Monday, September 10, 2018

9-10-2018 Monday 1pm

Good afternoon!
Goodness!  This week seemed to fly by!
First of all before I forget, I think a lot of us on Blogger got a request form asking if we wanted notifications for comments.  Clicked YES for both my blogs...and they seem to be working again.  Hurray!  So I am going to try not making a comment myself this week and see if I get all of yours.  :)
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Was a busy week.  Tuesday Caroline came with my groceries, Wednesday morning before preschool I had Ian for a couple of hours while Mama and Liam had doctor visits.  I was working on cleaning in the studio, writing letters, reading ebooks, watching the new season of Shameless (Netflix streaming) and Lucifer (DVD rentals)...and way too much news.
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Friday we had another official meeting in the Community Room here to introduce our new Activity Coordinator and answer any questions we might have.  There's supposed to be a calendar coming around to us next month.  They are also supposed to be stricter with the non-smoking building about people being 20 feet from the building.  Glad to hear it.  I was a smoker for many years so I can empathize with them but they stand right outside the door and it often reeks in the entryway.  Of course the heavy perfumes also linger in the air, too--LOL!
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I ended up sitting with the two ladies I used to see regularly at the CCC group on Thursday afternoons and we stayed and gabbed long after everyone left.  We might try to get that group going again...just coffee and conversation once a week.  I'll probably be the only one who brings with something crafty to work on, but I had been for some time last year.  I haven't been down to anything since last November!   Maybe will have to try to venture forth again.  :)
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My Mom has been looking at senior apartments and assisted living places this summer.  I've kept telling her that I know she would LOVE all the activities they have.  Mom is quite the social butterfly--unlike her reclusive daughter--LOL!  She wants to look at places in Florida, too.  But we really, really want her up in Minnesota, of course.  Hard to tell an old Swede what to do.  (Dagan and Leah have scary visions of the future, I bet--hehe!)  
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The sparrow flocks are back.  Lots of bees every day.  I've had planters knocked over a couple more times.  The wind seems to be gusting from just the perfect direction lately--LOL!
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Opening boxes in the studio has been an adventure!  Remembering what I have--and ideas flowing for fun things to do.  I'll have to figure out a good way to label what's inside all of these big boxes so I can find things easier, that's for sure.
Anyways, these first two bookcases on this side of the room are pretty much done.  I'm sure there will be a little more tweaking and shifting things about, as is always the case.  But I shall continue around the room.  
I'll come back to the tall cherry shelf unit (above) that's filled with all kinds of rubber stamps because that one is going to take a long time to sort through.  Plus we need to figure out how we want to store the clear stamp sets that have been shoved in there "temporarily".  That's something Leah and I have been debating about for a couple years--LOL!  Guess it is going to be time to decide pretty soon.  ;)
Feels good to be making progress.  Slow is better than no.
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Then on Saturday afternoon...TaDa!  The bookcase got put together by Leah and her bother, Aaron!
Ian helped, too.  He screwed in (almost all the way) one of the screws and held a few nails to help Mama to start them.  With me--he pushed out the cart to the dumpster filled with cardboard and trash...and then he helped put away all his stuff on the shelves of the new bookcase while Leah and Aaron checked their phones.
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Done!!!
The cube bookcase, which has most of the Liam age things in it, was moved into the hallway under the coat hooks.
Lets hope I don't need a walker for a long time, eh?  I'd never fit it down the hallway--LOL!  Heaven forbid I have an empty wall, as Dagan and Leah would tease me.  I am plum out right now.
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After everything was done I took this video.  (Told you it is windy up here.)
Ian had just a little red spot--no bump or bruising, BTW.
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That night I went outside and tried to take pictures of the sides of the patio with the solar lights glowing next to the bushy plants.
It really does look super cool!  I'll be able to see them even better when winter comes and the leaves fall off the plants.  Imagine them shining off the white glittery snow--can hardly wait!
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Okay--Leah went through the pics and videos to move anything with other people in to the "Gramma Only" folder because we don't like to post anyone who might not want to be on this old lady's blog--LOL!  BUT--that still left 633 photos and 53 videos!  And, well...it was such a busy week that I never got near them--LOL!  Like everything else in my life, it will happen slowly, I guess.  I would bet money there has to be videos of Liam first walking.  I haven't even peeked at the videos yet.  *sigh*
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Anyways, I just picked out a few pics before I went to post today.  Enough to catch you up a bit on McFamily.
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I love this pic of Ian sitting on my lap and talking with his great grandma about puzzles.  She had just helped Ian put the pieces back in that hot pick bag under his hand.
Mom just went back to Florida for the winter, BTW.
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I loved this one of the boys riding in a cart together at Costco and sharing Cherrios.
Long before Liam could walk he climbed up everything and anything he possibly could.  Still does.  Makes Gramma very nervous--LOL!  
He's been walking for a while now.  
Turned one on the 3rd of September.
Hard to believe they are one and four already!!
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I love the pictures of the boys and mellow Blink.  
Here's Ian watching TV with Blink...
...and Liam giving Blink a pet.
That cat is so calm and relaxed that it blows my mind!  They couldn't have a more perfect cat to grow up with two little boys.  :)  She is so friendly.  Runs up to you when you come over so she can get picked up and get a cuddle.  Purrs all the time.  She's something else!  :)
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Well, that's it for this week.  We're supposed to have a few warm days again about 80 and then back to fall weather.  I am loving the cooler weather SOOOO much!  Am one of those people crazy about fall.  :) :)  Cooler wind=happy me.  See you next week!
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"Wherever you are is the entry point."
Kabir

18 comments:

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Just testing your comments Rita - will be back later to actually comment.
Hugs.
Joy

pearshapedcrafting said...

