Halloween Week

 Since Halloween was on a Saturday this year, so many things came together until the big day today.  I know I won't remember all the things, but I'll see how many I can come up with by looking at my pictures and texts.

I ended up putting my ballot in the mailbox and keeping my fingers crossed.  I like to put it in the ballot box in front of the library on the day of voting, but I kept wanting to get it done.  Kate and I walked up to the mailboxes, and she very solemnly pushed it through the slots.  She is very much aware of what horrible leadership we have now and is all for doing everything we can to get our freedoms back.

She is such a good companion and my soulmate lately.  We have the best conversations, and she is so attuned to people and their problems.  She's moving into her own personality, which is sometimes more subdued than usual, but there's nothing concrete to back that up.  She is still wound up a lot and I think misses Graysen being more "grownup" now.  They still get into their little skirmishes but more vocal than physical now.  

Anyway, back to the week.  I don't get the girls on Mondays since Emily sometimes works from home, and they need to go there and get ready for soccer practice and DMW while I have an afternoon off.  My days all run together, but some days we worked on sewing and some days on math - where I was no help at all until about time for her to go.  It takes a while for me to get all the multiplying and dividing fractions straight in my mind, and then you have to follow a different way of doing things than I'm used to.

I feel like afternoons here are hectic, and they don't get much done, but it's worse at home when they go and find more distractions over there.  

I went to Mah Jongg twice this week and enjoyed both days.  I don't get home until after the bus stops, and the girls have had time to get into the mac and cheese and snacks and drinks and see what's on Elise's TV menu.  

We had so many people Tuesday.  There were 8 people, so 2 tables plus one new person.  A nice lady named Corinne who is here from Montana visiting her family after her husband passed away.  She really wants to learn MJ and will be here a while and maybe even move here.  She sat beside me, so I tried to indicate what hand I was building, and we told her some of the basic rules.  She didn't get overwhelmed, and when Sharon had to leave early, she took the fourth seat and held her own pretty well.  It take many, many lessons to get where you are comfortable playing, but she did very well.  I'm hoping she'll come back next week.  We gained two newbies who already know how to play, so we're getting big!

We also had two tables on Thursday, which is very unusual.  Our newest player, Kathy, was back, and she, Sharon and I played 3-handed MJ while the other three played 3-handed also.  A fun day.  We learned a few things about dead hands and accidentally exposing a concealed hand - the hard way.  I think I won a couple of games, which helped my feelings a little.  I still get distracted though and wish I could pay more attention to what's going on.  We can't just play though - we have to have a little conversation and playing around.  That's the fun of it.  We're certainly not too serious.

Thursday morning was also my 6-month dental cleaning and checkup, which I passed just fine.  I had the hygienest who is very nice but also very thorough.  It's always something to get over with.  Just like my hair cut this morning.  I enjoy talking with everyone, but it's not something I look forward to.  There was a nice bunch of protestors on the corner in North Bend when I came through town.  Luckily, the day was nice and dry for Halloween.  It's usually either pouring or windy or both, but when Emily and Kate stopped by for trick-or-treat, they were chilly but not uncomfortable.  

I didn't see the girls at all Friday.  I offered to go over and help them clean their rooms or do whatever was needed to get ready for the party tonight and for a Halloween dance at school, but I didn't get any clear answer, so I left them to handle costume mishaps and last-minute problems, but when I got those pictures before they left - Oh MY.  I have some grownup girls.  They weren't in full costume because it was a school thing, and they wanted to be comfortable to run wild and eat and play and scream a lot. From the photo booth pictures I saw, they did ALL that!  They had Avenger costumes, which is about all I know about that.  Graysen was a male and was supposed to have a goatee but no way was that going to happen to hide that beautiful makeup job!  Kate was a female but quite a glamorous one.  I think she pulled off the hair and mask and makeup, but there was a lot of last-minute cobbling together something for a skirt and cape - or something.  The pink Crocs may not have been the perfect accessory!  

