August Wrap

The last day of August already! Although it's not officially the end of summer, I have always considered 8/31 to be so. Schools are back in session, "fall" football has started, etc.

I have been very poor at blogging this year. 2019 started with Dad (a.k.a. Derf) just home from the hospital, with Lew and I assisting with the medicine pump during January. Then I left my job in February, spent March looking for a new one, and started my current job in April. Then summer happened... and now here we are.

I hope to do better at blogging for the rest of the year. I thank my readers that have persevered through this drought. Fortunately my father was consistent with his posts, so that kept the blog from being a total bust!

Four things to wrap up August:

1) My sister Kim's birthday was this past Thursday (the 29th). I won't say how old she is, but the digits are the same. (If you must know, then think about how many fingers are on one hand... and yes, include the thumb!) Happy Birthday, Kim!

2) Last night was the first U.Maine football game of the season. Zack is a redshirt this year, but he does jersey up and stand on the sidelines. The game was streamed online via FloSports, so we subscribed to the service. (Several of the games will be available to watch this way.) U.Maine won 42-14, and we saw Zack several times on the screen. Mom, Dad, Lew, and I enjoyed watching. Go, Black Bears!

3) Last weekend Lew and I went for a walk with Ellen and Paul and their dog, Lucy. Because of Lucy, we met some people on our walk that we otherwise would have just exchanged nods with. Dogs want to meet each other, so their "people" end up meeting each other, too. It's good to meet neighbors, and we probably should make more of an effort to do so... a good lesson learned from a sweet pup. Thank you, Lucy!

4) When we had the entire family over for a cookout a few weeks ago (click HERE to see what night I mean), Lew introduced some water balloons as the evening progressed. I believe the intent was for the adults to throw the balloons at the children, but it ended up with adults throwing entire buckets of water at other adults. The highlight was when Zachariah was coming after Debbie. Kim and I saw what was about to happen and made a mad dash to run inside the house. Debbie was right behind us. Kim flung the door open, I followed her in, and then I felt water on my right leg. Let's just say Debbie got far wetter than I did. Much, much wetter. But Kim and I eventually got what was coming to us: Lew and I went to an outdoor wedding that same weekend, and it rained hard right during the ceremony (and only then); the next Friday, Lew and Kim went to get ice cream for us at Bayley's and got caught in an unexpected downpour. Did you notice who was with both Kim and I? Lew, who started everything with the water balloons. Poetic justice, Lew, poetic justice!

P.S. Regarding #4. I later asked Emily if she witnessed Kim, Debbie, and I trying to make it into the house. She said, "Yes." I then asked her if it looked as hysterical as it felt. "Yes, ha ha!"

P.S. Regarding #3. Lucy!

Dad 478: Summer's End

(I saw school buses on the road today, so summer is effectively over... sigh.... Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Another great end-of-the-summer day. Supposed to rain tonight (downpour) and then good through the Labor Day weekend. It is the end of summer. Can you believe it?

 

Got the lawn mowed yesterday as our mower was returned after a very thorough service. Lawn received the last of four sprayings today for ticks and mosquitoes. The lawn still has some green in it. Not bad for a mowed hayfield.

 

Thinking seriously about selling our truck. It now has a shimmy. The engine light is on. Must think over what we will do with it. If we sell we will need to find a plow man. Stay tuned.

 

Very slow goings-on as the season comes to an end. So I'll quit for today. I'll do better next week!

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

LLWS Withdrawal

Our household enjoyed watching the Little League World Series championship games this weekend. Congratulations to the team from Louisiana for winning the whole thing!

I am a little sad now that the Series is over. The kids were so much fun to watch — certainly more fun to watch than the Red Sox have been this season.

Lew and I handled our Little League withdrawal by watching "The Peanuts Movie" tonight. It was really cute. ("Endearing," said Lew.) You really are a good man, Charlie Brown!

Birthday Card Art

Lew and I had a lovely dinner out with Matt, Emily, Eli, and Adam on Wednesday night in celebration of Lew's birthday.

The boys gave Lew a card, complete with original artwork. Below is a portion of the drawing. Featured are the sun, a birdfeeder, Lew saying "I like birds," and Jerry on a leash — all extremely possible except for the "Jerry on a leash" part!
😸

Dad 477: One Less Toe, One More Year

(Happy Birthday to Lew! Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! The day was rainy. Tomorrow will be hot once again. The A.C. has been working overtime daily. It beats the heat.

 

Well, last week I mentioned a toe that looked bad. I saw our primary care doctor before writing last week and was put on a powerful antibiotic for 10 days. They will end Friday. The day after my blog post, I went to my foot doctor. His first comment was, "That has got to come off." He then made arrangements to do surgery the next morning at 7:30 AM. The only family member to see the toe was me. I did ask the doctor if this was the ugliest toe he had ever seen. He said it wasn't even close. It was the worst I had ever seen. Not even close!

