A Different Life II

[cwf]

. These time give back more than we invest....

[Lily&Me]

Originally Posted by Msmoto

Hi Maggie,

If you are around Sun the 17th about 11 AM, I will be coming through Bloomington and could have coffee at the Pilot truck stop, Exit 160a. But, you have to bring Lillie.

I suspect anyone else in this thread would be welcome as long as they can get there😂😋☕️


Ms Tommie Lauer
Greensboro, NC
2015 Serenity 30 RB / 2008 Dodge Cummins 4 X 4
WBCCI #4165 AIR #31871

Hi Tommie!

Would love to see you! Which direction will you be going?

On the 17th, I will be on my way back home from Iowa City, where Alice has her ballet recital the night of the 16th.

I am spending the night in IC, heading back mid morning or so on the 17th. I will be coming east on Interstate 80. Maybe we can connect somewhere else.

Also.....Lily will be spending the night with my son, so will not be with me. You will have to see her another time.


Maggie

[Hittenstiehl]

Maggie what a wonderful time you and your grands are having. Priceless times for both of you. A nice vote of confidence from your children as they see how your year has progressed. Bet the grands aren't even missing their electronics.

"Nothing in life remains constant except change"

[Lily&Me]

Thanks, everyone.

They really aren't missing their electronics, have run their legs off today at the playground and with some age-mates the other end of this loop.

Playing ball, kicking a socker ball, running, running and more running.

Lily guards them as she does me. Just gets up and follows them to the bathrooms, waits for them and accompanies them back. Such a sweet girl.

I look for them all to be sound asleep in another couple of hours.

Grandma didn't sleep well last night, with a wiggly Emma in my bed, so to bed early is fine with me......tho I may have a glass of wine and listen to the quiet a bit once they are down.


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

Emma, drawing wildflowers.

Maggie

[PurdueMom]

Maggie, I'm enjoying your narrative as well as the photos of the crabapple tree, the campfire, Emma and Lily. Memories in the making. Anyone besides me nearly able to hear the kids' shrieks of joy and laughter? It's easy to presume everyone in your care will sleep well tonight.

Your words make me recall the family fun we had as as kids camping at Granby, CO - and the same joys camping we have shared with our now-grown children. The echo of voices in the canyons, the crisp, cool mountain air, the smells of pine and campfires. I get sentimental as did my dad when he was alive. Like father, like daughter. 😢 Maggie, thank you for awakening some tender memories of my own.

Allyson


Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

[Lily&Me]

Thank you.

All were sound asleep by 7:30, me a bit past that.

One wet bed turned into sleeping in Grandma's sweatshirt, wrapped in one of the fleece blankies I keep in the Interstate.

The other two have hardly stirred, including Lily....a pooped pup. Non-stop fresh air will do that.

I am now in need of coffee, so, candle-lit perking has begun.


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

Mid-morning banana break.


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

Lily, making new friends.


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

Home, Interstate scrubbed and lunch consumed along the way.

Kiddos have just headed to their house for laundry and much needed baths, and I will be doing the same very shortly.

It was a great weekend, but I think two nights camping by myself with them is probably enough. They are great kids, but it is pretty much non-stop but for night time.

Caleb, in the red shirt, is the oldest, and the Pied Piper/Peter Pan of the trio. Always making up games, silly rhymes, starting a ball game or leading them into something fun....such a sweetie, and such a good big brother.

They can be like three Tickle-Me-Elmo dolls without an off switch, at times, but very seldom any fighting between them so can't complain too much.

Emma is a lucky girl, to have such close and good relationships with her big brothers, as well as her Dad.

It will serve her well when boys start knocking on the door.

It is now very quiet in the little house, and all is well.


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

I saw one of these on the drive home today, a Pleasure-Way Plateau XL Widebody, and just looked it up.

It has a queen sized Murphy Bed in it....you know, the kind that folds up into the wall?.

On a Mercedes Benz chassis.....pretty darned clever.

Doesn't make me want one, but I am impressed.


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

I ran a few errands, but otherwise did nothing productive today....and, it was okay.

It rained steadily for awhile this morning, the new gutters did their job and it was a good day to drink tea and be inside. I love looking out at a nice rain, just something peaceful and restorative about a good soaker.

The grands apparently crashed hard last night , and the eldest actually had to be woken up for school this morning.....he who is usually up hours before anyone else, played that hard over the weekend.

All that fresh air and activity will do it.

Sweet babies.

Back to choring tomorrow.


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

Saw my primary care physician today, who pronounced me healthy enough to drop to annual visits.

Labs are very good, but for a slight elevation in cholesterol....probably that chocolate I can't seem to stay away from, and I went off my cholesterol meds after the last visit.

My widow's diet has resulted in some dropped weight and overall improved health, through mostly meatless meals and primary carb consumption from whole grains. An unintended consequence, Doug would say.

Picked up another of the beautiful lavender plants this morning, to add to my full-sun flower bed, also some more impatiens to replace those that got frost-bit and did not recover.

Going to get those in the ground later this afternoon and putter in my back yard a bit. I have a lovely, soft yellow, Adirondack chair on my patio, too, that is calling to me.

Never plant flowers before Mother's Day, has always been my rule.....I got impatient to plant impatiens.

It has warmed to the low 80's here during the day, with enough increase in humidity that I have turned the AC on. Highly humidity-intolerant am I.

My trellis ivy at the front porch is leafing out, lilacs are in bloom....such a pretty time of year.


Maggie

[Gearheart]

Lilacs haven't even thought about leaves yet around here. Maple trees are in full bloom. They came in over the weekend. Their flowers are chartreuse or brown depending on type of maple. Mid 60's to low 70's is all we can get here. Rule of thumb here is to not plant before 24 May, and even then it is risky.