Marching band camp starts tomorrow! Son has been gone since July 4, hanging out with his dad (and swimming like a fish). I'm sure I'll be hogging the boy all to myself until Sunday where he'll go see his friends he hasn't seen in three weeks (since he was gone with me the week before he left to hang with his dad). I'm sure he'll be petting his doofus-faced cat when he gets home. And hugging me plenty. He sent me an email last night at 7:05 that said, 23 hours and 55 minutes. He's ready to be back.

I'll finish painting the porch (it's been almost 9 years), mowing the yard (again), canning bread and butter pickles (4 pints today and another 4 pints next week), freezing sweet corn (starting my second gallon) and green beans (love them all winter), deadheading flowers (a never-ending, but pleasant, task); and most importantly a nap each afternoon.

Jim

We're having a birthday party at our camp for the oldest grandson. Just family. He is turning 13 and has developed this sudden interest in spending time with us out there. He went out with us a week ago Thursday evening and then again all weekend (from Friday after work until supper time Sunday). Then he went out with Grandpa (I was stuck at work late) and went 4-wheeler riding on Wednesday. Now he's going to spend all weekend again and everyone else is coming out for part of the day Saturday and for Sunday lunch time! We're going to cook a spiral ham in a cast iron dutch oven over the camp fire. His mom is bringing potato salad and a birthday cake, and I'm making a big fruit salad. I'm sure there will be other goodies as well. We also plan to go on Saturday sometime and watch one of the granddaughters playing in a vollyball tournament. Sure love being able to do things with the grand kids!

We're going to a family reunion this weekend, although not a close branch of family. This is the branch that is adult children of my dad's favorite cousin, all of the older folks now long gone. DH really enjoys them and always makes it a point to go. I have a reservation at a nice waterfront hotel close by the park where the picnic is held.

I'm still in the middle of some big yard projects here but this is the only time during the year we see any of these people, and this year my brother has said he will meet us there. He brought his mother in law home with him for a couple of weeks from California last week and I haven't seen her since she lost her husband of 64 yrs New Years Day, I'm looking forward to an afternoon with a really great lady .

Depends on the weather, right now they are saying lots of rain.
We have 2 new cabinetry items that must be assembled and I am hoping if it is an inside day that will get done. Then putting them in the bedroom and moving stuff around in there.

If it is nice and a good day for a drive I would really like to go to ikea and camping world and a few other shops out near there. It is a ways from us so we don't go often which is good because we always spend too much money.

I've got grocery shopping and cooking to do today as well as a few other errands. Tomorrow, we're spending the day with friends, sharing food, stories, and games. Sunday will be a lazy day with just me and the pets, as my husband is flying out for a week-long business trip.

I'm starting a project to get rid of all of the VHS tapes and most of the books in my house. We aren't allowed to put them in the trash or recycling so I've scheduled a pick-up from 1800GotJunk late next week. This weekend, I will start to go through the books to see which ones will stay and which will go.

Unwanted books can often be donated to a jail/prison in the area.

Jim, I have approximately 10 cubic yards of books. If someone wants to come pick them up, they are welcome to them, but I have no way to transport that many books.

I also have a family reunion this weekend. My mom's family and she is one of twelve, so lots of cousins to see! Will be held at my cousin's place at the river