June 29, 2016

Wednesday

I picked enough raspberries for our oatmeal this morning. It was a little chilly out so I had to wear a jacket. I pieced more of my quilt and practiced fiddle. I ordered a fiddle for Charlie since we can't find his. He needs to practice. 

TJ and his family came over. Tom worked on his van. Angelica went running and TJ took the kids swimming. 

Later my parents dropped Charlie and I off at Carol's while they went to a town concert in Angola. We visited, ate lasagna and strawberry shortcake, and I sewed two more quilt blocks. Tom didn't go with us to Carol's. He stayed home to keep working on TJ's van. When we got home Jake was there with Tom. He's sleeping over. We ate ice cream again and went to bed. I can not eat ice cream every night. No more buying ice cream. 

Here's the fabrics I bought yesterday.

June 28, 2016

Tuesday

I took Charlie for a walk this morning back in the fields where I used to play as a kid. I told him we knew every field, tree, and trail. Growing up we had so much fun playing outside. Anyway, we saw a turtle hanging out in a corn field and picked a few ripe blueberries. There weren't very many. I picked some raspberries to put in our oatmeal.

Carol came up with the kids, and TJ brought his kids over for me to bbsit, but they took Hazel with them shopping. We put sunscreen on the kids and they swam for maybe a half hour when we noticed gray clouds coming in and the temperature dropped. Now it was too cold for me to go swimming, but the kids went in and out all day.

Tom and my dad worked on dad's truck all day, something to do with the brakes. I think Tom did some staining too on my parents' house.

After TJ picked up the kids, Mom, Carol, and I went to the Quilt Farm. I love that place. Good memories. I took my first quilt class there. (I took all my quilt classes there). And I used to escape there when the kids were little. It was great to see Isabelle too. The back door was open and the breeze blew in, and the view is so pretty. I bought some fabric for the next part of my quilt but didn't take a pic. I'll have to take one tomorrow.

When we left there we went to Brunner's and picked up 2 pizzas, mini corn dogs, loaded waffle fries, and went home. After we ate Carol tried to go home but her van battery was dead so she stayed a while longer so it could charge. We all watched the Justice Channel while eating ice cream, and then went to bed.

June 27, 2016

Monday

I'm a few days behind again. 

Thursday I can't remember.

Friday we went to Erica's house for a pre-rehearsal party for Sue's wedding.

Saturday we went to the wedding and reception and had a great time with Tom's family. 

Sunday Ed, Ben, and Kurt left for Nashville. They took my truck. Darryl and Carol came up. I swam before everyone got here. The water was a chilly 75 degrees but fine after I got used to it. The kids swam all day. Mom made boneless ribs and I made strawberry shortcake. 

Monday Carol and Darryl came up again. I picked a handful of raspberries. That was all that were ripe. Soon there will be lots more. We swam. Carol cut out a baby romper and I worked on my quilt. When the evening came Tom, Charlie, and I went to Charlap's in Hamburg for ice cream and then to a car show. We hoped to see Becky and Dan but they didn't make it. We came home, ate salad, watched a little TV with mom and dad and went to bed.

Oh, now I remember Thursday. We had a gig at Club 189 in East Aurora. I watched TJ's kids at Anita's house so Angelica could go. They all had a great time.

June 22, 2016

Wednesday

Today's drive was broken up with a stop in St. Albans, WV. Our friend, Jeff Driggs, invited us to lunch at his restaurant, Mayberry's. It was a two hour drive there and I am so glad that we went. It was so fun. We don't often stop for fun when we are traveling. We are usually in a hurry to get to the next destination. 

West Virginia is so beautiful, but a storm was blowing its way in, going southeast. We were headed north and just missed it. We ran into only a little rain. The second part of the drive was 6 1/2 hours plus stops. We made it to my parents' house just before 9 PM. 

June 21, 2016

Tuesday

We spent the morning packing up and cleaning. I swept floors and cleaned the bathrooms. TJ and Kurt vacuumed carpets, and Ed did dishes. I moved our food from the fridge to the cooler. Tom washed the truck and trailer and then took the littles for one last swim. We aimed to leave at 11 AM and left at 11:30. Not too bad.

Our drive today was just two hours through beautiful WV to The Greenbrier. It was a gray day and started raining just before we arrived. We unloaded, set up, ate supper at Applebee's, and then checked in at our hotel. I watched Charlie, Callie, and Violet at the hotel and the others went to the gig. We watched a little TV and I did hand sewing on my quilt till the girls fell asleep. Then I fell asleep too. 

June 20, 2016

Monday

We had today off. TJ finished his recording later in the day. He hardly had any time off. Ed and Ben worked on a new song they wrote. Kurt hung out in his room on the phone. Joe roamed the driveway on his phone. Tom took the littles in the hot tub and swimming. Joe did laundry for me. 

