Every place has issues. Every time has issues. We fly our flag.
We had a lovely evening at home enjoying everyone else's fireworks and boy did they go all out! And then they stopped by around 10 pm, so no late night ruckus.
Hope everyone had a good holiday weekend.

I made a s'more (??) in the toaster oven. What a gooey treat. Probably should NOT have put the chocolate layer in the toaster!

Dunno, the chocolate never seems to melt enough with just the hot marshmallow. I'd put it in and go wash my chin after!

It was nice to see the patriotic get-up of my niece Erin. She lives in a neighborhood full of young families in Texas, and the whole neighborhood went all out to celebrate with a block party cookout and a parade of parents in decorated golf carts and kids on decorated bicycles. What a hoot.

hi, all. It's great to see all your messages and hear how everyone's doing! I'm finally getting back into the swing of things--moved to WA state last August and then RETIRED from work the end of November! It is the best decision I ever made. I have been slowly emerging from my years-long hermit-like existence and am discovering that the sky is sunny beyond the gray fogs of depression! My apologies to you all for disappearing for so long and my belated thanks for all that I learned and enjoyed in your midst. It is good to see your faces and posts.

My house in MD sold quickly and I have no idea what happened to all my beautiful trees, shrubs, and plants but I am doing my best to create new garden spaces for myself here. I've always heard that WA is a 'rainy', temperate state, so I planned pollinator spaces using plants similar to what I had in MD--only to discover now that most of the rain falls in the winter! Summers are pretty darned dry. I don't think it's rained since early June. How I miss all that water falling naturally from the sky onto thirsty soil and plants! I ended up having to put an irrigation system in--something I swore I would never do. Now I guess I need to start learning about xeriscaping...

Hope you all are well. I think of you all every time I look at my growing garden areas!

Robin, it's so good to hear from you and know things are good!!!
Yes, totally different zones must be so challenging in many cases. My sister found that out going from Baltimore to Illinois to Florida.

Robin, so glad to read your happy post! Washington state has plenty of annual rainfall, at least on the western side of the state, and the ocean moderates temperatures as well. Great area for growing things! I like soaker hoses because I can put them in newly planted areas and then move them in a couple of years when plants are established... "xeriscaping" plants generally still need extra water in their first year or two.

I'm up in Pittsburgh again this week, putting some time into sorting through Mom's clothes and things. Having a good visit with Dad of course, cooking good dinners and putting some microwave-ready food in the freezer for him.

Thanks Sally and Critter! Critter did you lose your mom recently? Bet your dad is grateful for your help

Yes, Robin, my mom passed just before Palm Sunday. She had the gentle end we'd been praying for, and I was awakened by loud joyous birdsong half an hour before my brother called to say she'd passed in her sleep during the previous hour. No more pain, only joy.

I came across her wedding ring, a narrow band of platinum (because she worked in a lab) set with 3 small marquise diamonds, end to end. Turns out it's a perfect fit for my pinky and looks so sweet next to my newly-resized wedding set! Mom refused to have anything to do with an "I belong to him" engagement ring and actually wanted a plain band, but her future MIL insisted that a woman MUST have diamonds.

I've come across some other treasures, too. There's a suitcase in the master bedroom with some things from my grandma (Mom's mother) that Mom was never able to go through. Among them is a "For Grandmother on Mother's Day" card that I must have sent as a 20-something, with a sweet note for her. I love that she saved it, that she really "got" what she meant to me.

I came home last night, kinda crashed today but trying to get back into the at-home routine!

I have a new garden pest ... raccoons!

I came out this morning to find everything in the carport had been upended or shredded and a tell-tale trail of coon tracks all over the car.

oh boy

I'm so sorry, Critter. I'm glad to hear it was peaceful. Sounds like you've been digging up some good memories going through her things!
We're having a celebration of life for my father in a couple weeks. When he died last June, the military had suspended doing funeral honors because of Covid, so in early Aug we will finally have the military funeral he wanted, with a celebration of life afterwards. My brother and I have been preparing a slide show for the event--talk about memory lane! It's been good going through all those old photos. I've actually been inspired to start scrapbooking again! Last time I did it, Katie was in 4th grade, so it's been a while--she'll be coming here following her first year of college in less than 2 weeks! She's never shown much interest in my scrapbooks of her life and before, but I think over time such things become more valuable--so maybe someday.
How is Joyanna?

ooh, you have a college girl! I know you'll be so glad to have her home for a bit.

Joyanna is doing fine. She's over the moon right now with a new iPad -- her reward for straight A's. She wanted it mostly for its drawing tablet capabilities. She's always loved to draw, and with a lot more time to do art (both on computer and on paper) this past year, her ability took a big leap forward (in my not so unbiased opinion). She'll be in 7th grade this fall and is looking forward to both band (saxophone) and theater arts. I don't think she'll be an engineer like Jim!

College??
7th grade??
And I haven't aged one year

LOL Sally -- you're lucky -- I think I've aged 15 years in the past 5. Those high school years were rough...

Jill, I cannot believe that Joyanna is going into the 7th grade! She sounds very artistic! That's great that she's spending time drawing, and band and theater arts sound fun! Katie was involved in theater in middle school and had a lot of fun with it--great way to spend time with friends and get some good experience in the performing arts, including set design!

Yeah, I can't believe that Katie is going to be a college sophomore in a matter of weeks! Last year was tough to start college, what with the pandemic, but she survived and even enjoyed herself. She's at NYU and will be moving to an apartment in Brooklyn with a group of friends in a few days. I'm really looking forward to seeing her again in a couple weeks!

Oh my goodness - hard to believe these kiddos are the ages they are!!! Then of course I look at Chloe who was a newborn at the very first swap...she'll be a freshman in HS this year. And Logan (my nephew that came to a few of the swaps) jus turned 21 and is expecting a lil girl in Sept/Oct. Time does pick up the speed - doesn't it?
Always a 'heart hug' when you see someone has saved something you've sent them, Jill.
And Sally....NO you don't age...I actually thought that when I saw you at Ricks!!! BTW I'm leaving on Fri with my sis to head down to SC to celebrate mom's bday with her and dad. Guess what threw up at least 3 bloom stalks? Yep, the tuberose...I'm taking the whole pot down (and back) with me so she can enjoy her favorite scent. I'm over the moon!!! Thank you again SO much for thinking of me and plopping one of those with my other goodies!!
Robin - did you ever meet Becky? She moved to Washington a few years back.

oh my, Chantell--hard to believe about Chloe and Logan! And that's great news about the tuberose! Too bad we can't transmit scents through these posts!
Becky... I know her name is familiar. When did she move to Washington state?

or maybe I misunderstood--I'm still trying to sort out Washington State from Washington DC having moved now from one to the other lol.
But the name 'Becky' is familiar... I think she is someone who moved out of the area just before I became active among you all, which was the summer of 2013!! So I heard the name but did not meet her. 2013--egads! Is it really that long ago now? Feeling old.... well, here's my beautiful daughter, now a rising sophomore in NYC:

gorgeous

What a lovely picture-I remember talking to her when you were hosting-lovely girl now a lovely young woman---

thanks!