I'll just post all the pictures Emily sent me - or most of them -minus the ones where Ryan was coaching Kate on the stairs to do different poses. He looked like he was attacking her. They've grown into lovely ladies right before my eyes.  I'm not sure what kind of role-playing looks some of them were giving, but it was nice!

This is how the character is depicted.  They got close on the head, but the rest would have taken much time and money and not worth it for that short period.

Some of these pictures didn't download like I'm used to, but I think it won't matter right now.  I'll come back and work on them and fix the video if I can.

Maybe this person is who Graysen was dressing like.  They would laugh at my pitiful attempts to understand this. I get into movies like Price and Prejudice or Downton Abbey with them but have no desire to know what they're talking about here.

I think she made the right decision to leave off the beard and mustache!

Emily was in full costume yesterday for work in her Misery outfit, the Kathy Bates character.  I refused to read the book or watch the movie, but from the pictures earlier, she was looking for a blue jean jumper and a plaid flannel shirt.  I hope there are pictures of that!

She was too tired to dress up again tonight, so she and Kate just stopped by after the older girls went off by themselves. They were texting with some more friends and were to meet them, but we didn't worry.  It's probably the safest place in town with the whole population out on the streets. They were pretty excited about that, I'm sure.  I'm not sure how many are spending the night, but at least 6 and maybe 8. The last message I got said they were all back and all screaming.  I asked why screaming, and she said, "Sugar?"  I love it that the girls have found some sweet loyal friends and that the two group are comfortable being in each others' company.  There are two sister sets and another sister that's gradually getting to know them.  I worry about them constantly and want them to be happy and pray for their safety.  I'm not a huge part of their lives now, rightly so, but it's hard to get them go.  I'm not sure Kate won't always be there to sit by the fire and talk about sewing and prom dresses and the old days!  

I'm exhausted just typing this, even with the extra hour we are gifted tonight.  There are two soccer games tomorrow, I think, so it looks like everyone will be up early and leaving the ruins.  Maybe I should offer to help clean up.  I'll see.....I'd probably better work on the typos on here but that's for later too.  And now it's November.    

Weekend in October

 Next weekend is Halloween and all the school activities - Spirit Week, a dance at school, and the girls are having a total of 6 girls spending the night on Saturday night!  This has been planned and looked forward to for so long.  I hope it's a great time for all of them - three big girls and three younger ones.  They'll go trick-or-treating in the neighbohoods near here.  There is always an over-the-top celebration not too far from their house, and this year maybe it won't be freezing and/or pouring rain.  There have been some rough ones in the past few years.  They deserve a nice one.  

Emily is planning her costume so carefully, and I reminded her that these girls might be old enough to go off by themselves.  I hope they let her go with them.  I'm not sure if or what Ryan is dressing as.  I haven't tried to keep up with them in years, and I like it that way.  Some years, we have no one ringing the doorbell, and some years, we do.  I may have lived here long enough with the cats on display that people feel like they know who I am.  Regardless, I'd better be prepared!  

I can't remember a less unproductive weekend lately.  I had so many things I had planned to do but just never drummed up any enthusiasm for them.  Some days, nothing I try turns out the way I want it to, and I lose my enthisiasm, esepcially since my newing room is now 75% in the garage, and I have to go out there to dig things out of boxes.  I did make a pretty detailed list of where things are, so I don't have to open the wrong bin too many times.  

First thing tomorrow morning, I'm going to join a Mah Jong tournament from ilovemahj.com.  I try to play a few times a week with the bots on line to keep me in practice between real games, but I've really not done that lately.  And now there's a 24-hour tournament.

The first time I tried a tournament, we were changing to the 2026 card, and I checked the wrong box and kept losing every game.  Not that I won that many more when I figured it out, but at least I knew what I was doing wrong.  The other two tournaments, I finished 592 out of 963 and glad to score that high.  Everyone plays the same hand with 3 bots, and it's hard to win, especially when there is a timer on.  I get too nervous when I'm being timed.  If I don't discard a tile quickly, it will be discarded for me!  

