Last Chance

It was 101 degrees today, but a cold front is on it's way.  The pool closing is set for Saturday and between now and then, cooler temps and rain are forecast.  So this evening, we celebrated this (fingers crossed) last hot day of the summer.

Goodbye summer.  Come back soon.

Europe: The Food

Six countries in 10 days will require multiple posts.  If this bores you, or you're just plain jealous, I'll get back to the daily ho-hum eventually.

I'm dedicating this entire post to the FOOD.  Which, of course, is what vacation is all about, right?  I mean, the sole purpose of our trip to Maine in a couple of weeks is to eat lobster.

For the record, I've had Belgian Chocolate, German Chocolate and Swiss Chocolate.  I ate Swiss Cheese in Switzerland, Belgian Waffles in Belgium, Schveinschnitzel and Apple Struedel in Germany, and French Fries in France.

Our mantra was "be adventurous" and the Dallas airport was officially our kick-off meal. So we started off with a platter of oysters on the half-shell.

Don't let her kid you.  She loved them so much, Greg and I had to fight for our share.

Mushroom and cheese crepe in Paris.

Dinner in Paris at Neva.

Appetizer.  They love their bread and cheese, as do I, which may explain my post-trip constipation.

 

Main course - Monk Fish.

 Belgian waffles in Maledy, Belgium

 Cheese plate at home of Frerot's, Verviers, Belgium

 Part of "light lunch" at Frerot's

Pizza with Frerot's in Belgium 

Buffet lunch at Dubai Restaurant in Luxembourg

 Salad and Schveinschnitzel in Kehl, Germany

Escargots in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland 

 Farmer's Rosti (a traditional Swiss dish) Yummy!

 and dessert!

 Coffee at Schilthorn (Piz Gloria) Revolving Restaurant

 Salami and cheese (swiss of course) at Wengen, Switzerland

 Dinner in Lauterbrunnen - onion soup, and some kind of pork (I think)

And the finale.......

Our last meal in France (not counting the free food in the Executive Lounge of the Hilton)....

I have no idea what this is, we didn't order it, but each got a dish with these three items. Apparently to cleanse your palate before dining....

Mustard soup.  Not my fave.

Entree.  Something spongy and fishy. Not a fan.

When you order "avec fromage," that doesn't mean "smother my entree with cheese."  It means you get a separate course of cheeses and breads of your choice.

I thought this was dessert.  Melon, gelatin, chocolate.

Maybe this is dessert?

This MUST be dessert.

Finally.  Dessert!

Of course, there was lots of snacking and free breakfasts, and Coke.  Dinners were usually what I consider late...8:30-9:00ish.  Most of the time, we all ordered something different and did lots of sharing. Loved all the breads and cheese.  And chocolate, of course.  Just now getting back into the gym routine and have a feeling I'll be paying for this for awhile.

What a Lady's Purse Says About the Lady

My granddaughter has hi-jacked three of my purses.  Yesterday, I needed my brown purse...you know...to coordinate with my outfit.

Here is what I found in "her" bag:

Sunglasses - positive thinker

2 cell phones - multi-tasker

3 baby bottles (milk, water, juice) - people pleaser

1 New Testament and a key ring of laminated memory verses - Daily Bible Reader

Keys - going places

Money (US and a Canadian Toonie) - world traveler

Credit cards - big spender

Baby blanket, towel, burp cloth and extra change of clothes - prepared

6 Sherrif's badges - has control issues

1 toy rabbit and 5 transformer cards - entertainer

2 pens and 1 piece of scrap paper - list maker

Semi-used tissue - frugal

1 empty Avon box - hoarder

Scary how much she's like her Nana.

Pure Delight

This is documentation of Lauren's swimming progress.

The bonus, is the Dennis the Menace (aka Jacob) cameo.  

Don't you just love that southern drawl?  This is now my go-to video when I need my spirits lifted.

The Move - Part II

The adventure begins.  And none too soon.  I knew the newlyweds were getting bored when they started playing with the magnetic alphabet on the refrigerator.

We got a pretty early start on Friday for our long day's drive.  Jeff driving the U-Haul, Heather driving her car, and me driving Jeff's pickup.  Fewer stops were made than I expected.  Northeastern Oklahoma has been very arid this summer, and the further southwest we drove the arider it got.  Maybe we were dehydrated.  Although we did have to make one "emergency" stop somewhere in the Permian Basin.  Not an official rest stop, mind you, but out in the middle of nowhere....leaving two obvious wet spots on the side of the road.  The least they could've done was target a poor little mesquite tree or sage brush that hadn't seen moisture in decades.  Sheesh!

