Festive Friday

[BookSaver]

Are you celebrating Christmas in July?
Are you in the USA making holiday preparations for Independence Day?
Is every Friday an excuse for a party?

[BookSaver]

DH has today off work but we have made no plans for the 4th of July weekend. He stayed up really late last night so I know he'll sleep until noon.

I think I'll ask him if he wants to set up the screen tent for the weekend. He would need to mow that section of the back yard. If we take out the lawn chairs and card table for a picnic supper, and have a fire in the chiminea tonight, it would give us some of the enjoyment of camping without the labor of hauling all of the gear to a park. (We learned a long time ago not to try camping on 4th of July weekend, as every campground in the state is packed like sardines which is no fun.)

Unless something comes up with family, I'm supposed to have time over the next 3 days to work on The Dreaded Project and do at least 1 long block of time spent decluttering.

[DeeClutter]

Is every Friday an excuse for a party?

It would seem so around here, Booksaver!

Dh and I had dinner at the newly opened "Bedrock Café and Pub" here last night. Very good. Dh had the Taco Salad (named for him) and I had a steak marsala hogie. Only ate half -both were very good. Tonight many of us had signed up for their first fish fry. (They wanted to have an idea of how much fish to order). We were all pleasantly pleased with prices, food and service. This is only open to the campground but if last night was any judge they should be able to make a go of it. Not sure they'll be open other than weekends.

DS-R had to go on 'security' last night as one family was firmly invited to leave. Evidently the kids, including a 3-year old, were left to wander and do as they pleased -including 'borrowing' from the store. Had 2 sheriffs here helping escort them out. One danger here is there are ponds all over and little ones just can't be left to their own devices. Last year we had a Mom who had left her 4 or 5 kids (none old enough to babysit) on their own for 5 hours. They were found in the swimming pond completely unsupervised and that was enough for 'eviction'. No one's given a 'second chance' in these kinds of situations. Guess the father last night came roaring in and speeding to their campsite, going the wrong way. But the excessive speed alone was enough to get them evicted. On this weekend especially! There are already tons of people around. One rule they do have is NO bikes for the entire weekend. There's just too many people and too much traffic. And the kids just are not careful enough as it is.

Dh got a phone call at 5:45a.m. from one of the repair garage people up front. He said the gate wasn't working and people were trying to get in. After dh got up there he realized that the gate is not operational for 'seasonal' memberships from 10p.m. to 6:30a.m. I've been having a problem with my rear passenger side tire going soft after a couple of days. Dh decided to take it up to this guy since that's what he always did. They found nothing, but I'm not sure (at all) that they checked the correct tire. Dh said they took off both front tires. Really? It's the rear passenger tire! So not sure they checked that. I'm going to S am's in a few minutes so dh told me to keep an eye on it and he'd take it back if necessary.

(We learned a long time ago not to try camping on 4th of July weekend, as every campground in the state is packed like sardines which is no fun.)

We learned that too -but there's no escaping it here. Even all our dks & dgks are here! Tonight is 'ring of fire' and tomorrow night there is the grand fireworks display. He always has a tremendous one and people line the roadways here from all over. There is definitely a traffic jam after.

[Nancy]

Yes camping on the 4th was a zoo at one camp ground so nuts we checked out and went up the road a bit and got a room w ac for our ann. They had a poil too! Best choice we ever made no standing in line to gdt a shower or pee! Lol!

[Twins' Mom]

We camped during the summers when I was growing up and were frequently camping on the 4th of July. I remember a memorable year when we ended up camping in the "overflow" area which was a big ball field, with ankle deep water in a big rain. I think we usually planned better after that year.

Dcleaning lady is here, dh and house guest R have taken off, thankfully, to go to Costco and then to the JCC for their barbeque lunch today. Ds is actually heading out in a few minutes to meet with the spouse of a friend about networking and looking for a job.

Tonight dinner is a meat and cheese lasagne and stuffed veggie shells, green salad, and challah, followed by birthday cake. I need to go out and see about getting a birthday cake, just remembered last night that dh and I had talked about it. Today I'll need to make the challah and stuffed shells.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I'm really slow moving this morning. Just finished my breakfast. Didn't get out of bed until 8:45.