I've heard very little from the WinBins since the middle of the week.  I think there was a trip to the orthodontist and some extra homework, and I'm not even sure what else they've tried to fit in.

There was an interesting project that Graysen had in one of her classes, and I'm sorry to say I don't know which one.  It was their version of Shark Tank.  GG felt very lucky to have been chosen for a judge rather than an inventor, along with her friend Maija.  We gathered up some costume items and did a little planning over here, but I never go to ask how it went.  That's how it goes lately.  I'm still interested in the things the girls do, but I'm not always there in the moment. 

This picture was in the school album, and the girls have laughed about it.  They're just calmly standing there waiting for the starting signal, looking a little bored frankly.  I guess that's the last time Gray will wear the SMS jersey unless she does track in the spring.  I hope she does.  I want to see how they manage to jump those hurdles.

Kate's focus this week has been on preparing a "mystery bag" for math class.  They get tickets all week when they do something worthwhile, and on Friday they get to bid on certain things in the classroom.  She and I have had our heads together about a drawstring bag.  I think I can do one of those, but I'm not sure she's ready for casings yet.  She will pick out what it's filled with and offer it up Friday..  I've wasted too much time looking at videos and deciding which one I'm going to make.  I'm stuck on cm and inches tonight.  Some days, the smallest things derail me!  

That's very little to account for my weekend, but I enjoyed most of it.  I got my ballot ready to take to the drop box, so that's done - although a little confusing on some of the issues.  

Thursday, Part II

 This was such a nice afternoon, and it did me so much good to get out and be with people close to my own age.  Not that my fellow quilter is not a bunch of fun, but so is Mah Jongg.

Ryan and Emily still have their car in for repairs, and the girls had an ortho appointment today, so my car was not available.  I wasn't worried though.  I have options.  I decided I felt like walking on this beautiful day, and Noreen went along to keep me company.  We crossed the street in front of our apartments and had a full downhill path of sunshine all the way to town.  There was just a little breeze and a chill in the air, but it was great once we started.  We parted outside the Y entrance, and she left to walk home by the school, hoping to catch a glimpse of her Dom playing outside on the playground.  We're hopeless when it comes to these kiddos.  

We had two new people show up to play with us, and they weren't even from the new class.  What are the chances that two people would move to this small town who are both experienced players and ready to fit right in?  Jen and Kathy were welcomed right in and actually kept us on our toes.  We had 5 people at first, so the winner sat out and let the other 4 play, and that worked out fine.  Then we had the 6th one come, and we still just got up and down and sat out and watched the other players.  It was all fun, and I'm sure hoping they come back.  I can't remember who all won.  I know I won the first game and then gave Kathy my seat, who promptly won that one!  Jen and Elissette won one game apiece, but we were all within 1 or 2 tiles every time.  It was a fun day.  Gina with Gabriela came in just to visit and bring some brownies, and it was good to see her.  I believe she played one hand before she had to go.  

Sharon dropped me off at home afterwards.  She was going to play Rummikub at the winery down the street, but I was ready to be home so didn't go with her.  Elise said Noreen had left a bag of pumpkin coookies while I was gone, and that was a treat to have a couple of those with some cold milk!  Yum.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip

Maybe she'll share the recipe later.

I did receive the recipe and am posting it here.  

If nothing new happens, I'm washing my face and putting on my pjs soon. I have a slaw mix in the crisper that I'll add some leftover fresh veggies and cheese and olives to with maybe a little bacon,  If I get hungry.  I have a stack of library quilting books to look through plus 2 catalogs and a Southern Living magazine.  That should be about as much as I can handle tonight, and it's early to bed for me. I missed seeing the girls this afternoon, but I didn't mind having just a day for myself today.   

One picture that appeared in my memories today that made me smile.

Lost Time

 I'm so upset that I never come here and write anything lately.  I thought I would make a fresh start on my birthday since it was a big one this year, but that celebration, as low-key as it was, went on for a week before and weeks after, just picking up more and more things to do.  It's the season when things are happening too, things we enjoy, and it gets harder and harder to open up this blog and type NEW POST. 