I read, knitted, practiced fiddle, and hand pieced my quilt. I made chicken/sausage vegetable gravy and biscuits for supper. I also made a huge salad and brownies. I swept the floors and did dishes. Charlie and I watched a murder mystery on TV and then went to bed.  

This was our last day at the lakehouse. Tomorrow morning we pack up, clean, and leave. 

June 19, 2016

Sunday

We played at Rockhouse Marina today. My Aunt Laurie and her husband came. Tom helped watch Violet and Callie so I could visit. Laurie and Lewis came over afterwards but couldn't stay long because they had a long drive home. 

I made a pasta salad loaded with veggies for supper. TJ worked on recording and everyone else just enjoyed the night off. Tom and the littles went in the hot tub. I did dishes and went to bed. 

June 17, 2016

Friday

I kept waking up all night and finally got up before 6 AM. I took my books and coffee out onto the porch and watched the sun rise up from behind the trees on the other side of the lake. 

I read quite a bit today and practiced my fiddle. I'm really enjoying it. I hoped to get to Walmart today to buy food but Tom didn't  want to go, so everyone ate travel food leftovers. I did finally make wild rice and refried beans.

Tom, Charlie, and Ben went in the hot tub, and after TJ, Callie, and Violet arrived the younger ones went in the lake.

We had to leave at 4:30 for our gig at Rockhouse Marina, which was about 10 minutes away. I could tell that Callie and Violet were not going to be happy sitting there all night, so before the music even started Tom took Callie, Violet, Charlie, and me home. 

We had a great evening at house. We watched some TV, which I never get to do, I did dishes,  and I read to Charlie.

June 16, 2016

Thursday

We had breakfast with Joe S. this morning, then packed our stuff up and took a picture at the Rock before getting back on the road. We left at 10 AM and drove till we reached our destination close to 9 PM. It wasn't quite dark and everything was so green and pretty here in Virginia. 

We are staying at a lake house. It has three floors, with 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. It is quiet and peaceful. 

June 15, 2016

Wednesday

I woke up before 7 so I could take Tommy and Charlie to VBS. I stopped at Winn  Dixie for some food for Tommy and some food for us on the road. When I got home I packed the cooler and collected stuff for the trip: mine and Charlie's suitcases, our fiddles, a bin of food for the trailer, and miscellaneous stuff. 

Kurt stopped in and then called me. He left his glasses on top of his car and . wanted me to go down and look for them. I did and they were in the road in front of the neighbor's house. They weren't broken. Good thing Kurt remembered in time. 

Rachel brought the boys home from VBS and we finally left at 12:45 PM. We drove to St. Augustine, FL to Joe and Chris's house. They were so kind to feed us and let us stay at their house. We originally planned to drive straight through to VA but we would have been miserable. Thanks for spoiling us!!'

June 14, 2016

Tuesday

I got up at 7 and took Garrett, Tommy, and Charlie to VBS at 8:30. Garrett had fun because he got to be Darth Vador today. On my way home I stopped at Walgreens to get my prescription but the pharmacy didn't open for another 20 minutes. While I was waiting Garrett called and wanted his sneakers. It was kind of a pain, but since I was waiting, I went back home, got his sneakers, and drove them to church. Then I went back to Walgreens. 

I made breakfast for Ed and I and did the dishes. I also did laundry. I packed Charlie's clothes. Kim dropped of Reed and Stevie for a while. At 12:15 I drove to church to pick up the boys. Ben and Ed watched Reed and Stevie for me. 

When we got home Charlie's friend came over. Rachel came over too and I gave her instructions. Ed and Ben went to the studio to get something and when they got back it was time to leave for Sloppy's.

Tom yelled at everyone for being late when we pulled out. Going around our first turn the trailer door swung open and Kurt's drum stool fell out on the street. It broke. I thought Tom rigged it together when we got to the gig but later during the show I saw the broken one on the floor of the trailer. Kurt must have borrowed one from somebody.

Mikki and Randy came to the gig and I sat with them most of the night. When we got home I threw in some more laundry and went to bed. I hope I don't forget anything tomorrow.

The second pic is a van that someone drew all over with black sharpies. It was parked outside Sloppy's.

June 13, 2016

Monday

I set my alarm for 7 so I would have time for my devotions before taking Tommy and Charlie to VBS at church. I called the doctor's office to get an appointment for my pink eye and they said they couldn't get me in till tomorrow at 3:45. I almost cried but didn't. Crying just makes my head hurt so I try to avoid it. I came home and ate breakfast while listening to a lecture. Then I folded laundry while listening to another lecture. Then the doctor's office called and said I could come in at 3:30 today but it would be a long wait. So I said yes. The band would leave for Sloppy's at 3:30 and I would have to drive separate.