Driving 10 hours in the heat can be awfully draining.  So imagine our relief when we were met at the new apartment by SIX young, strong, energetic baseball players, ready to lug furniture and boxes up to the third floor.  If not for them, we would've still been moving way into the night.  Even with all the help, my calves are still aching from a gazillion trips up two flights of stairs.

I'll be the first to admit I am directionally challenged.  And I rely way too much on the compass in my Honda, which was safely parked at my house in Oklahoma.  But I had a gps, for heaven's sake.  Still couldn't find my hotel.  Finally, after almost an hour, just before I hit my breaking point (I felt tears forming around my dry eyeballs), there it was! An oasis in the desert.  Literally.  Well, sort of literally.  A long, relaxing shower, then a king size bed all to myself.  Nothing personal, Neal.  Or Jacob.  Or Lauren. 

The Move - Part I

My son and new daughter-in-law have SO MUCH in common.  That can be really good in a marriage.  However, procrastination is not necessarily a good trait to share.  They had a month--A MONTH, I TELL YOU--to pack up their belongings.

After renting the moving truck Thursday afternoon, the packing began.  I will concede that they apparently had done a little sorting and organizing previous to this big day.  And I stress the word "little."

With the help of big brother and two friends, they managed to get everything loaded before midnight.  (I only assume this, since I had retired long before then.)

After a couple of hours trying to help gather up belongings and pack boxes, I came to the conclusion that it was not my fault they had waited until the 11th hour to get ready for their move.  Lauren had been patiently, and sometimes not so patiently, waiting to swim.  She was hot and sweaty and red faced when I finally said, "okay, let's get in the pool."  To which she replied in dramatic fashion, "THANK. YOU. LORD. JESUS!"

By 10:30 (an hour past my bedtime) I squeezed my tired, achy body between my two grandchildren to get whatever precious little sleep I could before my alarm sounded at 5:15.  Jacob was nestled up to my left shoulder, Lauren's head laying on my right shoulder.  Dark and quiet.  Sounds of breathing slowing to a gentle rhythm.  Jacob:  "I love you, Nana."  Lauren:  "I love you, Nana."  Oh. My. Goodness.  I can sleep when I'm dead.

The Past Month

My son and his new bride have been staying with me this past month.  After hurried nuptial arrangements, they found out that their apartment in Texas wouldn't be ready until August 5.  That seemed soooo far away, but now it's here.

It has been delightful. And handy.  My daughter-in-law does laundry, cleans the kitchen and cuts my bangs.  She also understands my obsession with reality tv and doesn't laugh when I cry.  She's taken an interest in cooking...which I don't hate.  Coming home to the smell of pot roast is pretty great.

Watching newlyweds could become addictive.  They are so full of life and hope and excitement.  And then there's the calm, peaceful moments.   I heard them around 1:30 this morning--making nachos.  (That's not the calm/peaceful moments I'm talking about.)  They had just spent the previous hour and a half in the bed of Jeff's truck, looking at the Milky Way and counting shooting stars.  Do I hear a collective "awwwww"?

Since the storm a couple of weeks ago took out my yard light, it is REALLY, REALLY dark out here in the boonies, and the stars are especially bright.

We're packing them up and leaving Friday.  The forecast calls for a high of 105.  Whew.  That's a relief. I was afraid it would still be 114.

Birthday - Chapter 3

Third and final chapter of Jacob's 7th birthday.  Promise.

This is what he wanted for his birthday.  Go to Papa's RV in Texas.  So be it.  (The big blue eyes get me every time.)

Friday afternoon.  The whole pool to ourselves.  Which wasn't necessarily a good thing when we almost drowned and there was no one to save us.  A story for another day.  I'm still traumatized.

Friday evening.  Catfish dinner with Papa.

Saturday lunch.  McDonald's with Morgan.

Saturday afternoon at NASA Space Center.

He is NOT going to the moon without his Nana!

Rock climbing on Mars.

(The full video can be seen on my FB page.)

Saturday evening.  Kemah Boardwalk.

The Boardwalk Bullet

A wooden roller coaster the likes of which I avoid like the plague.

But Morgan and Jacob are game. 

Exiting the ride.
No tears.
No vomit.

Jacob:  "That was AWESOME!!!!

I never want to do that again."

The criteria for choosing subsequent rides was based on the volume of screams coming from riders.

This one passed the test.

Sunday.  Breakfast at IHOP.

The waitress gave Jacob a second cup of hot chocolate on the house.

We also finagled a Senior Citizen Discount on his meal.

We're cheap like that.

 On the dock.

 Swangin'

Monday.  Heading home.

On lift-off, Jacob yells, "I can see my house from here!"

Wow, good eyes.

He also told the flight attendant they should serve grated cheese.

I'm sure she'll pass that suggestion on to higher authorities.

The End.
I promise.