A Cloudy Morning....

I woke up this morning, early, on my day off, with a throbbing headache:(
Not a good way to start a day:(
I've dealt with headaches most of my life. Not debilitating ones normally, but ones that stop me from my daily routine.
Medication often helps, but not always.
(I've suffered with migraines as well, but Inderal has taken care of them, thank God!)
Today/this morning--no walk, no Wyatt walk (he's wondering why, staring at me, as I write this), still in pj's, no bed made, wrapped in a light cover on the couch.....
These days Tylenol Extra Strength is supposed to be my friend, but so far--not!
UGH:(
So, HGTV & hot tea are the only things on my agenda for now.


I've added a photo of my favorite flowers below since it's Keith's & my 41st anniversary:)
Happy Anniversary Keith:)

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Oh Mercy!

Let me whine a little. I'll feel better:)

I am tired of this summer already, & it's just arrived four weeks ago.
It's hot.
It's so hot, it's depressing & oppressive.
Not only hot, it's been hot for so long it's exhausting....& it's only July 22nd.
(Dare I think about August?)
Unrelenting heat.
100 degrees is becoming normal in every weekly forecast.
The low 90's is a cool spell, a respite, the weather people say....
We're headed for a record of 90+ degree days in NC.
And I haven't even mentioned humidity yet.
Sigh....
Doesn't it make you tired? Makes one yearn for cool breezes & cool evenings & a cool rain.

The temperature colors every conversation, every newscast, every thought of walking or biking, at least for Keith & me. Actually we've given up on biking this summer. It was too cold this winter, too wet this spring, now too hot:( Maybe fall will be our season?
I have to walk Wyatt each morning. If not, I simply can't get motivated in the evening. So now I get up early even on my days off, to take him out by 6am, or else he'll have heatstroke!

I'm sure we had plenty of hot spells when I was growing up. We didn't have air conditioning either. But, kids aren't affected like adults. Then again, adults, if possible, rested inside with the curtains drawn or sat out on the porch with a fan, & didn't pretend to work during the heat of the day back then. Work was done primarily early in the morning & late in the afternoon during the summer months. Today we must be doing something constantly, rushing here & there, non-stop (or we feel guilty). Maybe we should slow down & be still & pace ourselves. I mean, we do have August & September to get through.

I'm already praying for mercy; cooler air, gentle rains, thunderstorms, trips to the mountains, or a visit to any place that offers a respite, & last but not least, for patience--& for fall to arrive sooner than usual!!

July Happenings Part 3

Now, blog, it's Monday morning in Beaver Falls:) Our final day in Pa.

Skye & I got up & out the door by 9, walked to the local coffee shop, ordered our favorites, & sat outside savoring our Americana & Skinny latte, hoping for a breeze:) It was a pretty warm start to the day in BF!

Later on Jeannie & I drove to the Salvation Army to look over the clothes, etc.--it's one of our traditions, & they were having a sale. After a while Skye & Molly dropped by to check out things--they didn't want to stay as long as the moms do:) All of us found some deals:) I, for one, got a great fitting pair of jeans:)

After having lunch together the Mc clan set out for Pittsburgh & The Home to visit Mom & Dad for the last time this trip. The Carson crowd decided to stay in Beaver Falls, but planned to meet us in Cranberry for dinner/supper, before Nick needed to head back to his apartment & Scottie to soccer practice.

We had an especially good visit with Grandma & Grandpa. This afternoon Grandpa was quite interested in Cameron's iPhone & figured out how to flip photos right away, with Cameron's help. He even asked about the phone plan!

Grandma enjoyed the pictures also:)












Ending our day in Cranberry, at Max & Erma's, was a neat idea, courtesy of Nick(his idea). The food was delicious, & a good time was had by all:) Goodbyes were said to Nick, then the rest of us departed, back to Beaver Falls, to spend the evening together at the Carsons', & finally, on to our B&B for one last night.

The "B&B" is Ken's uncle's & aunt's home, located a few blocks from Geneva College. His uncle & aunt are presently living at The Home in Pittsburgh where Mom & Dad now reside, so their home is unoccupied.
It turned out to be a great help to us & we really appreciated the 'home away from home':)

Tuesday morning was last minute packing, then we dropped off the house key, & were southbound by 7am!
A special vacation time with family; such a blessing!

July Happenings Part 2

Sunday morning we attended College Hill Reformed Pres. Church with Ken & Jean, Nick, Molly& Beth:) The singing was especially beautiful -- acapella harmony is glorious:)

Afterward we had lunch with the Carson's. Then the 4 of us Mc's, plus Ken, Jean, & Nick, drove to Pittsburgh to visit Mom & Dad. It's hard getting use to driving an hour to see them--each way! And the Home is up quite a steep hill. The area reminds me of pictures of San Francisco.

