summer lovin', had me a blast!

Of all the summers in recent years, this one has been the busiest, funnest (is that a word?), and most memorable.  We've taken advantage of our proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.  And embraced our inner surfers.  Well, technically, it was body boarding.  Close enough.  Potato, tator tot.  Whatev.  I learned something, though.  Don't go to the ocean the same week as shark week on the Discovery Channel, though.  It'll just keep you always glancing around nervously and running out of the water at the slightest possibility of skin breaking.  Sharks can smell one drop of blood for quite a ways.  Does the distance really matter when a crab or some mean little sea creature bites your toe and draws blood?  Uh, nope.  Speaking from experience.  Either way, it's probably wise to park your rump in the rented beach chair, until it looks like the bleeding has stopped mostly.  Says the scaredy chicken.  

And with summer rapidly winding down and the color of the leaves muting, I am thankful for the chance to get back to business.  I'm excited to live life on a schedule again.  To have a clean(er) house.  To shampoo these carpets that scream "nastyville!" Seriously.  If you ever want to know what kind of carpet not to get, come visit me.  Within in the next ten months.  Ten months!  YAY!  Ten months until I have my house back.  Oh, I miss my house.  I love my house.  I shall never utter one bad word about my beloved house in Michigan, ever in my life.  I miss it.  I miss my appliances, I miss my kitchen.  I miss the location of my bedroom.  I miss my en suite.  Oh, do I miss my en suite.  Have you seen it?  Oh, you should see it.  In eleven months.

With a summer full of memories, we are ready for a change in scenery and pace.  One with books and routine, in place of lazy days and sunshine.  It's so close I can taste it.  And it's delicious.

Summer lovin, I wish it was past.

Barely There.

I'm still here! Well, sort of. 

 If anybody thinks to read this, I'll be amazed. 

It's just, well, summer.  And you think it will be all relaxing

and stuff.  And then, well, it isn't.  Life is busy.  

 Really awesome people visit you and motivate you to see lots of sights.  

And, sometimes, you decide to just splurge on that one thing that you have wanted for sooooooo long.  

And it's totally worth it.  

 I'll post a picture of us using our sauna tomorrow.  

Kidding.  

First of all, does anybody even believe that I'll be posting tomorrow? 

Ha! 

 Life is a little wild around here.  

We enjoyed the gorgeous, non-humid (finally!) weather this past weekend and took the kids to putt-putt. 

 That girl, with the blue headband, sunk the first hole in one.  Yes, I said first.  Zane also sunk one. ME? I'm not going to start bragging about my skills quite yet.  It would be like buying CD's before you own a CD player.

 This girl, she's a natural.  Just like me.  

Enjoy the rest of the summer!  And call off the search crews.  I'm still here.  Barely.

Keeping it at bay.

No, I don't just spend my whole life lonesome.  Sometimes, I do fun stuff like spend a week in Chesapeake Bay crabbing, fishing, relaxing, beaching, and whatnot.

 Chicken necking for crab,

 No electronics,

 Just old fashioned fun.  

 The part behind the cabin that looks like it drops off into nothingness?

It drops into the Chesapeake Bay.  

 And the other side of the cabin was the Honga River. 

 Me and the travel agent that planned the whole vacation.  

 Dat's Nice.  Reminded me of all the Finnglish people I know. 

 This picture was taken from the bridge that carries you to Hooper Island. 

That is a bald eagle that has made it's nest on the chimney.  

What a gorgeous cabin this must have been in it's prime. 

 I think this was Ocean City.  We did Ocean City and Assateague Island in one day.  

Ocean City is gorgeous.  A swimmable oceanside beach.  Assateague Island is gorgeous, too.

Not exactly kid friendly.  Especially when the wild horses show up on the beach.  

 The kids enjoyed jumping off of the pontoon in the bay.  

Well, until Logan cut himself on the ladder and I freaked out about sharks smelling the blood.  

The kids didn't know about the sharks in the bay until then.  

I, of course, googled that long before. 

(No known shark attacks have occurred in The Bay.) 

 Our crabs we caught.  Two meals total.  You are welcome for the picture.  

But, isn't the blue pretty?  

And we even survived a storm with winds up to 78 miles an hour.  

This tree was massive.  It was completely uprooted- and level with this house.  

There was quite a bit of damage.  We were safe.  

It was a really fabulous week.  Just what the Dr. ordered.  We also did a charter fishing trip for Rockfish.  If and when we get the pictures off of Zane's phone, I'll post them.  For the benefit of my Dad, mostly.  And, the wild horses on the island.

I hope you are enjoying your summer as much as we are enjoying ours!
Nine more days until I see some awesome TEXANS! (Formerly New Mexicans) WOOT, WOOT!
I'm not excited or anything.  *big grin* Life is good.

I know how you feel, Blake.

Happy Memorial Day!

May we never forget the sacrifices that have been made for our us.  

Thank you and God bless those who have lost their lives, or a loved one, in the name of freedom. 

Mere words will never be enough to show the depth of my gratitude. 

At The Park

A penny for your thoughts.

Which appliance do I need more: a Bosch mixer? Or a Vitamix blender?
I'm saving up for both of them and it occurred to me that I may be able to do either/or.
On the one hand, I've been told that a Bosch can make an unbelievable amount of bread at a time. Currently, I make it twice a week.  I need a bigger mixer.  Actually, I need a mixer, period.  Mine fizzled out for the second time and it is currently in our storage locker.
On the other hand, I need a bigger blender.  And I heard you can put crazy things in the Vitamix and it blends it up to nothing.  Like, a whole orange- peel and everything.  Hmmm.
So, your thoughts? Bosch mixer, Vitamix blender, or both?