The smell of bug spray

We invited a friend over last evening to hang out on our back patio.  Because it was nearly 9:00 before he arrived, Andrew brought out the bug spray.  As we sprayed it on, the smell took me back to my childhood.  All of a sudden I was a kid again, and I was back in Coldwater, Michigan, where my grandparents had a summer home.  We spent our evenings outdoor at a fire, and since we were by the water, we especially needed to use the bug spray.  The same brand still smells exactly the same all these years later.  It made me smile to feel so close to those memories again.

Listening to my girl

We had a friend over last night, and it was a late night.  I slept in, and I allowed the kids to sleep in as well.  When Catherine woke up she stayed in bed for a bit.  I am in the living room, and I could hear her talking to the cats.  Our sweet girl is a cat lover.  She really is great with all animals, but she is definitely special with cats.  I smiled as I heard her talking to them, and then I could hear her singing to them.  Oh goodness, my heart melted a bit.  In two months she will be living on her own.  It seems so unreal to me that the day for that is drawing so close.  I can't imagine that she won't be here.  I know this is our goal as parents...to have our children grow up to be functioning adults, and I am proud of the person Catherine is.  I just wish it didn't happen so fast!

Not as bad as I thought it would be

Today really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  Five of the six grandkids were there, and Andrew and my cousin's husband really got A LOT of things done.  Thomas was able to score a lot of metal and should get a decent amount of money.  I brought home a couple of things to keep for our family, but my grandmother was generally a hoarder and much stuff was pitched.  We've made plans to go back on Friday and get some more stuff done.  Overall, it wasn't a bad day at all.  And now we are home with a lovely day and can relax the rest of the day!

I am officially dreading tomorrow

Last weekend, my mother asked if my family could help her sometime this week at my grandmother's house.  My sister decided it needed to be this weekend so she could be there also.  My mother then asked my cousin if her family would join us.  That would give us many bodies (some of them rather strong) and we should be able to accomplish a lot.  Not a problem. 

Then my mother decided she was irritated with certain parts of the family.  She can't renovate and move into the house (which I think is not a great idea) until family members take the things they want.  She made a pronouncement that after a set period of time, things would be pitched or donated.  Not a bad idea, as this can not drag on forever.  Her tone, however, is not always amicable.

She just called to tell me that the dumpster she had ordered never showed up, so we aren't going to be able to get rid of some of the trash like she had hoped.  Furthermore, my one cousin, who doesn't necessarily get along well with others will be there tomorrow as well.  He isn't coming to work of course, but will be there to make sure he gets what he wants.  He doesn't hesitate to speak down to others and to be belligerent, and my mother and sister do not hesitate to call him on it and give it right back to him.  And of course I "love" spending time with my sister.

So yeah, this ought to be "fun".  I hadn't particularly been looking forward to this to begin with because I hate sweating, but obviously I get over myself and do what I need to do.  This though...well now I'm officially dreading the day.  Ugh.

The search for a new table cloth is going to push me to the edge

At our old house, we had a very "cute" dining room.  Our house was built in 1865 and had TONS of old house character.  Our dining room was a bright yellow with white trim and painted gray blue floors.  I loved our dining room as it also had french doors that led out to a stone patio.  I didn't necessarily have to worry about "decorating" the table.  Our table is a very large wooden table.  It looked very nice in our cute dining room.

And then we moved here.  I still like our dining room, but it presents some challenges.  First of all, the floor is wood.  So now the wood table with wooden chairs on our wood floor is a bit much.  I have three table cloths that I absolutely love.  One goes on around Easter and takes us through the summer.  One is clearly a fall table cloth, and the one that goes on for Christmas is not actually a holiday cloth so it can last until spring.  Our table can be three different sizes so I have many more in other sizes, but for our every day size this is what I have.  And the one that is currently on the table just got a stain on it that washing did not get out.  Ugh!!!!

I have checked out MANY online stores, and so far, nothing I really like.  I LOVE the one I have, so it's hard to beat that.  It needs very specific colors with a spring motif.  Oh, and I hate floral patterns so that is definitely challenging.  I am beginning to think this entire search is going to push me to the edge of insanity!

It's been a bit of a rough week

"Life" is starting back up again, which means a bit of a schedule.  It's been a tough week in that some members of the family are not grasping responsibilities.  Some members of the family have had a tough attitude this week regarding responsibilities.  It seems almost everything has been a battle this week, and honestly, it is draining and exhausting.  I am very, very tired of cleaning up after everyone else in this house.  I am very, very tired of trying to make sure everyone is where they are supposed to be when they need to be there, and I am very tired of my husband's inability to manage time becoming an emergency for me.  I. Am. Tired.

Of course everything in this house is occurring against the backdrop of what is happening in our nation.  And there has been additional drama in the extended family.  It has all felt overwhelming.

On the upside, life is truly very blessed overall, and this shall pass.

From high school to college

Today Catherine had to be at the school this morning to turn in her gown.  This afternoon she officially registered for her college classes and had her financial aid advising meeting.  My sweet girl is officially enrolled and registered at college.  It's a big day for her!  I am more proud than I can put into words.

Of course, I don't understand how we got here so fast.  Not just since the time we laid our eyes on her, but since my own summer after senior year of high school.  Does it feel like it has been a long time?  Sort of.  Does it feel like nearly three decades?  Absolutely not.  And having children only made time go even faster.

We still have two months with her at home, and I hope to appreciate each day.