I have quite a few life‘s pleasure‘s these days and it’s nice to think about what they are. One is my great niece and nephew (who i call the Cheetos, for obvious reasons). Their Dad is the one I am most close to in my family. I’m excited that they are coming to do a sleepover at our place tomorrow. Here is a photo from last week with Lolo.
She’s so funny, she is only 5 but uses big words like ‘evidence’, ’random’ , satisfactory’. She calls me often, once to tell me that she was going to The Dad Store because she was mad at her Dad. She makes me laugh all the time. On the phone, of all things, she likes to play “rock, paper scissors“. The first time we played over the phone she starts it “Rock, paper scissors, shoot!” . And i say to her, ”Ok, what do you have?” She would tell me, and of course i would always choose whatever would beat her. After five games of doing this, she says. “You are SO good at this game!” ….
This is a photo from a few months ago with her brother waiting for his schoolbus in the rain:

Brady is holding a Three Stooges golf size umbrella. You can kind of see Moe. Brady is sweet and generous and always wants to do the right thing. He loves Van Morrison. And the Teskey Brothers. And always beats me at Alexa’s Song Quiz.
This is a photo from this morning. I turn on the condo sprinklers every other morning (because they are broken) and then i went over with my cup of coffee and sat at the swimming pool cause i love it best when no one is there. This is where i will be with the kiddos tomorrow and Friday. They are so excited to come swimming.
And this photo is a nod to my good neighbor friends who live directly next to us. What’s great is we share the same taste in music, wine and porters. Early last night Maggie knocked on my door while I was cooking dinner to give me this glass of Willow White Blend from Columbia Valley. It was so good and tastes like what is often referred to as “summer in a glass”. The glass on the side is her homemade ice tea. And look at the temperature! ….FINALLY!
And lastly, my husband who is a marketing and communications director for a college retires as of this Friday.
I came up with the idea to have his band reserve a local tavern on the water and play for free on his retirement. It’s a triple retirement party for two other teachers. (The sax player is one of the retirees) . Without Covid these past two years when he worked at home i don’t think i would look as forward to it as i am now. We realized that we were going to be fine living in our smaller place together. His staff threw him a surprise party and filled his office with loads of balloons and goofy gifts. They tell me how much they are going to miss him as a boss. He truly is a good and tolerant man, raised by wonderful parents.
It’s been a less than desirable winter and spring weather wise and stressful family stuff going on… but things are looking good these days. And I‘m so thankful and appreciative, that though I chose not to have children, i have little kids in my life; very good friends who live right next door; and I’m married to a man i really like being around.
Shoot i don’t know why some of the photos are larger. Must be something to do with using iPhone vs iPad.