Catching up

OMG, I worte my last blog August 13. That is a while ago. Some of our British family told us that they were not up-to-date with us. And now ... where do I start?

Saturday August 14 - Wade's birthday. They came back that day from a week at the beach and the birthday was very casual. The boy's of course could not leave their Dad's candles alone and had to blow them out before he had a chance. But everybody had fun.

Monday (16th) James and I were "hired" to take care of the boys. No nanny. Did we really want to get up that early to be at their house at 7:15am? Omi had a great idea. Let's have a slumber party. The boys thought it was a great idea. The parents didn't think it was a bad idea either. Omi promised the boys to sleep on that sofa behind them. Promises are being kept! (Never mind how much "little" sleep Omi got)

The weather wasn't very good but it also could have been worse. So, what to do? At 9 am we went arount the corner to a friend's house to do some deadheading. I know how to open her garage and found her clippers and with mine we had enough to make everybody happy. Eager beavers cut a lot of dead daisy heads off. We also did a little bit of weeding. Gosh, just have to love those boys. We were so proud of them.

What else could we do? It looked like rain all day. But, it would be warm rain, right? We are members at the botanical garden so ... if it rains ... no money lost.

Unfortunately no butterflies in the conservatory. But still a lot to see.

Everybody loved the waterlilies. Especially the gigantic leaves.

The twins remembered the LOVE sign from a previous visit and run there and I had to take the photos.

While his brothers climbed that gigantic old tree, Owen kept hugging the monkey statue. He thought the monkey had something to eat in his paws but when we investigated that it was a harmonica he knew what to do, ha-ha.

Monkey bars! Caleb was impressive. See VIDEO   (0:20 minutes)

Could not find the sign to tell us what this is.

This was interesting. Wondering who did this? A children's group for sure. These are all painted stones. The boys were walking around and pointing out there favorites. They were truly amazing.

No fishes and not even turtles to be seen today.

I was talked into taking this photo. "Omi, you have too." Can you see the mockingbird?

What else is there to report?

William is back in school. A 6th grader! Second year in middle school. After last year was totally virtual its in a real class room now. He needs masks. What might he like? And no trying on. Sigh.

Not often we have food cooked by others. This day I did not feel like cooking. A close new mexican restaurant has a lovely outdoor area. And the food is very nice too.

Last Thursday I really felt like spoiling myself. A pedicure was overdue. I teased Sarah by sending her this photo "guess where I am?" I got purple toes now.

And Friday we went out with some friends to a chinese restaurant. Don't worry: everybody is vaccinated. We are very careful. 

When the furtune cookies came, James and I had exactly the same. Really? I can't remember what the surprise was.

And ... it is still very hot and humid here. It doesn't bother me but I am right now so busy with something that it was already dark by the time I got around to do some walking. I am not very good at the moment about getting my 10,000 steps. I am trying. I put one of the lamps on my head we had bought for the tunnel walk when William was visiting. 

And ... yes, yesterday I finally started the gift from Helen. Will tell you about it next time.

Caught up. Yeah! Wishing you all a wonderful September starting tomorrow!

Back

Back into "normal" (?). On the day after our arrival at home (Wednesday August 4) Sarah happened to be off work. James and I had contemplated for months on and off to do something about our TV situation (cable etc). The dish TV offer  for $28.50 a month for the Nashville townhouse had ended up lately to be $168. What for? That is gone now because streaming was quite satisfactory. So when we asked Sarah to help us in Richmond she was quite happy and soon came over with the twins. Caleb had a fishing camp. Omi had chips to 'enhance' lunch and Sarah taughed her children how to make a duck face. Oh yeah!

TV works great. We are getting used to clicking the right buttons.

Ha-ha, can you sort out that bundle of fur? That is Stella spending the weekend with us.

Selfies with the dog.

Five minute job? William is starting 6th grade this week. Helen just got an email that masks are mandatory. None of our 4 boys ever complained when they were asked to put one on. Omi is sewing.

Large one for Mommy the ESL teacher or teacher gift?

What else? Big discussions: might we be able to go to England in September or not. The latest: not!

Big disappointment.
 

A little trip - part 3

Monday morning (August 2) we left the airbnb in Paducah, Kentucky. Because our iphone told us that it would be nearly an 11 hours drive without even stopping we decided to do it in two days and go through West Virginia.

We took our time packing up and even swung by our old house in Reidland. It looked much different which of course is ok. Oh the memories! This is the second house James and I had designed ourselves and had it built. It was very practical and cute. And it had a pool. We had 9 great years there.

The Bluegrass Parkway! More memories. We both had to drive it often. And mostly in the mornings towards the east with the raising sun blinding the driver and in the evening being blinded by the sun going down ... diocese meetings or girl scout meetings in Louisville. 

We found a rest stop along the highway for the picnic lunch.

James had booked a room in a hotel in Huntington, West Virginia. After sitting in the car we were eager for a walk. The hotel was downtown and close to the Ohio River (the same as in Paducah). We had been hoping to find a restaurant for dinner at the river with a nice view. No such thing. Too bad. But we had a nice walk anyway.

We had to settle for a restaurant on a main street. Luckily there was not much traffic, the weather was nice, lots of people were walking about and we could sit outside. It is always nice to watch 'the world go by'.

We splurged. We started with a potato skin appetizer. Yummy.

And if that was not enough calories more potato, salmon and ribs (something like pick two and sides). it was so good.

James had the 'Famulous Fish & Chips'. James likes his fish only the British way: battered. We had a long discussion with the server why the menu said 'hand battered in ... breading' and the fish was called sway. He decided to give it a chance and it was very nice.

We were on our way Tuesday early. Before 9 am we drove through Charleston. You could not miss that golden dome. Surely that must be the state capitol building.

This long and narrow valley was very interesting. No idea how many times with crossed the Kanawha River from one side to the other. 

When we reached the Virginia Welcome Center near Covington we decided it must be the prettiest one in the State. Zinnias had been seeded everywhere and were a feast for the eye. Butterflies and bees were buzzing around. 

Couldn't help but had to watch this white caterpillar chomp on the flower. You could see his (or her) tiny mouth chew away.

Well, we didn't stop too long. Just to do the 'you know what' and stretch our legs. Soon we continued. When we were on the familiar (from trips to and from Nashville) stretch of I-81 we were nearing lunch time. We decided we could stop at that Blue Mountain Brewery which we visited when we went with William on the Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail. 

Guess which beer James ordered?

Yup, the Full Nelson!

James had the Reuben which I had last time and enjoyed so much. This time I ordered the Bratwurst. I was a bit disappointed with it but that is ok. I like trying different things.

So, back home now for a week already. And in the full swing of things. The trip was a full success. So happy that we did it. We hope that it will not be so long before we see Helen and William again.