SUNSHINY SATURDAY

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

We just left our second stop of the day. We are running quite a bit behind any semblance of a schedule.

First off, our gps in the car (and the road signs) took us all through the charming tiny streets of the town we were staying in before allowing us to escape to the highway. Lost about 8 minutes there - not a long time but when it takes 15 minutes before you are on the highway and on your way, it is frustrating.

Then, only 90 minutes into the drive we stopped for gas since it was cheaper there than farther along the road. Since the time had changed, what was 11:30 body time was 12:30 on the clock so we stopped for lunch too and changed drivers. Once again, ended up 'in town' instead of a highway stop. The signs on the highway said to get off but didn't tell us that the gas station was a good distance away. Sigh....

Then the pay at the pump didn't work so that slowed us further. And we spent far too long at lunch. That stop took over an hour (as opposed to our dinner stop last night which took just 45 minutes and included going to two grocery stores.)

I drove for just over 2 hours and we stopped at a provincial park and walked around the parking lots and grassy areas for 7 minutes and then used the facilities. Made sure that stop was only 15 by setting my timer.

Now I have picked out a restaurant for dinner and added it to my gps. Looks like it is just an hour away and even with that stop for dinner we'll be at the hotel for 7:30. If we eat and then finish the drive, we will have digested and will be able to swim right away.

So far today I've walked a total of 2000 steps so I'm anxious to get some sort of exercise in.

[DeeClutter]

Glad your trip is at least progressing safely, Kathryn.

Just got a text from DD and also on FB with a picture of DS-R and DDIL#2 at the Lacrosse game in the city. I was able to share the photo on FB as well. Not sure how she captured it from national TV. Know how much she's enjoying seeing them from 1300 miles away. (DGS9 is with the team as ball boy).

Cooling fairly quickly. Hoping dS-A and dgks are NOT trying to make it to Holland to race tonight. DGS14's own track isn't racing today and he wanted to keep at it. It's raining here some and supposed to rain there.

[Sunny]

Gee, it is quiet here in our little village! It is a much better day here at home than it was yesterday. We had a little shower earlier today, but now just cloudy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HARRIET'S DD! Hope you are having a Sweet Sixteen Day!

I woke up with a slight headache this morning; I think I slept crooked on my pillow. Anyway it was better after I way up for a while and had my coffee. No company today, dfam #1 will be here tomorrow. Talked to ds#2 and he said they wouldn't be here tomorrow as it is the last day before the girls go back to school and they want to do something special with them.

So after a slow start to my day I got the basics done and spent some time at my desk --- paid a few bills and straightened up a little. I have a pile of stuff to shred and a couple of other things I need to do. I've had some things OMM that aren't housekeeping like getting all our pictures into albums or filed coherently, working on family history, getting dgs12's quilt done...etc.

Hope everyone's enjoying their day!

[lucylee]

Some improvement here...
s2s...
went to town w/dh, ate...
talked to ddil on the phone...
yard man FINALLY showed up!!! Hooray for that!!!

Now more allergy meds and I'm going to read for awhile. Did I say that earlier? I fell asleep.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Sigh.

Hotel is tucked next to a freeway off ramp. There's a Toyota dealer on the street and that's it, the street then ends in the parking lot. So no place to walk.

The pool is small but I got undressed, put on my stuff and went downstairs. Had to queue for 5 minutes to get towels since the front desk clerk is calling taxis, handling phone inquiries and telling guests how to get connected to the internet. Get to the pool, which was empty when we arrived and there's a family of four playing water volleyball over the whole pool (which is about 1/2 the size of a regular back yard swimming pool.)

It is also not deep enough for for me tread water so I can't tuck myself in a corner and workout there. I'll try again in 30 minutes.

[Nancy]

We were wrong they did not need h. At work after all, feed store was closed so we had to go back later. Went to the dump did not get out of that. Then lunch out and Arby's was fine for us. Went to spinning meeting w-out a project on purpose bc my arm / shoulder were sore and bothering my neck mignt have been out.

Did a w-mart run. Groc. Are put away.
Got the dump cake paperback cook book at the check out mag. Standcmhoping they might work for some sweet beads in the deep freezer dgd can help make those.

When I went out to check on the chickens 2 of the chicks were peeping loudly had hopped put of the nest I caught them and they quieted down no new ones so glad I closed em up in the coop. H
had to go out for a look see before we went to town.

I am achey reading and putting my feet up sore foot did a short walk. My friend too a peek at the hens and baby chicks.

[Harmony]

Our sunshine was inbetween the showers today. DH managed to get his yard work done an I managed to get some stuff into the outside garbage can and the goop into the compost bin.

I worked on the kitchen today, taking little rests, and I cleaned the whole thing, washed the backsplash tile and the counter and everything that stays out on top. I also got laundry folded and 1 load washed and hung up. I got the floors all swept too. Good progress for me.

So now I'm off to get a shower and do a mani & a pedi. We're planning to go see our friend Sandi at the hospital for a few minutes on the way to the church service.

Y'all have a nice sleep.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Harmony Our day was sunshine between showers or just clouds. When it was my turn to drive sunglasses were on/off/on/off. Thankfully the weather was nice when we had our 15 minute rest break so I could walk around. I doubled my steps for the day (brought them to 2000!)

