Wow! August has been stimulating, arousing, annoying, bracing, breath-taking, engaging, hectic, busy, nutty and wild! Thus, I don't get frequent blogging done.
We had Carol and Jessica's visits.
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| JESSICA'S FIRST NIGHT HERE, UNCLE LAR'S FAMILY VISITED AND JESSICA GAVE JULIA HER BELATED BIRTHDAY SHIRT- MATCHING - TO JULIA'S DELIGHT! |
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| NANNY AND JESSICA MADE PICKLES |
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| WE WENT TO LANCASTER - SHOPPED, AND OF COURSE, ATE! |
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| DURING OUR VISIT TO LANCASTER WE ENJOYED A STOP AT HISTORIC POOLE FORGE - SOME PRETTY PHOTO OPS |
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| ON THE WAY HOME WE DETOURED TO POP POP'S GARDEN FOR A QUICK STOP AND TO LOOK FOR DEER - CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? NONE SHOWED!!! |
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| COLLARDS - ONE OF OUR NEW FAVS |
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| DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE HAD LOTS OF RAIN DURING JESSICA'S STAY, WE DID GET A POOL DAY |
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| JESSICA AND JULIA ENJOYED A FISHING TRIP WITH POP POP AND LARRY ON LARRY'S BOAT - OCEAN CITY NJ |
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| CAPTAIN LARRY |
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| HISTORIC BARCLAY FARMSTEAD HELD THEIR ANNUAL HARVEST DINNER - EVERYONE HAVING A GARDEN PATCH AT THE FARMSTEAD IS INVITED TO PREPARE AND BRING SOMETHING FROM THEIR GARDEN. WE TOOK ZUCCHINI PICKLES AND A ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE - DO I NEED TELL YOU WHAT WE HAD A LOT OF IN OUR PATCH? :) |
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| COUSINS AND STEVE! |
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| JESSICA GIVING MADELYN HER BIRTHDAY PRESENT - ADORABLE LITTLE OUTFIT AND HANDMADE HEADBAND TO MATCH. |
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| JESSICA AND IAN HAVING SOME ONE ON ONE TIME - REALLY SWEET! |
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| STOP AT SPRINGDALE FARM - LAST WORKING FARM IN OUR TOWN |
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| LOVELY LITTLE PETUNIAS IN AN ONION PATCH! |
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| WE TOOK JESSICA AND JULIA TO THE COUNTY FAIR IN BUCK CO. PA |
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| SAT UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL FOR THE DAIRY COW JUDGING |
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| JULES GOT IN A PONY RIDE |
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| AND THE GIRLS WENT ON SEVERAL RIDES TOGETHER |
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| VIEW FROM THE FERRIS WHEEL - WE THREE GIRLS WENT UP TOGETHER |
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| AND THEN THERE'S THE "TRADITIONAL" RIDE THAT NANNY/MOM MOM (WE'RE THINKING OF MAKING IT NAMOM) HAS THE PLEASURE OF GOING ON WITH JESSICA. IT'S NOT SO MUCH A "RIDE" PER SE - MORE LIKE A TORTURE CHAMBER! BUT IT IS FUN TO HAVE THIS TRADITION WITH OUR SWEET GRANDDAUGHTER. NEXT YEAR? WELL, WE'LL SEE! |
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| OUR GIRLS GOT ARRESTED - OR, NO, IT WAS THAT THEY ARE ARRESTING! |
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| AMAZING 4H FASHI0N SHOW |
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| VISITED WITH UNCLE DAN AFTER THE FAIR |
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| WAS NICE THAT JESSICA GOT TO SEE HER COUSINS AIDAN, BRYNN AND MOLLY |
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| UNCLE PAT VISITED WITH IAN AND MADELYN AND THEY ALL WENT TO THE LOCAL PLAYGROUND TO GET IN SOME FRESH AIR - RARE DURING THIS STORMY, RAINY WEEK! |
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| AUNT COLLEEN AND UNCLE LARRY GOT JESSICA THIS SHIRT AS A REMINDER OF HER WEEK IN NJ |
So, then we drove Jessica home - again, horrifying storms with rain that made it almost impossible to see at times. We had a great visit with Mike, Tina and Jessica at their home - and next day, home again. A couple of days later we decided to get down to the shore for a bit - went to see son Larry and his family, enjoying their week vacation.
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| HIT THE BOARDS WITH LARRY 4 AND JULIA |
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| IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE'VE BEEN DOWN TO SEE THIS KIND OF SCENE - WE USUALLY GO OFF SEASON. IT WAS A LOVELY SIGHT TO SEE! |
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| MACK AND MANCO'S - A GOTTA DO! |
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| SOME SKEE BALL TO TOP IT ALL OFF |
We had an earth quake.
We are on the precipice of a hurricane.
Lar and I spent a couple of hours in the morning gathering up any and all objects that Irene could use as missiles and storing same in the garage or in the shed. Our garage resembles one's local garden center! Then the two younger Lars arrived and they helped to get the chore of safeguarding the yard complete. I don't think we could have done it alone! As it is, we both have full-fledged back aches.
Yesterday we bought up corn for me to can corn relish today and strawberries for strawberry jam. Now I am sitting and waiting for my back to ease up so I can make one or the other.
I have piled up candles, stockpiled large containers of fresh water, and I've charged my little radio thing-y and that should do it as far as emergency needs. We have a first aid kit, bags of ice to keep the refrigerator cold and I've taken pictures of each room for insurance purposes - God-willing, we won't need those.
So hang on folks.....it might be an interesting ride!
It's morning now, 8:20 AM - so far our backyard is typically flooded - not much more than the worst we've seen. The trees are blowing about in the wind and that might be yet the scariest part of this storm - being shallow rooted, they could still pose a threat.
Last night I did get some corn relish canned - 3 pints and one left over for Larry - we had some with our dinner. It was really good. Then I baked some lemon bars which were very sweet - and as it turned out - very very hot so I burned the roof of my mouth! So much for quick tastes!
Today we are forcast to have continuing rain and winds until about 4 or later. Roads are closed and we are in.
Final entry for today: we have really been blessed - no water, and while our trees have shed the odd smallish branch or two, no wind damage as yet, our kids have apparently weathered the storm as well. Plus, I got one batch of strawberry jam done, they all popped and pretty much all is right with the world.
