TEA PARTY POLITICS

I can't believe how much national politics we have going on right now considering how far away the elections are.  Good golly.  For the first time in my life I watched the second round of Republicans and am enjoying all the Hillary nonsense.  How anyone could even CONSIDER her to be anywhere in our government after all the scandals she's been associated with is beyond me.  My all time favorite photo is her weight Donald's hair!!!

But the main tea party up for discussion is Mr. Braeden.  He wanted to put on a tea party on his Mom's day off.  Sorry I didn't photograph his little printed menus ...

Tiny sandwiches of turkey, cucumber and cream cheese eaten with little picks.  Fruits and veggies, assorted chips and look at that dessert plate!  Even Dad joined in.

I think they had apple juice instead of tea.

I was having a bad knee day and was in my room keeping my crankiness to myself.  They parked outside my bedroom door to take their little afternoon snooze.

I love being a Gramma!

P.S.  

THE GREAT HARVEST

Farmer Braeden found the last batch of strawberries growing along our patio sidewalk.  Maybe a dozen luscious little bites.  They were almost TOO ripe but he carefully put a tissue in his little tin and gently plopped them in.  He took them to the bathroom to give them a wash ... and then he shared one with me.

Then he noticed two of his cherry tomatoes were just ripe enough.  After harvesting those, he asked if we needed any basil or rosemary so  I said of course we did!

Yep, T-Rex had to be in the picture as well.  He found two HUGE snails in the basil pot (which Gramma had to remove and dispose of) although T-Rex was willing to eat them.  He thought we needed a scarecrow for future crops ...

I hope they plant a few more vegetables next year!  He has loved every phase from planting to watching them ripen to picking and eating.  I think he has a bit of my Dad in him ...

OH NO. MAYBE IT'S TIME

Weight Watchers is working for me.  S-L-O-W-L-Y.  It's hard to live with this young family with growing boys.  Last night was indeed taco Tuesday at our house.  Thankfully, I had a meeting through their dinner hour then visited a condo friend who was having a really bad day.

By then, only the fabulous aroma remained.  I went to my room with a large glass of water ... and a banana.  My new junk food.

And that's what I'd really like!!  EXTRA FRIES!

Weight loss happens faster if I exercise while taking in fewer calories.  It's noon here so when I'm finished, I'll head to the pool to get in a bit of movement.

I spent all morning setting up appointments in preparation for knee surgery on Sept 17.  Good golly there are lots of meetings!  Pre-op physical.  Pre-op with surgeon.  Meet hospital short stay department.  Meet my "hospitalist".  Finish admissions with nurse practitioner.  Find physical therapist.  

Maybe I'll take a nap instead ....

NO TALKIE BEFORE COFFEE

People all have their own way to start the day.

I used to get up as soon as the alarm went off, shower, dress, throw in a load of laundry, make breakfast and pack a lunch (for the first 18 years of her life)(sometimes lately I've been surprising her!), blow dry the hair and put on makeup then wake the two of them up.  Geez I'm glad those days are over.

Now I love to start off slow ... sipping really good coffee, reading my email, checking the headlines, perusing The Skimm, check Facebook and catching up on Words with Friends.  Best of all, I like to be outdoors for this first hour or two.  Maui, of course, is year round sit outside and enjoy.  Portland?  By the end of September it's a bit too brisk.

My good buddy got me a bracelet with a little coffee cup and a charm that has that saying!

Lately I've had a small male roommate at the foot of my bed, in a dinosaur nest.   He semi wakes up in the morning and checks to see if I'm still in bed.  If so, he goes back to sleep.  If I sneak out at 7:30, he's usually good til about 9am.  Lately they have all fallen back into the night owl routine and he really needs to sleep til 10 or 11 (going to bed at 10 or 11).  He has a cool clock that parents set to show GREEN when he is allowed to get out of his bed.  But if I am out, he comes plodding out ...