I had a fiddle lesson via Skype at 1:00, and two people contacted me wondering who was going to pick up Charlie from church. Ed was very late. :0(

Ed finally came home with Charlie and Charlie had his lesson. I folded more laundry. Rachel was going to stop by for instructions about staying at our house but we ran out of time so she is going to come tomorrow. 

I dropped Charlie off at Fran's for swimming and then went to Dr. Grider's. After sitting in the waiting room 10 minutes Tom texted and said they needed the ball that was on my truck to tow the trailer with the GMC. So I told the receptionist and left the dr.s office, drove home, Tom got the ball, and I drove back to the dr.s. 

I saw the doctor and went to Walgreens next. I'm so happy that my eyes are finally going to get better.  I was dreading the long drive and parking in KW by myself so I asked the kids' friend, Minolis, if he was going to KW and he was! He said he'd take me!!!

Tom asked us to stop at Advanced Auto and buy oil and filters for three vehicles. What a bad errand to send a girl. That guy asked too many questions. Tom had everything written in a text but that guy didn't want to help me. My day was stressful enough so I decided Tom would have to do this one himself. We left and went to Sloppy's. 

During out breaks Tommy and I got a slice of pizza and ice cream. I got a hot fudge sunday. Tom left just before our show ended to go buy his oil and filters, but the store had already closed. He should have gone during one of our breaks. The boys all wait too long to prepare for a trip. 

I'm hardly settled from moving into this house. I don't want to be away so long, but oh well. One more day and we are off.

VBS today

June 12, 2016

Sunday

I woke up at 6:30 and made 3 peanut butter chocolate pies for Joe and Garrett's birthday party. Tom went to the 9:30 service so he could go over to Kim's and work on her fence. Ed, Charlie, and I went to the 11:00 service. I was supposed to pick up Joe but forgot him, so Ben left church and picked him up. Sorry Joe. 

After church we all went over to Randy and Mikki's for the birthday party and to watch the race. Mikki had tons of food and I brought the pies. Dale was out of the race near the beginning, so it wasn't that fun, but we had fun hanging out again. Garrett never showed up. He slept through his party. 

We all went home. Bobby came over and hung out with Tommy and Charlie. The band hurried off to Schooner Wharf. I spent the evening getting ready for our trip. I also finished cutting out pieces for the next round of my quilt. That's all ready to go on the trip. I can sew my little heart out while we are driving. I had left a bag of stuff for my eyes at Mikki's house and had to drive back there and get it. I went to bed at midnight.

June 11, 2016

Saturday

I slept till 9 this morning, so my morning routine was thrown off. I made banana date chocolate chip muffins for everyone. Then I packed my suitcase. I am taking one bin of miscellaneous stuff too so I started filling that with some of Charlie's schoolbooks, my bookkeeping laptop and statements so I can get caught up, stuff like that. 

I stopped using the eye drops and started washing eyes with Johnson's baby shampoo. It says "no more tears" but it hurts. I must have done it 4 times plus once in the shower. I'm going to the doctor on Monday. 

I practiced fiddle for about 10 minutes, and had Charlie practice one phrase about 10 times. Then it was time to leave for Sloppy's. 

I hand-sewed on my Millifiore quilt  (English paper piecing) the whole night. It's very addicting. Hopefully addicting enough to actually do it till the end and finish the thing. I'll take a pic soon. 

We are driving home now. We have to stop at Winn Dixie so I can buy ingredients to make Joe a peanut butter chocolate pies for tomorrow's party. I'll have to make it before church in the morning. They will be for Garrett too. 

June 10, 2016

Friday

I have not been keeping up with my blog. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I made lists and got a lot done, but stayed up too late too. I did the dishes every night about midnight, and then read to Charlie. 

I'm spending all my time getting ready for our summer trip, taking care of details. I washed the kitchen floor, did laundry, made supper, got groceries, chauffeured Tommy to work at church and to his lesson. practiced fiddle almost every day. I went to TJ's house and cleaned out his fridge. 

The Denali was in the shop twice, the first time for the AC, the second for shocks or something like that for towing. 

The boys had three days off in a row and now there's four days of gigs in a row and then we leave. Ed's vocal chords are stressed so he's singing less, and not singing my favorite songs, Renegade and a Stevie Wonder song. 

Today is Joe and Garrett's birthdays. Joe is 22 and Garrett is 17. We are going to have the birthday party on Sunday after church.

I thought my eyes were getting better but tonight they are horrible. Of course it's now the weekend, so I'll have to wait to Monday to see a doctor. 

June 6, 2016

Monday

I exercised and practiced fiddle. Charlie and Tommy did some school work. I have Tommy doing Rosetta Stone Spanish and Latin, and literature over the summer. 

