Bob Cat or Coyote?

What a great time we had in Hilton Head!  The weather was perfect, it wasn't crowded, Emma was funny and we had fun, the entire time we were there.  We went to a different restaurant than last year to celebrate Chris' 41st  birthday and the food and view were fantastic. 

 

I was off of work for 12 days straight and it was wonderful.  I slept in, I read, I cleaned out boxes from the attic.  It was my time and I enjoyed every minute of it.

 

Donna and I did our best to instill the "shopping gene" into Emma and I think it worked.  She was walking around stores, picking things up and saying, "oh, Nana, isn't this cute?"

 

We ended up buying her something called "Magic Clips,"  which are Mattel/Disney brand dolls dressed in plastic clothes.  You hold the bottom of the dress together, like a clothes pin, and the dress comes off.  You can change the Cinderella dress with the Bella dress or the Snow White dress.  Emma played with them for seven or so hours.  Those things were the best babysitters ever!!

 

Donna and I got a chance to go to Harbor Town, a small place with tons of shops and restaurants, on our own and had fun.  We shopped and then sat by the water in front of the million dollar yachts and had wine and shrimp.  It was a great time.

 

I love this time of year...warm yet balmy and enjoyable.  Warm enough to be in the pool and cool enough to be in the hot tub. 

 

Donna and Bob spent a few extra days with us after leaving Hilton Head.  Unfortunately, just like last year, Shannon lost another grandparent.  Her grandfather died on Monday evening, right around the time his wife died last year.  Donna and Bob left today to help with Emma and support Shannon.

 

After they left, Tony informed me that we had "strange" poop in our backyard.  Definitely not canine.  Swell, what now?  Tony did some research and narrowed it down.  We either have a bob cat or coyote pooping in our yard.  The good news is, according to Tony, it's not bear poop.   How thankful you can be for basic things.

 

Our next big event is Anthony's first birthday party coming up in early October. 

 

If we don't get eaten by a bob cat, coyote or bear, I will be posting pictures of the birthday party...stay tuned.

 

Emma and Papa in the pool

Shannon and Emma enjoying the pool

Shannon, Emma, Dixie and Donna in the hot tub

 

Chris' first night of being 41

Emma enjoys her Magic Clips

Tony and Donna enjoy wine by the pool

 

You decide....bob cat or coyote poop????

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catching Up...Small Stuff That Makes Up Daily Living

I haven't blogged since my birthday; in part because it's been "same old, same old," stuff. 

 

Ben turned 9 on August 29...wow, I can still remember going to the hospital to see him and the first time Jenna asked if I wanted to hold him.  Hold him?   I wanted to grab him up, throw my arms around him and make sure nothing ever hurt him.   After 9 years, I still feel the same way.  We have six grandchildren--and we love them all equally, but we have loved Ben the longest. 

 

I had a back breaking shift last night.  We had a ton of EMS cases come in and it seemed like the families of everyone in the Emergency Room were nuts and stupid.   Seriously, how do you walk up to an Emergency Room employee and say, "please unlock the door and let me in....I'm here to see my mom."    "And what is your mom's name?" You ask.  "Mary," they respond.   DUH...we have 30 beds, can you give me a clue as to what your mother's last name might be or should I go room to room and guess which one she is?

 

Don't get me wrong, I know that when people go to the Emergency Room because a relative or friend is there, they are upset and worried, but come on, they will get back to see their loved one faster if they give me something to work with.

 

Anyway, that was last night...I'm glad to be off until September 14.  We are going to Hilton Head with Donna and Bob for a few days.  This Sunday, we are having friends over for appetizers and good conversation.  It is so nice to kick back and relax without looking at my watch or the calendar to see when I have to go to work.

 

I am happy to say that the manicure that I got with my niece, Sarah, the first week of August is still in tact and looking good.  Love that shellac!

 

I am also amazed that it is September already.  I love this time of year.  We can sit out on the Lanai and enjoy cool breezes in the evening.  We did get a bit of "Erica" rain for a few days, enough to make my commute miserable (I hate driving in the rain...) but that seems to be a memory at this point. 

