Day 578: Tiki Party

We got careless after the reunion and failed to spray the garden with liquid fence.  Now the deer have feasted on my hostas and nearly finished off the lilies.

It was fun tonight to get together with old friends, tell stories and laugh.  Even when I have heard the stories several times, I still laugh.  It's infectious!

Container garden

One of the many stripped hostas

Day 577: Sky High 5 with Friends

Jake

Steve

Clare and Margaret

We had no internet for about 24 hours and felt strangely disconnected.   Five years ago, we would barely have noticed and now we are overly dependent.  How could I write my blog without the net?  

Our fifth trip to Sky High was awesome!  With great company and a small crowd in the park, we flew through the courses.  Jake took off and conquered the black diamond on the first try!  Margaret and Clare whizzed through four courses including one blue level.  Steve and I returned to the green level course with the snowboard that had challenged me so much two years ago.   I got over the obstacle on the first attempt, but when Steve tried it, his arm got caught by one of the ropes and he got a nasty rope burn on the inside of his arm.   

It's funny that I have no fear about clambering over the treetop obstacles when I am guiding a group through or teaching a newbie.  But at one point yesterday when I was about to step off a platform onto a cable, my knees started shaking and I though, "what the heck am I doing up here?"  I am 64.  At what point is this stuff too reckless?  Fortunately, the moment passed quickly.  

Day 576: Book club gals

My book club friends

We read Alan Alda's autobiography, Never Have Your Dog Stuffed, for book club this month, but we spent most of our discussion time telling stories and laughing.  Alda would be pleased cause he is always laughing and he loves to tell stories.  I started off by relating the story of my dear sister-in-law Mary bringing our son Evan home to surprise us for July 4th.  Then each friend shared a similar story of great joy and delightful surprises.  Wonderful!  

Day 575: Walking in Arkwright

Bees on Thistle

Queen Anne's Lace

Thistle

Eastern Swallowtail Butterfly on Red Monarch Daylily

Summer has turned a bit cool, so it was an ideal day to walk through the trails in Arkwright.  We arrived just after the Cassadaga Fire Department put out a car fire on the Center Road.  Most of the trail  through the forest was completely shaded, but sunny meadows were alive with colorful wildflowers.  The blackberries are just beginning to ripen and it will be a plentiful crop.  

At home again, I decided to swim 100 lengths even though the pool and the air have cooled significantly.  Yesterday, I hit 20 miles for the month and I hope to reach 25 on Wednesday.  When I got out, I spotted a beautiful eastern swallowtail butterfly perched on a red monarch daylily warming itself in the sun.  It's been through a lot over its short life as evidenced by the chunk missing from its wings.  

Wild blackberries

Day 574: Tom and Christina

Tom and Christina's wedding

Exchanging the rings

A very tired flower girl

An original wedding cake made as a surprise!

Day 573: Rookies

The Wretched Group is back together for another reunion, this time for the Class of "68.  We went down to Rookies to hear them play and met up with lots of old friends.  Mickey performed some of his original songs after a set of classics.  He's been a singer, songwriter, drummer, guitarist and and performer since we were kids together on Chestnut Street.  He never got a break, but he's dedicated to his music and has a loyal following.

After a long walk around town, I swam 300 lengths or 1.5 miles.  The water and air are cooler so it's a pleasure to do the long distances.  Next goal:  two miles in a day.

Mickey

A mixed garden discovered on Lambert Ave.

New sidewalks at the college

A stargazer lily

Day 572: Hibiscus

A three mile walk and swimming 1.25 miles were perfect ways to spend this sunny, cool day.  We stopped by Pam's garden and discovered some exquisite hibiscus.  Our lilies are nearly done.  Of course, the deer helped finish them off the other night when we let our guard down and forgot to spray again.  They knocked down and broke three bird feeders, then chomped all the Mary Todd and Ice Carnival.  Tomorrow,  I hope to swim 300 lengths.  The water is 75 degrees and ideal for a long swim.

Day 571: Meghann

Apparition

Bambi Doll

Meghann Ludemann

What a difference nine hours of sleep can make!  I feel like a new person!  After a quiet morning, we drove into Orchard Park to see Reds 2 which was hilarious.  Then we went to Desperadoes in Angola for barbecued ribs and pulled pork!  It's a run down, hole in the wall that we heard about online, but the food was great.  

