The afterglow.

The wedding could not have been more perfect. 

On Friday we honored the bride with a lunch at Mary Mahoney's in Biloxi. The bubbly flowed, the flowers were gorgeous, the food was delicious. Here is bride Margaret and her almost 97 year old grandmother. (My Mom.)

Friday night we attended the rehearsal dinner. Again - delicious food, lovely table decor, and family and friends aplenty!

Family.

On Saturday we joined brothers and sisters in the crow's nest at a restaurant named Felix's. I tasted their barbecue shrimp and it gets a big thumbs up! I enjoyed a shrimp/oyster poboy for my lunch. 

It was a beach-y place with lots of nice breeze. 

The wedding ceremony was deeply emotional. Not crying, just very sincere and special. Two maternal grandfathers presided, one a retired Methodist minister, one a Baptist minister. They each were so sweet in their separate remarks and had some lines of the ceremony they delivered in unison. 

The reception was ultra fun! We stayed on the dance floor until the band packed up! Good food, fun dancing, good times, man. 

Nana looked exceptionally lovely in her wedding attire. She attended the wedding and was feeling well enough to go to the reception where she stayed long enough to visit with the bride and eat some wedding cake!

Special moment between Nana and Margaret.

Macho and I showed our skills. Not for long. The floor got crowded quickly and stayed that way most of the night. But we hung in there and partied with the best of them. 

Margaret and Nathan's happily ever after party was something else! 

Shalom.

Goodbye July.

We said goodbye to the month of July with a visit from The Super Carrot. She arrived on a Sunday. After her family dropped her off we had some fun. We dropped by the goat farm where the goats enthusiastically vied for the bread she offered. They butted heads and licked her fingers. We love doing that. The we came home and played ball with Granddaddy outside for a good while. She suggested we make a list of all our activities for the following day.

So we did. After her bath we watched the movie "Trolls" and she almost made it to the end. I could tell she was sleepy and she readily agreed it was bed time. 

Monday we just followed the list. 

First stop was delightful. There were butterflies aplenty at the garden. Swallowtails and monarchs. We had a good stroll on the Riverwalk, too.

Self at the butterfly garden. 

The we spent a gift card at the Krispy Kreme. She had the cookie dough donut with sprinkles. I had the New York cheesecake donut. We shared a chocolate milk. 

Filled with sugar we headed to the park by the hospital. She really knows how to strike the pose. #missalabama #missamerica

The temperature was moderate. In the shade felt pretty good. But when it got close to noon and the sun was over head it was time to move on... 

...to McDonald's. The pose was totally her idea. 

She played at the indoor playground and then we headed home. We rested for a short while then headed to the YMCA pool. We didn't stay too long because it was very sunny. We had plenty sun screen but I don't like to chance the sun burn. 

It went too quickly and her mom was ready early so I drove her to the half way point where we usually meet. 

Tomorrow she starts kindergarten. She has a loose tooth. 

Her brother and sister will both be in middle school. 

Her cousin, Peyton, started first grade on Friday. 

I will post later about this last weekend and the new month. 

Shalom. 

Reveal party.

With only a backsplash, hood vent, and a few tweaks left on our kitchen project I am so anxious to share the makeover. Keep in mind that when I took the before pictures I was packing up the kitchen, so it looks extra messy. It wasn't always that cluttered looking. Well...here goes...

Before.

After.

Before.

After.

Before. 

After.

The second week in August our backsplash is slated to be installed. I hope I never have to do a renovation project again. 

In. My. Life. 

Shalom!

On and on...

I met Son-in-Law at the Piggly Wiggly half way mark on Friday to pick up Tucker. He and I had to make a quick stop at ourveryown P.W. to secure some chicken livers for fishing. Then we headed to the YMCA pool for swimming and fun. We had stopped at the RedBox to pick up a movie for Friday night - Power Rangers! 

Tucker delivered his Mom's artwork to me. I had asked about this particular painting just that day. I had been thinking about it and thought it would look good in my red bedroom And. It does. I like it. 

Saturday morning Macho and Tucker headed to the fishing hole. Tucker had expressed to me that he wanted to catch one of those big catfish. I was discouraging and said he prolly wouldn't catch that in the pond where they were going. Boy. Was I wrong. 

He not only caught about a 9 pound catfish, he also miraculously reeled in and saved his Granddaddy's fishing pole. It had been dragged out to sea by a fish. It was the fun story of the day! 

We fried those fish up for supper. Tucker seemed to enjoy them. I have to admit, the large one was a bit rubbery. But not bad tasting. 

Saturday afternoon got boring for poor ole Tucker. We had lots of visitors and he got little attention. He occupied himself by watching his iPad. I just felt bad for him. I will figure a way to make it up to him. 

That night we watched one of my all time favorite movies, Field of Dreams. 

Yesterday my tile man laid my tile. As I type he is finishing the grout. And.

It looks great. The end is near. I think I will make a big sign and go around town proclaiming just that! 

This morning after my walk I got the leaf blower out and dusting off my back porch and patio. It really does a good job. 

