Zoey, Lizzie & Piper

Guess what this post is going to consist of? Mostly puppies and Piper. We have the girls with us this week until at least Thursday, maybe longer if they want to stay longer. Our camping plans were disrupted when they got Covid. We were in London for two weeks, then they went to Paris and London right after we got home. The day after getting home they tested positive for Covid. Then, when Mandy & Piper started getting better, Brad got it. So here we are with the summer going quickly and we hadn’t had our girls to stay with us yet. The outside of their house is being painted this week. Mandy is trying to work on the phone and we figured Lizzie might be barking at them so here we are.

So far we’re having a fun time. We went to the zoo yesterday. It was HOT but we still had fun. Piper talked Papa into climbing to the top of the tree fort. It’s higher than it looks. I’ve zoomed in on them. Here they are, three stories high.

Just before we left we decided to stop for the bird show. To our surprise it was not a bird show. At the last minute they had to change it to a reptile show because it was too hot to bring the birds out. We saw a giant tortoise and a snake, I don’t remember what kind, and a skink. After the zookeepers told all about each animal, the children were able to go up and touch them all. Of course Piper was up there with all of the other kids. Dennis and I stayed where we were sitting and reminisced about when her mother was the same age. Mandy was so shy she would have never jumped up and ran down there right away. She may have taken Alex by the hand and led him down there, but never on her own.  Piper is very outgoing and self-confident and Mandy was always very shy. It’s funny to see how different our grandkids are from their parents. Jamie‘s kids are the same way.

Either Mandy or Piper took this picture of the girls on Sunday when we were visiting their house. Isn’t it sweet? They hadn’t seen each other for over two weeks because of Covid. They were so glad to see each other. Doesn’t it look like they’re hugging? Sorry about the lighting, I don’t know what was up with that.

Miss Piper has spent a lot of time giving Papa and I foot rubs, especially since our trip to the zoo. She is very good. She massages lotion into our feet and then she puts plastic bags on our feet. I’m not sure the reason for the plastic bags, but she has tells us that they are necessary, so of course we comply.

Here she is this afternoon giving you an idea of the size of the blanket that I am crocheting. It’s almost the same size as she is and it’s still growing!

I have also started another pair of socks with Knit Picks Static yarn. It is a simple cast on of 64 stitches with a  K1P1 ribbed cuff and then K2P2 for the leg. I really love these colors.

On Monday I got this beautiful package of treasures in the mail from Tammy, who lives in Kuwait. You can find her on my side bar at “T’s Daily Treasures”.  Tammy has been back in the States taking care of her mother. She has lived in Kuwait for many years and has the most interesting tales of her adventures there. I have followed her for many years and always enjoy her posts. Thank you so much Tammy. I will treasure your gift. Obviously you remembered how much I love snowman!

Tomorrow is grocery day. Mom‘s leg has really been bothering her, so she’s not sure she will be up to going with me. When she has days like that I usually take her grocery list and shop for her and Dennis buys the things that we need. Tomorrow will have the added adventure of having Piper along. With Papa and I, it will be no problem but if I’m trying to herd Mom it could be interesting with both of them. I’m always a little bit afraid Mom will walk out the door without me, but she doesn’t like me staying with her the whole time. She feels like I don’t trust her or that I’m spying on her.

My best friend Jenny is taking a road trip beginning this weekend. In two weeks so she will drive from Spokane to Maine and back again. Her aunt in Maine is turning 95 years old and Jenny wants to make sure she’s able to see her one last time. She will be stopping along the way at various relatives homes to visit them. The first place she stopping is with us. She plans to be here on Sunday and we have the honor of having her stay for two nights before she continues on her way Tuesday morning. She says we are the longest stop of her trip. That means she’ll be with us for the Fourth of July. I am so excited to see her, as it has been over a year. That’s a long time to go without seeing your best friend, although I guess it’s not technically true. We do see each other most Thursday nights on ZOOM for Bible study. Then, July 14th Dennis’ three cousins and uncle from Minnesota are coming to visit. Two will stay at mom‘s house and two will stay with us. We’re looking forward to that visit very much.

Shortly after that we will leave for our trip to Spokane. We will be camping along the way and hopefully will not have to take out a loan for diesel to get us there and back! That’s not as funny as it sounds. I cannot believe the price of gas and diesel right now. It’s absolutely ridiculous and there’s no real reason for it that makes sense to me. We plan to be gone somewhere around three weeks. It will take us almost a week to get there because of a stop in the Black Hills and then at our son’s house in Montana. We plan to have about two weeks in Spokane before we make our way back to Omaha. We’re thinking about coming back through North Dakota instead of our usual route across South Dakota. I have never been to North Dakota before and it sounds like a new adventure.

Sorry. I seem to have written a novel. 😍 Take care and have a wonderful week my friends.

Blessings,

Betsy