AaBi and Roy 
Benny & Jacob in the window BoBo fishing
Benny & Jacob in the window BoBo fishingJacob fishing & Continental Divide
I understand that is a very weird title, but so much has happened since my last post. To bring you up to date, our little bitty baby is now up to 15 lbs. and so healthy and happy! Thank you God for answering prayers. Our other little granddaughter, Clyr is growing fast and now saying MaMa and Dada. We had a visit over the 4th of July from the boys, AaBi and Roy. We tried so hard to go camping but something came up all week and "we still didn't get to go camping!" That ended up being the motto for our entire week! It was chaotic, the house looked like it threw-up, and the 4th became a day to try to forget! Our son, Jon, was involved in the Kansas floods and had to flee as his house became submerged, he arrived here on the fourth with what he could put in his car and a dog and cat. Thankfully he works at WalMart and was able to transfer to Colorado. So at the present he is living with us until he can get back on his feet. So at one point during this chaotic week we had six adults, two children, and six animals living in our small home. The blessing was having two bathrooms - and the washer ran non-stop! Benny, our littlest grandson ate some meds and spent two days at the emergency room, the transmission went out on the kids car so they ended up staying a couple of days longer, our air-conditioner went out; the list is just to long to continue...plus I want to forget part of it!
But all-in-all, we had a wonderful time together and finally at the end of the week we managed to get to the mountains and go fishing, geocaching, and even had a bear encounter. I will add some pictures on a new blog tomorrow and expand on our bear encounter (and snake).
The time just flew by and I really wasn't ready for them all to leave, I seem to never get enough hugs and love from the kids. I desperately miss living by them and watching the boys grow up. If I had my way (see MomMo's Cobb house story) we would all live together on a working communal farm. Can you tell I grew up in the 60's??? HaHa!
I have been in a lot of pain recently, so part of the time they were here, I was a bit crabby. I'll admit it. (Does that make you laugh, AaBi?) I am having surgery on my cervical spine in Sept. so I am in a soft neck brace to stop further damage and support my neck. The doctor is going to fuse two vertebra together and try to fix another vertebra that is pressing on my spinal column and causing extreme pain in my neck, head, arm and even leg. I have had so many tests and MRI's that I am just ready to get this over with. The good news is...they did find a brain when I had a brain MRI and there wasn't a stroke! This is actually forcing me to use the headset at work when I answer the phone and my Blue tooth device with my cell phone. The scary thing is if I fall, had a wreck, or somehow damaged my neck further (before surgery) I could become paralyzed. I pray my angels are working overtime to help me not be so klutzy! My good friend from work (who's job I took over) had the very same problem and her surgery was on the 6Th of August. She is doing well. I do believe our work (station, ergonomically disastrous desk, lack of headphones and hundreds of calls a day contributed to this problem!) is responsible for where we are today. I am now a headset advocate for everyone at the college. I tell them they do not want to be a little old lady like me someday. Right now they are young and can cradle that phone and type or write when calls come into their department, but it will get you!!!
My 50th birthday is in a couple of weeks and I know I have been blogging about mortality and how fast time goes. Live each day to the fullest and be full of joy. Life is too short not to enjoy yourself. Laugh every day!
But all-in-all, we had a wonderful time together and finally at the end of the week we managed to get to the mountains and go fishing, geocaching, and even had a bear encounter. I will add some pictures on a new blog tomorrow and expand on our bear encounter (and snake).
The time just flew by and I really wasn't ready for them all to leave, I seem to never get enough hugs and love from the kids. I desperately miss living by them and watching the boys grow up. If I had my way (see MomMo's Cobb house story) we would all live together on a working communal farm. Can you tell I grew up in the 60's??? HaHa!
I have been in a lot of pain recently, so part of the time they were here, I was a bit crabby. I'll admit it. (Does that make you laugh, AaBi?) I am having surgery on my cervical spine in Sept. so I am in a soft neck brace to stop further damage and support my neck. The doctor is going to fuse two vertebra together and try to fix another vertebra that is pressing on my spinal column and causing extreme pain in my neck, head, arm and even leg. I have had so many tests and MRI's that I am just ready to get this over with. The good news is...they did find a brain when I had a brain MRI and there wasn't a stroke! This is actually forcing me to use the headset at work when I answer the phone and my Blue tooth device with my cell phone. The scary thing is if I fall, had a wreck, or somehow damaged my neck further (before surgery) I could become paralyzed. I pray my angels are working overtime to help me not be so klutzy! My good friend from work (who's job I took over) had the very same problem and her surgery was on the 6Th of August. She is doing well. I do believe our work (station, ergonomically disastrous desk, lack of headphones and hundreds of calls a day contributed to this problem!) is responsible for where we are today. I am now a headset advocate for everyone at the college. I tell them they do not want to be a little old lady like me someday. Right now they are young and can cradle that phone and type or write when calls come into their department, but it will get you!!!
My 50th birthday is in a couple of weeks and I know I have been blogging about mortality and how fast time goes. Live each day to the fullest and be full of joy. Life is too short not to enjoy yourself. Laugh every day!
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Do your children like animals? Encourage their interest in animals with a trip to the zoo. Read a few books about zoos before you go. Go online and check out the latest attractions at your local zoo and decide which animals your kids want to see the most. Even if you went last summer and the summer before it doesn’t matter. Zoos animals have new babies, zoos add new attractions, and your kids are older and will notice different things. So, if you haven’t made it to the zoo this summer, you still have time.