 

The other thing that has been taking up more time than I ever imagined is following the Republican Presidential bid mess.  I am not "political" per se, I don't vote and I truly don't think that any President, will change my life for the better.  That doesn't seem to be what Washington is all about.  To me, it seems like they are all about pushing their own party agenda and individual careers while screwing the American people they are supposed to serve.  But Donald Trump intrigues me.  He says what people are saying to each other in their own homes.   He's coming across as a "no bullshit" kind of leader.  There are days when I hope he gets the party nod and wins the election, but then I remember that the President doesn't operate in a vacuum.   There is still Congress to deal with.  Can Trump do that effectively?  I don't know.  But for now, with his positive poll ratings, I hope he is giving both political parties something to think about.   I often say, about many things...."when is enough, enough?"   I think America is getting to the "enough" point, and I hope that translates into a better political system for all of us in the country.  (Stepping down off of the soap box,  now.)

 

Tony is painting again.  I love standing at the foot of the steps to the studio and watching him carefully create a new piece.  He turns music on and seems lost in the rhythm of notes and brush strokes.  It's Teddy Roosevelt this time, and our hall of Presidents will have a new resident.  Hey, maybe Trump will be on our wall one day!

 

So, that is catching up.  Dixie is well and remains Mistress of all she surveys.  She spends her mornings sitting on the top of Tony's reclining chair, her afternoons napping in his closet and her late evenings, chasing me when I come in from work.  She goes to the spa soon, and our sweet smelling, little girl will be back.

 

Stay tuned for Hilton Head pictures...coming soon!!

 

September Sun

 

 

                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

        

PRESENTS!!

I honestly don't think that anyone can see a box wrapped in pretty paper and not scream...."PRESENT!!"

 

I got some wonderful things for my birthday--things that came in pretty boxes and a colorful gift bag.  I got my absolute favorite gifts--pictures of my grandchildren (all 6 of them, in two different photos)  and tons of cards and letters.  I got some original artwork from the grandchildren in Cleveland that I treasure and an updated photo of Jenna and Jon with the kids. 

 

Take a look:

See my photo of Coleton and Anthony?   On the other side are cards and letters from Ben, Sam, Ellie and Zach.   In the back are cards/letters I got from family and friends (although, the jury is still out on one that says, "90 Wonderful years!!" HA HA)

 

The wooden art piece is from Tony, done by our neighbor, Stu Friedman, otherwise known as Dixie's Godfather!  It is made of Maple Burl and looks like marble.   I love it.  It's smooth and cool to the touch.  My Brighton jewelry pieces (a white stone with silver starfish on it and a separate starfish (my favorite)  from Tony are resting on artwork by Ellie!

 

See the "butt" card on top of the paper that says, "5?"  That is from David, who gave me permission to take 5  photos of him that I can put on the blog.  Little does he know that I'll be hiding in the bathroom when he comes out of the shower!!

 

 

I had a wonderful birthday and thank all of you for thinking of me.  Tonight....a crab leg dinner.  It's good to be 63 (sort of!!)

 



I Turned 63 Today

Time is an incredibly odd thing.  You can watch it go by without really seeing anything,  you can wait it out with no idea of the outcome or you can surrender to it.

 

I think for many years, I was fighting surrender.  I didn't want to get "old," because my idea of "old," was terrible.  I remember Jane Fonda (oh, please say you remember, too,) getting a tee shirt that said, "This IS What 40 Looks Like," because so many people commented, when she admitted her age of 40, said, "you don't look 40."  Jane wasn't "old."  She was trendy.  I want to be trendy. 

 

At the hospital, I hear many people telling me that when I get to be their age, I will suffer from this or that.  I look at their arm band and see that I am already 10 to 15 years older than they are.  "Well, you don't look it," they reply; and for that I am glad.

 

But, this year, I have a different outlook.  Maybe it's because I will be retiring soon, maybe it's because of a book everyone at Novant has to read, called, "Being Mortal," or maybe I'm just tired of fighting the inevitable.  I am 63 and this is what my 63 looks like.

