What I'm Reading Wednesday

Currently, I am reading A Peach of a Murder by Livia J Washburn. I was at the bookstore looking for some inexpensive paperbacks, and I had read another book by her0the Pumpkin Muffin Murder, so I thought I'd try it. I made a mistake, though, as I was looking for a book after the PMM, but this book may have listed them out of order and comes before it in the main character's life...Next I am reading some books from the library: Bossypants by Tina Fey, because I heard it was supposed to be a fast, funny read and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling for the same reason. I had some others here on my desk, but these came into the library, so now my "on hold books" need to be picked up and read! What are you reading, Reader? Any good book recommendations?

*Note: I wrote this post before I got to the library. I rode my bike the 4.5 miles to the library, got my 6!! books that were ready. I rode the 4.5 miles home (phew!) and then set aside the Peach of a Murder book. I started Bossypants and am on page 100. :)

Talk about Family Tuesday

This week is very fitting to be talking about family, so recently after my husband's grandfather's death. He was 90 years old, just turned in July, and for his birthday he wanted to see his three children and their spouses, his eight grandchildren and their spouses and his twenty-two great-grandchildren at some point near his birthday. Or course, we all made a trip in July to see him, on separate occasions, of course, since his health had begun to fail. He knew he had congestive heart failure and was getting weaker, requiring an oxygen machine and breathing treatments. We spent time with he and Grandma, and he told stories I hadn't ever heard before, and I've been in the family for almost 20 years! Grandpa had to work hard to stay awake when we visited, but he did. By this time about two weeks ago he was worn out. His body was tired and he was working hard. He stayed awake and alert until the very end, making sure he waited until all three of his kids were there at his side and he told them how great their mom was, and how proud he was. He and Grandma had been married for 66 years! She seemed so fragile at the service. After he'd been gone just a few hours, she already was saying that she missed talking to him. They were the type of couple who finished each other's sentences. And they loved to play euchre-but it was not fun to be against them! They'd been playing together so long that they knew each other's thoughts, actions, suggestions. ;) Oh, my husband and I could win a game or two, but never enough to end the evening in the winner's spots. :) Grandpa was a good man, and it is sad/hard to believe that he's gone. It's also said to know that my mom's mom is weakening, is unaware of her surroundings-time and space-sometimes. She fell in the shower last week and was so confused, my mom said... Times like these make it hard to live in another area from your family, for sure. This funeral for my husband's grandpa got me to thinking about my three grandparents who are still alive and my memories of them. Made me worry about their health and minds. I hope they know how loved they are, always...

Photo

I posted this photo on all my sites: Instagram, which posted to Twitter, which posted to Facebook. :) Our girl came home after the funeral this weekend. Our dogs had really missed her and wouldn't leave her for long, coming for snuggles. She loved it, as she had missed them, too!

Bridal Shower

Over the summer my mom asked if I would help her host a bridal shower for my cousin. My cousin had been married before, so we wanted it to be different, not all the usual games. We had fun planning! My oldest daughter and I drove the three hours to my parents' town and began to get things organized, then the guests came, ate, played games, watched the gift opening, etc. and then we drove back. It was a LONG day, but a nice thing to do-fun to share those activities with my mom, daughter and extended family. I share this with you because some of the food and activities were successes. :) *games and activities: We started the shower, as the ladies arrived, with taking their picture with the bride-to-be. The guests also took a small (2 x 3, I think) card and wrote a note, memory, etc. on it. Then I printed their photos, later, and glued them to the back of the note. I put them into a pocket in a small album I made. Here is the link to the idea: "Memories & Advice-I think this would be nice to do as the guest are entering. There's a pic of this idea on this website on the 9th slide", here is the link to the "you make life Blissful" Scrapscription scrapbook kit I made, scan down about mid-page. After they had sidled up next to the bride for pictures, laughed with her, and got settled, I sent the bride into the house (we had the shower outside and it was a lovely day!) and then asked "what's the bride wearing?" The guests had to remember as much as they could about her outfit. Then she came back out after 5-10 minutes and we all laughed at those who said, "who knows?" :) The bride and groom were just going on a short honeymoon and they were essentially camping in upper Michigan. I packed a cute bag for them with magazines, sunscreen, etc. I asked them each (unbeknownst to them) what they would pack in their honeymoon bag and they told me a few items. One for groom was toothbrush, one for bride was gas prevention medicine! So, I added those, as well, getting quite a giggle from the attendees. :) The guests weren't able to see what was in the bag, so game 2 was "what is in the honeymoon bag?" and they had a few minutes to guess. Then she opened it and people checked things off their list. I had created a "he said, she said" form, here, and got quotes from each of them for the guests to try. The groom's mom was most successful! :) We had a few laughs at the "Newlywed Game" using what they each answered without the other knowing. :) We had quite a few laughs and it seemed like everyone had fun! One guest said that was the most fun shower she had been to! *food: My mom is a good cook! She made small shredded pork sandwiches on pretzel buns as well as MANY bite-sized desserts. I made this for a different fruit salad. Fruit salad with Lemoncello-and it was delicious! I made tomato-mozzerella-bites, and Paula Dean's Italian Pasta Salad. I also made an orzo salad. I made the classic stand-by for us, as well, the broccoli slaw salad. The things I made were easy to put in a cooler and transport it in the car. It was a very fun day-I hope the bride enjoyed it! :)

Saturday, September 14

Running is a passion of mine. Anyone who reads this blog or knows me in person knows this. I have been running all summer, as usual and have signed up for the local half marathon in October. Unfortunately, the injury that slowed me down in last November's half is rearing its ugly head, again. I went to doctor appointments to try and get it solved, and thought I had for a while. I haven't, however, solved it and am feeling it even during short distances. My husband suggested that I hang up the shoes for a while, not do the half marathon, but that's a hard decision for me. I am trying the ice-Advil-rest-shorter distance-and foam rolling so I can hope to heal it, but so far I've seen no improvement at all. Fingers crossed, please, Reader. Running the my way to burn calories, relieve stress, praise the Lord-yes, I have have contemporary Christian music on my running playlist so I can worship and pray as I run-and observe nature. I can go walking and bike riding, as well, but the calorie burning is less and the time frame is more... I am hoping for the best... Please send good vibes, Reader. How are you?