A family garden is a hobby that the whole family can enjoy. Go to the nursery together and let everyone choose what they want to plant. You could plant a flower garden or a vegetable garden. Even the smallest hands can help by watering seeds or plants. This is a great way for children to learn about nature. Gardening will also help nurture a love of the outdoors and keep kids off their electronic games and computers for an hour or more each day.
Is your family taking a trip this summer? Involve your kids in the planning process. Let them help you research hotels and restaurants on the internet. Get out a map and plan your route together. Travel is a great way to learn about geography in a relaxed, fun way.
If your family hasn’t taken a summer vacation, maybe you would have time for a short weekend camping trip. You could even do a daytime camping trip if mom and dad have to work in the summer. Load up the car with fishing poles, bathing suits, hiking gear, and great food to grill. Camping will also help nurture a love of the outdoors and keep kids off their electronic games and computers for an entire weekend. Don’t forget the marshmallows!
Summer evenings are perfect for gazing at the stars. Your family could lie out in the backyard on a blanket and point out the various constellations. You could also purchase a reasonably priced telescope and a book about the stars. It’s a nice way to reconnect with each other and have a chance to talk.
Oh how beautiful and peaceful those pictures are. I have been waiting for them and they are worth it.
Sounds like you had a restful retreat.
Love your mermaid bracelet.
Fantastic pictures, Gretel - I haven't been to the Lake District for years, and these are making me yearn for the hills.
Gorgeous bracelet, too.
Fab photos! I adore the Lakes. Super bracelet, too.
What lovely photos, and a gorgeous bracelet (and description).
Oh goodies love sheep have been waiting for you to come back so I can drool over your sketches!
It was lovely to see you all, thank you for visiting us.
Camping, mmm, I am envious, I like being in the 'outdoors' but dont think Laurence is so keen.
Those sheep sketches are great, some really have character, I especially like the one on the left facing up the hill off the page.
Penny.
x
I love the Lake District and camping - lucky you. I can't believe how much some campsites cost, but it did look lovely. Good luck with the etsy shop your paper cuttings look great.
Oh I do envy you the motorbike - been years since husband and I sold ours - couldn't get the childseat on it!!! Love sheep, love your bracelet, loved reading your blog.
Looks like you had a really wonderful time, great pictures and I'm sure that yhose sheep are going to be showing up in your art work soon.
Love the bracelet, your right perfect for a cancerian, great discription to. I've just opened an Etsy shop so maybe I need to take a leaf out of her book. Good luck with yours, your work is so delightful your bound to do well - going to take a look now.
Oo, where to start... lovely photos of beautiful scenery, great sheepy sketches and a gorgeous bracelet, I can see exactly why you absolutely had to have it!
Looks as though you had a lovely break, hope you're both well and relaxed, despite the marathon bike ride.
Beautiful photos of your sojourn in the Lakes, and I agree, a gorgeous bracelet and positively poetic description. See you next week!
What a beautiful bracelet - I'm not surprised you were tempted by that wonderful description. Thanks so much for your pics of the Lakes. We've stayed at Sykeside before(around 12 years ago)they had a couple of gorgeous dogs - burmese mountain dogs I think and we saw badgers after dark that used to come and root around. Camping in the Lakes is wonderful - it's so dark and peaceful at night and there's something very humbling about being surrounded by the fells. Glad you had a great time!
Looks peaceful. I am into peaceful these days.
Good luck with the Etsy shop.
Welcome back, Gretel! :-D
What a wonderful trip! Exquisite photos - I nicked a couple for painting reference. Please, I hope you don't mind. :-) I couldn't resist the scary sheep and the tumbling tarn pics - too beautiful for words. You have an artistic eye for photography.
Loved the sheep sketches - and the sketchy sheep. :-)
Stunning bracelet: hope it brings you lots of creative inspiration as well as being something beautiful to gaze at.
Cheers
Marianne
Fells, sausages and menacing sheep! Glad you got a bit of holiday yourself. It all looks lovely. (I watched "Miss Potter" on the plane on the way home and was breathless over the Lake District landscapes... Can I BE her when I grow up?)
It is wonderful getting caught up on all your adventures in book-and-type rescue as well as your new Etsy ventures. I've sorely missed being able to read blogs of late and hope to stay more on top of it from here on out.
Happy creating!
Thank you so much for these exquisite pictures... they have taken my breath away -- such a charming stone wall, such menacing sheep. I am so glad to hear you had a lovely time -- except for the long trek there and back which it looks well worth it. Glad you're back.
Jenny
I just love the sheep :-)
That bracelet is beautiful - just right for a water baby. And your pictures of Ambleside make it look gorgeous.
How did you get those sheep to hold a pose long enough to sketch them? I've tried sketching hens, and they just don't keep still!
Ha, they did keep moving, it's like drawing children, you've got to memorise how they looked ten seconds before! Love drawing chickens too. :)P
Reading this post and looking at your photos was like a breath of fresh air. Sheep are one of my favourite things and you've captured them so wonderfully. And after seeing your bracelet with the added description, I can only imagine that there will be hoards of people wanting one. Your wrist makes a good advertisement and the bracelet looks right at home on it.