Ben's graduation

Another one of my boys has graduated H.S. and is moving on.  Ben is raring to go! He leaves for Army basic in the middle of August.

Joe's attitude is, "When are the rest of them leaving?" Mine is "Why do you have to move away? You could live here for nothing!" 

Ben is MY son. He's the most like me. Which is probably what scares me the most! LOL He's going to be great, though. I know that. He is so talented! I'm just floored by this young man's ability with a camera. And now he is going to make it a career.

The ceremony was at 8 p.m. and lasted about an hour and a half. Afterwards, the grads were loaded on to buses and taken to Senior Bash, an all night  party hosted by the parents of graduating seniors. This year it was held at the YMCA.  Joe and I chaperoned and I think everyone had a really good time!

It's just so weird thinking of my children, my babies, as grown ups. They certainly don't DRESS like it sometimes (2 different kinds of plaid in one outfit? OMG!(. Or eat like it (Candy bars for breakfast?  Really?) But none the less it true. Now I can only pray that God keeps them safe and blesses their dreams. And that they remember to call home once in awhile.

I love you so Ben! And I am so very proud of you.

Father's Day 2011

Usually, I fear, my sweet husband gets the short end of the stick when it comes to celebrating Father's Day. I mean, how many tee shirts, coffee mugs and ties can one fella use?

Joe, Gillian and Garret making smores



Nothing like relaxing with a cold beverage, is there Joe?



This year, though, we got it all right! First, I had found this nice screened gazebo a month or so ago. I showed it to Joe and he really liked it and since we keep having issues with the table umbrellas (the last one flew off and smashed into a tractor!) I knew this gift would come in handy this summer. 

Thinking he was leaving after lunch, he quickly gathered the boys to help him assemble it, so he could enjoy it before flying back to Canada.  It took very little time to put up and it looks really good too!

The kids gave Joe their gift: ticket to see Kenny Chesney at the CMAC.  Joe was so tickled! He kept grinning and talking about it and finally hooked up the speakers to his ipod so we could listen to Kenny's latest album while we played croquet!

The time came for him to get ready to leave for the airport...it was such a nice day. He hated to see it end.

He made a quick call to check on his flight, and low and behold! It was delayed.  Then there was a second delay which would cause him to miss his connecting flight out of Toronto and there was not another flight out til morning, so Joe was forced to return to the backyard! He was not too upset about that. LOL



Joey made time to spend with his Dad on Father's Day


We dug out a candle chandelier that had been gathering dust in the attic and hung it in the gazebo...when dusk came we lit the candles and played Rummy by candlelight!

After thoroughly trouncing us at cards, Joe had Matty light a fire in the fire pit and we made smores (I just at the Hershey bar. LOL!)


Jim helped set up the new gazebo

All the kids sat around and we talked and we laughed and we ate too much and it was just one of those days that a Dad can remember for the rest of his life as being as near to perfect as can be.


Matthew and Garret not doing so great at Rummy! LOL





Me enjoying the new screened gazebo!



As I drove Joe to the airport this morning, he was still talking about "his perfect day".  I had to smile, because, you know what? He was right. It was perfect. And he deserved it.


A friendly game of croquet

 We love you Joe! With all our hearts!
Happy Father's Day!

Gee it's hot out there!

I am a southern girl and I can take the heat, but there are days when even I say whoa! and stay inside where it's cooler! But there are days (like today) when I just have to work outside. It is important to know how to prevent heat related illnesses.

Take a look at this list:

Drink one glass of water every 15 to 30 minutes worked, depending on the heat and humidity. This is the best way to replace lost body fluid.

Read medication labels to know how cause the body to react to the sun and heat.

Avoid alcohol and drugs as they can increase the effects of heat.

Build up tolerance for working in the heat. Heat tolerance is normally built up over a one to two week time period.

Take breaks to cool down. A 10 - 15 minute break every two hours is effective.

Adapt work and pace to the weather.

Provide heat stress training to workers and supervisors.

Manage work activities and match them to employees' physical condition.

Use special protective gear, such as cooling garments and cooling vests on "early entry" workers.

Know heat stress first aid techniques.

Also, remember to slather on that sunscreen (with an SPF of at least 30) and wear a hat.  Skin cancer is on the rise.

Prevention is the key, my friends! Now go out and enjoy your summer safely!

My fishing trip

Remember these:   

I found one at a yardsale last summer and I was determined to use it on this beautiful morning when my husband suggested we go fishing. "" What?" you ask..."You fish too??"  Yes. Yes I do.

There I was in the wilderness with my pocket fisherman. I could feel the eyes of dangerous beast sizing me up, but I was undaunted!!

Joe went to another part of the pond with his fancy- shmancy open face reel. Hu! All he could catch was this:

I tried not to laugh! Mwaaaaaa!  Because I caught 7...yes I said SEVEN of these:

Sure they were tiny, but think how much more difficult it is to catch a tiny fish! Why the great big one that Joe caught could have just brushed by his hook and been caught. It had much more surface area!!!

Yes, you too could be a big wheel freshwater fisher woman if only you had

a pocket fisherman, like I do.

Go ahead and eat your heart out. I don't blame you.

Yesterday's walk

When Joe is home we often go for walks. Yesterday, I had to get a prescription filled, so we dropped it off and then went for our stroll. Here are some of the beautiful sites...

As tired as I get of these NY winters and as much as I miss the south, I never do get tired of the natural beauty of the Finger Lakes!  Why don't you come see for yourself?  http://www.fingerlakes.org/