Family Mellmann

For me, today is the last day.  Tomorrow I pack up and head back to Vermont, but not before celebrating with family as my cousin Amber had her big day. After a relaxed morning, I enjoyed a very yummy lunch followed by FaceTime with Patrick. I had some time to reply to e-mails and work on a project before it was time to get dressed for a wedding. Here comes the Cousin Train ... I even stuck around afterward to catch a few pictures of my family. After dinner I got a little quiet time with Amber's daughter...literally, we left the party to get some quiet time. As the party rolled on, I eventually headed back to my room, and arrived there just in time to watch a storm roll through. As the storm rolled by, the sky lit up. Almost as much as I miss seeing this branch of the family tree, I miss good old midwestern storms.  Despite the heat and 180% humidity, I sat on the balcony of my room to watch the lightning and listen to the...

It is encouraging how much can be accomplished in a day, particularly when it's a quiet day with no interruptions and few obligations. I started with a run for breakfast and a stop at the market (to buy the liquids that I couldn't fly with). Then I went back to the hotel to work on some projects from my to-do list that require time to think, analyze, and contemplate.  This is the view around the hotel; golf course, water hazards, and wooded hills. With a wedding tomorrow, today was the rehearsal dinner.  I poked my head in on the rehearsal part and then found a seat at the dinner location to read and relax until the party started. The Bride and Groom Father of the Bride (my uncle) and his first granddaughter. And the cousins (why am I the only one with grey hair?).

This morning, early, I left the family behind to fly to Missouri to attend the wedding of one of my cousins.  As we were on approach to land at Atlanta (for a breakfast layover) I spotted another plane also headed in for a landing. I prepared meals, coached Patrick, and arranged for a little play time with friends.  Even so, now that I'm settled in Missouri, it feels weird to be here alone.

Glasses time.  Now that Patrick is driving, he needs glasses to see distance.  My prescription hasn't changed much, but the doctor showed me how much better I can see close up (reading)...I didn't even realize that I was squinting to read...with a proper pair of reading glasses.  They're nothing special to look at (I picked the cheapest pair they had), but WOW can I read with less stress now.

Independence Day with friends...the best way to celebrate. The Williston Parade in the morning. Raptor Rescue with the boys. And dinner with good friends.

The garden is growing well, displaying new colors every day. What's the difference between a weed and a perennial?  Perennials are weeds that you want to keep. :) My Henry Lauder's Walking Stick looks like a kid in a ghillie suit.

Several years ago my family gave me a swing.  Rocking and swinging are very relaxing to me, so the swing is probably my favorite piece of outdoor furniture.  The years haven't been kind to my swing so I decided it was time for a little furniture remodel.  While I was at it, I decided to see if I could give these cheap little tables a new use.  First some scrubbing and cleaning. Once everything was dry, I could begin painting.  I chose a blue paint which would coordinate with the color of the shutters and doors on the house, and the umbrella on the deck. Once the paint was dry, I put the swing in place and set up my little space.  We will add a fire pit and a few chairs, and then we can enjoy this new spot.  It's located in a place that sees early afternoon shade, and looks back up toward the house, with a view of the whole back yard.