Happy Leon Day

I just learned, or in my case, remembered that I forgot,

that today is Leon Day.

Leon...Noel spelled backwards.

It's exactly six months to Christmas...

I'm getting excited!

How about you?

Garage Party

Mark (my late husband, Andy and Tony's father) and his friends had a long standing tradition...

Garage parties!

It didn't matter the reason, the weather or the season,

the guys met at someone's garage for beer, snacks and usually

 ping pong.

Tony sent me this photo.

Tony and Henry  wanted to give Mindy a break, but it was raining so they decided to have a garage party!

Just reminds me of Tony!

Speaking of Henry and sports...

Isn't he adorable?

~sigh~

I love being a grandma!

River Rats, Unite!

A few weeks ago, Andy got a new pellet smoker.

He played with it at home, and offered to make us pulled pork at camp.

It was delicious!

He decided that he wanted to try a brisket.  Andy, Tony and I went together and bought one.

He started it at 3AM on Saturday and by noon it was ready and incredible.

I was so busy eating I didn't think to take pictures.  Next time.

Mark's brother and nephew came, his wife and daughter came later.

Tyler, my nephew, had a blast on Cody's jet ski...

A few months ago, my oldest son, Michael, gave Andy an old lawn tractor.

He cut it apart and reasseembled it for Locklan.

They brought it to camp so Locklan could move fire wood.

Everyone else took a few trips in the boat, 

Locklan went tubing.

I didn't go out at all, my back was killing me.

Henry loved Andy's beat up hat.

Don't you just love his smile?

Little by little, everyone was tired and started to slow down....

Michelle got this photo of Locklan and Teagan sitting on the steps to the dock...

Another happy day at Camp Manfred...

A Whole Lot of Nothing

As long as I've been gone, you would think I was accomplishing something.

Not true...but things are happening...

Do you remember this?

When that ginormous branch fell on the kids' trampoline?

You can read it by clicking here..

We have had quite a few trees in our neighborhood that needed attention.  

The tree guy came to cut down several trees in the neighbor's yard

and came to clean up all the dead branches from our tree.

Locklan spent the night before and was up with the chickens and ran 

outside in his pajamas!

He was even more excited when they brought the bucket into our yard.

I'm happy to say that the yard is safer and yes,

we are poorer!

Anything for my little angels.

Some People's Kids!

Michael, my oldest son, and his lovely wife, Catherine, just came back from their vacation.

They take a fun trip every year and they take their 'daughter' Sophie.

Sophie, the Papillon,  has even traveled to Canada!

Catherine is an excellent planner and those plans always include Sophie!

This year they decided to go to Deep Creek, MD for a relaxing get-away.

Catherine sent me this...

I

I think they had a good time.

We're glad they are home safe and sound!

This and That

 Mark's brother, Uncle Mike, invited Mr.K and I, Andy and Tony and their families down for a swim and cookout.  Michelle, Mike's wife, made us Primanti Sandwiches, made famous by the restaurant in Pittsburgh.  They looked kind of like this...

Yes, there's french fries (and Michelle made the real deal fries), coleslaw, cheese, tomato and meat...

I never had one, so I made a deconstructed sandwich (no bread).  The combination was heavenly!

The main focus for the kids was...

The pool, of course.

Although it was a fairly nice day, as soon as the sun went down, it got chilly.

Even so, the kids didn't want to stop swimming.

It was a great night, good company, good conversation and 

great people.

I feel so blessed to be included in this family!

Rolling on the River!

The weekends are flying by,

I'm never going to find the time to sort through stories and photos...

We've had two fun filled weekends, lots of kids playing in the yard...

A plugged up toilet...

If you've been around here for any amount of time, you know that when my family gets together, we get crazy!

Of course, we had Cody and his family there...

And Locklan grabbed my camera and snapped this photo of a giant flag...

Teagan loves the boat!  When you ask her if she wants a boat ride, she says, "Go fast!"

She'll sit with anyone as long as we go fast!

Of course, we have to wave our arms and scream...it's a tradition, you know.

Locklan loves to drive, with Andy's assistance, of course!

It took Henry a while to get used to the wind and sound, but by 

the second time he went out, he loved it!

 This last Saturday, Andy and kids ventured out on the raft.  Not me, way too cold!

~sigh~

The only thing I like more than boating season is Christmas!

Happy Birthday, Ashley!

If you see Ashley out and about, 

Stop her and wish her a happy birthday!

Now THAT'S Corny!

Tony sent me this photo of Henry and I thought it was too cute not to share...

That kid loves his 'corn on the bone' as Tony used to say...

What Happens at Grandma's

On Thursday, Locklan came to spend the night with Grandma!

He hasn't done that since right before Christmas.

He had a long list of things we had to do, 

But first, he wanted to check my 'roof' to make sure it wasn't leaking

(he never seems to understand the difference between 
roof and ceiling

not to mention that my bedroom is above our family room).

