Life is going fast! Not just summer. I miss (a little bit) hot summers, at least a few weeks of heat. It's so unpredictable, being hot one day and then cooling down a little and getting just too cool to sit outside. The last time I took the girls swimming, just Kate and Carly this time, I had to keep giving them hints to cut our visit short because I was so cold. We didn't get there until 4:00, and there was no sunshine on the pool itself, and there was also a breeze. I took all the towels we brought and wrapped up in them and still was cool. The only good thing is that with no air conditioning, my power bills are lower than usual.
So what else has happened?
Yesterday, we had eight for Mah Jongg! That's the biggest group we've had in a long time. We played 4 games, and 2 of them were wall games, and the other two I didn't win. I felt like it was a joker-free day for me, but it was still fun. I got caught daydreaming - or whatever it is I do - twice - when I have to be brought back to the action.
Wildfires and the smoke index are on everyone's minds, with the terrible forest fires around Spokane and in Canada. So sad. I really haven't had any trouble breathing when I go out or noticed the air quality that much, but I've not been outside that much.
I finished Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris. It really is a good book, and in spite of the subject, I enjoyed it as much as her other book, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and would recommend them.
The Credence book was nothing like I thought, and I lasted only a couple of chapters. It's much too long to suffer through.
I've been listening the last few days to Hello, Beautiful by Ann Napolitano.
Here's a nice review by Kirkus. I had forgotten she wrote Dear Edward in 2020 - another one I enjoyed reading.
The three downloads on Libby right now are Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll, Honor by Thrifty Unagar and Little Girl Lost by Cheryl Bradshaw. Sometimes I wonder where I get these recommendations. I read about 2 chapters of the first one and decided I'm not that interested in serial killers, so I'll start one of the other ones today and see. I have a bunch on hold from the library and so many lists of have-to reads that I feel like I'll always have something good to read.
I'll be busy this weekend through next week, as the WinBins are off on another jaunt. This time it's a 3-day soccer tournament in San Diego followed by several days of Disney adventures. Elise and I will visit Gus every day and feed and play with him while lucky Woodrow gets to go to another doggy vacation. We'll water the flowers and the garden if it doesn't rain and keep an eye on things. I wish I could say I wouldn't fret and worry, but that wouldn't be true. I'll have to plan some distractions.
I had a fun phone call with my cousin Carol this week, and it was so nice to talk with her. We're battling with the USPS over getting a shirt Emily left in Andalusia mailed back. Hopefully, the third try will be the charm.
I spent a couple of hours with Ryan and Emily Sunday afternoon, trying to tie up loose ends before their trip, updating my calendar, and getting help from Ryan with some of my computer questions. They know what they're doing, and I don't any more, so those instructions and fixes come fast and hard, and my brain gets overloaded. I think I have things more like I want them and can enjoy this nice smaller computer.
I had to visit my bank Monday, which is a very rare occurrence. I have two places in my life that I give money to that don't take credit card payments. I knew I was getting low on checks but kept forgetting to order more. The haircut place, I can give cash to if I think ahead, but the insurance people from Mike's last job, PCCA, want only a check every month. I ordered a box of checks last week, but they won't be mailed in time, so I had to go in and get counter checks. I can't remember the last time I got any of those and had forgotten what they were called. I also don't think I had to pay a dollar apiece for them at the time either, but they are nicely printed with the correct information.
I've taken no pictures lately, so I'll go and pull up a few August 5th ones through the years.
2025
Girls were on their way to visit their South Dakota grandparents and all the other relatives.
2024
2023
2022
In South Dakota again, this time at their cousin Logan's wedding to Hannah.
2021
A peek through my dining room window at Layla and Bowie, looking extremely guilty!
2020
COVID isolation days. I spent a lot of time on my balcony, missing my family.
2019
Summer fun! A slime-making kit that we survived and a dance camp at Mount Si Recreation.
2018
Kate getting ready to start preschool at Rooster Valley.
2017
So little. Ages 2 and 4. How I miss those sweet babies.
2016
Mike entertaining the girls in spite of feeling terrible. We just didn't know how few days we had with him.
2015
Before we moved to WA. There's a baby on the edge of that quilt! An almost-3
-month-old baby.
-month-old baby.
A night at Mount Si Park. I could hardly believe my luck at having plans to move there coming true.
2014
I think this is a visit to Snoqualmie. It's hard to pick just one pic.
2013
Mama's favorite time of day with her cat Stella/Molly. She had just turned 90 years old.
We were just living for pictures of this girl and Face Time and videos - anything we could get.
2012
I was all into quilting and baby sewing and wondering if the baby-to-be was a boy or a girl.
2011
I can't seem to get pictures from my photo album, so I'll just have to find one from the blog. This is the Texas vine Mike bought me when I was in Lubbock for his appendectomy. We were doing a lot of yard work and getting the house ready to sell.
2010
Smocking classes, gardening, trips to Lubbock. Working. Taking care of Mama's needs. Living a good life!
2009
Sweet Darby and Sheepie!
That's as close as I can come to August memories for 17 years. What a good life and good times. I've been so lucky.
