Almost Summer

A kid in the pool, a thriller novel in my bag and salt and vinegar chips on the picnic table- summer is taking over. We're trying to finish school work this week and I'm not sure who's more ready to be done, me or the children.

The repairs on the house are on hold while we wait for an official estimate. The delay is frustrating because it's so hard to make plans. If we can get our school year complete, that will be at least one thing off my plate.

We finally got some tomato plants in the garden and the flower beds are looking better. I'm also on the hunt for a good place to turn loose some mint. Mint is notorious for being invasive, but I think this family could handle an acre or two of it. After recently delivering an order which included mint ice cream, mint ice cream cones and mint bars, our Schwan man said, "I think this family has a mint deficiency." He may be on to something.

Family Reunion

We had a family reunion at our place yesterday. My cousins and I decided that we were tired of seeing each other only at funerals, and our family has had quite a few of those in recent years. So we picked a summer Saturday and put out the word.

I set up a drink station, with cups, napkins, and drinks in the coolers. Sweet tea in gallon jugs was added later.

The food table was prepped to receive all the goodies that I knew would arrive. Turns out, two of my guy cousins are awesome cooks. Who knew?

Tables and chairs, set and waiting for food and conversation:

And, my cousin Burt (sorry, but your dad is "Wayne"), getting ready for his big dive. We're all waiting.

And my son is ready for you...

'Bout time!

Pretty impressive form there, cousin.

Burt and his wife, Meredith, have a blog. She and I took pictures at the same time, so this shot may actually appear in two places on the web. Here's a link: The Burtons.

Oh, sure, it's clean NOW...

The pool is looking sparkling clean and ready for a refreshing swim now, but yesterday was a different story. It was like the plagues-- there were frogs everywhere!

We were out of town for the weekend and there was a torrential rain while we were gone. The frogs decided that our pool was THE place to be (I'm keeping my eye out for tiny beer cans). Most of the frogs survived-moment of silence, please, for the ones who didn't make it--and my daughter and I scooped up the rest and set them free in the woods.

Good luck, frogs! Keep your parties in the swamp, please.

Cool.

The pool is finished! And it is looking sooooo tempting on these hot days.

The water temperature has only just gotten above 80 degrees, perfect for swimming. Below 80 and it's too cold for me; above about 87 and it just feels like bath water--yuck!

But right now, as Goldilocks said, "It's just right."

There's a giant hole in my yard!

And I'm hoping it turns into a swimming pool before the temperature hits 90!