It was a delight to see Meg Ludemann on CNN this morning.  She posted that she would be appearing at 10:35 am.  She was poised and comfortable speaking on camera about the health care mandate.  The government is trying to enroll 2.7 million healthy young people in affordable health care insurance programs.  Even though they believe they are invincible, I would like to tell them about Justin's emergency appendectomy.  He decided not to buy the COBRA for the month between jobs because it would cost too much.  Several days before his new job was to start, he developed pains that led to an appendectomy and bills amounting to nearly $25,000.  

Day 570: Recovering

Today I hit the wall and crashed.  I took a nap at 8:00 am and spent much of the day with an ice pack on my head and neck.  Steve tiptoed around me, brought ice packs, cold water, ice cream.
After our wonderful weekend, we snapped awake at 4:45 am to get our sons to the airport.  By the time we got home, my head was pounding.   For months, we've been going full speed, preparing for one event after another since January and today the intense rush finally ended.  

The reunion is over, all the work for the garden tour is done, we put Quest to bed and there's no new project coming up in the near future.  For the next few weeks, we'll sleep in, stretch out on the deck and read books, swim or walk, watch movies, have fun.  No organizing, no hard labor, no deep cleaning.  Fun, relaxation and sleep!

Becky Lynn

Lady Dianthus

Good Looking

Day 569: Cancelled Flight

After our wonderful reunion weekend, we got bonus time together with our sons.  As we prepared to leave for the airport, the airlines notified Justin and Evan that their 5:35 flight was cancelled.  They were rescheduled for 7:45 and then later for 9:05 and finally for 7:20 tomorrow morning.  Bad weather in the east caused many cancellations.  Then, late this afternoon, a Southwest flight lost its front landing gear and crashed at LaGuardia.  Returning home today was not meant to be.    Unfortunately, his medications were delivered today and they must be kept refrigerated.

It was tough for everyone to get home today.  A semi caught fire on the eastbound lane of the Thruway between Fredonia and Silvercreek this morning and fouled up travel for hours.  My sisters spent a half hour just trying to get onto the thruway going west.  They also encountered lots of traffic and construction all the way back to Kentucky.

Yesterday's reunion was amazing and our family was very grateful for the opportunity to get together.  We started cleaning up and doing the mountains of laundry, but we are very tired.

Ezekial

Day 568: Reunion part 3

Cobb family Zombies

Evan, Justin, Mary, Me and Steve

Four generations of descendants of Eliza Jane Oxley Menzies

Ages from 77 to 10

My Uncle Jerry who turned 66 today

Day 567: Sky High Redux

Amazing day!  Sky High Adventure!  Picnic at Steve's!  Too late to write and won't write much tomorrow.  Maybe on Monday.  It's so wonderful to have a full house.  Two are sleeping in the basement, four upstairs, plus Caitlin on the couch.  Love this weekend!

Mackenzie on her first experience at Sky High.  Behind her are Steve and Laurie.

Day 566: Family Reunion 1

The airport was buzzing when Evan and Justin arrived at midnight.  There were more people bustling about than we have seen during daylight hours.  At home, they snacked and visited and we watched The Daily Show till 2:00 am.  Such fun!

We spent hours in the pool and have the sunburns to prove it.  It has been many years since we played basketball so it was really delightful.  Laurie, Nancy and Mackenzie arrived around 2:00 and jumped in the pool almost immediately.  Mac and Evan played at swimming lengths underwater, doing handstands and creating a wave pool.   Dinner was at Bobbe's and her house is air-conditioned!  It was so relaxing to visit with everyone.   Cait, Jason, Brad and Sarah arrived about 8:30 pm.  We sat on the back deck watching lightning in the distance and getting eaten alive by mosquitos.

Sarah and Brad asked for a diagram explaining how everyone is related.  She thinks people are going to be wondering where she fits in.  Tomorrow, I must be certain to get more photos!

A huge storm is moving across the lake now and bringing relief from the heat with it.

Day 565: Sons Arrive

It's 10:30 and we are about to leave for the airport.  It's been a torturous day with such awful humidity.  I had thought we could take it easy as I finished up the last little details before everyone arrives, but nooooo.  Steve wanted to assemble the roller for the solar cover, a job that should have taken two hours.  It took four and it's still not right.  I kept dipping into the pool, but the water is so hot that I could only swim 130 lengths.