Last night he got a lecture from the parental units to stay in bed until his light is green.  After they left, as I was giving him a last snuggle ... he asked me if I could bring my coffee back to bed with me and do my computer work there.

Well.  Of course I will!  Slept in til 10:30 today!!!

BOOK CLUB

I've always wanted to be part of a book club.  A small group, maybe 10 or so ... we could then meet at each other's homes.  It would be good to be invited by one friend and then I could meet others to see if we have any friendship genes in common.

My first venture was through the local library.  It was way too large with the room too small.  Most people had indeed read the book so it was interesting ... just not enough to get me to come back.

The next foray was with the Mom of one of Kate's friends.  She had belonged to this group for years so I was pretty excited.  They met at one another's home and included brunch.  Double exciting.  The book that was chosen I would never have read on my own which was a good exercise for my brain.  Except only one other person out of 15 had read the book.  They just liked to get together and show off their $1M kitchens and gourmet cooking.  And drink a LOT of wine.  Honestly it was like Stepford Wives.  All surgically enhanced chemical blonds with expensive casual clothes with matching shoes and jewelry.  I came in my jeans.  And I don't drink that early.  And I had read the book!

Oprah was my next book club and it worked out the best, so far.  Her book picks mostly are tragic without happy endings so it just added to my situational depression.  

Yesterday, on Facebook, I got the PERFECT idea to start my OWN book club ... we will meet in the evening, with wine and accompaniments ... and we will read wine labels.  I have a few friends and cousins and siblings who may want to join me ...

YIKES!

Has it been DAYS since I blogged?  I think about doing it but I must admit, these little boys just capture my heart.  Lately it has been reading!

On Thursday I took Braeden on a "date".  We went for a cupcake and milk (I had water ... and one leftover bite!) and then to the library.  We have been many times but this time, we found the Military section ... for kids!  I let him check out four books (since he is four!) and one can be a Military book, one a chapter book and the other two his choice.

Enjoying his "birthday cake" cupcake at World Famous Kyra's Bake Shop

3 Time winner of Cupcake Wars!

His favorite thing to do at our library

Mom is reading to him for 20 minutes every night in bed.  We found a chapter book with color illustrations and the author has written about 20.  I read to the little guy in the living room at the same time.  Last night life was running late so she read to both of them.  Rotten Ralph (if you remember that series).  They were both mesmerized.

This morning, Braeden brought the book out to have another read.  He thinks he wants to write and illustrate a "scawy" book.  Great idea ... they have scary books for older kids .... not much with a gentle scare for four year olds.

Love this new hobby!

JUST BE YOURSELF

Why is this so hard?

You'd think by this time in my life, I'd be more comfortable not encouraging friendships that I don't really want.  But it is still hard.  I don't feel good telling someone WHY I don't want their friendship so I just keep saying no and hoping they eventually get the hint.

One of my biggest pet peeves are people who only see the glass half full, on it's way to empty.  Next are mean people.  Followed closely by people who want the the "title" of Board member or Committee Chair or Chief of Everything ... but do not lift one finger to DO anything.  Don't answer email.  Or phone calls.  Or texts.  Don't read what we print for them.   Yet demand respect of position.  UGH!  Get down in the trenches, folks ... don't shout from above!

A blogger friend posted recently about needing to change her personality!  She's seventy-something for goodness sake!  She is fun and funny and kind and caring just as she is.  Not me!  I am what I am.

A friend lent me an article from Sunday's NY Times entitled "I'm Too Old for This."   Dominque Browning, fun First Person author, has decided to make this her mantra.  After reading her article, so am I.  Any of us are open to listening to positive criticism on small things we might change.  But only from close and caring people in our lives.  But toxic sour spoiled people?  I do not have time for that.

Friendships have ebbs and tides.  Friends that no longer energize you get moved to the outer circle. new friends with new vibes?!  Why not.

Because I'm just too old for this!