Best Life

 A delightful night at Karen and Alan's.  Marc flew in today from Florida and an impromptu BBQ developed.  The BBQ ribs, salads, slaw and fresh tomatoes and cukes - plentiful and yummy.  Catching up and also reminiscing about our childhood memories (we all have differing ones) - priceless, humourous and enlightening!                                                            Scott, Rebecca and Paul very relaxed.                                                            Emily washing off her sneakers in the sprinkler. Tallulah supervised us again this morning as we set up the remaining tents, tables, chairs and banners. Nat...

 Date night at Bandidos.  A late dinner after a very productive day was perfect.  (Thank you Scott, we are still using my gift certificate!) As we helped with yard work at Megan and TJs we had a "supervisor".  As I walked around the yard putting things away and preparing for mowing and weed wacking, Tallulah followed every step of the way watching. With everyone pitching in we managed to complete a great deal.  Thank you Dan and Al for the tent and the help setting up.  Thank you Alan for arranging everything.  The timing of the tent arrival was perfect with plenty of hands to assemble and secure.   Getting the pool vacuum functioning - amazing.  I never had the patience that TJ displayed in making the pool pristine. Meanwhile Scott and Paul recemented and secured the post that was threatening to fall down. Now we just need the rain to hold off for a little bit! July 31, 2025:                ...

 Happy Birthday Michael!  Here you are rockin' the cowboy swagger!  (Your granddaughter has swagger as well when she walks on her tippy toes!) After a slow morning doing boring tasks around the house, we headed out into the gray day.  Our final destination - Capron Park in Attleboro, Massachusetts.  We chose to walk the grounds of the park and explore despite the threat of more rain. This 30 acre park was given to the city by the Capron (of course!) family in 1901.  Spacious with lots to varying trees, monuments and walkways, this was a perfect place for us to maunder.  The zoo here was first established after school kids did a penny drive in 1922.  Though now under threat of closure, the zoo seemed busy for a mostly rainy, chilly random Thursday in July.  (We skipped the zoo having arrived only shortly before closing.) July 30, 2003:                             M...

 Early morning entertainment by Brianna.  Though asleep when I first arrived, she was quick to rise and begin her antics.  She "ordered" her breakfast of banana muffins cut in four with margarine on every piece after toasting.  While I cut and toasted, she was responsible for finding the muffins and margarine.  For her second helping she now wanted to prepare them herself.  She deemed herself "old enough" to use the knives and toaster.  Now I know she is capable and can fulfill her own "order"! While I was wrangling TK out of the rain and back to the barn, Nri went to check on the chickens.  "Sweetheart", the oddball chicken, was "missing".  Bri named her after feeling sympathy for how the others are treating her.  We found her huddling in the nesting box.   The ride to gymnastics camp is only a few minutes.  Bri used the time to read the Valley Breeze and catch up on local news.  She consistently reads the paper whil...