Be NICE

I think we should be able to choose classes as adults:
mythology (it comes up all the time!)
budgeting
balancing life
meal planning
how to talk to a teenager without getting the stink eye

Everyday I am reminded of how it all comes down to nice people. It does. I need to be surrounded by people who are giving each other support and the benefit of the doubt. Mean people stink- big time. Why do you want that kind of negativity out there? Don't throw around meanness. Kindness is free. If you feel hate toward another human being, if you want to get even or posture to get the advantage- who are you? It says more about you than about the person you are directing that toward. Just because you hold the power to make a decision doesn't mean you should mess with that. That crap will come back to you- or it should. I don't want to spend my time planning how to mess with somebody, how to show someone how much power I have, how important I am. I don't need to. Do you?

Country Living

I'm wondering if all new YA books are required to have the word 'immortal' in them or be about getting wasted? Seriously... looking for more depth...

When the back covers say things like 'Stephenie Meyers meets John Green'  Meyers and Green must think they are the bomb to be THE NAMES

This year's Country Living Fair highlights:

Wine on High- New Age White

La Rousse Malbec

Haiku Poetic food and Art- Eastern Rose, Lettuce Wraps, and a Harvest Roll

humanity

Alrighty. Who's found my blog? No one visits for a year and then I check in today and BAM! Visitors. How does that happen? Anywho, doesn't matter. I write on...
This has been a tough week. This being an adult business. This parenting business. Tough. It is toughness I would never have imagined. If it weren't for voices of reason, snippets of conversations while doing hall duty, messages sent from parents of a classmate, a former student coming home and being proud of his journey, a leg swung over mine on the couch... I don't know how I'd proceed sometimes. Luckily this business of being a human is a group endeavor. 

Bewildering

It has come to my attention that maybe I bewilder people. They don't know what to do with me. That's ok.
I spent the better part of 2 hours putting together a few outfits and packing for a few days. I considered where we would be- shopping at an upscale outdoor plaza, when- August but cool for August, who- the people I would be with but also around, and then I added things I couldn't wear to work or other places. I added jewelry, bags, and shoes for walking. That is what I do. I like to use my creativity in my creation of an outfit. And people openly consider me. This has happened to me several times lately. A few weeks ago a lady sitting across from me, who I did not know, kept openly staring. At least she was smiling but I kept catching her looking at me. Ok. Thanks for appreciating the outfit :) Yesterday my companion said, 'now is that something you would wear to work?' yes. not sure if that is a good thing or again- bewilderment. Ok.

Also after spending several days lately with wonderfully loving, giving, generous, gracious, nonjudgemental, encouraging, uplifting, intelligent, funny, insightful, spirit led, good good people I found my self rethinking some people who are just not that I spent too much time with. 

Dwindling

Summer is dwindling down to nothing but I've decided I'm not going to let it.
Things I can still do once school starts to make summer last....

walk the dogs
swim with the dogs
SUP
kayak
read books and magazines on the pontoon
porch: put cushions/tablecloth/lights out, sit/read, facebook/instagram/pinterest
put the hammock in the back yard and read in it
fix summer food and drinks

Thursday Bub went with me to Yo's pool and the family gathered for some end of summer fun. Of course he conned me into taking him to Dick's to buy lures for his HS fishing tourney and Plato's to just look for shoes. He found stuff. Huh. Surprising. We also went to Walmart to pick up snacks and drinks for him to take.

Saturday I participated in Cincinnati's Color Run with 3 friends. Afterward we ate at The Tin Roof with what seemed to be the rest of the runners. Great place with quesadillas and nachos.

Hilton Head

At the Apple Barn...
Do you make your own applesauce? no.
What's in this? apples.... onions....noooo
5 min farts
hot air balloon
After 3 wineries you get a free wine glass after 5 you get a free stemless wine glass. Margaret says I want them today!!!
Free wine glasses are in the car.
Sometimes I just feel inadequate with the amount of products Yo uses and I don't. - Margaret

Super 8 motel... Yo- The shower is made for a troll.

Family Time

It's been a lovely past few days. The girlfriend is out of town so the teenager is around more often. I don't say it out loud but, like yesterday,  I came into the kitchen and he was just sitting there. On his phone playing whatever, but he was in the room. So I asked do you want a pb sandwich? have you seen this printout of what you should be eating? bowl of cereal? yogurt? milk? powerade? and he took it all as he sat and I put dishes away.

Yesterday we went to church then ate lunch at the Angilos in Goshen, Bubs said that one is best, then picked up some things from my parents while Hubs fixed something they've been struggling with having to do with electric. Actually Bubs helped just as much and he talked to them about it since he's been working with his grandpa and electric. Then we headed home and Bubs drove me and him out to the driving range for a bit. We stopped at a garage sale and I get teary eyed when he looks around with me instead of hanging out in the car. Back home we get an unexpected visit from family so we clean like a mad dog on a Sunday, not happy about unexpected visits. Then they leave and a football coach comes over to talk football with Hubs and Bubs hangs around. Then he heads out to play BBall at the clubhouse with a friend and I read on the porch, The End of the Point. When he gets back I feed him again and he heads to bed.

Saturday was equally lovely. I spent the morning on the porch and a large fox went hopping through the back field. I'm hoping he makes a return visit. Last week while walking the dogs I saw a little deer laying just under the tree line. Peaceful. Finally I got the boys to get out of bed and we all went to Taste of Belgium in Clifton. Not as good as my and Bubs first visit but the trip was nice. We then went to Kenwood and Bubs exchanged his shoes, I spent more of my gift card and we ate again. We spent an exorbitant amount of time in shoe stores.  On the way home we stopped at Paradise Ice for the 2nd time. I'm telling you this stuff is the bomb! Then home and visited a friend's cookout, then took the dogs and the boy out on the pontoon for fireworks. They were troopers. The teenager made me especially proud because he went to a friend's party, found out the parents were out of town, and he came home. He came home. Breathe. He's going to make it.

Friday was the 4th of July and we all went to the parade. The teenager drove separately because a friend of his has been hanging out here the last few days and the teenager is driving him back and forth home to take care of his animals. But the came to where we were and watched the parade with us. My best friend from high school met us there with her family of 4 little ones. Blanchester's 4th of July Parade is honorable. It is also the best time for those who are back in town to walk the street downtown and mingle. I love seeing past students and their babies. Adorable.

Thursday we all went to Yo's pool. We met at the Root Beer Stand, not quite as good as I remembered, but good. The weather wasn't cooperating but it was fun. I actually played with water guns with the boys for a long time and it was really fun. Sat in the hot tub. Helped Yo with her craft room. Generally just hung out. We took the boys to the mall for a bit or actually they took us. The boy loves to drive Yo's convertible. Also the guy with us had never ridden in a convertible or gone to Orange Leaf so we checked both off his bucket list. The kid was friendly and talkative. Very enjoyable to be around.

Wednesday I met a friend for a 6 mile walk on the Loveland trail and an iced coffee. I really wish we lived closer. We just chat and we think alike and we reassure each other that we are ok.

Sipping...  a homemade creamer
Listening...  Lake Street Dive
Reading... The End of the Point
Sharing... a recipe for homemade creamer, Lake Street Dive music video
Watching... just finished the only 2 seasons of Life on Netflicks