August is here

 You can already feel the difference. It's getting dark earlier, and the heat is different. 

I love that we all have the same family calendars! 

 

This afghan is on it's way to California for a sad reason. A good friend of Steph's is not doing well, and she asked for an afghan to give her friend. I sent pix of all my available afghan, and she choose this one.

 Not a great pic, but we had 3 deer in the front yard grazing on both weeds and the zucchini that Ralph put out for them.

 My set up with the new tablet! I'm almost to the 13% mark. Even though I'm a lefty, I have the tablet on my right, and mark off the stitches with my right hand. We lefties have had to accomodate to a right handed world.

Jul texted me last night, a picture of her and her friend Josie playing the card game. I'm so glad she loves it, it's so fun and funny. I'm so glad Amary brought hers to Florida and showed us how to play it.

Sigh. The tangerine twatwaffle is still with us. FDT and his butt kissing minions.
 

July is on the wane!

 we're almost at the end of July. Hard to believe it's been a month since our sad trip to Florida for Morgan's funeral. I text with John every day, and so does Mike, and Charley does almost every day.

 On a lighter note, I saw this on Instagram and sent it to Steph, who is going to Chicago this September with Dan and another couple. The women are all in, the men not so much.

 Yesterday I was feeling tropical, LOL.

Sigh. My chromebook issue turned out to be hardware. The final update does not recognize any apps. Since I only used it for Pattern Keeper, it's now useless. It was only about 5 years old! Ralph gifted me an android tablet, which just arrived and he's setting up. Fingers crossed that we can reclaim my progress. 

Sigh again. I'm officially old. I have to do a minimum yearly distribution from my TSA. 

As always, FDT. And anyone who supports his regime of cruelty. 

 

A nice weekend!

 Temps in the 80's, humidity is down. Tomorrow we're having an early dinner with our cookie swap group- no cookies involved. 

 Boone was celebrating national ice cream day!

12%! This percent went fast, due to large amounts of colors.

 

Ralph put some carrots out, and this young deer approved!

 Yesterday's toppers! Watermelon for the summer! 

And of course, FDT and all involved. 

Another heat wave

 It's been in the 90's again. And the days are starting to shorten already.

We had a lovely visit with Manda and the kids. They got here on Friday night, and I made chicken nuggets and fries in the air fryer. Always a popular meal with the tween set. After dinner they went to Rita's Water Ice, of course. Then we gave them their birthday gifts, which they were happy with.

Saturday we went to Heather's for a family gathering/birthday party for both kids. Frank and Charlotte, Mike and Donna, Mike and Sam, and of course Boone. The kids had fun in the pool and hot tub. Boone is a water baby!

I made turkey sausage and peppers, and turkey kielbasi and sauerkraut. I was surprised, the turkey kielbasi tasted just like regular. So good! We also had mac and cheese and cupcakes. A smaller group than usual, so we were able to have conversations. A wonderful day. 

Sunday morning we went to First Watch for brunch, then they packed up and were picked up at 2:30 for their long flight home. After seeing them for 3 weekends in a row, it will probably be a year til we see them again.

 Yesterday Ralph got his hair cut to donate, for the third time. He says this is it for him.

 And back to Christmas Shoppes! I finally hit 11%! Not working on it for weeks slowed things down a lot.

And of course, FDT! 

Visitors coming!

 Coming back, actually. Manda, Amary and Garrett arrived last Saturday, spent the night, and headed to Delaware. The kids are in Italian day camp (John said that sounds like a spy novel) and Manda is working from the hotel room. 

They will head back here tomorrow when camp is over. Saturday we're having a birthday pool party for Amary and Garrett.

 I have turkey sausage, kielbasi and hot dogs arriving this morning for the party. 

Yesterday Ralph and I went to IHOP and I got the pancake flight breakfast. I ate one set of pancakes and a slice of bacon there and brought the rest home. 

 

Christmas shoppes yesterday. 10.6 % done. I haven't gotten a lot done this month with the funeral and company, but that's okay. 

July is a big birthday month for us. Dan, John, Steph, Connor, Kenzie, Amary and her other grandmother Polly. And Steph and Dan's anniversary. 

And as always, FDT and his band of grifters. 

Florida part two

 We all stayed at Star Island, a resort in Kissimmee that we've been to before. Heather rented a 3 bedroom unit that sleeps 8, and Mike and Michael rented the smaller units. 

 Being in the same place was great! They have a pool with a bar, which those who drink took advantage of. 

Amary brought this card game with her, and we loved it so much that I ordered Jules one. We ranged in age from 10 to 78, and the game is hilarious.

Then, the long rides and flights back home. I'd forgotten how busy and long 95 is.

 

I'm back to working on Christmas Shoppes. I'm a little over 10% done.

 This was hanging in the Hampton House we stayed in. It was behind acrylic, and I couldn't tell if it was fabric or paper. I'm picturing fabric, of course!

And, as always, FDT! And his minions. 

Sad trip

 I rode to Florida with Heather and Ed. I'd forgotten how long the ride is. He drove 12 hours Thursday, and 5 on Friday. Ralph rode with Michael and Jake, and Mike, Donna and Joey went in her car. We all met up at Star Island. Steph and Manda and the kids got in by about 7 pm.

Saturday morning was the funeral.

Michael and Jake got John there, and set him up in the Gator, which is like a souped up golf cart. 

 

It was Morgan's wish to be buried on the farm. Years ago they had Florida designate as area as a cemetery. Her sister Lisa gave an eloquent eulogy, talking about how Morgan went from being Lisa's baby sister to being her best friend and partner in crime. Nick spoke, a pastor spoke, and John sang You are my Sunshine to Morgan, and had us all sobbing. 

The funeral people released a white homing pigeon, which flew around the farm then took off for home. We adjourned to the pole barn for refreshments.

When the floor of the pole barn/workshop was set, John wrote in the cement.

 

John let Garrett drive the Gator, and Garrett had such a good time with that! John talked to everyone, then he was sore and exhausted, so he had the guys drive him back to the nursing home, and we all headed back to Star Island.