Almost August.

It's been a while. We are passing this month by working outside until we get too hot. Then we come in a read. The house work is getting done, sluggishly. Our dance classes have been very interrupted this summer. We have totally ignored pickle ball. I haven't even gotten in the lap swim routine this summer. But. That is just the way it goes.

We hope to return to playing the pickle ball when the weather cools off. Life guards are about to go back to school, so lap swim will just have to wait until next summer. We are hoping our dance instructor isn't about to give up on us. If she does? So be it.

We did have a mini-adventure on Saturday. We visited Petals from the Past over in Alabama for a terrific fig ed seminar and orchard tour. Learned some good use tips about figs. Hope to go back for the grape workshop next month.

Meanwhile. Garden club plans for the year are moving up the list of priorities. We start back in September. Master Gardeners don't meet in July but we will be back at it in August. First Friday Mass & Brunch with the church seniors & friends will resume in September. I will get cranked up here pretty soon.

Things are going and growing so good in our yard. Since Macho retired the yard gets much attention. We've had plenty of tomatoes. A goodly amount of banana and jalepeno peppers. I've harvested pounds and pounds of eggplant out of my front bed. I won't plant them there next year. This year I just did it because our new plants are small and there was room. We even found deer tracks out front last week. They liked the eggplant leaves. I hope to transplant some bulbs this fall into that bed.

Butterflies and pollinators are buzzing my zinnias. The moonflowers are flourishing. The fennel is a hot mess. It got so big it just fell over everything. Swallow tail butterflies like to lay there eggs on it and the caterpillars eat it up. So far, no sign of them.

We have a couple of fall projects we are discussing. Our back be needs some line adjustment and we have three large eleagnus that need digging up. Any takers?!

Laundry is calling my name. Shalom.

In the books.

Camp Granddaddy is over. 

It ended with little flourish and lots of miles and giggles.

Craft detritus. 

All the bags were packed and ready to go.

Closing ceremony took place and we loaded up the truck.

We dropped The Carrot off first. Then drove another one and a half hours and dropped off the sisters. 

The ride home was so quiet. 

And here we sit watching the news. One load of towels in the dryer. One load of clothes in the wash.

The kitchen crafts are cleaned up. 

Sheets will be stripped and washed tomorrow. Tomorrow toys will be located and put away.

I sure hope their memories grow sweeter in the telling. They get along so very well. 

These girls are awesome. They are smart. They are kind.

They are important.

Be sweet.

Shalom.

Little video

Day 3 - Olaf!

Hawaii Day at Camp Granddaddy started with a video email from a cousin far, far away...

Cousin Erin sang a song and played her ukulele and wished us a happy Hawaii Day! 

One of the girls said, "Wait. She's our cousin?!" 

I explained that she was their mom's and dad's cousin. So that makes her your cousin, too. 

Anklets were just the ticket to set the mood. 

The girls then watched a youtube tutorial on how to do the hula. I have video but couldn't get it to download. Will try later. 

We revisited the mentos experiment this year. Miss P* had requested that I order the correct apparatus for loading the mentos into the soda bottle. I did. Since last year I learned that diet soda performs better.

And boy does it!!!! See photos below. 

I don't know how high it shot, but it was taller than us all. 

We all squealed with delight. 

We will probably do this every year. 

Until we get tired of it.

Or they grow up. 

And then I may do it anyway. 

Yes. We ate Spam for lunch. Along with fruits, leftover baked beans, and cole slaw. 

Millie ate her one bite of Spam without complaining. She did not ask for seconds.

Merritt ate her two bites. And did not ask for seconds. 

Peyton ate her two bites. And asked for five more. 

Man. Spam is so salty. 

We painted newspaper and made grass skirts. 

We made tissue flowers. 

The girls played in the house because we had another heat advisory today. 

Then we watched Moana. 

Toward the end of the movie Merritt requested Granddaddy pull her loose tooth.

So. 

He did. 