I can't think how I'll ever catch up with the things I wanted to remember and the thoughts I was having.  I can look at pictures and read texts and look at my calendar, but that's such a job, and I don't want another hard job.

Right now, this week, my mind is just swirling with things I'm doing and planning, and I just tend to get overwhelmed.  

I've mourned, in a way, the passing of my babies into young ladies and pulling away from me slightly, but I'm trying to enjoy this phase of life, and all of a sudden, Kate and I have become closer since Gray has been so involved in sports and school work and friends. It's lovely, and I can't believe my luck, but I wish I could steal a little of her energy.

Just taking one afternoon out of all this --  I might not even have any pictures, but she has become the photographer and I'll help myself to some of hers later.  

I'm doing better with sleeping with fewer naps during the day and longer stretches of sleep at night.  Unfortunately, when I do get up, I don't want to start my day for so long that I all of a sudden am in a panic that the morning is already gone.  

My morning:  Opened the blinds and saw that it was not raining but a little gray and closed them again for a while!  I made a scrambled egg and a piece of toast with peanut butter - just because - with a cup of coffee.  Lately, I'm taking the time to grind my beans and just cook it on the stovetop.  It takes longer than popping a pod into the Keurig, but it is really good.  I'm not even sure what brand I bought this last time, probably some Starbucks on sale at Safeway.  I've found that just a spash or two of Coffee Mate No Sugar Vanilla is what it needs to made it perfect. 

I have so much that I want to know about, so many things I want to read that I could probably just while away an hour or so on the computer.  And sometimes I do.

I texted with Noreen about our morning plans and talked about getting together for a walk that afternoon.  We had the best long walk a few days ago - one of those spontaneous things that turned into perfection.  I could have used a little more energy, but I'm used to that.  We walked our usual route toward town, trying to catch the sunnier sidewalks.  We were surprised to find another friend out on her way to pickle ball, so we walked several blocks with her and caught up.  That was nice.  N and I continued on down past the Y, and I got worried the return trip might be more than I needed, so we turned right and found a street where I could look forward to a little park and a bench to rest on if I needed.  I did, and it was sunny and just the perfect spot to catch my breath.  Then it was back through town, still finding the sunny sidewalks, and being glad that we had made the effort.  Unfortunately, I didn't walk yesterday because of feeling light-headed and nauseous when I stood up more than 5 minutes.  I hate that, but no one seems to know what brings it on, so I just live with it.  

I knew one or both girls would be here after school, so I got Kate's quilt project a little organized for her to do a block.  

First, though, she came in bubbling with excitement about a thing they have in their math class where they take "something" on Friday that others might be interested in and trade them off for the tickets that they've gotten during the week for good grades and good behavior.  Kate lives for the butterscotch candies that the teacher hands out sometimes! The day before, I had guided her through making  just a simple - VERY simple - bag to practice using the sewing machine.  She was so excited about it that she took it home to her mom with a picture she had sketched. 

It was the perfect size for a corner bookmark, so we're getting our heads together about making some for her friends for Christmas and making some bookmarks to go into them.

I had shown her earlier this week a YouTube tutorial of a man sketching a little ghost.  She got her sketch pad and had that ghost drawn before I knew she had started.  Amazing!  I hate to see how I would have butchered it. 

This bag was too small for drawstrings, but we found a pattern a little bigger with a lining and drawstrings, and she's going to ask her dad to do some 3D printing things to put in it along with some tiny acrylic figures she and Elise have been obsessing over.  They open one every day and carry on about how cute they are.  Anyway, along with some candy and maybe a bookmark, and it will be a something anyone would want to spend a math ticket on!  

Emily read me a note her math teacher had written yesterday, and it was so nice.  I love that teachers take the time to write personal notes to the parents, and she mentioned how she was seeing Kate blossom and grow and be engaged and interested in class.  Her grades were always good, but it's nice to know she's enjoying herself.  

