Summer. Lovely summer.

I love to come to our Tahoe home. Projects started in San Jose always get finished here. Today I finished knitting the great little black vest I started 6 months or more ago. It's not a long project, but the crazy life in San Jose doesn't give me sitting time. Now it's done and ready to wear next winter. Trying it on today makes me look forward to cold weather and we haven't even started our lovely summer yet!

Next on my list is to read Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I'm starting that tomorrow. I had promised my daughter-in-law in Florida that I would at least get half way into the book before our trip out to see them.

Summer. Lovely summer.

Sleep Over

Florida cousins and California Cousins. Three little girls: 4 years old, 5 years old, and 6 1/2 years old. What a lively fun time they had getting to know each other and becoming good friends.

CL (6 1/2 years old) decided it would be a very good idea for them to become pen pals so they could stay in touch when they're not visiting. An idea very much encouraged by Nonna. So CL explained to CJ (her 4 year old Florida cousin) how it all worked and who writes to who and when.

Movie night is always part of Nonna's Sleep Overs, and so is Hot Dogs and Popcorn outside in the studio. The 3 girls ate and played and talked (the entire time!!) and watched movies and then "crashed" in their sleeping bags on the den floor. Nonna loved just watching and listening and laughing at their antics.

Nonna and Papa would love to bring grandchildren back and forth across the country for visits some day, but we have a feeling this little friendship will continue to grow. And we'll love watching that happen.

Dates with grandchildren

Taking my grandchildren out on "dates" makes for a very special time together. I've taken my oldest, MG, several times, but she has a few years on the others. Today was EG's turn. Shopping and lunch at the Gilroy Outlets. We bought cute clothes for her for summer, some great deals on shirts and pants and shorts for Papa, and perfect skirt and tops for me. And lunch was fun. She was so excited going through the salad bar at Fresh Choice and filling her dish with all her favorite vegetables and corn bread. Ice cream cone for dessert, of course. I see so much of her daddy in her. How she talks, how she looks at me, the little devilish gleam she gets, the excitement inside that starts to spin her out of control. Dates are a perfect way for us to get to know each other. We'll definitely do it again. Hmmm. Who's turn is next? CL, I think.

Aging

There is a strong urge to fill up my dresser with creams and jells and goo that promise miracles. But Papa loves me just as I am. He says I'm beautiful. The face sags a little in places that used to be firm. The body is a little broken. Some parts ravaged by time and a cancer fought and won. A piece of breast that is no longer there...