Wedding Shower & mom's visit

The centerpieces were teapots filled with fresh flowers. Very pretty. If you birthday was closet to the wedding date, you bot to take it home. My sister was VERY happy she got it!
My aunt, sister and cousin's wife.
Sandy this pic is for you! Cookies. After cake, they served these cute cookie trays to each table. Honestly they looked so pretty, but I would have rather had MORE CAKE!!!! LOL

My cousin's daughter is getting married in October. That is the weekend we will be doing our blog meet-up (anyone else want to come????) and I will not be attending the wedding. My cousin and his wife are divorced and I had heard that the wedding was to be VERY small. I made plans for the meet-up and then heard P and I were going to be invited...opps so sorry! Anyhow, the shower was this past Sunday. We got home on Saturday so I was able to attend I can not even begin to tell you all how glad I am I moved on to forgive my aunt. My sister and I sat with her at the shower and had a really nice time. We joked about our mom (her sister) and I know she feels the loss as big as we do. I think she has missed my stable nature in her life. (Her own daughter has "issues" and she does not have great relationships with her two daughter-in-laws.)

Anyhow, here is the strange thing.....I am not sure I ever shared this with you all, but I believe my mom visits me as a crow. I know many of you will think I am whacked, but here is why I believe this. My mom's hospital room was on the 4th floor of a 7 story hospital. Each floor has a lounge with wall to wall windows. The morning my mom died I was in the lounge taking a break. At this point my mom was in a coma. Outside the window was a peak from another building that had a metal tip (lightning rod?) at the very top. As I was standing looking out the 4th floor window, a crow flew in and landed right on that metal tip and just sat there and stared at me. I turned to my daughter and said "grama is going to pass this morning", she is talking to me through that crow. My mom did indeed pass within the hour. Move forward...many times over the next days and months I would be outside and look up and one crow would be sitting on a bush, tree or wire outside my door. This happened a lot. Move forward 7 months. My best friend from childhood stops to visit unexpectantly. She now lives in Colorado, so her visit is a surprise. Seems she never got my message that my mom had died and she is very upset with the news. We go over to sit on our patio and talk and while we're talking, I look to the edge of the patio and sitting in the grass staring at us not 3 feet away is a crow! Seriously! It got to the point over the years since my mom died that I have just taken these little birdie appearances in stride. Move forward to the shower. My aunt starts to talk about her sadness over my mom. We both get a little teary, I look ahead at the window and yep, a crow lands on the back of a chair, sits there, moves closer and sits there. I told my aunt "don't worry she's here". Yep, my mom is a crow......crazy!

I could get cranky here....

Reasons I may get cranky...

Our carriage house is still not rented. P can't understand why. Has he shown it ONCE????? He has stuff to say about who can or can't live there, does he meet all these people? Is there anyone NORMAL out there? Am I normal? Yesterday, the boyfriend half of my tenants came back with his family to get his stuff. His mom who raved to me about how wonderful he was, his step-dad, sister and assorted others. He knew I was showing the place at 6pm......They leave at 5:50pm - First, he leaves the basement door WIDE OPEN. Garbage pickup was yesterday and he has re-filled the cans with junk. Assorted junk is sitting around the cans too. I go up into the house and honestly you could barely walk! The only furniture in the whole place is a couch and 2 dressers, yet you can not walk! There is clothing and stuff EVERYWHERE. It looks like they just threw every piece of the girlfriend's stuff! There was a huge puddle of water in the middle of the floor, I looked up, nope ceiling is not leaking. They must have spilled and not cleaned up????? What the heck? Now here I am showing to a young woman with a 2 yr. old, baby on the way and her mom. I think the mom wanted to RUN. Heck, I wanted to run. She is very interested still, I can't imagine why...except, some small details...she is having second child, she is not married to the father of both. The father of both, whom is still her boyfriend, "may" not move in with her. I am having a hard time figuring it all out. I am not trying to judge, but honestly we have been burnt twice already by relationships where marriage was not part of the picture. I understand there are reason people don't marry. I know people live together, I really don't care, but twice it has resulted in bad end results for us renting to these couples. Twice I have had a "charming fiance" throw around his girlfriend. Twice I have had the "charming couple" leave the place a craphole. Twice the couple has broken up, the guy leaves and I'm left a young woman with a small sweet child. What's up with everyone out there???????? Would the third time be a charm? P is dead against it. He says keep looking. Maybe that is the best thing. Wait until the DUST settles from this couple moving TOMARROW. Throw out what's left behind, clean what hasn't been cleaned, open the windows, and try again.

1977 - 2007 - Beaching for 30 years!

In all my posting I am sorry to have neglected to post a photo of P and I. Afterall going to Cape May started by accident. P and I started going to Cape May in 1977. I had ust turned 21 years old! We had headed to Mass. to vacation and didn't like where we ended up. We decided to just drive and ended up in Cape May. We loved the beach and old houses. Time seemed to have just stood still. This year marks 30 years. We have seen a lot of changes in Cape May and in ourselves. We had no worries, no kids, no house....time flies by so fast, we got married, kids, houses, lost parents, grandparents, changed jobs, made new friends, found old friends and through it all we're still together!!!! Here's to being able to climb on that lifeguard chair for a picture for another 30 years!!!!