I picked these two beauties this morning. There are many more on the vine. I have shared with family and neighbors. 

Happy tomatoes, evahbody!

Shalom. 

Splish splash!

A picture is worth a thousand words. 

My joy this week came from running water in my kitchen. Yesterday Bill, the plumber, took his sweet time hooking up our new faucet. It wasn't all his fault. His son was his gofer, and he delivered at a snail's pace. It seems no big deal now that I can wash dishes in my kitchen. And. Wash my hands. And. Draw water for the coffee. 

Beach Boy and I discussed the luxury of running water this morning. I was looking at it historically. He reminded me that this very day somewhere in the world people must walk a distance to acquire water and walk it back to their homes. I am more thankful today for the luxury of water than when we started this project. 

Good news. Floors will happen Monday, with grouting to complete the task on Tuesday. Next week should bring the final onslaught of plumber, electricians, painters, carpenter, and deliveries. Back splash is slated for August 7. 

There is light at the end of the tunnel. There is a balm in Gilead. 

Going to pick up Tucker tomorrow. I'm so excited that he is coming over. 

The weekend holds promise!

Shalom.

The rhythm of my heart.

We did it! After giving up hope that we would make it to the concert, Daughter called last week asking if we wanted cheap seat tickets. Macho agreed. And it was on. 

Pre-concert meal at Glory Bound. Where they serve good, cold craft beer. And "to go" cups. 

The evening was warm but as the sun went down it cooled. Then.

There she was. 

Cydni Lauper. 

When Daughter was in the first grade she wanted to be her. 

Some experiences in life are just so big. Ok. They are small and big at the same time. Daughter grew up. I guess, she stopped really wanting to be that rock star. Then that rock star comes to town. And your Daughter takes you to the concert of that very rock star she wanted to be, and now your granddaughter, herveryown daughter loves that music? Well. It is just down right epic, that's what it is. And. We lived it, Dottie. 

True colors. Shining through. 

And of course, Bud Light.

I dug out my vintage 80's necklace and every colorful bracelet that I could find in my drawers. I channeled Cyndi. 

Then came the headliner....

Rod Stewart! My camera would not take a decent photo at this distance. The lights were so bright that it just wouldn't work. But you get the idea. We sang along with Rod and another 5,999 of his closest friends. He was good. And he was funny. His musicians were wonderful. 

It was the most fun I have had all summer. It got my mind off my kitchen project. 

It was balm to my spirit. 

We got home at midnight. Then we turned into our old pumpkin selves. 

It was a little rough waking up this morning but I just keep singing, "the rhythm of my heart is beating like a drum. With the words 'I love you' rolling off my tongue..." 

Oh Rod! It was fun. 

That is all we girls really want. 

To have fun. 

*****

Obligatory harvest photo. Picked three tomatoes and an eggplant this morning. This one was the biggest. I am picking 2-3 per day right now. So far, I am winning. I am beating the birds and the squirrels. 

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Hope it is warm where you are.

Shalom. 

Fire. Cracker.

Here we are at the 4th of July. Summer's apex. I am sure the stores will have Christmas items by tomorrow. Some things I would like to speed up. Others, not so much.

Here are some recap photos of the last few weeks...

Our friend, Tony, fading from dementia and pancreatic cancer. We love him. 

A request was put in for a "Little Orphan Annie" dress. I happened to have this pattern and fabric and whipped it up for one Super Carrot. We will deliver it next weekend when we go over for a concert. More about that later. 

Last week I harvested my first tomatoes and eggplant. I roasted these in the oven and ate them by myself. They were delicious. 

On Sunday sister-in-law offered tomatoes. We drove over to pick them up and she also gifted us with some zucchini relish and these gorgeous zinnias. I added some coleus and asparagus fern from my garden, and voila! 

This was taken today. Just wanted to recored how pretty my tomato plants look. I have picked about 6 or 7. They are ripening slowly. I picked them when they are half red because I don't want the birds to eat them. My bush goliath have ripened quicker. The Amelia variety that you see has lots of tomatoes but I haven't picked the first one, yet. Today I saw some color on a few of the Amelias. 

These Amelias are getting really big. 

We enjoyed Macho's famous chicken leg quarters for our celebration today. We use a family recipe for the sauce. I made some slaw, and Macho requested potato chips. That's what we ate. Along with fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. 

***

Tomorrow my counter tops are due to arrive and be installed. I hope I am as happy with them as I have been with the new cabinets. Here's hoping!

***

Rod Stewart and Cindi Lauper are having a concert on Sunday night. I checked tickets a while back, but they were expensive. With all the finances going toward the kitchen re-do, I opted not to buy the tickets. But. Yes - but! Daughter called a few days ago because she had seen an ad for cheap seat tickets. I said, "Yes!" when she asked if we would like her to secure some tickets for us. So...

We are going to the concert! Yee. Haw! I am really excited. 

Many happy memories of past 4th of July parties growing up. Lots and lots of family. Lots of food. Lots of fun. Hot fun in the summer time. 

Shalom.