Summertime, summertime, sum sum summertime...

 The redhead really does have legs.  (see below)

Is it really fair to play "Memory" with a grandpa?  (What game are we playing again?)

Just chillaxin'

Until the menacing katydid sets off blood-curdling screams!

This is how Jacob spends most of his day...

...watching cartoons and eating peaches.  Lots of peaches.  Which may explain the big dump he took in the Lowe's men's room.  Although he assured us, "it didn't smell like peaches."


Occasionally Papa convinces him to help out with the chores.

And rewards him with a rubber band gun.

GI Joes and empty water bottles don't have a chance.  Needless to say, Stella has found refuge under my bed.

Just Peachy!

Porter peaches are in!

And I'm here to tell ya,

PW's Peach Crisp with Maple Cream Sauce is every bit as good as it looks.

Conversations with Lauren

A few of the conversations we had today.

Swimming from the edge of the pool to me:
Lauren:  (to herself, with a determined expression on her face) "Just keep your eye...on the boobies."



Lauren:  Nana, how old are you? 35?
Me: Nope.
Lauren:  43?
Me: Nope.
Lauren:  56?
Me: That's right.
Lauren:  How old is Papa?  72?
:)

Lauren:  Who's your dad?
Me:  Grandpa Smith.
Lauren:  No way!

Lauren:  Who had you?  Whose tummy were you in?
Me:  Grandma Smith's.
Lauren:  And you have two sisters.
Me:  Right.  What are their names?
Lauren:  I don't know the puppy-haired one but the straight-haired one is Linda.
Me:  *Laughing uncontrollably* The puppy-haired one?
Lauren:  No, the FLUFFY-haired one.
Lauren:  But you don't live with them.
Me:  Well, we lived together when we were kids, but then we grew up and left home.
Lauren:  Aw Nana! :(  That's not very nice.
Me:  When you grow up, you'll move away from home.
Lauren:  No I won't.

Lauren:  When I grow up, I'm gonna have Grandma Smith in my tummy.

Lauren in the pool, me in the lounge chair:
Lauren:  I have braces.
Me:  You do?
Lauren:  Yeah, but they're invisible and I can't take them out.  See?
Me:  Oh really?
Lauren:  Yeah, they're gonna make my teeth straight.

Of course, she probably had perfect teeth when she was a mermaid.

Done!

Another household catastrophe has been averted.

Discovery of the leaking toilet and resulting rotted floor a little over a month ago was not welcome news.  Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway) we've sunk a lot of moo-lah into this money pit.

But thankfully, our insurance covered it and we've ended up with a beautiful new guest bath.

Before:

Not only was the toilet not sealed, but the bathtub drain connected to....

well....nothing.  So a little additional plumbing was in order.

Oh, and the sheet rock was ruined, so we had to take it down to the studs.

The big surprise was that there was actually insulation in those walls.  A farm house miracle.

Since we'd gone this far, I decided it was a great opportunity to add a shower.  Which entailed taking out the window to install a tub-surround.  Anyone need a perfectly good double-hung window?  It's in the tack room, in the barn.  Help yourself.

Oh yeah, and the vanity was so rotted that it fell apart when they removed it.  Lowe's is gonna love me.

The contractor hinted that if I ever thought about getting rid of the popcorn ceiling, this would be the perfect time.  I really did hate that popcorn ceiling.

Little did I know just how much work that would be. (four hours) But totally worth it.

After:

He only had to float 3 coats of mud on the ceiling to cover my less-than-perfect attempt at scraping. 

Guess I could've removed the trash can and straightened the towel for the photo shoot.

Look!  A shower head!  My out-of-town guests will be so happy that they're not limited to baths (or sharing my shower).

Hopefully no more major projects for the next couple of years.  I'm exhausted.

Memorial Weekend

I spent last weekend in Corpus Christi.  'Cause Oklahoma is just not quite hot and muggy enough yet.  And that's where my husband is. Corpus Christi, that is.  Home to some of the finest seafood dining.  It's my personal goal to find the best seafood restaurants in the country.  

Saturday night at George's ranked in the top 10.  It used to be Two George's, but after it burned down a couple of years ago, it reopened as George's.  Long story.  But the point is, the fried colossal shrimp and blackened snapper were superb. 

Neal & I recently did an assessment to find out what our "Love Language" is.  Not that we really care, but it was an assignment for our Sunday School Class.  I was kind of surprised that his was "Quality Time."  I would've guessed something else........aaaaanyway.

Sunday afternoon we spent some Quality Time.  Fishing.  Together.

Sort of.

Apparently, me being within earshot counts for quality time.

And of course, I was there to document the big catch.  Quality.

That night we went to dinner with friends at the Water Street Oyster Bar and Seafood Co. Where I ordered (surprise!!) Rib Eye, medium rare --- with a side of stuffed, bacon-wrapped shrimp.  It was a most excellent dinner.  And then our dining companion mentioned he's the same age as my son.  Thanks Mitch....'preciatecha.

Monday, my sweet husband, still on a quest for quality time, went antiquing with me.  And I found this

which I shall dry brush paint white, or maybe not.  We'll see.  It's not really antique, but it'll make a cute towel holder in my NEW BATHROOM.  Which is almost done!  

And now I'm rambling.  It's past my bedtime.