So we are off to get Justin and Evan and launch our exciting reunion weekend.

Flasher

Day 564: Steamy

Texas Governor Rick Perry has been going around the country trying to lure businesses away from their home states.  He's doing radio messages that tout the lack of regulations and taxes  in Texas.  But then he messed with NY.  Tonight on the Daily Show, Lewis Black did a segment on NYC telling Texas to F#&* off!   Texas would be the last state I'd ever live in, although there are quite a few intolerant, misogynistic states that are vying for the bottom position on my list.  

The pool is up to 86 degrees.  Not refreshing at all, but by 9:00 tonight it was delightful. At least there was a little breeze today to cool me between sets.   Steve put a little lighted moving fountain in the pool that broke up the monotony of 100 laps.

Deer invaded the bird bath garden early this morning and left a trail of brightly colored petals in their wake.  They chewed up a dozen lilies, but it could have been much worse.

House of Lords

Wintermint Candy

Day 563: Chautauqua Shameless

Another 90 degree day!  The pool is up to 84 degrees so I had to get out to cool off between sets even at 8:30.  We worked on selecting the excursions for our Baltic cruise in September while stretched out in lounges in the basement.  It's the coolest spot in the house!

Berlin is very expensive cause we have to take a 3.5 hour trip on a high speed train from the port into the city.  I've been to Berlin, but Steve has not so we want to hit the highlights from the cold war since that played such an important role in our lives.   Tallinn, Estonia is a historic city that I am very excited to visit.  It's very close to the dock, so we should be able to explore and then walk back to the ship.

Lush, rich and sinfully beautiful: Chautauqua Shameless

Day 562: Amy's Birthday

Ninety degrees and humid means lots of swimming today.  I hit ten miles for the month on Sunday.  It was a delight to meet Amy and Annie for her birthday celebration in the air conditioned Big Dipper.

I ticked off several purchases when we went into Orchard Park so we are close to being ready for the reunion this weekend.  I still have to do all the grocery shopping and a bit of cooking.  Most of the cleaning is done and we will not mow till Wednesday.  Justin and Evan will arrive at 11:30 pm Thursday, my sisters and nieces arrive on Friday at 2:00 and my uncle and cousin will arrive at 1:00 on Saturday.   We are going to have a great time!

Me, Amy and Annie

at Big Dipper to celebrate Amy's birthday

Custard Candy

Day 561: Angels Around Us

Angels Around Us

Autumn Wood

Miss Sue's Starburst

Day 560: FHS Musicals 40th Anniversary

I will write more in the days to follow, but it was a wonderful evening of old friends, great music, friendships, and traditions.   The program concluded with a sing-a-long that included the entire audience of around 200 people.

Day 559: Claire Isabelle

When daylily hybridizers create a new flower, they must test it for several years to be certain that it holds its characteristics.  Once it has been certified, they name it and then submit it to the daylily registry.

A few years ago, my sister Nancy approached a friend of hers who is a hybridizer and asked if he would name a daylily for our mother.  He produced a beautiful new rosy pink bloom with a lime green throat and a white stripe on the ruffled petals.  Perfect.  Claire Isabelle now grows in my garden and it's a daily reminder of my mom.

Claire Isabelle

Geneva Firetruck

Day 558: Beautiful Edgings

Beautiful Edgings

Red Monarch

Yet to be identified

Tour de Force (probably)

Day 557: One with the Meerkats

Paddy followed me around the yard on my deadheading rounds this morning and joined the meerkats to peer out over the garden.  He was trying to convince me to move more quickly into the house and feed him.

Amy's Blueberry Breakfast

Even though it was really muggy, we took a walk over to see Amy's garden.  So beautiful!  

After an afternoon of swimming, a huge front moved through the area bringing severe weather for lots of folks south of us.   The sky turned black by 6:00 and I feared we should escape into the basement like Molly did.  The front passed quickly, but dropped lots of rain, creating a lake in the back yard.  I am so glad we got the mowing done earlier today cause there is no way we'll be able to mow for several days.  

My Chautauqua Blueberry Swirl