Amanda and Stef

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Brayden and Shelly at the Lake

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Brayden at the Lake

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Maddog and Brayden playing whiffle ball at dusk

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Connor and his mother, Linn. Connor is also a new graduate

Sabrina, the Hostess

Margaret

The Graduate, Alex, Son of Sabrina and Dave

Erica, also a new graduate (from Westminster College)

Linn, Margaret's daughter-in-law

Margaret at the Party

Catrina and Lauren at the Party

Catrina at Graduation Party for Alex

At the Lake - June 24, 2012

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Goldman took the pictures, emailed them to Rose, and she posted them on the blog. We plan to have more pictures today before our company has to leave, Brayden gets to stay until Wednesday and then he's going to Arkansas with Rose and Shirley. They will come back Sunday and he will fly to Louisville Sunday night. Goldman is taking him to St. Louis and Mad Dog will stay with me until the 'gils' start arriving for girls weekend. This 'girls' weekend has been a tradition yearly since they were not middle aged women. Pete and Janet called yesterday with their weekly call. They hadn't talked to Brother Joe yet when then called. Rose's rain gauge still hasn't been useful. No rain to measure,

Phillip and Brayden

Scott and Maddog at Lake

Sue, Beth, and Beth's Friend at Lake

Scott at Lake

Sabrina at finish line Run for Cure

Apple Tree

This Raintree Nursery apple tree (honey crisp) was a Mother's Day gift from Yvonne, Shirley's niece. It is doing fine in our shady yard.

At the Galleria

Garden

Mark Goldman and I split and planted hostas in April.

Dry Summer

Chris and Shelly and I went out to dinner last night and then Chris and I went by Mark Lary and Karen's new house. They are going to move in to when they get the renovation completed and the one they're living in now sold. It's not far from us so hope we get to see them more often. The 'check engine' light came on in the 'company car' yesterday afternoon. Rose went out to the dealer early this morning to have it fixed so Goldman and I can leave at noon. It's really hot here in Missouri with no rain. Rose has a vested interest in rainfall besides the flowers - she purchased a rain gauge! So far it hasn't registered any rain. We haven't had a drop.

Ladies in Red

Shelly and Chris

Doctors

I've been consistent about updating the blog although I haven't had a lot to report. Rose took me to one of my doctors for some followup tests on those stents they did some time ago on my right leg this morning. Either Chris or Shelly will take me back to my primary care physician this afternoon because I have a rash she wants to look at. The doctor is going to call later with the results of the followup stent tests. Goldman's stepfather is having some surgery today but should get out of the hospital tomorrow. His stepfather has had a beard for 50 years and thinks having to shave it may me the worst part of the procedure. Goldman and his sisters are with his mother.

PRACTICE - Guitar and Exercise

Sunday and almost lunch time. Rose is practicing her guitar and I'm lazing around doing nothing. Both Rose and Shirley have computer lessons later today, but I think I'll stay home. I've been riding the exer-cycle to get some exercise as often as I feel like it. On Friday evening Shelly brought over a home made cake (She was the one who made it, needless to say) and Ding stopped by after work. Rose and Shirley had gone to a Jung Society event and got home in time to visit with them. I feel bad about missing the Kansas relatives and sure hope they enjoyed the place. COME BACK SOON AND OTHERS COME TOO. I love company!

Going Back to Lake

I'm still in St. Louis and can't go back down to the lake until Wednesday.  I plan on a long stay after this unscheduled trip home.  I have two doctor appointments on Monday and some errands to run on Tuesday.  Then Mark Goldman and I will go back Wednesday to the lake if every thing goes well. Missing the Kansas relatives has made this a sad event, but Kansas isn't so far from Missouri. Summer isn't nearly over.  Everyone who visits loves Goldman's bacon.

 Needless to say, I'm feeling much better. Like Pete and Janet inquired in their weekly call, is it hot in Missouri?   It isn't yet in Idaho. It is summer in Missouri and HOT.  Awfully good lake weather!

Kansas

I finally heard back from my primary care physician after a long wait. What I have is bronchitic/asthma. The doctor called me late this afternoon with results from the x-rays and then ordered an inhaler and told me to take Mucinex. I am feeling better, and one thing I'm really missing is seeing the Kansas bunch at the lake. They better be having a good time and making themselves at home. They promised to try to come again before summer is over.