Don't think we have been boring and only gone to Cape May Beaches! We have also visiting the beaches of Martha's Vineyard, Viriginia Beach, Myrtle Beach, Ft. Lauderdale Beach, Miami Beach, and Ft. Meyer's Beach several times each!!! and of course the beaches of Lake Ontario!!! LOL

Our trip

I love these....
Wow, now that's pink.
The Pug Mayor of Cape May....he was so polite!
P's kite, isn't it cool?
A panoramic view of the only buildings on the beach! At Cape May there are no building on the beach, except for this short boardwalk area.

I guess by today it is back to reality that we really did go on vacation! You know that feeling???? The trip was nice, but the weather a little off. We got there on Saturday and it was beautiful. We took our lunch on the beach and relaxed there. Sunday was overcast and drizzley, so we skipped the beach, Monday overcast, but no rain so it was back to the beach, Tuesday and Wednesday it POURED RAIN. Buckets and buckets. We hadn't taken our umbrellas and ended up buying ones there for $7.99 each, which normally would cost a dollar here!! Thursday it was nice, back to the beach. Friday it was BEAUTIFUL and we spent 9am to 5pm on the beach. Saturday was check-out day, so one last walk on the beach, a trip out to Sunset Beach and homeward bound. We all got plenty of rest, did a ton of shopping and walking, walking, walking. The Pugs were great. They all sat in back seat with me and we had no trouble at all during the drive, there or going home. We did have trouble with the Boxer in the unit below us. One day he ran off their front porch and attacked Chloe!!!! He pinned her on the ground. Luckily, he didn't bite her! Then a few days later I was taking Marty down the back deck and he ran from their unit and attacked Marty! I'm really lucky I only ended up with a scratch on my foot and finger. I did report them to the manager as having an aggressive dog. It's just ridiculous..why would you bring your mean dog to such a public place?

So it's back to reality.....

A sound and view I never grow tired of.......

Vacation is over...goodbye beach

Our Condo
Kitchen
Living Room, can you find Rosie?


The place across the street is finished

Lots of walking


Some smiles

Shopping
The Ocean The two that almost didn't go!


Tomarrow more beach...

For Sandy

Sandy asked me to show some ways I can use my new camera.



Landscape......

Zoom....

Panoramic.....

I just couldn't do it.....

I was busy today after work getting ready for our trip. Our daughter lined up her friend to also check on Rosie and Marty in our absence. We figured between our son, my dad, and C's friend they would be fine.

As I was working around the kitchen I saw this.....

Then while I was at the grocery store our son called my cell to say that he had a truck to move his stuff home and he was doing that early Sunday morning. When I got home, I went to take the furry ones outside and only Marty and Rosie followed me out....and stared at me and made me feel VERY guilty. I am almost embarressed to say that I did indeed start crying. When I went back in the house P saw me and asked what was wrong and I told him I had "guilty mom" syndrome. Meanwhile C was holding Rosie out in the hall and she called in to P and said...can't Rosie come to the shore with us....P says look this is crazy let's just take all four. We took three last year, what the heck is one more??????

So..... the whole gang is going. Now I won't be fretting that no one is letting them outside, or they don't have water, or they are missing mama's big bed! Afterall, they are part of our family!!! Our son, well he'll just have to be home with Buster the cat!

Impatiens

Have I mentioned I REALLY like my new camera?

Anyhow today may be my last post until I return from the Jersey Shore. I am feeling pretty guilty these days as we aren't taking all four of the furry ones with us. Our condo has new owners and even though we were allowed three Pugs last year, we REALLY don't want to press our luck taking all four! We really pondered about what to do. Take 2, take 3, who goes, who stays home...... So, we decided since Chloe and Zoey have traveled the most, and behave the best in the car...they would go. Last year Rosie slipped her harness several times out in public...too much stress. Besides, we really don't want to leave Marty home alone...that just wouldn't be right. Our son is back at home until he finds an apartment, so he is in charge...poor Marty, poor Rosie...but I'm calling in the "grampa" reinforcement to make sure they do okay.

Pay it Forward

Okay, so I joined in on this idea from Guiness & Dublin's mama Have you seen the movie "Pay It Forward"? IF not check it out!



In keeping with the tradition of the movie...PIF..........................



"Here's how it works! I'll send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange! I don't know what that gift will be yet, and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week...LOL... but you will receive it within 30 days, that's a promise! The only thing you have to do in return is "pay it forward" by making the same promise on your blog"

So the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog, will get something made for them by me! I can't wait to see who you are! I should be able to come up with something good, just you wait and see! Let me know you want in and if you are among the first 3, you'll be in! I moderate my comments so send 2 comments. One to say your in and one to send me your email address, so I can reach you for your address. I promise I won't post the comment with your address!!!!


Join in and then just pay it forward!

Snakes...driftwood snakes actually.....

My latest project...driftwood snakes.



I don't like real snakes, but I think this version is kind of cute!!!! I am having a lot of fun painting these.

Fishing Tournament

P had the idea to start an annual fishing tournament at camp. We got trophies, organized food, had sign up and the weekend was perfect. Here P tries to battery jump one of the entrants. They have a nice party boat and pushed away from dock and "dead battery"....



Rock Bass painted by one of the non-fishing entrants...

The weigh-in, heh isn't that my baby scale from home????

Youth Division Winner

and the Rock Bass goes to the entrants who had dead battery, waited for a battery jump, didn't work, went into town, bought a battery and finally got out to fish after 1pm....the weigh in was 2:30pm. I was happy to present them with this award for their rough day of fishing!

Ahhh, the new camera

I'm loving the new camera. Wish P would have broke ours years ago!!! I am just figuring out settings, etc. My subjects were not much interested in my quest......