inner mall. Traumatized we decided on the only possible cure...

 

frozen yogurt. And before you get all "hers is the healthy one" in the back with all that fruit...please notice those nasty gummy worms. Mine was no sugar coffee chocolate and original tangy with almonds and a whisper of granola.

 

Ivy accused me of having an unhealthy breakfast this morning.

 

While unorthodox , these tacos were whole grain and low fat and full of veggs thank you very much.



 







Professional pet trainers

Ed and I may need to be certified as professional pet trainers. How else would we get such good results? Ivy even wanted to know where they learned this. She didn't really say this in a way that seemed like she was impressed. What do y'all think?

 

Ok doggies...BEG. They have got this trick down pat. All we have to do is rustle a chip bag, sit down with a plate or make any general food noise and they perform. Aren't they clever?

 

Made a fabulous lazy cook beef bourguignon. Not Julia's way but mine. Lots of mushrooms, onion, garlic, beef broth, red wine and round steak all cooked slow for a couple of hours in Mom's old deep iron skillet.

 

 

Found some patty pan squash at the farmer's market.

 

sautéed it with some zucchini and onions

 

I'm excited about Rob's goodbye party at Sophie and Paul's tonight. I made this lemon orzo pasta salad

 

It started with those little cucumbers I posted about. Then I added tomato, spinach, parsley, a little basil, a lot of lemon juice and zest to whole wheat orzo. I have to admit that I miss the look of the creamy, white, death to diabetics regular pasta. Not sure why because normally toasty brown is good.



 





beginnings and endings

Just got through reading Whitney's blog about the end of the school year. I had tears in my eyes for about the 100th time in the last two weeks. She realizes how quickly the time flies. But with each ending, comes a new beginning.

 We celebrated Lucy's graduation and the anniversary of her Dad's death is fast approaching.

Candy started her new job today. This leaves me with happiness  for her and a bit of sadness for me. We had fallen into a comfortable routine together.

Mom attended her 70th high school reunion!

Ivy is loving her new job at the BUMC daycare Privette school. This morning she said "I can't wait to see my babies!" Wouldn't all mom's of kids in daycare love to have someone like that caring for their little ones?

I see Cary so happy in new motherhood. He is changing so quickly. She and Jan were strolling in our neighborhood and a summer shower caught them. They stopped at my house for towels.

 

 

I had to scrounge for toys.

 

Measuring cups and spoons worked great.

 

He can sit up from laying down and pull up!

 

Ready for another beginning? I have been attending and serving at Broadmeadow since Dad passed away 3 years ago. I have never officially moved my letter, mostly due to nostalgia for my church in Madison. I joined last week. Well this week my good friend Amy joined as well as her daughter , Katie.

 

Such a happy day, with many tears. There was an infant baptism that day too. We always sing this sweet hymn about a child's life which always gets the hankies out. Amy and I were new mommies together at MUMC and all the work and fun that that implies. Sunday school, Easter egg hunts, Vacation Bible school (we were co-leaders together), baptisms, graduations...whew.

 

Later at lunch with my mom and kids, Amy told a story. A church friend asked her what brought her to Broadmeadow. She said "A man I never met brought me here...his name was Truman Ellis". "Through him and his family I have come home here". Keep a dry eye through that !

 

A sad ending coming up is Rev. Rob Hill leaving BUMC. He has meant so much to our family. I wish him much happiness in his new life. Sophie and Paul are throwing a party for him Wednesday night. Will post pics. And don't forget the happy beginning coming up...MG and Ryan. Can't wait to get to the beach and talk and laugh with my family. 

 

Summer is beginning too and produce is in!

 

tiny cucumbers...

 

became this salad along with tomatoes that actually taste good.

 

Lady peas, corn and honey mustard pork chops came along for the ride.