Update

I arrived in St, Louis Tuesday and got an appointment with my my primary care doctor first thing.  Now am awaiting results of the chest x-reys that the doctor ordered.  She said she would call yesterday but she hasn't yet this morning.

Quick Update

Mark Goldman and Sue came home from the lake yesterday evening because she developed a persistent cough and was feeling bad. Today she saw her primary care physician who diagnosed bronchitis and possibly pneumonia.  She sent Sue for an X-ray and said she would call with the results and a plan for treatment.  No word yet.  I think Sue is feeling better and eager to return to the lake.

John and Jana with their two girls, Ellie and Caitlin (ages 6 and 3) arrived at the Lake last evening.  This visit had been long in the planning, and Sue's not being there is a big disappointment to everyone. We are hoping John, Jana, and the girls have a wonderful time!

Jana Moore (granddaughter of our late Brother Bob) paid us a visit on Sunday, June 3, 2012 when she was in town on business.

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Paragraphs

I've been fooling with this computer most of the day trying to make paragraphs. What resulted was I sent an email to myself. I tried to post what I thought was a different way but was just sending to me. I was working again on trying to make paragraphs. I'm not sure if I may need glasses since my cataract process because I sometimes have trouble seeing the TV screen. The boys don't believe I need glasses. They think I need a bigger screen TV. I tell them to move their chairs closer. Mad Dog has arrived. He and Goldman are sitting outside and I going to join them.

FRIDAY MORNING

It's quiet morning here at the lake. I had to get Goldman out of bed to help me with a problem I had with my computer but he went right to bed and I could here him snoring right away. Between the both of us we ended calling Rose to solve the computer problem. I'm also going to try to see if it will now let me make paragraphs. Mad Dog is coming down today and Groves may arrive tomorrow. Goldman will probably be glad to have some male companionship. I've been trying to get exercise in but if I try walking around here, everything is uphill. Goldman and I gone to some big stores and he suggested I go up and down every aisle. Anyway, it seemed like it. Mad Dog just called. He had stopped by Rose's to pick up some stuff and then he will be headed down. I haven't seen any boats out yet.

Lynch Family at Lake June 5, 2012

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Another Fine Graduate

Jacob Langston, Thurston High School 2012

Jacob is the son of Cyndi and Dave Langston. (Cyndi is our niece, youngest daughter of brother Bernie and Maudie)

Lynch Family Visit

It's morning and some of us are up.  The Lynch family arrived yesterday.  Mike has already fished today with no luck. Their children got to swim in the pool and to ride the wave runner yesterday, Maddie, their 14 year old daughter, wouldn't ride on it but both boys are eager to get Dad back out there and do it again and insist it's not too cold to get started. Zach and Matt, the boys, aren't sure what to call me but they decided 'Granny' will be okay. They all went to play miniature golf last night except for me and Goldman. He watched hockey and I went to bed. We had a great dinner of hamburgers, homemade French fries, and tomatoes from their garden. By the way, I can't make paragraphs. Rose and Goldman and Chris have looked at my blog and it's something about my updates. Rachel's phone can send pictures and email them so we will get Rose to post some. I've talked to Rose this morning.   The Lynches have to leave this evening but Goldman told the boys he will make homemade pizza for dinner.

Sunday Morning

Chris had to leave before breakfast this morning but Goldman is cooking up bacon and French Toast for the two of us. I've already talked to Rose this morning and had my weekly call with Pete and Janet yesterday. They were having their family over for their great granddaughter's third birthday party. They thought they would have about fifteen attendees. Mike and Rachel and their family are coming down tomorrow but can only stay overnight. Mike is Mad Dog's brother. The kids really like being here and all of us wish they could stay longer. Mad Dog is coming down later in the week and will pick up my next supply of pills. I finally learned how to make paragraphs. I guess I had been trying to indent 5 spaces the old fashioned way. Breakfast is ready. More later.

Easter Lily

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Chris and Shelly gave us this plant last year at Easter.  It bloomed beautifully then, and we later planted it in the garden where is stayed all winter.  This spring it came up again, grew to about three feet, and is developing these beautiful blooms.  I took this photo with an iPhone App (Pro HDR) which actually takes two photos and blends them for better resolution and color.  [A friend who teaches film at Columbia College in Chicago told me about the photo application.]  Chris and Shelly put us onto MiracleGro.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, PETE AND JANET

Just talked to Pete because I had emailed him this morning and he hadn't responded.  When I called him, he said he had been busy. Today is his and Janet's 55th Wedding Anniversary. They went to Branson for their honeymoon and stopped by the family house after the honeymoon. I don't remember the wedding, but I do remember their stop in Marshfield. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Pete and Janet.

