Tradition and Change

Ahhhh, tradition.

There's nothing like finding something or some place that you truly love and repeating it year after year after year.

The tradition of going to 'our' little chalet in Berlin, Ohio every September on our anniversary makes the death of summer a tad bit more bearable.  

Can you believe Gary and I have been married 15 years now!!  I will not lie and say it has been easy peasy...  I have concluded through my 62 years of life (39 of them being married years) that marriage is give and take.  Sometimes you give more than you take.  There are days as well that you take more than you give.  It's not all butterflies and flowers and a la-de-da life.  But to respect and honor the contract of marriage in which one has previously agreed to - is a good thing and eventually results in all things good.  On the tough days you just have to suck it up buttercup, regroup and always go to God for counsel >  And that's my take on marriage.
And...
Speaking of all things good....

Amish Country, here we come........

A panoramic view of most of our chalet...  downstairs is another room with a pool table and tv.

Our celebratory 15th year spent in Berlin Ohio was ahhhhhhh-some.   As always.

We shopped the Amish gift shops, went to two different huge flea markets, ate wonderful home cooked meals, enjoyed our quiet time in our wooded chalet, and laughed out loud when we attended the Amish Country Theater (where I was pulled up on stage for some really crazy audience participation...  more on that in a later post).

I am so very thankful that once again we were able to make this trip!

Meanwhile...  back at home...  Gracie was left in the care of my daughter Lindsey who stays at our home throughout the day.   But at night Gracie is alone.  It has always been the best way.  Until now.

We have a camera set up in our living room so we can watch her while we are away.  She was plainly stressed out - tearing the house apart!  Howling!  Barking into the night air!

At that point, I was stressed out too.  And so...  late on evening #2 of our being absent from home...  I called Lindsey and threw away my concerns of having Gracie co-habitate with the wild, crazy, energetic and wonderful black dog Ellie (Lindsey's dog) and said "please rescue Gracie!



Gracie will tell you the rest of the story...

Yea.  Gracie here.  This is how it really went down.  They left me.  Yep, they up and left me all alone to fend for myself.  No food.  No water.   very little food and water.  No interaction with any living breathing creature.  Lindsey and the girls spent most of the day with me, then at the time when I needed them most when it was dark and scary, they left me all alone!!!  All alone, I'm tellin' ya!  And so.  Yes.  I will admit I did get into dad's coffee filters and ripped them all apart and threw them all through the house.  And my toys.  Man did I scatter them around and yell at them!  I needed to get someones attention and I kinda figured they'd be spying on me through that little eye that sits on the fireplace.  Sooooooo  I did what I had to do.  I thought for sure they'd send Lindsey down to spend the night with me.  Instead, she took me home with her.  And I had to put up with black dog Ellie.  She's such a punk.  I don't find that feathery long tail of hers swooshing into my face amusing at all.  And how she shows off when someone throws a ball!!!  Hey, punk... I used to be able to catch a ball like that too.  Just wait till you get to be my age.   Anyhoooo  when all was said and done I must say I really enjoyed my time at Lindsey's.  Got to sleep with the girls in their room and they treated me like a princess.  According to mom, I will be going back there and she will never let me home alone again.  Mission accomplished.  #GracieGetsHerWay

 Hey, did I tell you I turned 13 last week?  Yep.   And life is good.

You're Welcome, Gracie

Grandparents day came once again, and we managed to 'adopt' two more grand-boy's whose grandparents couldn't make it.

Our boy Jake is always so considerate of others.  He wants to make sure everyone feels wanted.  Did I mention he's a great soccer player too??

So while the girls are all about dance and gymnastics,  Jake tears up the field with his gift for sports.

And in the chill of the evening we cheer him on...

Business has been a bit slow over the summer...  but picking up nicely after my latest newspaper ad.

Who loves camp??  Gracie does!!!  She loves the smells the walks the getting tangled around the picnic table, the face outside the car being beat by the wind on the way there.

I feel like I'm running out of things to blog about!!  So I'm going to try to go deep into my creative mind and see if I can come up with something of interest.  Y'all must be bored to tears by now.

So, for your entertainment, I share this work of art by yours truly created on my mini iPad.  

Your welcome, Gracie