 

Another birthday in the house today. Lew is celebrating his birthday today. Lew is busy as he is getting quite involved with our night meals. He is my chauffeur when necessary for appointments that I can't drive to. Let's put it this way: He is very much appreciated. Have a happy birthday, Lew! Enjoy your outing tonight with your family. Well earned!

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Friday Night Culture

Lew and I went to the ballet this past Friday night. Our young friend Laura (Ellen's daughter) was the Moth Fairy. She was a beautiful moth, and we especially enjoyed her solo dance.

Laura appreciates the fact we come to see her perform. I told her that Lew and I appreciate having the chance to experience some "culture," because we don't get that much of it!  😀

LLWS 2019

One of the best sporting events of the year is currently taking place: The Little League World Series!

I enjoy watching the kids play... although I always feel bad seeing them cry after a loss.

I don't have a bucket list, but if I did, going to Williamsport to watch the Series would be on it.

Maybe someday I'll really go. It is fun to think about, at least!

Play Ball!  ⚾

Tomorrow is Friday!

This has been a busy week at work for me.

Busy.... That word reminds me of the letter "Z".

Z.

Zzzzz....

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

I'm feeling sleepy all of a sudden!

😴

Dad 476: Summer's End (Part 2)

(Wishing the Pennsylvania travelers a safe trip! Dad writes today.... ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Back to another nice summer day after one day with a little rain. Summer weather has been great for our Pennsylvania and Illinois company. Hope the weather continues for a few more weeks.

 

Well, our company is all back home or at least on their way there. Kim called from Illinois and had two good flights to get home to Eureka, Illinois. Cocoa, the dog, was and is happy to have her home.

 

Niece Gina and her granddaughter Haley left for Pennsylvania early afternoon. All of our company is now home or on their way as I said above. It was a fantastic summer for family.

 

I was in the doctor's office today with another toe situation. I am now on a strong antibiotic for 10 days in hope that some swelling and redness will subside. Probably know more next week as I see my foot doctor tomorrow. He is not going to be happy with me. I'm looking to get rid of the toe. Should have done it weeks ago.

 

Done for the day!

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

See Sun Rise

This past Monday morning, I saw the sun rise!
(Yes, I know the sun isn't really moving.)

It was Gina's idea to go to the beach to watch the sun come up.
Haley had no choice; she had to go with her grandmother.

Kaelen thought it sounded like a grand idea, so she and I made a morning of it.

We met Gina and Haley at the beach, watched the sun rise, then came back to the house for hot chocolate and chatting.

It was a lovely way to spend an early morning while on my vacation!

Dad 475: Summer's End (Part 1)

(Wishing the Illinois travelers a safe trip! Dad writes today.... ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! We just had a thunder shower and a real downpour. The sun shines bright now. The past few days have been great summer days.

 

Well, for us summer is about over. Why, you ask? Well, I'll tell you. Today Zach, Kelsey, and Bode left for their home in Illinois. Joe and Kaelen followed them a few hours later and are now on their way to Illinois. It is a sad, sad day. See you all next summer.

 

We do have Kim here until next Wednesday. Our niece Gina is still with us until next Wednesday. Gina is here with her granddaughter Haley. Next Wednesday will be a real sad, sad, sad day as our summer visitors will be gone, gone. Then come Fall and Winter. We will keep the home fires burning.

 

Not to mention Zack is at UMaine and Josh goes back to MMA in two days.

 

That's it folks!

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Wednesday Rundown

My mini-vacation is over. I went back to work today. Busy!

 

Joe, Kaelen, Kelsey, Zachariah, and Bode leave tomorrow morning, so some farewells have already been said.

 

Kim, Gina, and Haley will be here for another week, so summer is not quite over yet!

 

For all you Derf fans, check back tomorrow for my father's weekly post.

 

Happy Birthday to my Aunt Debbie!

 

G'nite!

A Summery Saturday Summary

It's been a busy, happy week!

As I wrote earlier, Lew and I started out by celebrating Adam's birthday on Monday. Here's a fairly recent photo of the birthday boy:

Adam's arm is all better, by the way!

Adam's big birthday bash was this afternoon. Here's a photo of all the kids playing in the bouncy house/water slide:

Don't see any kids? They're all inside the bouncy house!

This morning I went to the beach with Kim, Debbie, and Bode. I took the obligatory photo of my feet while sitting on the beach:

That's Kim, Debbie, and Bode on the water's edge.

A close-up of one of my beach mates!

"I'm all muscle!"

My cousin Gina and her granddaughter Haley arrived Thursday night, so last night we had a big family gathering at the house. I think there were 20 of us total: Mom, Dad, Gina, Haley, Kim, Joe, Kaelen, Kelsey, Zachariah, Bode, Debbie, Glen, Matt, Emily, Eli, Adam, Wayne, Rylie, Lew, and me. (Josh and Zack, we missed you!) Here's a photo of part of the clan:

Left side: Haley, Gina, and Adam.
Right-side: Lew, Eli, and Rylie. 

I don't have to go back to work until Wednesday.  I'm taking a mini-vacation....

YES! I'm on vacation! 😎