 

Tony made it a wonderful day.  We went to Sunset Beach to have lunch at one of my favorite places, Fibber McGee's.  We strolled into boutiques and a bookstore and even stopped in at the Planetarium.  Tonight we're going to watch the Browns beat the Buffalo Bills in a pre-season game.  He gave me two Brighton pieces for my necklace--a white bead with starfish on it and a silver starfish.   He also commissioned our neighbor, Stu, to do a wooden art piece for me since I love the work that Stu does.  It was a wonderful gift.

 

The game is on now, so I will finish by saying....today, blog words....tomorrow....pictures of presents!!!

 

I turned 63 today.  I guess that's a good thing. 

When The Swegle's Entertain....Here Comes The Rain!!

It's no secret that during the course of our marriage, almost every time Tony and I hosted an event, rain was the biggest and constant uninvited guest.

 

I thought for awhile it was Strongsville, but now I know,  it's us.

 

Our niece, Sarah, and our "hopefully soon to be," nephew, Steven, came to visit us this week.  They had one thing on their minds:  GOING TO THE BEACH!!!!

 

Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate.  It rained, it poured, it monsooned, IT RAINED!!!   The few minutes it didn't rain, we got high 90 degree muggy, stinky,  air. "The kids." even played tennis in the pouring rain.

 

But, we did find other things to do.  Sarah and Steve surprised us with Cleveland based tee shirts.  Mine is like a 5 day weather forecast you see on TV.  But, anyone who has spent any time at all in Cleveland knows that at any given time, the weather can and will change.  So, the "forecast" on my shirt goes from 78 degrees one day to snow the next day. It's SO Cleveland.  Tony's is a "real Browns" shirt....and anyone who knows our story will understand what I mean.

 

Sarah and I got manicures and pedicures while Tony and Steve visited the USS North Carolina battleship downtown.  It was the first time my nails were shellaced and they look really good. 

 

We went to a place called New River Pottery.  It's kind of an Old Time Pottery place, but with tons of beachy things you can decorate with and all kinds of out of the ordinary stuff.  Sarah and I got "no shoes" sandals.  It's like a decorated band that slips over a toe and goes up to your ankle.  It will look great with our pedicures.

 

We went out to dinner a few times, watched movies at night, did lunch at McGrooders and stopped for Baskin Robbins ice cream.  Sarah and Steve finally got to go the beach on Wednesday, the day before they left.  Of course, the day they left is sunny and beautiful....it's the Swegle weather curse.

 

I must admit that the little girl I took shopping so many years ago has grown up to be a beautiful, charming, career-minded young woman.   I think that growing up, she kind of got lost in the mix of my mother's grandchildren.  She wasn't the first grandchild like Jenna, she wasn't the only boy grandchild like Joey and she often shared time and attention with Katie, our family's special needs baby.  I was happy to see her shine in her own happy light.

 

Time went to quickly by and we are all headed back to our routines.  Dixie is going to miss the extra loving and belly rubs that she got and we will miss the laughter that Sarah and Steven brought to our house.  

 

Dinner, our last night together

 

Personally, I think we make Steve look good!!!

Real Ketchup lovers....Steve didn't get it either!!

 

 

A huge spider stopped by and ultimately caught a dragon fly.  Sarah was a bit spooked by the spider, who wouldn't be????

 

 

 

Red toes and fat feet!

It's all about the nails!

 

 

 

Love the look!

 

 

 

No manicure for Steven, but we love him anyway!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home Is Where The Kids Are

It's taken a few weeks to get my thoughts together regarding the Cleveland trip and get the blog updated.  I went back to work the day after we got back and it's been busy, busy, busy ever since.

We had a great time!  We stayed with Donna and Bob.  Dixie didn't poop in their house this time, but she did manage to find a pair of Donna's sandals to chew up.  Don't let Donna tell you she can't cook.  She did a great spaghetti dinner with all of the extras the evening we got into town.  Chris and Shannon and Emma came by and we got to spend some quality time with them.  We enjoyed hearing Emma put Bob in time out!