She did have a good bit of math homework that is due Friday, but she worked pretty hard on it and then went to the sewing machine and started working on another block.  

She surprised me with her choice of fabrics, but they're beautiful.  We are using two different methods, but I think she's going to do a great job.  She gets so excited when she presses the foot pedal!  It's hard to concentrate on getting a perfect quarter-inch seam and keep her fabric straight and her fingers far enough away to suit me, but she's getting into a rhythm.

These are 3 that she's done.

She fell in love with the moth fabric in the fabric shop, and the shop lady helped her pick out companion fabrics plus some of her own.  She loves the griaffe-spot green!  

This is some fabric I already had, and we both think it will be great for the backing with the squares separated by sashing of the giraffe fabric.

These are some of the fabrics already cut into 2-1/2 inch strips.  They'll be sashed with a creamy white.

I just got my coffee made, so I'm going to end this, but I'm encouraged by writing one more thing!

Cozy!  This reminds me that I need to ask maintenance for those burner replacements they promised me.  I could use a new coffee pot too, but this one is sentimental and makes excellent coffee!  It Veranda Blend Starbucks this week.  

I have Mah-Jongg today, so I probably won't write any more, and then Kate will be here for her sewing.  Maybe Graysen too if we can catch her between school and soccer.  She ended up with MVR (Most Valuable Runner) when the middle school awards were given as well as one more - Best Teammate, maybe?  She had a great year and improved her personal best time every meet.  So proud of her.  It's on to high school cross-country now.  It looks like they have a good team every year.  

Two plants being pampered by Elise that are sitting on the counter. 

And my sleeping buddy this week, a duck left behind after the sleepover Saturday night. 

My Last 70s Month

 I'm counting down the days until I enter a new decade.  It sounds really old, but I'm okay with it.  Everyone who lives this long is like a family of survivors - extra nice to each other, sharing those blood pressure readings and sleep patterns, laughing at the things we have discovered about our bodies that we just have to accept.  

I have almost the whole month of September to enjoy being 79, and I'd love to do some special things that make it memorable.  I won't do many earth-shattering things, but I might do a few things I can look back on and say it was special.

Yesterday was September 1st, and it seemed to be the first day fall was in the air.  Sweater weather.  Light sweater, but nevertheless, you needed what my mother-in-law called "a sleeve."  When I got into the car to go to Mah-Jongg, a light breeze ruffled my neglected hairdo.  It needed to have been cut a month ago, but I let it go, and it got to the point of being just perfect for a few weeks, still not requiring anything but a quick brushing in the morning and tolerance of the messy look the rest of the day.

We had a group of 7 today - 3 at one table and 4 at the other.  Sharon, Connie, and I played at the 3 table.  It usually takes me a game or two to relax and get into the rhythm of the game, but the tiles were there, and the jokers were falling, so I won the first two games.  Those jokers!  Sometimes I go whole games and see maybe 1 but not today.  Once I win a game, I feel more relaxed and don't get anxious about the luck of the draw and especially not about my expertise.  Connie won the third game, and being a fairly new player, it was doubly exciting.  

As we ended the 3rd game, Abbye got dismissed from her table for winning every game over there and came to make up our fourth.  Unfortunately for her but lucky for Sharon, her luck ended, and Sharon won the last 2 games.  Connie had brought some of her homemade limoncello for us that she makes from her own lemon trees - in Scottsdale, AZ, where she lives most of the time.  She visits here a lot because of having a good many family members, mainly grandchildren, here.  I'm not familiar with that drink or vodka at all.  It was nice and refreshing but a little sweet for me.  It was so nice of her to share that treat with us.  

We start back this week with our usual Thursday group.  Summer is hard to get the ones with children and grandchildren and the travelers together, but we should settle in now.  I notice we have 4 so far that have signed up.  

