The Girls are BACK–and Then We’re Gone!!

The last  hurrah of the summer season is here already in Eugene, OR.  It seems the kids are all anxious to get back to school yet reluctant to leave behind those carefree days of summer.  I still remember that feeling.  Sad to leave summer behind but getting together with friends is always something to look forward to.  Some things don’t change much!!


We started the day with breakfast out, on our way to meet up with the girls in Salem.  This is how they do the hash browns at our local Diner…crisp on top….

 


…AND on the bottom.  Now that’s a nice pile of hash browns.  Russ gives me half of his potatoes and I give him half of my flapjack.  The diner insists it is NOT a pancake, it is a thin cousin of a pancake and it is a FLAPJACK.  Okay, whatever you say, as long as it’s good.

The girls are in the pool as we speak.  It’s been getting cold here at night and in the early morning but right now it is hot and the pool is warm.  Someday we need to do some major ($$$) work on that pool.  Don’t know what we’ll do but I know the kids sure enjoy it and it gives them some good exercise.  We will have to address the issue soon as the plaster is getting really bad. (SIGH)


Anna discovered an unexpected visitor to the pool.  Don’t know what this is, never seen one before but it was ugly and BIG!!
We have a guy that comes weekly to clean the pool and there is plenty of chlorine in it but the bug didn’t seem to mind!  Anna tossed him out of the water and I don’t know what became of him.  That really bugs me!!

We wind up summer next Saturday with a backyard picnic and music performance by the grands.  Then we will be diving headfirst (no NOT into the pool!) into travel plans for ourselves and Poppy.  Right now it looks like we will be leaving early September for a trip to Glacier NP and then parts unknown.  We may end up on the California coast somewhere near Santa Cruz but no final plans have been made as yet.  We just need a time to relax and unwind from the events of this past summer.

Many of you “know” my crazy sister, Laila, and her equally insane husband, Brian, through my blog.  We have lots of fun with them and love to go places together.  They are huge Duck fans and are into every sport.  The sports have already started for the year and today Brian and Laila were at a soccer game.  The tailgaters had spread from the lawn area onto the sidewalk and as Brian went to walk around them, he did not see the unpainted curb and took a header.  The x-rays show a break but they could not tell if it was a new break or one from a couple of years ago.  He will need to see a specialist next week.  In the meantime he is splinted and in a lot of pain. 

This is one of those times when I really miss Sharon.  We sisters were always there for each other in such times and it somehow feels wrong to be planning a trip and leaving Brian and Laila without a “sister” to help them out.  I know their kids and grandkids are nearby and are willing to help but it is just one of those struggles that we face when dealing with life changes…and it sure can change in a hurry.  This certainly puts a crimp in Brian and Laila’s fall travel and game plans.  DANG IT!!

Life goes on, all you can do is roll with it and do the best you can to keep up.