Dad was pretty responsive & talkative, & Mom was pretty much as sharp as ever. She's taking good care of Dad, watching over him like a mother hen:) (This was our second visit with both Mom & Dad. We had stopped Friday evening on our way up to Beaver Falls--Dad asked both times about Seth:))

After debating a day or two on whether to try seeing the fireworks in downtown Pittsburgh, Nick & Jeannie encouraged us to go. So, after saying goodbye to Mom & Dad, us Mc's parted ways with the Carson clan (they were celebrating Rev. Carson's 81st birthday in Beaver Falls), ate at Chili's then headed down toward the Three River's Point. We had no trouble finding a close parking lot ($10 close), & found a spot to set up our chairs just a few rows from the waterfront--super viewing:)

Then we people-watched for a few hours while waiting for the show. The fireworks were a spectacular display of color, one finale on top of another!!  Way to go Pittsburgh!!! Fabulous:) It was worth seeing:)

Happy 2010 Fourth of July! Third day next blog.....

July Happenings

July has continued June's spell of hot weather---which wears at me & is exhausting:(
Just listening to Greg Fishal's forecast is draining.
The previous 2 days here have passed the 100 degree mark, with yesterday breaking a record in the Raleigh area.

Last Friday, taking a long Fourth of July weekend, we packed up, dropped off Wyatt at Town & Country kennel, & drove north to Pa. to visit Keith's mom & dad---Keith, Cameron, Skye & me.
(At the same time Seth & Kelley headed in the opposite direction, to Florida, to see 'best buds' George & Leigh)
Those of us heading north were hoping for a cool respite!!
That evening we arrived at Keith's sister & brother in law's home in Western Pa. After settling into our designated "B&B" for the night (Ken's uncle & aunt's home--their story later), we met at Jean & Ken's Saturday morning for breakfast.
Afterward Keith, Skye, & I headed to Pittsburgh to pick up Grandma to take her to New Castle for a noon picnic/reunion with her family, she being one of three daughters of Ira Irvin & Goldie Gladys Kennedy Brown, & their children, & children's children. (Their baby brother, Uncle Russell, died a few years ago)
Jean & Ken & their gang met us there.

Aunt Beryl hosted the gathering, with food & chairs spread under a huge (Elm or Ash) tree. The large branches shaded the entire yard! After eating, everybody lingered, reminiscing, catching up, enjoying seeing cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, grandchildren:)
Cameron showed off his new Subaru:) And John showed off his 1940 Ford:)

 A day of sweet reunion:)
 To be continued.....

A Sizzling Summer

Since Skye's graduation, life's been pretty exciting around here:)
I've blogged about our fun NYC weekend, still bringing back sweet memories even as I write this--thanks so much to my family for helping with such a memorable gift:)

The following weekend, June 5th, Skye came home, & with Keith & I, helped celebrate a church family wedding, Josh & Anna's, who both grew up at Peace:)
Last Saturday I attended a baby shower for another church couple's daughter, Kristina.
Precious milestones for our friends' children:)

June 20th was Father's Day. Cameron, Holly, Seth, & Kelley & Three came over for a hot dog lunch:) They gave Keith a pretty ceiling fan/light for the living room:) I think I made out on that deal as well:)

This week dear old friends from our upstate NY days dropped by on a southern vacation trip & stayed for a few nights:) I'm afraid the record NC heat wave was not welcoming, but what a great blessing to catch up on Patty & Peg's news after almost 30 years!! I can't tell you how good it was to see them!

Patty was in our youth group when we lived in NY, & Peg is her mom. After we moved back to NC, Patty came to live with us for about a year (in 1980).
Peg is 80 years young; a pretty, petite lady, who is as gracious as any southern woman & as mentally sharp & alert as ever! Patty teaches elementary education at a local prison (near Stone Ridge), has a Spaniel named Bella that she adores, loves her free summers, & seems to be recuperating well from health problems she's experienced in the last few years.
We enjoyed dinner at Tribeca Tavern Wednesday evening, along with Cameron, Seth, & Kelley. Even in this terrible heat wave we dined outside on their upstairs porch, cooled by ceiling fans. The food was delicious:)
Thursday, Keith & 'us girls' toured the new NC Art Museum. (I haven't decided how I feel about it. Maybe I'll blog my thoughts another time) Afterward Patty, Peg, Keith, & I enjoyed a light lunch at Carolina Cafe in Cameron Village followed by shopping at The Seagrove Pottery store, which I always think is a treat:) Then it was nap time, the best idea when it's 100 degrees! Hot weather is exhausting.

