I’ve picked gallons of raspberries from my backyard patch this week. Getting ready to make some jam!
What a crazy wonderful surprise tonight! We went to Wolf Trap to see Tony Bennett, which was already wonderful, when who joins him for a few songs but his duo partner Lady Gaga!!! So amazing. They are dear and lovely and sweet together.
D2 and I are at the end of our week long European trip. There were few tense moments, but overall we had a very nice time. She is off with her cousin to travel for few more weeks. After she comes back she will be packing up to move out (permanently) to start the next chapter of her life. I am very proud of her and will miss her very much. I will always remember this week fondly.
My DD and SIL bought their first house just 4 miles away from us. After losing two houses in all the real estate craziness around here, we are thrilled for them (and us).
I am getting ready for my first trip to Europe in almost 30 years. I am so pleased and grateful that my D and her bf invited me to join them on a visit to his parents. I am sad that my H refuses to travel but now that my kids are grown, I am leaving for 2 weeks.
Supermarket was out of the on sale (Athena) cantaloupes so substituted a Tuscan cantaloupe. YUM!!! Very sweet and yummy (though I wish I hadn’t sliced my thumb in the process of cutting it).
Second interview went great, asked back for a third (and final). Some compromise on pay from both sides so we’ll see where the end dollars sit. Keeping my fingers crossed. Slinging beers and lobster rolls starting tonight to keep some $$ coming in until unemployment finalizes their decision. Its been now four weeks with zero monies coming in. Ouch.
More importantly, D’s financial aid package arrived yesterday and the school came through again. It wasn’t reduced significantly but they did drop it a bit d/t current circumstances. One of my biggest concerns with her picking the school she attends with a fantastic finaid offer was that it would change sometime over the four years. They assured me it would not unless finances were significantly increased, as in winning the lottery, lol. And they kept their word. Year 4 is affordable !! This is a great relief to me right now. There’s a recent thread about an Amherst student whose financial aid decreased to the point that he may need to transfer, that is so sad. I’m very thankful D has been able to attend and afford a private LAC, our situation is very, very similar to that family.
I snagged a bargain flight from Dallas to Honolulu for $344.
When ods was in about third grade, he came home with some art work one day that I asked him about. The paper was divided into quadrants and in the top left was an American flag, next to it on top was a king on a throne, lower left was some pretty purplish mountains…all these quadrants were vibrantly colored… and in the lower right, a nice fruit bowl with fruit just drawn in pencil. (he was a good little artist). So I said well, what’s with the fruit? I guess you didn’t have time to finish, to color it? He looked irritated at me and said “no, Mommy, it’s about the song”. Oh, I say, what song? He says “You know…oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, for purple mountains majesty (the king), above the FRUIT THAT’S PLAIN.”
I have laughed my behind off at this for decades, 30 years. It never fails to make me laugh. So, heard this song tonight and had to share this.
I got the job ! They aren’t paying what I want, but I think they are paying what I need. I’d be working out of my home, making my own schedule and visiting disabled in the community, all things that may very well be worth a little less money. I don’t start until the end of the month but I can live with that…first July off in my beach community since I was 14. Now hoping that unemployment can make a decision soon and I can really stop worrying about the pile of bills laying here in front of me LOL
I was just out weeding my front yard when a woman drove by slowly in her car, looking at the house. Not knowing if she was someone I should know and, if not, wanting to reassure her that I wasn’t bothered by her roll-by, I gave her a smile and a little wave, then went on with my work. A couple of minutes later she drove into my driveway to tell me that she had been having a bad day but my wave had made it better. She just wanted me to know that. Her small gesture of thanks made my day happier too!
I picked up the first sweet corn of the season from my favorite local farmstand and it is everything I wanted it to be! Sweet, crispy, juicy, heavenly! Corn on the cob is one of my favorite things. Along with local or home grown tomatoes.
He put a ring on it ! I’m going to be a mother-in-law to a fantastic young lady. I’m so happy he chose to do it while at a family cookout here at home while they were doing their annual summer visit. I was so afraid everything would happen where they (and her family) all live. They’ve even said there’s a very good chance they’ll pick a venue here as well much to my surprise. It was a great week with both my kids (and my future DIL) here at home.
@NEPatsGirl - Congrats!!
S was formally accepted into Northeastern’s MBA Certificate Program with his employer paying the full tuition.
My hot peppers are doing great. Lot of flowers on plants and some have peppers already. I’m busy looking for new recipes to make hot pepper jams. Have a label and jars ready to go and the local general store is going to sell it. The owner tried last year’s hot pepper jam and loved it.
S got his final grades from his (British) university on Monday. He passed everything, did very well and will graduate tomorrow 
We are in London right now.
My soon to arrive grandson is head down (and there is not much room for that to change); at 38+ weeks daughters BP check was great; I have my ticket and I’m gonna meet him on 7/30 (unless he wants a later birth day).
@Bromfield2: I always buy hot pepper jam from any farmer’s market I can find it at. I serve it with crackers and cream cheese for a quick hors d’oeuvre. Love the stuff!!
S is here to visit with us en route to a wedding. He will be with us till Saturday morning, when we take him to the airport.
Two Clear CT scans so far.
1 was post surgery, pre chemo.
2 is a month post chemo.
Fingers crossed … I guess forever.