Great Day at the lake

I heard from Brother Joe yesterday. He had gone to the cemetery with flowers on Memorial Day. He didn't say when he was coming here to see me so I'm going to have Goldman go there too, We can meet often since I''m pretty close. I want to see him and Leslie and Sam [that King boy] and also go to the old Carnegie library in Marshfield which is now a museum of sorts. As kids, we spent many hours in there. Joe sent me the hours that it is open. I called them when I knew someone would be there to ask about the Marshfield pictures and whoever answered the phone knew me from grade school. John and Jana and the girls - and I hope Tricia - will be here on the evening of the 12th. Elaine will be in Missouri sometime around the 4th. It has rained the last two nights and it's supposed to stay cool all day. We've even turned the air conditioner off.

memorial day with a wonderful group

I'm here at the lake and have been since last week Wednesday. Linda left on Friday after the other group began arriving. I have already talked to Rose this morning and she and Shirley will soon be enroute from Chicago back to St. Louis. It's just me, Goldman and Mad Dog. I had 13 over the weekend so Goldman and Mad Dog got beds instead of air mattresses. They're still sleeping but get right up if I need anything. Doug took the kids on lots of boat rides and Scott took them on the wave runner. Groves had to leave Sunday but the rest of the group stayed as long as they could. Scott's kids have two more days of school and he had the farthest to drive. The girls did the shopping and the guys helped a lot. I go to bed first and, when I get up first, the kitchen is cleaned up and ready for someone to cook again. I haven't heard much from Joe. Pete and Janet called with their Saturday call. After I hear from them, I know what day of the week it is. Donald and Vita left Monday for Italy, France, and England. They'll be gone three weeks.

Perfect beach weather in Chicago

Sue at Lake

Back to the Lake

Today is the day I start the summer at the lake! Linda is picking at 10 A.M. this morning, and I'm all packed and ready to go. The weather looks like it it's going to be really hot for the next couple days; it's summer weather. The rest of the group will arrive on Friday for the holiday weekend.  I went to Chris and Shelly's for dinner last evening. They can't come to the lake this weekend. Shelly has to work. Rose and Shirley go to Chicago Thursday through Tuesday.

We have several in the family who are graduating from high school or college this spring.  Among them Tricia (granddaughter of Brother Bob) who has completed her degree and nurse's training; Connor (grandson of Margaret and Norman) who, at age 18, is graduating with a high school diploma and an associate's degree; Erica (granddaughter of Margaret and Norman) who is graduating from Westminster, and Jalen (my grandson) who is graduating from eighth grade.  And we do doubt have missed some.  Please, fill us in if we have.

At Cheesecake Factory for Dinner

At Cheesecake Factory for Dinner

At Cheesecake Factory for Dinner

At Cheesecake Factory for Dinner

Happy Birthday, Shirley and Sabrina!

Just waiting until Wednesday when Linda and I head for the lake. I am having my eyes checked one more time in the morning and will probably have to wear glasses, at least part of the time. I have no idea how long it takes to make glasses to fit a prescription and neither does anyone I ask. My appointment is at 9:30 in the morning and I should learn more then. Pete and Janet called with their weekly Saturday morning call. If they didn't check in, I wouldn't know what day it was all week. Rose and Shirley are over at the Apple store right now. The Apple store is one of their favorite places. They are going to Chicago next week for a few days over the holiday. Shirley's birthday is the 25th as is Sabrina's. Happy Birthday to both of you! I talked to my friend Liz this morning. Remember, she and I worked at GMAC together all those years and with Brick, too. GMAC is Ally now and Liz is assigned to the office near Chicago. I am hoping she and her husband Dave will make it to the lake some time. Liz has come for Girls' Weekend in past years.

!Happy Belated Birthday, Joe

We missed Brother Joe's birthday which was on the 17th. Happy Belated Birthday!! I didn't post his age belatedly because I am not sure what birthday he celebrated and figured he wouldn't want us to even if we knew it. Hope you had a happy one, Brother. Pete and Janet called with their Saturday morning check in. They said Spring had possibly arrived in Idaho. Pete was going to help with cleanup in their neighborhood today. He says if he doesn't help out, people might talk bout him. I doubt that! Scott and the boys are headed to Santa Claus, Indiana, today. Scott is chaperoning Jalen and seven other boys, part of an 80 person band trip. And he and Brayden are 'hanging out'. It's an amusement park. Rose is practicing her guitar as she is still diligent about.