So he drags the ladder in and sets it up...

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear my roof is fine.

We had to head down to his house because he forgot to pack his tooth brush,

When we got back, he set up the inflatable bed in the living room.  

He was up at 6AM!  I'm an early riser but I really enjoy that quiet time before Mr. K wakes up.

Locklan woke up talking!

First thing on our list was to bake cookies...

I am not a cookie maker, it takes too long.  After the first batch, I used my 1/4 cup scoop and we had huge cookies for him to take home.

Then we used the big boy paints (not washable) and painted cars for our wooden railroad.

Since we were using acrylics, he had to strip down to his undies!

The whole time we were doint things, he talked and talked and talked...

At one point he said, "All these stories are old ones 

but they are very true!"

He almost fell asleep before getting the train track set up.

He amazes me, we have so much fun, but I had to take him home because we were heading for the river in the morning!

So Far Behind!

I'm not sure I'll ever get caught up around here...

But, before I forget, Locklan graduated from Pre-school!

They usually have a graduation ceremony, but the school year was cut short

and there was no time for that.

Andy and Ashley took him to the school where Miss Mary

presented him with his diploma...

And more important, he got to put his handprint on the wall.

Miss Mary has each 'graduate' sign the wall with their handprint.

Andy held Locklan up so he could 'sign' up high!

Isn't that a wonderful tradition?

As you can see by the dates, this has been going on for a long time!

~sigh~

He's growing up way too fast!

More of the Same...

Okay, no witty, entertaining post about life on the river.

I sat down at my computer yesterday afternoon and within minutes my mom called.

Now, since Mom and I talk every single night  if she is calling during the day is not a good thing.

She started the conversation without me.

"I think I have to go to the hospital.  My little hernia (which was the size of a golf ball) is as big as a grapefruit and I can't stop vomiting."

Now, if you have been around here for a while, you know that we know the routine.

Mom has many hernias (Hernia?).  She has had surgery for as many as four at a time and has had four separate surgeries in two years..  She has been hospitalized at least ten times in four years. She left Tony's wedding reception in an ambulance and was in surgery within two hours.

 They always hope that by poking it back in, that the situation will resolve itself.  They will only operate again if it is life threating, due to her chronic blood cancer (which they control with oral chemo) and her age (almost 89).

I'm an hour from Mom, so I told her to call the ambulance and get to the hospital.  I would get there as fast as I could.

I got there and they were glad to see me.  They needed me to sign consent to treat forms and then told me to leave the building.  No visitors and even in the waiting room, only patients are permitted.

They did give me a few phone updates last night and at 9 this morning, she called to say she was being discharged.  No non-emergency patients!

We talked this afternoon.  The hernia-guy (I'm brain dead at the moment) wants her to see a surgeon.

The last one said that with all the stuff going on with her, the only way they would operate is if she showed up with her intestines hanging down to her knees.

I just don't know what to say...

So, to end this post on an up note...

A little cuteness...

Andy took Locklan to Lowes...Locklan wouldn't go unless he could wear his ruler!

Another Tuesday!

I know I said that I would show you photos from the weekend...

But yesterday was Tuesday and you know how well I get along with Tuesdays...

It started early and easy.  I had coffee on the patio while waiting for Mr. K to wake up.

I haven't gone out in public (or to shop) in forever.

Mr. K has no hobbies, doesn't read and most of all, doesn't mind running to the store.

He volunteered to run to Sam's Club.  

I gave him a list.

On the list was a bag of those tiny potatoes.

He did send me a text saying that they had no hard salami...

I was upstairs when he got home, he put the groceries away.

Then I decided to run to Michaels for paint so Locklan and I could work on a project.

I was gone about 45 minutes when Ashley called, asking me to ride to Sam's and sit with the kids in the car while she ran in to pick up one thing.

Instead, I met them there.

Mission accomplihed.

I went home to start dinner.  I had a killer salmon recipe I couldn't wait to make.

I put the salmon in the oven and went to start the baby potatoes that Mr. K bought.

Where were they?

First he said he put them in the fridge.

Nope.

The basement?  The Pantry?  Left in his car?

Nope, nope and nope.

We searched and searched.  I checked his receipt.

Yes, he bought them.  No, we did not have them.

He suggested noodles.

The salmon recipe said to bake the salmon and then broil it for 2 to 3 minutes.

I did.  After 2 minutes, it looked heavenly, it smelled divine.

I went to open the oven and flames shot out!

I screamed and slammed the door. 

I tried again, same thing, well, almost the same thing...

This time Mr.K came running with the fire extinguisher and sprayed the east wall of the kitchen, the inside of the oven, my beautiful salmon dinner AND the noodles cooking on top of the stove.

Sigh...it was Tuesday...

We ate Wendy's.

Ahhhhhh!

What a weekend!

I had the kids on Friday while Ashley did the grocery

 shopping for the weekend.

Locklan 'invented' a new kind of face mask...

