the things we worry about

 So this gecko, Lillian, oh my goodness.

She's Kari's, and she's off at college, so I take care of this little lizard. She has a lot of personality and I enjoy her, BUT she shed her skin and then a piece persisted on the side of her nose, which doesn't seem to bother her, but then she had this squinty eye.

I don't want to take her to the vet. It's way the hell out in Lake Elmo, not close, expensive, but I don't want the critter to be in pain or struggle.

She was eating and drinking and acting normal, so that was good at least.

Finally after a day and a half of the squinty eye I looked at it with a magnifier and flashlight and could see a little, tiny shred of skin stuck to the eyelid. I wet a Q tip and squeezed it to drip on the eye.  I wet it some more and swabbed her little eye. She got mad and snapped that Q tip.

Okay, then.

The next day I dripped water on her eye a few more times.  And at some point, I checked on her and voila. Eye open.

In this big world full of so many problems, what big deal is a squinty eye on a gecko?

Okay.

Back to your regularly scheduled lives.

Love, Val

hot summer sunday

 We went to church this morning for the first time in months, and this cool spider had built an enormous web between the catalpa tree and the fence post.    The web was so big and the spider so fierce looking I texted the kids if they came outside not to run into the web.  Then later Jay ran into it by accident and the spider decided to rebuild elsewhere.

Jay went to Elk River to watch t.c. play football, and I took the kids shopping at Costco to stock up Kari's food stash in her dorm, and then made it to this soccer game. 

It was so hot, I don't know how the kids could even stand it, but they did, and they're so much improved from last year, working some plays, better control of their bodies and the ball.  It was kind of impressive.  b.g. was playing goalie for a long time.  He's kind of ambivalent about that position, but he was a good sport and worked hard.

 Then in the evening, I exhumed the Halloween decorations and didn't even dust or clean, just got them unpacked and put up.   I can work on dusting and cleaning as we go.  The kitchen floor and the rugs got washed, so there's that at least.

And that's the end of a lovely weekend.

Onward.    Love, Val

40th anniversary for our friends

Their kids hosted a surprise party for them on Saturday night, and it was a great time.

 Their families are friendly and sweet, and it was fun to see them again.  We sat together at the meal with both of their mothers and spouses.   Plus really, what a blessing to have your parents around to enjoy your fortieth anniversary, and to be at your kids' anniversary.  Forty years!

We were neighbors only three years, from 1985-1988, but friends for life.

Lucky us, and lucky those precious kids. 

Congratulations, you two, love, Jay and Val, and all

volleyball

 Julia's playing volleyball, and we got to see a game on Saturday.  Usually her games are in the afternoon when I'm working.   It was fun. She has a cute team.

She's a freshman this year at the same school all the rest attended for high school.  We have had kids there almost continuously since 1994.   They'd always joke about how many more kids were coming?  Well, now?  None.  This is the very last one.

Jule, I hope you have as much fun here as the others have.  So much love, MOM

sweet september

Soft breeze on the patio, crickets chirping--September thanks for being a friend.

Love, Val

a fine wild birthday party

 It was fine, and it was wild.

The evening was mercifully cool and mild.

 My dad and Jay in some conversation on the patio

 Time for opening gifts!

(We gave him that shirt and those Legos)

 I love this little girl's festive, cluttery room.

 The boys, equally fun:

 Okay, this Mary Poppins idea was unsafe.  Joe intervened.

The fine, festive Iron Man cake:

Oh my goodness, what a great night, great party.

Dude.

Seriously.

Happy Birthday, love Me and Grandpa and your other Grandparents and your Great-Grandparents and all your cousins, and aunts and uncles and Everybody

quietest weekend

 She was with us, just Julia and the dog, Elin.   We slept late, went to antique and art shops, out for supper, watched movies, so quiet.

She said being the only child was boring.

Well.

I believe that.

But it was still kind of fun to have our baby all to ourselves.

Love, Mom