When I got home, Katherine was there.  She had gotten off the bus at her bus stop and walked here, and we had just the best afternoon.  She talked some about her 6th grade experiences - how someone had noticed her Southern accent, and she told them she was 85% Southern.  I'm not sure how she gets that.   She's finding it easier to talk to strangers now and enjoying some new acquaintances, even though her best friends from last year aren't in many of her classes.  She has a sweet heart and such kindness.  She had a snack and part of my supper and then was enjoying a cup of mac and cheese and a game of Rummikub when Ryan came by to get her.  It's been a joy seeing her so much these past few days.  I wish I could even catch a glimpse of Graysen sometimes, but she's totally wrapped up in school and sports and just finding time to relax and read. 

I had an appointment with Dr Gil scheduled for today. I do not like going to the doctor, although it always ends up being nice, especially if all labs check out and nothing else is wrong.  She listens so well to my ramblings, and we reached a perfect agreement that maybe after all these years, I do need an anti-anxiety medication for my happiness and everyone around me.  We're thinking about that and a few other things.  It was good to have a normal-for-me blood pressure and no other problems.  I had lab work done but haven't seen the results yet.  The phlebotomist is so good.  I wish I could have him do my blood draws every time I needed them.  Thinking of the time at my oral surgery appointment when 3 nurses/techs could not get a drop of blood and were thinking of going to a nearby clinic to borrow someone.  It worked out, but it wasn't my best experience.  

As I was leaving the doctor's office, Noreen texted to see if I wanted to get lunch since we were both up and dressed by noon.  One of our rare spontaneous decisions.  She suggested Caadxi Oaxaci in downtown Snoqualmie.  The drive was nice, and it was fun to be out without doctors or PTs involved - just food!  I had never been there, and she told me how it was pronounced.  I forgot exactly but similar to cod-see wa-hata.  She got a little plate of tacos, and I got chicken enchiladas, enough for me to bring home another meal.  It was quiet, and the food was good.  We got to eat out on little (screened?) porch add-on.  

I think I'll have the rest of the day to myself and not sure what I'll do. I'm drinking a good cup of coffee right now and feeling just a little bit cool.  I think I'll take a walk before it starts to rain.  And practice Mah Jongg a little bit.  I have to be ready for tomorrow!  Two cats are snoring in their beds, and Bowie is out roaming.  

I just started a new book this morning that seems appropriate:  Still Life at Eighty.  The Next Interesting Thing by Abigail Thomas.  

It's more poetry than a novel, I think.  Lots of good thoughts and good truths.  She's reaching back in her memory to pull up things and writing them down.  I'd love to do that when I think of something I think the girls would like to know about me when I'm gone.  My life couldn't have been more different than hers:  Married 4 times and a "stage seductress," she has quite a few tales to tell that I couldn't begin to imagine.  Sorry, but I've been boring most of my life!  

Back to School - The Best Ever

That seems to be the consensus around the WinBin house.  It does seem to be off to a happy start, but I don't know the details.  

I don't think I've spoken a word in person to Gray this week, just a few texts here and there.  She's pretty busy!  I know she had to get to school early to participate in the welcoming of the 6th graders, and I don't know how that went.  She was excited but a little bit anxious about it.  I don't even know if Kate was in her group.  I did see a picture on FB of her standing by the Welcome Eagles sign with her friend Sawyer, both of them looking happy.  

Since they had to leave at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, there were no posed front porch pictures this year.  I have had some old ones pop up in my memories, so I'll try to remember to add some of those.  

Emily picked Kate up after school, and she was bubbling with excitement, although this picture doesn't show it.  She said "everyone needs to go easy on me.  I'm new at this."  I assume, new at middle school!

Gray started cross-country practice Thursday but didn't have it Friday because of early release.  It's going to be hard to get soccer practice in on those days.  I did get the schedule and hope Elise and I can get to some of the meets.  There aren't many and only one of them too far away for me to drive.  I'll for sure try to make the home meets and the finals, which are local too.  She and Kate both are dedicated to their practicing right now!

