Construction, Art and Holiday Woes

A week out from the reunion and honestly I'm at a loss for my brain.  It has been so much on my mind for months that there is a void in my thinking and planning.  It's okay, I'm ready to have it done but wow.  This weekend we scooted off to the cabin on Thursday morning and it was a very long four days of sitting around.  Oh, I'm okay with the sitting around but I sensed he was antsy.  He's just not used to sitting around.  He was also anxious with what was going on around our house.  The last of the fixin'-up was going on and he was so excited to see it happening but we needed to leave.  I'll explain.  Our back patio, walks, driveway are all stained and he's spent the past couple of weeks re-staining the back squares of the patio.  Then the painter was coming to seal it all.  That meant we couldn't even walk outside or drive on the driveway for a couple of days, so cabin life it was.  He was so intriqued by the process he kept getting on the cameras to watch.  So funny, my guy.  His heart is not too far from construction that's for sure.  

This weekend and a couple of weekends ago I set up a Painting in the Wigwam for cabin life peeps.  The first weekend it was just one who showed up and this weekend it was two.  That's okay, I got a couple of nice paintings out of it and time spent with ladies visiting.  This next weekend we are going to do it at our cabin so if it's just me, then okay, it's just me.  

It was a quiet weekend too as not many were there, well there were but some had company and others, eat up with college football..blech.  Not my thing for sure.  It's so dry there too, so much so that it's just dusty.  The new house is going up next door and it is a hoss I can tell you.  It is a house, not a cabin and dwarfs our place.  

I'm continuing the daily sketches and they have really taken a life all their own.  Every time I talk to people they always make mention of them and go on and on about how much they enjoy them, especially when I add a story with them.  

Today is I was having a pretty good day, until...I got an email, we, as a family got an email.  I saw it was from one of his brothers, the oldest saying they are hosting Thanksgiving.  WHAT!  WHAT THE HECK!  Thanksgiving is MINE!  I've done it for so many years now, except last year when we have Covid!  I was so upset, I mean cussing upset, outside, big BAD words.  I was pissed.  I didn't even get heads up.  I ranted and raved to him, to the youngest on the phone.  Man I was so mad and upset to the point of tears.  I feel like everything is changing from my norm and I am having a hard time with this change.  The more I thought about it I realized that probably the reason why they want to host is because he is in bad health and if they come to our house, which is a trek from Eufaula, she would have to drive.  This would mean she couldn't see her kids for Thanksgiving.  I think I get it now but dang it, dang it, dang it!!!  It's hard enough on me that Thanksgiving wasn't like it used to be, food wise because of the vegan and vegetarian part of the day, but we had that kind of worked out.  I miss cooking a turkey, really miss it and two years in a row I won't be doing that.  You know what I plan on doing, a couple of things here.  I decided that I would embrace Christmas Day dinner.  I always have the other bro-in-law and his hubby and my kiddos and their entourage but I will extend to my brother and maybe my sisters hubby and their kiddos.  I don't expect them to come but I will extend.  I don't know if I'll do a turkey and may save that to New Year's Day.  Oh, it's just swimming around in my head.  I'll figure it out, I always do.  For now, I'll let that torch pass to Dave, for now.  

Mother's Day and Weekend Fun

Good morning.  It's another wet morning here but should clear a bit later.  It had better because I have errands to run.  The photo is the dam at our cabin area.  Last weeks storms and monumental rains have the creek way up, up enough to let an air boat up the creek making a lot of noise.  We headed there Thursday and had a most wonderful time sitting on the newly screened porch and the new shades.  It was even cool enough in the mornings for a fire on the porch.  

Saturday night we hosted a fajita bar.  The weather could not have been more perfect.  Yesterday was of course Mother's Day and I kind of glossed over it.  It's hard to celebrate a day when you don't have a mother to call.  Oh yes, I should CELEBRATE her, and I do in my mind, it's just that I miss her sometimes too much on that day.  I do acknowledge the other mothers in my life, my daughters, who are fantastic mommas.  My darling mother-in-law, whom I miss dearly.  My friends, who are mommas.  My dear friend, Beverly, who lost her 94 year old mother just last week.  Mother's everywhere.  

Okay, now I am going to ask a question.  I have posted here on my blog for nearly 18 years and the reader traffic has been mostly non-existent BUT lately, I've noticed that I'm getting a lot of traffic.  My posts are getting like 45-85 reads lately.  What is up with that and who are they and WHY DOESN'T anyone at least comment.  Is it bots, AI, WHAT!  Just curious what is going on.  If you're out there, maybe say something please.  I don't think I'm THAT interesting, am I.  