Since the temperature was still unrelenting that evening, P, P, & I voted not to attend the Peace tournament softball game with Keith & Seth, choosing instead to have a light supper here, while continuing to catch up on far too many years apart.
(Thankfully the team won, so I'll get to see the final games:))

Friday morning the girls said goodbye after a late breakfast & headed out to Roanoke, Va., where Patty's uncle/Peg's brother lives, & where they'll spend the weekend before traveling home to upstate NY. Hopefully they'll find cooler weather!

Friday afternoon I went in to work till 5pm. At 6pm Christy & George (my sister & brother in law) & their twin granddaughters Harley & Kendyll, picked me up to go see Rascal Flatts in concert at Walnut Creek in Raleigh:) (Niece Amy had generously provided tickets--bless you Amy!!) Keith opted not to go, deciding to enjoy his recliner in the cool AC instead:)
Rascal Flatts were kicking off their 2010/Tenth Year Tour last night, & I must say they put on the best concert I've ever seen--sizzling in more ways than one! (BTW Chris Young & Kelly Pickler opened & they were very good as well) The music was GREAT, & the visuals were AMAZING!! Video screens moved & videos of gorgeous painted scenes & beautiful woods scenes changed throughout each song, plus the video graphics in between & at the end were astounding.
Can't say enough!!! WHOA! A feast for the eyes & ears!

So today is a respite day.
A quiet day.
I will be honest. Even with all these exciting events, seeing old friend, being with family, I've struggled with a disgusting nagging cough that has hung on for months, AND being diagnosed with diabetes (I've mentioned here previously). Both those health situations, plus changes=stress at work, have left me fighting off some depression.
This week the cough finally seems to be letting up, thank the Lord.
And, many people have been encouraging in my struggle with the diabetes diet.

Prayer, sweet moments with dear ones, celebrations, glorious music, all lift my spirits.
God sends us blessings each day that make our hearts' sing, if we listen:)

NYC--the 3rd day & 4th morning

Our third morning, Sunday, we slept in:) Got brunch on the opposite side of our hotel, at Lou's Cafe. They weren't fast, but the food was good, especially the coffee (which I needed desperately by that time!).

By noon we started our trek to the Guggenheim Museum, 30 blocks from the Hilton. Now we didn't start out thinking we'd walk all the way, but as we strolled, we decided we could do it--even Betsy in her heels! Kelley & Betsy looked in a few shops for a purse for Kelley but she couldn't decide on one.
Madison Ave. is amazing--pretty trees & flowers & wrought iron gates & fencing:)

After passing by the Met., we arrived at the spectacular white G. building--a Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece. I especially wanted to see the structure, outside & in!:) We walked through the 5 floors, taking in the creative, modern exhibits--nothing too impressive to me. But the side gallery on the first floor was hung with wonderful Impressionist paintings!!
SO glad I got to see the place:)

We were all tired out after the G. so a taxi ride back to the hotel was due. B&K wanted to return to some of the 5th Ave. shops after a rest, but Skye & I wanted to tackle a more eclectic area of the city. After texting a few of her friends Skye decided on the East Village:) Fine with me:) We flagged down a taxi & told him our destination. The first thing we did was order a nacho snack & cold drinks at a local Mexican restaurant. Then we began hiking. Someone had suggested Tompkins Park, so we headed there. Across from the park a coffeeshop/restaurant called Life Cafe was mentioned as a nice place to eat---and we were so thirsty, again! We chose a seat outside. I spied banana crepes on the menu &amp ordered those as well as drinks--just yummy!
With a few hours left, we began slowly working our way back toward 5th Ave. At Union Square, a very busy shopping/congregating area, I found a funky copper moonstone ring crafted by a sidewalk vendor:)
Finally, after covering quite a bit of territory, we gave in & got a cab for the last leg of our adventure:)

We met B&K back at the hotel (Kelley had found a purse:)),so together we walked toward Times Square to have a last dinner in the Big City:) Skye & I weren't hungry after snacking our way through the East Village, so she ordered a drink & I had a grilled cheese. B&K had sandwiches, then split a blueberry cheesecake. Skye & I had a little taste; it was very good!!
Next door was a souvenir shop---the last shopping stop (other than a few things at the airport) before flying home:) I found some neat gifts:)
At sunset we leisurely strolled back to the hotel before saying good-night.
5am would come early!!

Thankfully Memorial Day morning our taxi ride to JFK & the JetBlue flight home was uneventful & easy...by noon we were back in NC.
Oh, the time went by far too quickly for me but a super trip, packed with so many good memories:)!!!
Thank you Betsy, Kelley, & Skye:)
And for all the prayers of countless friends:)