I cleaned the floor in my bathroom. We watched the race at noon and I took care of some paperwork. I cut up some broccoli, onions, and peppers and roasted them in the oven for lunch. The race ended just before 3:30 when we needed to leave for Sloppys. Charlie's swimming was cancelled due to a tropical storm. 

We went to Sloppys. Tonight we didn't go for ice cream. :0)

June 5, 2016

Sunday 

We went to church, then over to Mikki and Randy's to watch the race. It was postponed to Monday at noon because of rain. We had fun hanging out though. Almost all the kids came, and Deb too. 

We went home and Tom and the band left for Schooner Wharf. I took Tommy to work at church and I listened to a missionary share about India.

Tommy and I stopped at Winn Dixie for groceries. Went home and I put it all away in three shifts, frozen, fridge, and produce. While doing that I also threw together some dinner and moved the laundry. 

Tommy and Charlie wanted to watch a movie so we did. Towards the end I quit watching and did dishes. We started the movie too late and were awake when the band got home from Schooner, about 12:30. 

This pic was from our Friday night party. I forgot to put it up. Thanks again Joe and Chris!!

June 4, 2016

Saturday

Charlie and I went with Mikki to Deb's pool for two hours. We both had a long "to-do" list so we didn't stay longer. 

Unfortunately, I didn't get many things crossed off my list. I went over to Kim's because I wanted to visit before our trip. She also helped me with a denim skirt I'm altering. 

After that I went home for a little while, and then Mikki and Randy picked me up. We picked up Deb, who is only in town for a couple days, and went to Sunset Pier to watch the kids. They had a double at the Pier today. Tom stayed home and worked on building a fence for Kim.

On our walk back to the car I talked Randy into getting hot fudge sundays. 

Two new fans at Sunset Pier. Aren't they cute?

June 3, 2016

Friday

Today is Friday and I am 5 days behind so I thought I might skim over the last few days. 

Monday we drove and drove and drove some more till we were home in Big Pine. We unpacked and I did laundry and that kind of stuff.

Tuesday was a chore day. Tom took my truck to Dick's shop and they ordered parts to fix the AC. Then we went to Sloppy Joes. On the way Tom picked up the Sprinter from the guy working on it on Stock Island. 

Wednesday Tom took the Sprinter to the Mercedes dealer in Miami. They recoded something. He considered trading it in for a new one but I don't think we want another one. Too hard and costly for repairs. Then he drove home. He was gone all day. I can't remember what I did all day but I must have done something. I know I was busy.

Thursday I exercised and decided to start the day with the chores I dreaded the most, whichade me feel good the rest of the day, knowing I had them done. I practiced fiddle and studied some Latin. Ben and Kurt went on Jc's boat in the morning. Ed worked at the studio. I cut out pieces for the next round of my quilt. I took Bobby out to eat at Boondocks and Georgina dropped Charlie off there after swimming.

Finally, today, Friday, I did laundry and dishes. I practiced fiddle and watered the tree that Tom and the neighbor planted yesterday. I listened to two lectures for my class, knitted a few rows on my sweater, and made a stir-fry and couscous for lunch. 

In the evening the boys played hockey and I visited with Chris. She and her husband, Joe, brought us a feast tonight for after hockey. There was pizza, wings, sandwiches, potatoes and macaroni salad, ice cream, twix bars, Rice Krispy treats, and drinks. 

May 29, 2016

Sunday

I woke up after 3 hours or sleep and couldn't fall back asleep. My eyes were killing me. I finally got dressed and packed up my stuff. My dad took me to Kmart in Wind Gap and I got some stuff for my eyes. My mom had some drops too. The skin around my eyes was so raw I finally tried Vaseline and it helped some. 

Check out was 11 o'clock so I woke everyone up. TJ called and said we left Charlie's fiddle at the festival so we drove over to get it. One last goodbye and we got on the road. 

It was a 26 hour drive. Usually we all look forward to long drives. We get to verge and I always have projects to work on. Not so this time. We were all very hot and miserable due to the weather and the broken AC, so the windows had to be down and it was so noisy. I had finished my paper piecing (a new quilt project) that I had brought with me and I planned on finishing a sweater I was knitting. I also wanted to listen to some lectures but I couldn't focus on anything or concentrate. 

Once while Ben was driving there was sparks coming out from under the truck. It had something to do with the AC and they cut a belt toake it stop. We stopped for breakfast with John T. in Fort Pierce for an hour. I had Ed get me a giant cup of ice and I filled a sock with ice and held it on my eyes for hours.

We drove straight thru, 26 hours, with quick gas stops and just that one meal. We are tough and maybe a little dumb. 

So glad to be home.