Teagan was her usual spitfire self, but late afternoon, she just got quiet...

Oh my, isn't she cute?

Ashley posted a photo of her and Griffin, their yellow Lab a year ago.

Griff was so tiny and Teagan didin't have any hair!

Mr. K and I had two very busy days at camp,

Andy and family had three!

Tony and Mindy and Henry came on Sunday.

I'm sorting through photos

(I let Locklan use my DSLR as long as he keeps the strap around his neck)

So far, I have deleted 120 photos of Cody on the jet ski!

We can talk about it tomorrow.

Until then...

Stay home, stay healthy, stay safe!

Grandma Day!

Wednesday was Grandma-Locklan day.

It's been a few months since we had time alone so this was quite a treat for both of us.

We painted rocks...

We set up the wooden train track...

And then we went outside where he set up Locklan's restaurant in the play house.

~sigh~

Did I tell you how much I love being a grandma?

Oh The Joy!

We spent two days at camp this weekend.

Tons of work being done, I'll show you later,

But first...

This is what Locklan looked like when he tasted his first S'more

 I know...precious, right?

We Broke It!

Okay, it's time to 'fess up...

We broke quarentine!

Yes, on Sunday, Mother's Day,

We accepted an invitation from Tony and Mindy

to come and see their new (to them) house.

They had just spent their first night there.

We went!

After we had done that, we figured we'd throw caution to the wind and visit (maintaining distance) my mom.  
She had been alone in that house since the quarantine started.

The last time I saw her was March 13.

The game plan was to go and order lunch from a local restaurant

and treat my mom to lunch!

She lives in a small town (5,000) and there are very few restaurants

but she does have a favorite and I checked their website and it said they were open.

They were not.

Selection was sadly inappropriate.

We treated my mother to a Mother's Day Fast Food Treat!

She was so happy to see us, she didn't care.

Neither did I.

We are no longer on lockdown...
BUT

Stay at home as much as possible...

Avoid crowds...

Wear a mask in public...

Wash the skin right off your hands!

40 Pounds of Flesh

On Wednesday, Ashley called me.

Last week we went together and bought 20 pounds of ground beef from a farmer.

It was amazing!

Well, as amazing as ground beef can be.

This time, a local poultry farmer was offering 40 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts for only $65.

She had ordered 40 pounds and was picking it up on Thursday.

Did I want her to add 40 for me to the order?

Since our freezer needs stocked, I said yes.

She called later to tell me that it was too late to add onto her order for this sale 

but she would split her order with me.

Okey dokey.

On Thursday, we headed to the farm where she had the guy load the chicken in her trunk.

Then we headed to camp for lunch!

I had this fleeting thought as I watched her wrestle the box of chicken into the fridge at camp to keep it cool.

Seemed like a lot of chicken.

Yesterday, Ashley and kids came over.  Ashley was going to cut the chicken into equal pieces and bag it with my food saver.

I have trouble walking but standing still is horrible for me, my knee locks and I can't move!

So while I played with the kids (yes, I play), Mr. K went to get us a pizza and Ashley opened the box.

Ugh.  Within minutes, my kitchen reeked of raw chicken!

At times, we were gagging.

She did a bang up job, bagging them in meal size portions...

It took hours and hours!

All we could say is that it is done...

Forty pounds is a LOT of chicken...

And most of all, thank goodness we didn't get 80 pounds!

We're still pretty much staying home...

Limiting trips in public...

Wearing masks in public...

Washing the skin off of our hands!

Staying healthy...

Strange Things...

Back in January, Andy and his friend Cody who is 

my  'adopted' son, and I went to a boat show.

I put a deposit down on an 8 x 24 foot pontoon dock for camp.

Oh my goodness, that's a crappy photo, but the only one I have.

We've been talking about it, planning for it, since then.

Andy and Cody (and of course, Locklan) have been working at camp,

moving things, digging things up...

We're ready!  The boat is already out there, we just need docks.

Now mind you, we're still under quarantine...stay at home, 

social distancing, masks (and gloves).  

Only essential businesses allowed to be open 

with serious restrictions.

Yesterday, I called the boat dealer and asked if I could drop off a check for the balance.

He said yes, but he was unable to let me in.  He told me to come out and call him when I got there.

I did and they left me on hold for 4 or 5 minutes...

Then he came back on the line, asked for my check number and told me to go to a porch around the side of the building.

I did and when I got there, there was a guy standing about 10 feet from me.

There was a table between us.  On the table was a log with a piece of paper under it.

He told me that it was my receipt

I was instructed to take  the receipt 

and to put my check under the log.

That was it...no pleasantries, no eye contact, no thanks...

Just really strange.  

The new normal?  I hope not!

Tomorrow, we move into the caution mode in our county.

I don't think it will make much of a difference in our lives...

Too much at stake.

What's happening in your neck of the woods?

For now, stay home, stay healthy, stay safe!