What lovely photos! Oh that wind though! Hope Ian is OK! Glad you got your book case up too! I see you are getting organised as i just caught up with last weeks post too! Dashing off now - must sleep!! Hugs, Chrisx

Jenny Woolf said...

Such a cute video of Liam and it made me wince to see him on those stones. It looks so cool outside at night with the lights. And that's a beautiful picture of the two of them in the cart sharing their snack!

Rita said...

Well, I only got one out of three comments in my email notifications. :(

Divers and Sundry said...

That wind! Wow! I'm glad the sparrows and bees have come back in force :) Your organizational accomplishments are impressive. To have everything right there where you can see and get to it must be an inspiration. I've never known a cat that friendly and laid-back. Sweet

DJan said...

I love fall, too. I loved watching Ian being a big brother to Liam. You are one lucky gramma, Rita. :-)

Far Side of Fifty said...

Your boys are growing up so fast! What a gem that Blink is for the boys. Hope you are having a good week, hope the activity person is on the ball and plans some good stuff! :)

Annesphamily said...

Hi! I enjoyed your post very much! It seems we always have so much going on in our lives. We have to stop to take a breathe. i am forever spending my days getting better organized. I was rallying everyone who knows Iggy (Karl) at Intense Guy. He has really been struggling with his health lately and I wanted to shower him with lots of cards of encouragement from friends from blogging. If you would like to send him a card send me an e mail 53strait@gmail.com or at my blog PhamilyBlog (annesphamily.blogspot.com/) so I can send you his address. I know our prayers are appreciated. Thank you and see you soon. HUGS

Lady Fi said...

Your granddies are just adorable! Glad to hear you are getting everything under control...

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Just watched your video of Ian's adventures. Bumps happen and he was very good at dealing with it and then carrying on with the movie! Ian was very pleased with the bookcase for both Liam and his things. You had some great family time this week. Sweet pictures of your two Grands.

Solar lights just outside with the plants look great - wonder if Annie will stare out at them at night?

Thanks Rita for sharing your week.

Hugs.

Joy


Jon said...

I didn't get any request form from Blogger about comments, but as long as I keep my settings on "Comment Moderation" I'm Okay. At least I'm no longer getting death threats from anonymous Trolls (that was long ago but it still irks me).

I really like your new bookcase - - and I'm kicking my butt because I left two bookcases in the house (for the new owners) when I left Texas. Now I need them. Oh, well, I suppose it's better to buy new ones.

The photo of Ian and Blink watching TV is adorable.

IntenseGuy said...

Not everyone gets to see gramma.. let alone great-gramma!

Ian is a delight to watch in a video and Liam is a cuteypie!

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

Such adorable photos, I really liked the ones with Blink such a peaceful cat letting the boys lay on him.

Anonymous said...

A lot of work done & always a lot left to do!! Glad Ian is OK!!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Wow, those boys look SO cute together. They are adorable. And I wish I had Blink.

You have been working hard. It shows, too. Have a super week, dear.

Dee said...

Dear Rita, I've been away from reading blogs for nearly two months, so it was good to come here today and catch us with you and your family. The boys are certainly growing. It does seem possible that they are four and one already.

Thank you for that ending quotation. I just started reading the new book by Juliam Cameron and it is an entry point for me. I hope you health is good. Peace.

Serena Lewis said...

It's good that they are getting stricter about the smoking areas. I seem to be a lot more sensitive to the smell of cigarette smoke and perfumes nowadays. I stopped wearing perfume myself years ago after reading how allergic some people are when they are around scents...even though I only wore a mild smelling perfume.

How lovely that you might get the 'coffee and chat' group up and running again. Hope it works out okay.

Wouldn't it be great if your Mum moved closer to you?! Guess she feels more at home in Florida?

I'm so glad your feathered friends are back...and the bees too.

The bookcase for Ian and Liam looks awesome! Well done, Leah and Aaron!

The patio looks lovely and also at night too. Poor Ian bumping his head but lucky it was only a little bump. Quite windy there! I love how green your grass is!

That is a sweet pic with Ian sitting on your lap. Happy 1st Birthday to little Liam...time flies and he's growing so fast! Blink has such a wonderful temperament to be around children.

I'm halfway through another letter to you.

Love and hugs from DownUnder. xo

Harvest Moon by Hand said...

Your grandsons are getting so big! How quickly time passes. What great memories to look back upon!