 

The four of us went to Pier W for dinner one night.  I love that place.  The food was good, downtown Cleveland lit up at sunset and we got a few pictures on the outside patio.

 

We also went to a winery in Canton, called Gervasi's.  That was cool.  The grounds were beautifully kept and their wines were good. 

 

Rose and Joe just got back from Italy, earlier in the week and we saw some terrific pictures from their trip.  The artwork was amazing.  They saw many of the pieces I studied in Art History class.  How I would love to see them up close and in person--of course, I'd want to touch the sculptures and that probably wouldn't go over well.

We also caught dinner with my sister, Fritz and her husband, Steve at Lockeepers.  There was one thing for sure...we ate well while we were in Cleveland!

 

Tony and I headed up to Geneva on the Lake (without Dixie) to spend time at one of our favorite places.  We got a gift card from Donna, Bob, Rose and Joe for our 25th vow renewal for the visit and we really relaxed.  We went to the beach and I got some rocks.  I love rocks.  I'm starting another rock garden here in Leland like I had in Strongsville and Tony was nice enough to carry some of my "treasure" back so I could start assembling them in the yard.  It was so nice to kick back and relax.  We went to some of our favorite Ohio wineries and found a few new ones that we will certainly visit again.

 

After returning from Geneva on the Lake, we met our niece, Sarah, and Steven, her significant other, for lunch at TGI Friday's one day and then went to visit my sister, Lynn.   She bought Dixie another "Stretch," a soft play toy, that Dixie loves.  She has already "loved" two or three of them to death. 

 

The highlight for us, of course, was seeing the grandchildren.  I almost want to call Ben, a grandperson.  He is SO tall....coming almost up to my chin and explaining the video game he was playing on his Kindle to Tony.  Jon was a great host and we enjoyed seeing everyone. 

 

It felt like every minute of our visit was scripted and scheduled, but we found a minute or two to relax on Donna and Bob's deck.  The guys smoked cigars and we planned our next shopping outing.  Donna, Tony and I went to the Tremont area (Bob had a previous commitment.)  We had lunch and then Donna and I went to various boutiques.  We had a blast.  Donna picked out a "cover" for me that I just love.  You can wear it over a tank top or a more formal top and it just drapes over you.  Very cool.   She really has the potential of a great career in being a personal shopper. 

 

All in all, it was a fun, fun trip.  OK, Dixie threw up in the car, but, hey, overall--we enjoyed our time in Cleveland.

 

Here are the highlights:

 

This is Emma teaching Tony how to use his phone

Spaghetti Mouth!

Bangin' Hair

 

Ready for my close up, Mr. DeMille

Finally, best friends

Approaching Gervasi's Winery

 

Forget us, forget Cleveland in the background...it's all about the drape!

My personal shopper and me

Home...and distant memories

 

Laurencia's Winery

Mr. Sam and Mr. Ben....our "babies???!!!"

The Devine Miss P

Zach....our littlest love

 

 

Papa and his boys...all playing video games--all trying to teach Tony the finer points of blowing things up, killing space aliens and the basics of thumb dexterity!!

 

 

 

 

A Summary of Our Cleveland Trip--But Ellie First!

Tony and I had a really good time in Cleveland.  We stopped in Charlotte on our way up and saw Coleton and Anthony.   Wow....Anthony is huge.    19 pounds and just starting to crawl.  Coleton is doing great in school and with potty training.  He's a comedian.  He tried to pull off Tony's mustache. 

 

Of course, one of the highlights of the entire trip was seeing the Cleveland grandchildren.  They are all big and beautiful, but I got a big kick out of Ellie and her expressions.

 

I will blog about the whole trip in another entry,  but for this blog enjoy the many faces of Ellie:

 

Computer Whiz

Good Hair Day

Pondering her future career as a ballerina

 

Betty Davis Eyes

Getting Ready to Prank Zach

Happy Girl

 

"I'm Number 1," She Says!

 

 

Next Blog....Papa's Boys!