Playdate Summer 2018 Begins

We have sure had some wild and woolly weather this week.  I'm doing a reading camp on M, T, W mornings.  Giddy-Up, Missy Bugg and Mr. Smiley have joined me. Miss Bugg is my helper, along with Rae , Jenna Kyle and a few other sweet friends from school.

After we said, "So long," to the other campers, we had lunch.  It had started pouring by then and was kind of dark.  The morning campers create a woodland mix for snacks that includes sticks (pretzels) and fairy pillows ( marshmallows) and Giddy-up mentioned that you could put a fairy pillow on a stick and roast it. So, we did.

Then at one o'clock, my other gramerlings and friends started rolling in.  After years of trying to work out a visit,  a sweet friend and her six littles made it to playdate.  She played here with my kids as a little girl. It was so great to have her share a Playdate with us. I hope her mama will get to come visit as well.  

The first order of business was to get the tee shirts painted.

Next up, the much loved spot on the property- the creek.

This once held a practically perfect brachiopod and we still love looking for them.

 Things change so fast don't they? This darling girl was one of my first little playdaters and now she's Mr. Smiley's good buddy.

 And back in the day, this was her partner in crime and for some reason, that they are so grown up , but can be playful and laugh, makes me tear up.

 I don't know how in the world they grew up so fast.

 So very many cuties.

 They just play and play and play and it warms my heart.

 Some of our miners are quite serious about their creek work.

 This boy is not happy unless he has a hammer, or something equally able to cause some serious damage.

 Then this, really, a concrete deer?  He still needs to take something home from my house and this was the choice object, which required Sydlee and Ol' Henry to help fetch out of the creek and just cracked us all up.

 Always some interesting finds.

Both of my big boys play guitar now, which makes me happy.

 Then there are the things that never change, like story time, snacks with multi fruit snacks.

And play, play, play.

 And Uncle Jimi remains a character.

 And they eat like fattening hogs.

Yeah, I know. Coleslaw is not traditionally served with spaghetti, but I had a bag of chopped cabbage left from Arie's graduation party Saturday and no way I was going to let it go to waste.  They didn't  seem to notice or care at the odd choice of salad.

Thank you sweet Lord, for my people, a place to play, good food to eat and a sunny afternoon.  I love it!

Many Hands, Light Work?

It sure doesn't feel like there was anything light about this renovation, but there sure were many hands, most pictured here  and in other pages, with exception to Toney, who gave great advice and installed the shower, and Andrea who listened to me wail and moan this past several months when this turned into a way bigger deal than I had thought. A million thanks one and all. Thankfully, the color and the extra pieces all came together to make the cutest room in the house.  Lord, I am so thankful for all of these precious hands and hearts!

I'm mostly ready for my camp tomorrow.  Handy Man  and I are about as tired as we've ever been.  Along with a pretty room, I have enjoyed the time spent with my family that just doesn't seem to happen normally.  Now let's have some summer.  Oh, and come by to pee at my house.

Slow But Sure, We Plod Along

Bit by bit, paste and putty and paint and all are bringing a bathroom into existence. Kaye always told me to plan on spending twice the money and the time you thought it would take.  She was certainly right, only I think we're working on about three times what I had hoped to spend.

 These guys have worked so hard.

 Michael escaped to a retreat. Captain had military duty and flew the coop.  Drummer Boy and Handy Man are finishing off the job.  Drummer Boy gave me his opinion of my caramel colored paint when he said I certainly picked the right room to put it in.  It never looks like the sample.  Hopefully, once all the shelves are in it won't look so poopy, ha!
Handy Man just realized something that should have been plugged under the house apparently isn't. The fun never ends with this ol' house.
Rae and Ol' Mother Hubbard will be coming tomorrow to help me with placement of shelves and pictures.
This bathroom has certainly been a ton of work for a lot of people. A labor of love.
Between trying to keep all workers and their wee ones fed and watered, I'm trying to pull my summer reading camp together.  As things go, that fierce tropical storm blew through and knocked down a big oak in the neighbors yard, taking out the electric, which didn't return for thirty hours, so cable, phone, etc. poof!  Menopause and no AC means no sleep.  Gee, we are spoiled.

Bean and Bugg came and spent the morning Friday to help me get ready for the woods camp.  We went up to prepare the woods room and discovered a downed ash tree.    So, had to rethink the whole deal.  We made a new path and got things ready to roll.  Last night Buttercup, Buttons, Blue Eyes and Pixie helped me wash down the yard toys. I hope the kiddos who are coming enjoy it as much as I have envisioned they will. 
Lord Bless us everyone!