Will work at getting dressed and doing my physio so I don't have to do it before bed.

Ds might be over today with laundry to do. I had suggested a border run within the next month but he offered to drop over the border on his way to London in a few weeks. Can't decide whether or not to take him up on the offer. Dh offered to take me down and it occurred to us if we go after church on Sunday we cut 1 hour of extra driving out of the equation since we can start from church. Of course, that assumes we are attending church in the village although this week is supposed to be church in the city.

I just got distracted by the phone ringing, then did up the breakfast dishes and got to thinking about reorganizing drawers in the kitchen so I'm going to *poof* and get dressed and do my physio before I get into a decluttering project.

[Ramblinrose]

Morning Y'all...

Been up for quite a while so my house is in good order. Arranging my schedule for next week as I am leaving next Sunday and will be gone for almost two weeks. Want to make sure everything is in tip-top order for Sweetie. I usually buy a variety of frozen food for Sweetie to eat. He likes to eat out while I'm gone, but sometimes gets so focused on doing something like the car that by dinner time he's too tired to go out.

Will put the pressure cooker out on the counter because before I came around he was the king of that appliance. In the past he used the old kind, but this one has an electric timer and such on it so it should be a breeze. He lived on his own for 15 years before I showed up so I am not worried about too much. He will survive.

Yesterday I plugged along at my desk and got everything reorganized. Even Sweetie likes the results. Then I allowed myself a trip down the rabbit hole as a reward and just as I was about to close down came across some amazing information. I am researching the name Smith. That aught to give you a clue of my difficulties. Adding to it is the fact the family lived in very rural area...can you say Possum Valley instead of a town...and you can imagine some of my problems.

Six generations of men dating back to the 1600's, decided to name their son, William. Plus one William Smith married a woman named Melvina. Not a common name you say...so how is it that TWO men named William Smith married TWO women named Melvina and lived within five miles of each other. Truth is really stranger than fiction. However many of my thoughts as to where people were buried were confirmed by this new information even thought I had searched the cemeteries for their graves.

With no family around, we have no big plans for the 4th. Luckily we can watch several fire displays from our community. However they are predicting storms again for tomorrow night. Last night we had thunder and lightning storms for more than 4 hours.

Hope y'all are enjoying your day.. So now its Hi Ho, Hi Ho, its down the rabbit hole I go...again. See ya, maybe

[DeeClutter]

Made my S am's run and am now back home. But I'm whipped. I see at least a short nap in my afternoon. Stopped at T im H Orton's and picked up 2 iced capps, flavored with mint. Yum. Had to search for dh on the mower and finally found him. I was right on time as he was about to call me to ask me to bring him something to drink. This will keep him refreshed until he comes in for lunch, which he says will be minimal.

I had to make at least 7 limping trips in with my groceries. My ankle muscles are still pretty weak and easily pulled. Still have a couple of jars in the car which I hope dh will bring in with him in a little bit. I bought salt potatoes and pulled pork and a sleeve of Angus Burgers for my contribution this weekend. Then the cheerleaders from the local school brought around flyers that the food booth tomorrow will benefit the local cheerleading team. I know dh will want to support them. Supposed to be NO bike riding this weekend, but must say some have not gotten that message -YET! They will, I'm sure.

[Nancy]

Outside stuff mostly done now last of watering in back. Mail came early. We got the easy up fivured put wo dering why we did not think of one before. Breakfast is done.

[Twins' Mom]

I need to get busy. Dcleaning lady did her magic, I am going back to bakery to pick up a cake after 2 p.m. but I should get started with dinner set up and cooking. I laid down for a bit - my lower back is hurting - usually does this when I'm on my feet a lot but today started when I first got up. Toward the end of my timer dh called to say he had invited another person for dinner, then ds came in talking to me so it was no use to try to rest anymore.

-make a needed phone call re: our week at the beach coming up
-start challah in breadmaker
-cut up veggies to roast for shells
-sweep the front porch
-set the table - now that we are seven I'll just leave the leaf in...