Family Visit

Haley and Mark arrived bearing gifts...a squashy decorated pumpkin and a hand-made hanging colorful stained glass spinner creation. They also brought me some disposable brushes for my current project.

My granddaughter and her husband came from 85+ miles away to visit. You see, they have been married 9 years and I have never met him. It was a wonderful visit with two very special people. They both work at home. They can watch fawns and other wildlife from their windows. She raises geckos and they have had many ferrets. A real nature girl she is with so many other enterprises and artistic talents. The rainbow iridescent stained glass piece is one of her latest endeavors to create items - all self taught (trial and error). The photo doesn't give it justice. I need to hang it in a different place so the sun can shine through it.

He's very savvy about many things and currently is certified to be knowledgeable about edible and poisonous mushrooms. They both are very experienced with computers.

I  can't post this without at least showing you another of her glass art items.

I hope they come again soon!

Gifts

Yesterday my daughter visited, bringing flowers from her garden and a tiny Honeynut squash, some baby swiss chard, homemade chicken vegetable soup and a sweater. I really got a kick watching her pick out vessels to contain the flowers. She chose two of my favorites that are always out and ready to be used. One is the wobble top mug and the other the fantastic pinch cup, a/k/a Tuscarora Trout Beer Tumbler. My friend the potter, says it this way: " I create works that matter for people who care." Oh yes, we care.....  Now he is doing most of his work on the treadle wheel.

Size of a teaspoon!

FYI, the swiss chard is better (MOP) than spinach.  Well, after a visit, she went fishing - nothing caught this time. I shared some of my elderberry syrup, raisin walnut cookies, candy fudge, and other items. Oh! Forgot to tell you she brought me some vanilla ice cream so I can have a bowlful with my syrup! Just gotta get through the winter so can make more of that stuff next Fall. Her older brother turned 65 yesterday. I am now really feeling the aging devil.

Visitors and Manips

I had a friend and his lady stop by and we had a great visit. They rode in on his 1983 Beemer and we had a wonderful time getting to know each other a bit. She is a real sweetheart. He has been here before and he wanted to show her the cabin and the area as she is from Canada.

I have been working on a log photo that a friend from NY sent me and my visitor had just what I was looking for -  a dancer graphic for the log's interior. 

I created a picture of her and then the log creation. Really I should have started this earlier in life. It is fun to do!

Well the cut-down tree left a nice start for my imagintion!

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What do you think? Do I need to be sent to LaLa Land?

Weekending Holiday

Our son and his partner stopped in on their way back to Stroudsburg, PA from their weekend at Watkins Glen, NY. First they stopped to see Uncle Paul but he wasn't home. Then they visited with our daughter and granddaughter with the twins. The little red car pulled in here late afternoon and we all had a good visit. Thank goodness it wasn't nearly as hot and humid as the day before. We all sat on the front porch and enjoyed a light breeze. As they were about to leave, an insect was spotted on the side of the shed. After taking a couple of pictures I researched and found it to be a wasp who was laying her eggs in the wood. After finding out what it was, the Mister swatted it.

Internet photo and text

"Megarhyssa is a genus of large ichneumon wasps, with some species known for having the longest ovipositors of any insects. They are idiobiont endoparasitoids of the larvae of wood-boring horntail wasps. The ovipositor can be mistaken for a large stinger.

Ichneumons are large, parasitic wasps that live all over the world. They are known for the long tail."

Meanwhile the fellow who mows and trims for us was whacking down the old iris bed that has become overcome with weeds. Every year the iris still bloom. We wait until they die off before weeding. 

All in all we had a very nice weekend. 

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Current Events

I have had the yarn on hand for over a year when I first saw an easy pattern for a garter stitch-only hat and purchased two skeins. I had given away my many sets of needles years ago when my hands didn't seem to be functioning very well and never thought I'd be knitting anything again. Well..... I asked two neighbors if they could knit the hat for me. They don't knit! I then asked one if she had any needles and, as I suspected, she did, as they were her mother's but not the size that was called for. She surprised me a couple of days ago by bringing me a new set in the correct size.  I was very grateful and started the knitting project. WELL.....I soon learned that I should have had longer needles. Too bad, too late so I shall continue using them until my project is complete. In the past I have knitted many items; sweaters, mittens, hats, scarves, vests, blankets and more. Today I can get through a couple of rows a day but will, yes I WILL get this hat made! When I reach the completion of 61/2 inches I will then start to decrease and the stitches will fit better.  

Our son from about 80 miles away stopped in yesterday with his lady and we all had a nice visit. 

The mouse down count is now up to six. The red squirrel down count is three with at least three more to go. 

Oh, and the turkey is gone. And the leftover acorn squash will soon become a pumpkin pie. 

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Family Visit

Our two granddaughters came for a visit from NY Saturday. What a thrill it was to see them in person!  Their mother lived with us in 1976-77 and our first granddaughter was born at our local hospital. I was the birthing coach when our son was in the Navy at the time and his pregnant wife came to live with us for a while. The mother and child stayed for a few months and then our son moved his family South. They returned a year later for a short visit along with with a second baby daughter.

After 40 years we were pleased to share stories and photos and just enjoyed being together. Our daughter, their Aunt who lives nearby came and visited when they were here, and took them to see their Great Uncle who lives close. He remembers their father, who died after a car accident in 1994 at the age of 37. Our firstborn granddaughter has 4 children, ages 23, 22, 19, and 14. She is already a grandmother. The other has two daughters, ages 23 and 19.

They love it here at the lake and one of them is even considering the purchase of a home in the area.

Of course photos were taken. The first two are mine.

These are their cell phone images.

I didn't remember that the sun shining in the windows would not be a good thing for automatic eye on the phones.

We hope to have another visit soon! 

Today's Visitor

He came from the beach front and I assume he had a drink and then was returning home (under our shed.) We rarely see him but know he lives here. I wonder if he has a girlfriend. This large "ground squirrel" was about 8 lbs. to my best guess.

It's a good thing for him that the Mister was watching the New Hampshire Sprint Cup race on TV. Saved until the next time.

By the way, beavers chuck wood not woodchucks!