happy birthday, alicia

Your birthday looks like an exceptional summer day.

Thank you for being ours, for your sense of humor and patience, your support and encouragement to all of us, young and old.

We are so glad you're ours.

Lucky little old us.

Happy Birthday, Beautiful Girl

Love, Val, Jay, and Everybody.

some fun pictures

 Jay and Katie spent a few days at the cabin, and brought their cat with them.   I guess she had a great time exploring the cabin, all the rooms, under all the beds, in the art cabinet.

 This tube arrangement looks pretty perfect.

 Eating shrimp late at night, one of the fam.

Love, Mom

last of the pics

The fish swam away again in a minute.  He slipped it back into the water at the end of the dock.

This pic, lens all foggy from the humidity.

The ride home:

And today was a perfect real estate closing for a person I love--great house, cute neighborhood, all good.

Good night.  Love, Val

a walk before bed

 It's the lagoon at the lake next door, which has been sold. We know nothing about the new owners or the future of the resort.

 Beautiful night.

Love, Val

a hot weekend

Some kids in the hammock above

John and his  youngest son:

 Love, Mom

hot pink hydrangea

My niece, Betsy gave me this, and I love it. 

Today I went to the nursery to buy more of them to plant in front of the cabin.

They're out.  No more until next year.

!!!

I chose a different kind, and those will be fine, but in the spring I'm getting a couple of these too.

So much love, Val

when kids get your camera

Yeah.

Love, Grandma

a new pet, a fine compromise

This new pet is named Rowan Daguinea Zodiac Killer Styles-(our last name.)

She is a compromise.  Julia's been begging for a mouse for a while now. I can't stand them.  Ugh. But I urged her, how about a hamster? A guinea pig, a gerbil? She said no, but then diplomat Kari said, "She's offering you a compromise.  You might want to TAKE IT."

And so a week ago Jay went with her to the pet store and this was the only guinea pig they had, just a dainty little girl in Julia's preferred colors and everything.

It was destiny.

 They drove over here tonight to meet her. There's a meet and greet planned for Wednesday over at Dan's house too. (Love all my lake towels all over the living room. In pandemic, it's gotten real casual around here.)

 The little curly girl in the pink shirt greeted James and then said, "I'm feeling very nervous."   Oh my goodness. Rowan is not all that scary.

Okay, good night.

So much love,   Val

more pictures

Love, Val