I'm up to 3700 now but got in 20 minutes of not-drowning. By the time we went down the second time, it was empty and I had it all to myself (dh was my life-guard.) The pool 'deep' end is supposedly 4' deep but my guess is it is only 3' deep. And it measured 8' by 12'! That small section is also where the 15' high water slide exits. I swam back and forth along the 12' bit until I realized I was being pushed slightly to one side when in front of the slide. After that, I just swam really slowly toward the slide and the current pushed me back slightly.

Took 5 minutes in the hot tub and used one of the jets to massage my foot. That felt fabulous. Dh commented on how I managed to walk up the stairs to our room without holding onto the bannister. Yes, I'm getting better and things like working out in water help me limber up.

I've s2pjs, washed my bathing suit and have had a cup of decaf tea. Dh is in bed and I'll be there soon.

I don't like this hotel at all and we won't stay here again. The rooms are worth at most $100 a night but we are paying $170, the pool is a fake amenity (too small to be useful) and the location is the middle of nowhere. Of course, because it is the middle of nowhere, they can ask for more money. It is 45 minutes to the next city but I couldn't get a room there or in the opposite direction when I tried so stuck it out here. Tomorrow we have only 2 hours on the road. We could have pushed through but the hotel in Dartmouth was also unavailable for tonight.

Last night's hotel really was a bargain compared to this place. Same price but everything was gleaming and new. It was based on Nordic Spas so was in a style we love. View was way better (still thinking of the river) and the pool was no worse. The only problem was the danger of stubbing one's toe on the bedpost and after a few hours I learned to avoid it.

Dh pointed out we had never stayed on the south shore of the St. Lawrence (we've cruised it but we never stayed in a hotel.) The views were lovely. I have stayed there before, on my honeymoon with my first husband, in a motel so ratty that we ended up putting the mattress on the floor because it sagged too much on the bed. Thankfully, it was only for one night and I think that's why I've never stayed in that town again. That reminded me that today would have been my 34th wedding anniversary had I stayed married to my first h. Dh and I had some 'what if' discussions this morning while we got ready to go!

My hair is mostly dry now so I'm off to bed.

[Harriet]

,... ...got in 20 minutes of not-drowning

I am way too sleepy. It took 3 readings for me to get that.

What wonderful wishes for dd sixteen (oh, how painful to type that, lol ). Thank you so much. Definitely gave her a big smile to get them. If I can get myself together enough tomorrow, I will post in Creative Home the photos of her cake.

This morning after taking her to driving education and pretending nothing was going on I rushed home and decorated the dining room with double-twisted streamers and balloons. That was a fun surprise for her. Really wanted to (and thought I could) be finished in 2 hours, but I wasn't quite done and she did have to help finish. LOL.

Anyway, we were ready, having put the finished cake into the refrigerator about 5 mins before the first guest knocked. (A little perfectionism there.) Lots of fun had by all.

We are so tired, so time for shut eye. HRH is already zonked.

[FelineFriend]

The sunshine came out, DH and I went to a garden dinner party at Dfriend, 98 on the 12, this past week's b-day celebration, put on by her adult kids, 2 sons and 3 DD's. The in-law children were there, too. Many neighbors came, church members, and family. We got there about 4:50 p.m. and left around 7:30 p.m.

I sweated so badly because of SPF 50. I "assumed" I needed to be ready, just in case we were in sunshine. We weren't and my SPF makes me sweat, regardless of sunshine or not. By the time we left, I was sweating all over. I can't figure out "why", but it was almost as though I was having hot flashes, but I've had "surgery" and I'm 62.5 years old. So can older women get an "attack of the hot flashes" at my age? My Dsis is 54, has NOT hot flashes anymore, did everything "natural," too, so I can't ask HER. I came home, stripped, freshened up, put on a Muumuu, which is 100% cotton, and now I'm cooled off. Does the stress of a crowd of people cause sweating? Oh, it was 80* here this evening/day, too. Maybe that's it?

There were 2 guitars, 3 singers, delicious finger foods, meatballs, blackberry cobbler, from fresh-picked today blackberries. It was just a wonderful evening. We saw so many people from church, too. It was great to see a lot of them again. I'm FAMOUS there, to ALL my Dfriend's adult children, even those married to them, whom I've never met. Why? Because ever since my Dfriend and I met in 1975, we became instant dfriends and her dfamily and my dfamily hear nothing but news and fun sweet things, about my Dfriend and her dfamily, hears the same things from her. It was nearly like being a celebrity! So it was nice to meet people married to her adult kids, who "knew me" already.

She had a wonderful day. They put a tiara on her, a lei, and Happy Birthday plastic sign onto the lei hung down. Someone got her a wrap, when it started to cool down, and I kissed her good-bye. Her last words to me were, "You're so sweet!" I told her, "But YOU'RE sweet, but I guess I learned everything from YOU!" She sure laughed. Spoke to one of her caregivers, for about 20 minutes, she says how my Dfriend has such a sweet disposition and she believes this is why she's lasted so long. The only thing, which upsets her, are things on the news. She gets upset when people are hurting, but finally says, "Oh, well. There's nothing I can do to change it for them." And then she's fine, once she realizes this. If you ever picture an elderly angle on Earth, without wings and a halo- that's MY DFRIEND! ♥

We had such fun, are quite tired, and were so happy to hear we were #1 on the list of invitees. Her adult children are so charming. We feel like true family with them. It was so nice, the weather was good, and the bugs weren't too bad either. Didn't have any yellow jackets or other bees either. I got to eat my first Sushi, with ANCHOVIES, cheese, ham, and cucumber. It about gagged me, but I got it down. Ya' gotta live on the wild side once in awhile.