Day at the Beach

 

Today's forcast of clouds, temp in the upper 70's and possible showers was not too encouraging but we kept to our plan and Christine and the kids and I had a super day at the beach. We left home around 10 0'clock. The sun came out shortly after we arrived and we had a beautiful blue sky with gorgeous white puffy clouds. Very few people were there and the water although on the cool side was very refreshing! No jellyfish! The waves were just right, big enough for fun. It was Katie and Stephen's second time at the beach this summer and they both became comfortable with the waves before long. We ate lunch there and left around 2 o'clock. Then when we got home, since we had our suits on we jumped in the pool. Sadly summer's ending and I want to enjoy every last minute of it!

Mamma Mia

We finally went to another movie. Even though the movies are free for us on Tuesdays, it's not as inviting to be sitting in the theater on summer evenings as the rest of the year. Also, there are many movies we have no interest in seeing. We did enjoy Mamma Mia though. We saw it on Broadway a few years ago and loved it then. With Abba music it's a fun, lively show.

Master Garden Picnic

 
Today was a beautiful summer day, just perfect for our annual picnic. Dorothy volunteered to host this year. Thank you Dorothy! Her yard is beautiful, the food was delicious, the company was good and the auction of our unwanted stuff was both profitable and very entertaining.

The Back Porch

 

It all began because I wanted to paint the back porch. Handyman Bill saw much more. We needed new railings, new steps, some of the wood on the edge of the porch was rotting and while we're at it, how about some new posts. It's going to look great! Aren't I lucky to live with such a handy guy!

Canned Tomatoes

 

Those Ramapo tomatoes have done so well that I've been canning and thinking ahead to hot stewed tomatoes on a cold winter night. Yummy!

 

Oh no! Oh no!

Well, my recent apicoectormy did not save my root. Two days after the oral surgeon discharged me and said everything looked great my crown fell out. I went to my dentist to have it cemented back in and was told there was a vertical fracture in the root which the x-ray doesn't show and the root would have to be extracted. Thus, OH NO, OH NO!! So 3 days ago I was back to the oral surgeon getting my root pulled. I had an easy recovery from this and the plan now is for an implant - something new for me. This story will be continued.

Kids in the Park - Cinderella

 

For 5 years we have been going to the Kids in the Park summer production. They do a great job and we always love the show. And it just so happens that both Katie Rose and Stephen were part of it again this year. Katie Rose was an ugly step-sister and Stephen was one of the talented birds who sang and danced. The kids put on a super show after just 2 weeks of practice!

Our Summer Vacation

Sunday, August 3rd to the 9th, we were camping at 8th Lake in the Adirondacks. We had a lot of rain, although it never rained for a whole day. Two nights we had very heavy rain and thunder. When I thought it couldn't rain any harder - it did! But we stayed dry. In the morning our campsite was two thirds underwater but we pitched our tent on high ground.

But more important than the rain was getting together with our family - although none of our kids were able to make it this time. Art, Marian and Andy were right next to us. Thanks for having that pot of coffee ready for us each morning! Linda, Jim, David and Matt were next to them. Mike, Nancy, her son Collin, Christopher and his girlfriend Lauren moved to a site across from the Graves as soon as it was available. On our other side we had "outsiders" and then Peggy and Gregg with Jeremy and Caroline and their three boys, our grandnephews, John Caleb, Luke and Jackson, who we met for the first time! Sue and George had a campsite a little further down close to the water with some of their kids and Linda and Al were across the street from them a little further down still.

The water was comfortable for swimming. Bill brought his folbot which fits into 2 bags and is then assembled. Art brought canoes, Mike a sailboat and Al and Linda a motor boat for water skiing. We had it all!

Meals were delicious. We must thank Chris and Lauren for their contributions - delicious hamburgers and yummy blueberry and banana pancakes. The Graves dived for clams in the lake and we had these as an appetizer. I thought they were joking when they said the clams were so greats because they were from 8th Lake! In the evening we had our campfires, talking, singing, roasting marshmallows, passing snacks, making smores.

Something else we enjoyed was touring the Adirondack Museum near Blue Mountain. And we did see a bear crossing the road one day as we drove back from the town of Raquette Lake.

We did have fun and are already thinking about next year!