August 19... dog days of summer

We are having the nicest summer we've had in years. So after a super frustrating morning of taking care of dad things again - found me out tending to gardens, cutting grass, picking tomatoes, and pitying my squash plant. At some point we will celebrate because I will in fact harvest ONE spaghetti squash! One! Which, on the grateful side of things, is better than none!

I have been reading up on puppy training and the like. Today, I am very excited (same physiological response right - panic, excitement - it's all in the head after that??) about Jackson's arrival next week. Best to be prepared.

I'm in a good place today. That cycle did wonders, and a weekend of that coming up sounds good to me.

June 19 ... Lane Party!

Every year, the responsibility is bestowed on me, and I guess I accept, to organize my neighbourhood community for a "Lane Party". We have a lamb meschui - lamb roasted on a spit. We get to have that because one of the neighbours is Greek - and they always do Greek Easter with a lamb on a spit. A few years ago we all decided that we would chip in and have that for our lane party - and we have been doing it ever since. The neighbourhood consists of the houses on either side that border our lane out back. It's perfect. Our lane is constructed so that it is closed at either end and there is never any car traffic.

As I write - the men are putting up tarps - as it seems a thunder shower later is inevitable. They have created an amazing tent city before - we use tarp, swimming pool liners, (yes, yes), out door gazebo type structures.. and by the beginning of the evening it all comes together to house up to 35 adults and a bunch of kids, and many tables laden with food and wine - and there you go .. we have an awesome evening, always.

I have to go .. the Greeks are starting up the grill... and we always have a smaller, more private, lunch party ... let the fun begin!

Happy Summer everyone.

June 12 ... ordinary things....

Today was a day of getting stuff done. We needed to finalize, sort of, our wardrobe prep for Ireland - that's coming up quickly. Going shopping for clothes is rarely fun for me. I'm shaped like a light bulb... ya, like that, like when you're holding up a light bulb - screwy side down... no fun.. thats not a pear, or an apple, certainly not a bean... no way, uh uh not me, I'm a light bulb. Which means what fits on the top doesn't fit on the bottom and vice versa... Oh well. The good news is, rather than look like a young, hip, hottie babe... I'm going to look like an Olympic athlete! See.. it's all about the silver lining.

Then we proceeded to the baby store! Soo tiny these things. It's hard to imagine my own children, who are now adults, with whom I have at the very least, complicated relationships, were once my teeny tiny babies. So we shopped for Levi and the new second cousin, who I hope we're going to see shortly. Imagine we were all such tiny creatures once upon a time. You lose sight of that, lose sight of how vulnerable we all were, basically are, who am I kidding.

Now it's time for an afternoon nap, before this evenings festivities begin. We're off to a BBQ party.

Nice easy summer day. I'm grateful.

Oh, PS ... Blogger has new templates.. let me know what you think of the change....

June 5 ... in the garden...

So the weather here is getting predictable - if it's the weekend it's raining. Except that... it more or less isn't. It looks foreboding enough not to go out and cycle, or picnic, or walk .. and in the end it barely rains. The silver lining in that is the gardening I got done today! My home - the outside - looks awesome. I have some new "children", a clematis, basil plants, ooh and a nice new lavender plant. And I transplanted irises to the front and created a sort of hedge, looks wonderful.

Now, at 5 pm... I can barely move... is that really how 49 is supposed to feel? Anyhow.. despite the stiffness and muscle ache, I am really pleased with my productive day. Yay me!

June 4 .. lettin' loose..

Honey and I moved here about 9 years ago now.. oh God.. that's like a blink of an eye! Crikie... Anyhoo all that to say... we have developed some fine relationships over the last nine years. The Mooka folks are awesome: we eat and drink too much, we play golf, we even vacation together... it's a beautiful thing.

The Greeks are awesome too. They may be a year or two younger than us (probably not even, and I don't even remember now). Mr. Greek was a buddy of our landlord that we had for 12 years on the Plateau. For whatever reason, it always thrills Honey to hear tales about what Mr. Greek and ex-landlord used to do together. I think because it's nice validation knowing EVERYONE else thought the guy (ex-landlord) an ass.

So often, during the summer, the Greeks invite us over for a 5 a 7. These guys happen to be the most generous, hospitable folks I have ever met. And the funniest thing... their oldest son D, mimics his dad.. completely.. when it comes to how he offers food, how he walks, how he wants to entertain when folks are around - it's beautiful. I doubt they follow blogs, or are even online that much .. maybe the kids... but if just once they would.. I would like them to know that their friendship and hospitality are immensely appreciated.

In two weeks we have our annual "Lane Party" .. it's usually a Meschwi of Lamb, this year perhaps a suckling pig!, but we're not sure. The entire neighbourhood shows up, we have an awesome, heartwarming, somewhat inebriated time, and I love it. I love summer. I love my neighbourhood.

What a lovely summer evening we have had...

June 2.... good old fashion Princess Day..

It's a spectacular morning. At this point I have already had a perfect Mooka coffee, lovely breakfast with Honey out on the deck, and time to linger over the morning paper. I'm getting ready to attempt playing a 9 hole game of golf with Mr. Mooka. God bless that man for his patience... because I use the terms "Game" and "golf" and "playing" very, very loosely. Cause truth be told - I suck at it! But I never give up!!

I love waking up happy, pain free, on a delicious summer morning - especially when it isn't even summer yet!

Off to a great day!