Birthdays

Finally some scenes from the party last Saturday to celebrate Jason's 40th birthday....I still have no idea how that happened when I am still in my 20's....oh well!
Flowers from LM's neighbor's garden to decorate the table....the garage was perfect for setting up the food table.
Alison and Teddy....
Alison cooked great hamburgers and many other delicious foods
Sara and Samantha.....she was in a very shy mood that day....this too shall pass. She's a mini-me at that age, poor girl.
LM intently listens to all the family chatter, and Kristi thoroughly enjoyed her day, and looked so pretty in her matching turquoise outfit!

Two of my dear brothers....Sam and Ev
Teddy was enthralled by the balloons and thought no one was watching...
check out the foot as he contemplates his moves.

Aha!
Nana and Teddy!
I love my brothers! Hate that awful orange fleece but it really got cool!
Birthday "boy!!"
Cousins on the wall...Nate, Martin and Danny
They had a lot of fun skateboarding on Jason's precipitous driveway. Note the skateboard casualty. I believe Martin owes Nate a new board.
LM and Teddy at the wall....
Teddy and some friends with technology! He loves cell phones!
Trish shares a cuddle with Teddy

As we were getting ready to leave, Teddy was determined to squeeze himself between my car and his Daddy's car....quite the unsuccessful struggle!

It really was a lovely day, and I think you can guess that the little ones were the stars for the day.
Meanwhile, things are very busy at used to be Chez Ms G. Jeff and Laurie's wedding is Saturday (weather is perfect), the dressmaker is in the hospital so I've had to alter my dress myself (read, make it smaller!), and I am knee deep in another quilt project with a very tight deadline. This quilt is sort of a reprise of the wedding quilt I made for Jeff.


Thinking of everyone out there!

Almost Time

It seemed as I got down to the wire that my heels were dragging a bit on taking the final stitches in this quilt. The love story behind it all touches my heart so deeply. I plan to give the gift to Jeff at work on Friday. As their special day approaches it is such fun to see the widening grin on his face each day. They are both so excited. LM and I have promised to conjure up a perfect Cape Cod summer day for August 7th, as they celebrate their love. I think I'm as excited as they are about this wedding.
The dedication label......
Very busy week happening here. I have a party to attend tonight........good friends, beautiful home and view, perfect summer day. Unfortunately, LM is teaching a workshop so will be unable to attend. I'll survive, I am sure. LOL
Isn't it wonderful to have such lovely fruit available right now? I'm loving the peaches this year and
this week melons have been so delicious.
If you can't come to New England for a vacation this year, click over to Erin's blog at I Heart New England. This week she is 'taking' us on a delightful jaunt to Kennebunkport, ME. Have fun!

A Very Special Day

My baby turns 40 years old today!! It seems so hard to believe, considering the fact that I'm still in my 20's....how did that happen?? Anyway, he's son extraordinaire, a loving husband, and the most adoring father to Teddy. And, by the way, he loves squirrels and squirrel stuff....long story, we think it's genetic and that's way too complicated to explain. It's my brother, Ev's fault!! LOL We're a quirky family, and we love it.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jason. I love you, and you make my heart and soul so grateful everyday. See you Saturday for the big celebration.

Layin' low

There seems no escaping the very oppressive weather which has hung over us for all of July....the hottest July ever recorded here, thus, the beaches have all been packed. I don't think I have ever seen this many people on Lighthouse beach......even with all the great white shark sighting reports.
Yesterday, I visited a longtime dear friend in N. Truro and we shared a lovely lunch and catch up conversation, and then stopped to visit a lovely pottery shop, but I was soon on my way back to LM's to just rest. The heat has really gotten to me and I've been exhausted. LM's house has no AC so sitting still near fans, and a tall glass of water, seemed the only way to cope. Around dinner time we heard thunder and headed for the beach to watch a storm but it fizzled out.
Today we did very little except nap twice, shop for some fresh fruits, fish and veggies, and I made the dedication for the quilt. It is finally ready to be sewn on, and time is short for me this week. Every night I have an obligation after work but I'll find the time to do the necessary sewing.

I'll leave you with wishes for coolness (well, we all know you are ALL very cool), and several flower photos I took last week at our favorite local homemade ice cream shop. I really loved this hanging wax begonia.
Zinnias.....I adore them but they are so prone to being eaten by insects! Their colors are so vibrant.
Oh, and here is my new car!! Loving it alot.

Peace and love to all....for some reason today, I feel so very fortunate and appreciative for all I have, especially my darling LM. He NEVER ceases to amaze me with his caring. He went out of his way this weekend to make things comfy for me, despite the heat and humidity, and I got through it, now I am home in my AC and am choosing to believe my nice weatherman who just told me I will wake up to coolness tomorrow morning. Ahhhhhhhh.

