Days 284-312: A Month of Delights

This is the longest I have gone without writing in this blog which makes me think it is good that I am only doing it for a year. The biggest delights were having Dean’s sister’s son and his family visit for a few days, hanging out with Alex and Andrew for Dean week, visiting a wedding venue, and preparing for the engagement party. It has been a very busy month, and the summer will be busy as well.

I’ll try to not let a month go by again without documenting my delights.

Delightful wall shadows

While we watch television in the family room this time of year the setting sun shines through the western windows, making patterns on the wall.

Cicada Love

A couple of cicadas doing what they were born to do.

Indoor Cicada

This fella or gal flew in the bedroom window while I was trying to take a nap.

Fairy Garden Flowers Blooming

The fairy garden flowers (from the seed packet Alex gave me) finally began blooming.

Nick and Nora Manhattan

I bought a set of two Nick and Nora cocktail glasses and served manhattans one evening

Eggs for Dinner. Eggs for Breakfast.

One night we ate eggs and sausages (and beans, mushrooms and tomatoes) for dinner. I made egg in a hole one morning too.

Sparkly Rain

One morning as the sun came up I caught these rain droplets in the sun.

Visit from C&S and Fam

C&S and Fam were supposed to visit last summer, but we all know why that was not possible. They visited this month and it was delightful.

Great Falls

Since no museums were open during their stay, C&S and Fam and I went to Great Falls National Park.

National Zoo

We needed passes to get in, but we got them and went to the zoo. We even saw the baby panda!

Baking a Cake with G.

On the way back from Great Falls I asked the kids if anyone wanted to bake a cake with me. Everyone said yes, but only six-year-old G followed through. He wanted to do it all by himself (and he did most of it). He decorated it with flowers.

G’s Cake

Introducing G to Rupert and Chum

The morning the C family was getting ready to leave, G and I played with Rupert and Chum. At one point G decided that Rupert and Chum should bake a cake — Rupert (who G was in charge of) told Chum (my charge) the steps to make a cake that sounded a lot like our day before. It was very sweet.

Father’s Day

Dean wanted to go to Cunningham Falls for Father’s day (the official beginning of Dean week) so we did.

Our 36th Wedding Anniversary

We ate at a local French restaurant. The food was very good, but we felt out of place.

Finally a use for the star and moon light!

I bought this thinking it would be cool — and it is — but how many times can you use it for just a two person party. We’re going to use it for Andrew and Alex’s engagement party. I took a video to show them.

Dean’s Birthday

The official end of Dean Week, his birthday, was nice. We’d made plans to go to an Indian restaurant but the reservations were not correctly made (my fault) so we at at a Laotian restaurant near Andrew and Alex’s apartment. Great food! We had pie and other treats later at their appartment.

Insects and Arachnids

The cicadas may be gone, but I saw some cool critters about the house and yard

Day 283: Summertime!

Today is the first day of [meteorological] summer. I’m delighted. I love summer. I’ll also get to use this delight again on June 20, the astronomical first day of summer this year.

I also received my first StitchFix in over a year. I was delighted to see they sell NYDJ* and signed up for a Fix just because of that (and because I like surprises). I also bought a pair of NYDJ jeans and a pair of ballet slipper shoes last month. I’m sending everything except the jeans and a comfortable bra. All the clothes were adorable, just not on me.

*Funny story: I’ve been wearing NYDJ jeans for a few years. The style fit me perfectly and didn’t have a low rise. Because I’ve been wearing them daily for over two years, they are kind of falling apart. I went to the store where I bought one pair and they didn’t have that style. I went to another store and same story. Turns out that style has been discontinued. In the second store the conversation went like this:

  • Me: Hi, do you still sell these jeans, pointing at my leg. The brand is New York something. DJ???
  • Salesclerk: Not Your Daughter’s Jeans?
  • Me: No, New York something jeans.
  • Salesclerk: NYDJ?
  • Me: Yes. New York DJ
  • Salesclerk: Yes, Not Your Daughter’s Jeans
  • Me: Ha! And here I thought they were fancy New York designer jeans. That’s embarrassing.
  • Salesclerk: No problem. And we don’t have any right now. Maybe later in the summer.