Graysen had plans Saturday night for a sleepover, so I asked if Kate wanted to come over here for a visit or a sleepover.  It took a good bit of maneuvering of schedules (theirs, not mine!) before we could get Carly over here and both girls settled.  Emily picked up pizza on the way to Gray's sleepover with Sawyer and Eva, and Gray delivered it to our door!  That's all they wanted with lots to drink.  We taught Carly to play Rummikub, and she caught on quickly, like I knew she would, but it got a little wild for me at the end of a busy day, so we played just one game.  They settled in with a movie on my computer with lots of laughing and talking.  I think I stayed up to hear them get quiet, but I'm not sure.

I finally had to insist they get up the next morning before lunch!  I got all my laundry done and some cleaning and worked on a breakfast for them and finally got them to the table.

Not a lot of nutrition there, but there are some vegan sausages which they liked as well as bagels and cream cheese.  No one asked for anything else.  They're pretty easy to please.  The blueberries especially were so good.

They've grown so much since the first time they met.  I looked for the first picture of them I have, and it was August 4, 2021.  Such babies.  I really miss those days.

As I was looking for that picture, I found these in my camera.  I knew they were having fun, but I didn't discover what was making them laugh so hard until I saw these.  I'm sure this huge alligator has a name, but I've forgotten it.  I think I see now why she chose it instead of one of her smaller stuffies - she was expecting a loud and active night.

They spent a lot of time on shadow pictures the night before and the next morning, but this is the only picture they took.

I'm not sure what they did all afternoon, but no one accepted any parent's invitation to go home.  They ran over the park and played briefly, but it was cool and a little rainy, so they came back home.  Finally, about 5:00 I took them, along with that alligator, home.  I'm so thankful we had that time together, even if I didn't participate much.  It was enough just hearing them giggle and scream and have such a good time.  Both of them thanked me sweetly for having them.  Such sweeties.  

When I got back home, played some solo Mah Jongg and texted a little with Emily.  

Before the Charleston with not a great hand.

I brought out the pink tiles and tried to replicate the Charleston and the drawing and discarding for 4 people.  It's about as accurate as I can figure out to do with one player.  

I finally settled on a hand and came within one tile of MJ before it ended.  Not that bad!  This picture is after the first Charleston.  I did settle on the BAM hand.  I got 3 of the 4 BAM dragons before it ended but couldn't get a joker!

Those early pictures I mentioned before.  These had been posted on FB at the time.

Gray with her fall looks.

This was during a visit before we moved here.  She wasn't sure of Mimi and PopPop on first meeting, but she soon remembered us from Facetime.  

 They got to go 3 years to the same school, not counting the time they were homebound because of COVID.

And this one.  I just get so lost in memories when I look for a particular picture.  I guess there are worse ways to spend a morning.

My days are all mine now since the girls are in school.  I didn't see that much of them this summer, but there was always the possibility they would come over.  Now I have these wonderful last days of summer to enjoy.  Today I'm just drinking coffee and working on this blog and getting my September calendar up to date and seeing if I spent all my budgeted money. 

Tomorrow is Mah Jongg, but I'm still open to whether or not I'll go.  If we have a reasonable number of people, I will.  It will be fun to start getting our old groups back after the summer.  Thursday is a certainty with most of the regulars.  There is Rummikub on Mondays at the senior center, but I haven't considered that yet.  Some people play at the winery next to the library on Thursdays, and I might join them this week if there's nothing else going on.  

I always get the urge to sew in the fall, but we're trying to get all my sewing stuff changed around, so things are in three different places.  My MJ friend Sharon has started a Quilt of Valor, and it looks so pretty.  It's really tempting. 

 I need to get Elise to pick out the binding and backing for her quilt and work on that as soon as possible.  I don't think she's ever going to find just the right color and pattern of blue/green/teal, but there's always hope.  I have my 3 mini quilts for the holidays that I CAN finish if I just will!

And now that Noreen is doing so well with her knee replacement rehab, I hope we can get out and take some of those fall walks we used to enjoy.  September is beautiful here, and I want to be out there in it in the last month of my 70s!  I hope I not jinxing my good health and lack of falling in 6 years!  I have a doctor's appoint Wednesday and don't want to hear anything bad there either.