Time with Samantha and Teddy

We're really locked into some very hot and humid weather here....it doesn't seem to bother the wee ones too much.......Ms Samantha has been busy playing outside in her little pool and one night last week we finally got a chance to spend some time together.....we had a nice dinner at a local waterview restaurant, and then she an her Mom helped me with grocery shopping....first trip in my new car (pictures coming). It's such fun having little conversations with the sweet girl, and tonight we hope to go for a walk or to the playground as the evening cools down.
Last Saturday, this funny one was my entertainment for the morning as his parents were both working. It was a stifling hot day....the worst yet. Teddy entertained me, and took me back 38+ years to when his daddy did the same thing.....wearing my shoes around the house. We read books, assembled and disassembled toys, played with the Etch-a Sketch (what a great toy that is), we sang a few songs and he helped me with some yoga poses. After several hours, Teddy just fell asleep and he was soundly sleeping for 2 hours or more. I do believe Nana had some sleep after a nice meditation and a bit more yoga.



The rest of the day was spent trying to stay cool in LM's very warm house. We did take a long evening ride in my new car and really enjoyed having the sun roof open to the evening air. The scent of a hot summer night took us both back to riding in a convertible on a teenaged summer night...heading out for a date. Really fun, with my favorite date.
Sunday evening found me home again and really struggling with the heat. I do have an AC unit but have not put it in because I just felt I would destroy all the progress I've made with my hip and back.....well....after a cold shower and having all the fans on, I was still unable to even lay down in my wet bed....the humidity had everything soaked. I finally just got up and bit the bullet.....dragged the AC unit across the living room (very large) and hauled it up to the window. EEEEEEEEK. I did it.....within an hour, RELIEF was mine. I'm a bit creaky from the lifting. and I know I should not do it, but in a moment of desperation, it had to be done.
I feel very fortunate to now have a cool dry retreat at the end of the day.

Sealing in the Love

Last weekend, I spent a lot of Saturday sewing the binding onto the quilt for Jeff and Laurie. Being a very hot day, it seemed strange to be sitting with all that fabric on my lap, but being still and lost in the rhythmic stitching, I was not conscious of the heat at all. LM captured these photos. I think he's as excited about this gift as I have been with the creation.



Ms G performed some inspection duties and has deemed the quilt the perfect place to take a nap. I suspect Jeff & Laurie's dogs will find her scent of great interest.
Another very hot and uncomfortable weekend here!

Chairs have Tails, and a Peek at the Quilt

This chair, a gift from his children, was Dad's place of comfort the last few year's of his life. He called us all and took calls, read his mail and his beloved Boston Globe, and had many a nap in this chair. Some months back, Dad's chair came to Cape Cod. For awhile it was the vantage point for chipmunk and squirrel central in LM's kitchen, and on Saturday and Sunday mornings it became my comfy place to read the paper and have my tea, while a certain gray person draped over the arm. With LM's favorite wing-backed chair looking very worn with age, it made a move to the kitchen corner, and Dad's chair migrated to the living room. Since this move Dad's chair has grown a gray tail! We are completely baffled as to how this happened, and know full well, Dad would be rolling his eyes at what has become of his chair (he always feigned annoyance at our silly cat prattle, but we know full-well, that he LOVED hearing our tales of tails - and of those not with tails - oh yes, Trish and Sam's dear Bob, the manx (tailess), sat with Dad often in the chair). Ms G uses the chair, or I should say the floor under it, as her point from which to watch our every move. She can see the entire living room, kitchen, dining room, and front and back doors from this point, thus assuring that we are doing her bidding....most likely about to serve cat treats, sit down (lap opportunity), or get ready for bed (her fave).
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A week ago tonight it was finally time to pick up the quilt from the quilter. Kindly person she is, she let me know she would be on-Cape visiting her daughter, and I could pick up the quilt nearer to home in lieu of driving all the way to southern RI.
First stop after retrieving the quilt, was dear friend, Sue's house in Sandwich. Her beautiful garden greeted me and proved a lovely place to take the first photos.

Sue was sitting on her back deck sewing amidst even more beautiful flowers. We immediately took the quilt to the side garden for its photo session and were watched, or should I say, scrutinized by my "godcat," Jaxson, through the screen.
Here it is....I am really thrilled with the outcome....
The back is a little more conservative.
We were quickly off to have a nice supper at Cafe Chew in Sandwich, but not before Jaxson exhibited his messing up the dining table skills. He is such an impish beauty.
In other news....I got my new car, a Toyota Camry, on Tuesday....personally delivered with flowers and a sweet card by none other than LM, who, by the way, spent a day doing all the legwork related to my new acquisition. I love it and will take photos this weekend.
Hope everyone is coping with all the heat. It has been just awful here....dark, foggy, damp and hot. The sun better shine for the wedding on August 7....I will be presenting the quilt to Jeff and Laurie soon.