Fishing, Rain and PARTIES

 Good morning.  Honestly I'm thinking that since we retired I've lost my voice here.  I don't have anything to GRIPE about so no words.  My life is good, finally.  After nearly 18 years writing on this blog I've become very quiet.  Maybe I've shared all of me that I can share.  

Today I'm going to have lunch with my dear brother.  I thought about canceling because of the impending storms but those won't be here till later tonight.  So lunch it is!  We will be heading to our cabin this weekend too and can't wait.  It's been a couple of weeks and even then we will miss the next weekend because of graduation stuff.  Seems like we are busier than ever since we retired.  This weekend alone we had two parties on the same day, a Kentucky Derby party and then a Retirement party which had a live band.  It was fun.  They set up like a living room, seating arrangements in their driveway with the band in the garage playing Stones, a bit of country (blech) and good old Rock and Roll!  I opted to not drink at all at either party.  Really I'm not doing much of that which is not a bad thing.  I do like a good gin & tonic or dirty martini but just haven't been feeling it lately.  Especially since I felt like I needed to be the designated driver for the weekend.  I know HE will have a few glasses of wine regardless.  

He did get away to the cabin overnight Friday while I had Snicklefritz with us.  He met the shade guy for installation.  We had new shades put on the screened porch to cut wind, pollen and keep warmth in when we use the fireplace on cooler days.  The water is up too from all the rain with more rain to come.  

We will get up there hopefully for a nice weekend WITHOUT rain, time with friends for a build-your-own-fajita bar and a nice fire on the porch.  The temperatures are supposed to be a lot cooler, especially in the AM so I'm sure I will be sitting there enjoying.

Weekend Fun

Weekend fun.  Yes we headed off to the cabin after being away for a few weeks.  Just lots of stuff going on so I told him I wanted to go on Thursday after my art opening.  Frankly, the art opening, we left early because I did NOT want to run into my best friend.  My best friend that I don't consider a best friend and haven't even spoken to in probably 9 months.  So it just is what it is.

We had a nice weekend.  We left Thursday and hit the I Don't Care Bar and Grill for dinner on the way.  It was late for us and dinner, 7:15 but that was totally okay.

That meant we were on the road at dusk and it was absolutely beautiful.

Woke up Friday morning and thought I would sit on the porch with a fire but BRRRRR, just too nippy for me on Friday, but....

Saturday AM I was there and built a wonderful fire and enjoyed watching my feeders absolutely loaded with goldfinches.  

Saturday evening we hosted a few for fried fish.  We used up the last of the stripers and hybrids that were in our freezer.  I made potato salad and coleslaw and opened a couple cans of his MUST HAVE pork and beans.  There was hardly anything left, so the food was great and the conversation was a hoot.  We had such a great evening on the porch with a fire with great friends.  

Sadly it was time to head home this morning because of meetings and meeting cable peeps (since been canceled) first thing Monday.

I've got to work first thing on some reunion stuff for a meeting Monday evening, go to a meeting and will probably be driving home during the eclipse.  I'm all good.

Hoping Tuesday to get back to the easel, probably after go to the accountant to pick up taxes, FINALLY!  

Hope everyone has a great week and watch your eyes tomorrow!

Progressive Cocktail Party SUCCESS

The first stop of the progressive party was our cabin.  Each host house is responsible for a cocktail and others bring appetizer food.  I am not imaginative or talented in the cocktail world so I did prosecco with little ice balls of orange juice and cranberry juice.  That took a special ice cube tray thing, patience and time to freeze, the to UN-STICK the buggers!  It was pretty and everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Food, SO MUCH FOOD!

And lots and lots of people.  I think I counted 59 in total in our cabin alone.  They tend to drop off later in the evening, usually by imbibing a LOT!  We had the porch door open too with a roaring fire in the fireplace.  Everyone just loved it.  Most stayed in the breakfast room and on the porch.  Being the first cabin the temperatures had not dropped too low yet which made it comfortable outside.  

On to P Kae and Darrell's lovely cabin.  They had a cabin they hosted last year but have since purchased one across and down the road from us.  They've been mad in the process of updating it and it is just beautiful.

On to cabin #3, Rita and Kevin's, where they live full time.

As you can see, the alcohol is taking effect!

Cabin #4, Dave and sweet Kim.  Such a fun place but I was wearing down and cold, as you will see later.

Last but not least, the dessert portion of the evening.

Our final destination, and not too soon, Heather and Ian's.  

I honestly never made it to eating any dessert because I was having such an issue with my acid reflux.  In fact, I was up till about 2:30 am dealing with it over and over again.  Made for not much sleep, but worth it!

Done, finished, OVER for another year.  It was great fun.