She is taking it home in a baggie for the tooth fairy's visit tomorrow night. 

Our plan was to swim at the YMCA tonight. But the weather interrupted.

So. The girls ate fudgesicles. And M&Ms. 

The sugar coma should hit in about an hour? Right?

And so, this year's camp is coming to a close tomorrow. 

Millie hugged me extra hard when I asked her who would I hug tomorrow night?!

Closing ceremonies will commence at 10:00. 

Packing will happen. 

Make new friends but keep the old.

One is silver and the other is gold.

Shalom.

Camp Granddaddy - Day 2

New Mexico Day! 

Over a pancake breakfast we tried out some Spanish words. We talked about the difference between Mexico and New Mexico. 

Blueberries, chocolate chips, and pancakes. 

I talked to sister in Virginia and she texted me a photo of her story teller cookie jar.

So. We created our very own story teller photo. 

We headed to town to deliver some home grown egg plant to Aunt Paulette. We stayed for a visit, got a tour of her house, and walked away with bling treasure for each girl!

Then, since it was so hot, we opted to visit the library. A snake man was giving a presentation and the two older girls sat in on the end of it. 

Millie chose to just peek. 

We ran into Mother Goose. She gave each girl a book mark and invited them to touch anything in her office they wanted to. She had lots of stuffed animals. Some that even sing. 

After a group hug we headed to the store for a few items. 

We came home then and we ate various forms of tacos. 

 The afternoon was passed in the house since there was a heat advisory. 

While Granddaddy and Nanny watched a teevee show about a hurricane everybody caught a nap, even Nanny and Granddaddy. 

That is everybody except Miss P. 

In celebration of New Mexico day we watched the movie Coco. 

Then we drove to the goat farm and fed them 6 loaves of white bread, half a loaf of french, and leftover pancakes. A trip to the playground made us all hot enough that we were happy to come back home to the cool. 

Before supper we did one science experiment. It is very easy. And very amazing. Plate, water, pepper, soap...that is all you need. The soap repels the pepper in the water on the plate. Amazing. 

Baths are happening. Hair is being shampooed. Day is almost done. 

Tomorrow promises to be just as hot. Hawaii day may take place indoors, also.

Shalom. 

Mississippi Day at camp

What better activity than fishing for Mississippi Day?

When the first fish was landed Millie ran for the grass. Merritt and Peyton hung in there and landed several fish each. Several more got away. 

The granddaddy purchased crickets for bait. "Are we going to kill them?" Millie asked. 

We told her yes. When we got the first fish in the bucket Millie asked, "Are we going to kill them?"

Yes, we said. 

I wore my "mustache Mississippi" t-shirt today. 

The morning started cloudy and was just right. When the sun came out and the fish got tired of biting, we headed home. 

We landed 3 brim, 2 catfish, and 4 large mouth bass. 

This was for dinner. 

After noon brought some rain storms. It made for good fort building and lantern using fun.

The girls treated us to "spa" time and I even paid them $2 a piece because the hand and temple massages were really very nice. 

There were a couple of melt downs, but all in all it has been a very good day. 

First full day is done. The girls are giggling in bed right now. Last night I began reading from a very old book that my mother was gifted when she was 9 years old. It is about The Lowly Gnome. They are very quiet during the reading even though it is a bit "Shakespeare-ish". 

Shalom. 

Weekend and camp...

Most of the family was here for the weekend...

Aunt Daughter is comfy.

Miss P and DIL. 

Socks from Alaska for everyone!

Happy feet. Happy cousins.

Guess who put her own shoes on?!

On the way to pick up Super Carrot.

Dressing in Nanny's clothes.

Camp officially started with a lighted candle, The Lord's Prayer, the pledge of allegiance, and several renditions of the National Anthem - in tandem. And solo. 

Then we all sang a loud "Make New Friends, But Keep the Old..." and camp is underway!

Let the games begin! 

Shalom. 

Camp Granddaddy 2019...