It's getting "chili" in here!

This has been a fantastic couple of weeks for us.  We celebrated our 40^th anniversary, with a wonderful, short-stay-long-weekend trip to Seattle, to visit our son and daughter-in-law, did a few things there we have never done before and had a great time. The Pacific Northwest is certainly beautiful and so very different than Indiana!

A favorite was the ferry ride over to Bainbridge Island where we spent much longer than we dreamed we would, tasting wine and eating cheese.  Of course, Pike Place Market is a “must-see”.  We hiked down Post Alley on our last morning, stood in line for 20 minutes for some unbelievably good crab and lobster chowder.  We also split a lobster roll that tasted incredibly fresh.  It was a great trip indeed.

 

Our son works at the Museum of Pop Culture, otherwise known as MoPop, which is super fun.  We took in the Space Needle, of course, and visited the Dale Chihuly museum.  I thank my days at a local art/education museum for providing me with a pretty good base to appreciate studio glass. Chihuly’s work is mind blowing.

Home only a few days we hosted our annual chili party this past weekend.  Both daughters were here early to help me get ready, and I could not have done it without them. Delayed by rehearsals for the Nutcracker in Indianapolis, one granddaughter arrived just in time with her dad and brother.  The holidays are fast approaching, and the Nutcracker will soon be put to bed.  Of course, not until the performances are complete! Our granddaughter’s first year in the production brings a new appreciation for this timeless ballet, and the anticipation of her “debut” as a wooden soldier ripples through her, to her mom, to me.

   

The Annual Chili Party was a success…rain kept us inside this year but we have plenty of room since the remodeling.  We laughed, we spilled, we ate way too much, we admonished kids, we let them be.  I love seeing the family together. It is a chance for the first cousins, and now their babies, to catch up, without the "extra" of a holiday and all that it brings.  

These past few weeks also brought sadness as I lost my older brother to ALS.  He was dear to me, and a sweet guy.

 

I recently committed to posting a “days of love” photo or video or happy-stance on my Facebook timeline.  I have heard from several of you that you enjoy this happy post habit so I look forward to giving you more!

Squeeze the ones you love. 

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Not yet, not yet.

And, just like that, it’s over. 

I sat on the screened porch this morning enjoying a bowl of oatmeal, thinking about how nice the warm goo felt going into my throat and belly, and looked towards the corner stacked with little kids life vests and beach towels.  “So, I guess I could put those away.” was the thought that strolled around in my brain. Along with “But, I don’t WANT to…”

A definite change every year when the first football game at the high school is played, the school bus begins to honk it’s horn for the children in the neighborhood, the life vests get put away.  We talked this weekend about pulling the boats out and I began to plan the annual chili party.  It popped in to my head that last year the chili party was during the major league play-offs and we combined a game viewing with the event, had a great time AND a positive outcome. Will the Cubs make it that far this year?

I watched this morning as one lonely looking pontoon boat puttered across my view.  I could see that its passengers were in long sleeves and sat huddled together, except for the captain who pulled at his coat collar while drifting by, his motor sputtering to a halt.  Are they going to fish? I wondered, or is that engine trouble?

Casual, lazy thoughts as acorns plunked the roof and deck.  A couple of sun bleached beach towels flap themselves dry in the cloudy breeze, remnants of the weekend and I find myself wondering if it’s time to sort through beach towels, casting some in to the rag bag and refreshing others with a good wash and dry to be folded, stored until next year. Should I bring the chairs in? I need to cover the fire pit table.  Are we going to leave it out all winter? (Winter? I tend to get ahead of myself sometimes). There’s still a lot of good fires, and fire pit conversations that can be had…it’s only the last few days of August! I resolve to fluff the pillows and sweep off the spider webs…there’s lots of time to party, for family and fun.   And then I remember school nights and dance practice and marching band competitions.  The busy fall flexing its muscles before me, reminding me of who is in charge, better not plan too many fireside chats, girl, or you’ll be talking to yourself.