Guitar Lessons

Rose has been diligently practicing her guitar and has seldom missed a day.  Now she has decided that perhaps she does need something besides her own study and has found a teacher to begin some instructions. Her new teacher is very encouraging, and Rose is encouraged.

 I should be back at the lake most of the time after May 22. I don't have anyone to go with me this coming weekend but, after that, I hope to spend the summer mostly there. Chris and I are having dinner tonight. Shelly has to work.

[ The reason for the GC cake in Idaho was Merri's birthday. Merri, i won't post your age.]  Happy birthday, Brother Joe, too!

Mother's Day

As you can see by the pictures, we've been spending some time watching the humming birds and sitting in the garden. As of now, we can still count the birds but hope they will soon be here in droves. I had a wonderful Mother's Day with lots of attention and phone calls. Scott is tired of getting me flowers for almost every occasion so he's going to give me the works this year. Beth will stay over a week day some time when she's at the lake for the weekend, and we'll find a place at Lake Ozark for the 'works'. I might get spoiled. Then on Mother's Day evening, I got flowers too! Chris arrived with a pot of geraniums for the lake house. He brought them here, and then he and Shelly took me and her mother and her Uncle Butch to dinner. It was a wonderful day and I had lots of calls from others besides my sons. My cataract surgeries and eye drops are finished now, but I may need glasses for some of my vision correction. I have an appointment on the 21st - after my eyes settle down. Chris doesn't wear glasses after removal of the one cataract, but Rose does. Pete and Janet called Saturday. For Mother's Day, Janet was making a German chocolate cake cause it's Merri's favorite, and both she and Kelly were coming. Nancy and her family spent the time in Panama City. Chris and Shelly vacationed in Key Largo, FL., returning late on Saturday evening.

Mother 's Day 2012

Humming Birds have arrived in Missouri

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Garden May 13, 2012

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Elizabeth, daughter of Catrina and Robbie

JALEN

Tuesday

Tuesday before lunch time and I got an early haircut. I'll probably nap this afternoon though it will mess up my styling at the hairdresser. I'm also working on solving a crossword puzzle and I don't consider looking up things on the computer cheating. Reading my own writing is a challenge in itself. I found a folder of ancestry data while Linda and I were going through pictures at the lake house last week. I thought it was stuff Brother Joe had gathered but he says 'Sally Jackson' gathered the data in a family reunion we had. He and I will go through it when we can get together.

Lake and Back

I'm back in St. Louis after a wonderful stay at the lake. Linda is a great companion, among other things. Shirley thinks I've found another sister. I sometimes hesitate to ask her to do something that I can perhaps do myself because she's right there doing it - whatever it might be - ahead of me. She is also a baseball fan and our cable and television services were out when we got there but Linda got Charter out before Thursday's game had barely started. The trouble was all due to lightning striking nearby. We spent lots of time framing pictures and sorting. I did most of the sorting while Linda framed. The weather was extra good and nice and warm. We could sit outside. Brother Pete called with their weekly update yesterday and they were going to have freezing temperatures both Saturday and Sunday nights. More later. Chris is taking me to lunch and he and Shelly are leaving for Florida in the morning. Scott and Brayden have already left for Louisville.

Margaret and Fred Bird

Shirley and Brayden

PLAYING SCRABBLE

Shelly in Zoo Uniform

THE LAKE IS CALLING; I MUST GO

Linda is picking me up at ten. I don't have much time to update but will fill in as quickly as I can. Shirley made several copies of the old picture we posted here, and we'll get them in the mail as soon as we can. If there are additional requests for copies just let us know. Shirley made extras. I went back on Monday for my post cataract checkup. I'll probably still have to wear glasses but am not wearing them right now. I still grope around for them after years of habit. I had therapy yesterday. Shelly took me and waited while I had my session. The therapist thought I looked different without my glasses. One of my birthday gifts was a T-shirt "The Lake is calling; I must go." So true, so fitting (pun intended).

Sue and Chris Groves

After trip home from Louisville on Sunday