Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you on this first weekend of September and Labor Day Weekend 2022.  Yesterday it was hot and humid with rain coming later in the evening.  Just a few days earlier it felt like fall!!  A little tease by Mother Nature before the summer heat returned.  This time of year I am ready for all that Fall brings us.  

Last weekend Joel was up in west central Minnesota visiting his family.  He headed out Thursday and arrived home Sunday night after connecting with family, biking 20 miles on his favorite trail, deck sitting in the middle of a clear starry night, going to a "plow down" that his brother holds yearly, and then driving south to give one of our girls and her family hugs.  The plow down involves old tractors and plows that brings back the history of farming and gives those who hang on to those old tractors and plows a chance to use them, and plow the land the way their ancestors did.   

I spent Thursday night alone....I share that because it is in the first time in 11 years that I have been alone overnight in our home.  Yep.  To say that it was on the bottom of my list for accomplishments would be an understatement.  The back story is too long to share, but I just don't "do" alone anymore if I can help it.  Friday afternoon my sister J. came from Minnesota to spend two nights and my sister K. and brother-in-law D. came over for a visit too.  Saturday our brothers came with one of their spouses from Minnesota for a sibling visit which involved their favorite Godfather's Pizza.  It is well known as the best in this part of our world. 

This visit brought up childhood memories that had us laughing and remembering our early years.  I was raised by my older sister Jo ( 15 yrs older) and her family and joined the group when I was first 10 and then 12 for good.  We are close in age and enjoy a unique bond that I am forever grateful for.  These hours of reminiscing are always a good thing.

Speaking of a good thing, our bathroom reno is complete now and we are enjoying it!  A tub I can easily climb in and out of when showering, soothing gray walls and floor, with navy accents, and no NASCAR explosion in the mornings!  Yay!  Here are the before and after photos...

NASCAR explosion

Part 2

Ahhhh  Soothing subtle gray

Gray and white combo with navy accents

It is Labor Day weekend, which signifies the end of summer and beginning of the school year for most.  Oregon is the first state to recognize Labor Day as a holiday to celebrate the achievements of American  workers.  We plan to head to an antiques in the park event on Sunday in a neighboring town.  What is on your agenda?  Hope you enjoy!

So today, I am grateful for this first September weekend, Labor Day, and what it means.  Grateful for Joel's trip to visit family, bike his favorite trail, and attend his brother's "plow down".  Grateful for my time with family here at home.  Grateful for the memories and reminiscing last weekend. Grateful for our new bathroom, and it's soothing colors.  Grateful for the hint of fall that is in the air today.  Grateful for the power of prayers as grands head off or back to college, or their jobs out in the world.  Grateful for pictures that bring us "right there" with family hours away, grateful for phone calls, texts, and any and all connections to those we love and care about.  Grateful for all this and so much more.....

Enjoy your weekend!