JoAnne's Family Traditions

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Location: Western, New York, United States

I spend most of my free time gardening, reading garden magazines, photographing the garden or baking (mostly sweets, which list chocolate as the main ingredient). I play the guitar and sing in a contemporary choir of which I have been a member for 26 years.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Prayer for the Day

For flowers that bloom about our feet,
Father, we thank thee;
For tender grass so fresh and sweet,
Father, we thank thee.
For the song of bird and hum of bee,
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank thee.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Saturday, August 23, 2008

My How Time Flies

Where has the summer gone? Has anyone else missed it? It is like I went to sleep, and when I woke up two months passed. Wow! Doesn't seem like it. Please do not blink or click your heels 3 times because that will mean it is Christmas.

Okay I have been diligently working on my patio. This morning when i got up that was going to be my main focus after breakfast, workout and two phone calls. Well, Dave says by that time it will be noon. Okay I say, so I at least have to have a leisurely breakfast. I headed outside at 8:30 a.m. Worked until 3:00. AND. . . . . IT IS DONE!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeee Haaa! Yippy-eye-oh-kye-yay!!! I'd party if I weren't whipped :).

Thank you Lord! Now I can focus on some other areas of concern. Yeah, like all the things I ignored while spending every spare minute on that patio.

We are playing Euchre tonight so I am vegging until then. I have to make a dessert for tomorrow. So while that is cooking I went out and hung in my tree swing and took a snooze. Now I am sitting on the porch making this posting and waiting to get a great pic of a hummer.

Stay tuned for some pics of the patio and perhaps my dessert, Cloud Meringue. To tired to take them now, then download, then post, blah, blah, blah. Yup, to lazy to take a few pics....well, if I have to stand :-)) That is it for today. I must sign off and be ready for those "blink your eyes and you miss them" hummers.

Saturday, August 09, 2008

Vacationing

I never really cared to go on vacation. It seems that they are so much work you need a vacation when you return home. Not really work per say, but to make the most of your time away from home you must keep busy doing and seeing those things of purpose or those attractions that brought you to your destination to begin with. I am quite content staying home and working in the garden or casting a leaf or just sitting and enjoying my surroundings (which would of course be all my hard labor). If I am at home I can always practice my guitar or look over a new piece of music. Then there is always baking some delicious dessert and the best part . . . savoring every scrumptious bite. This is undoubtedly the most inviting and rewarding task :-)).

We stayed at the Adirondack Motel a few years ago and enjoyed it so we thought it would be a nice place to return to. This year we stayed in the boat house on the second floor. There was a small kitchenette so we were able to prepare some of our meals and enjoy the view. We had access to canoes, a paddle boat, a sea kayak and of course life jackets, all provided by the establishment. This kayak is great. I sure wouldn't mind having one of these. It is all open so you wouldn't have to worry about getting trapped in one of those that is all closed up. Of course I have never been in one of those and perhaps it doesn't bother anyone else but I get claustrophobic just thinking about it. Anyway, I like this one. You get only slightly wet in the seat but can remain dry for the most part. We took one of the canoes out on Thursday for a couple of hours and we both used the kayak at different times. We also took the paddle boat out so I could take the picture of our boathouse room. Here is Dave enjoying the view :)! He can not live without the paper. Has to know what is going on all over the world, and at all times.

We stayed only 2 days and then headed south to visit Dave's cousin Barbara and her husband John. Here are a few pics of "God's Art" I caught on the way.

We had a wonderful time with them even though it was a short visit.



We have been home a week and I have spent most of my time working in the garden, dead heading, harvesting, mowing, trimming trees, etc.
We are constantly surrounded by Gods Gifts, be sure to take time out to appreciate them.

Life is good!