Mimi Camp

Somehow school is starting in two weeks. And that means my daughter teachers are going back to mandatory whatevers this coming week.  And that means that my grandchildren will be coming here. 

Still Reaping what we Sow. 

When I counted heads and realized five out of the seven participants under high school age will be here during the day for five days, I surrendered, invited the two remaining grade school grands and decided it was Mimi Camp. 

Unfortunately they are mature young men (mostly) and a girl and they are not longer pacified with cute little crafts and themed snacks.  And Mimi is gets tired quickly when they run wild.  I quickly planned some outings to tire them out.

Monday we will go park to park in my town and they can run, play sports, whatever, while I watch them from my lawn chair.

Tuesday we are going to the amusement park. Each child can pick one thing (that makes 7 things) to do and I wrote that we would go home when Mimi gets tired. 

Wednesday we will travel 45 minutes to a children's museum where I will renew my grandparents pass allowing myself and unlimited legal grandchildren a year's admission to climbing walls, engineering activities, pinball machines and all kinds of stuff to tire them out.

Thursday is my church day and I imagine grampa will allow unlimited screen time.

And Friday we are driving them up to Lake Erie for a picnic on the beach (no swimming) and a trip to a diner for gigantic milk shakes. 

I am sure I will return with plenty of pictures but this is to advise you of my absence next week. I will be TIRED.  

There is a young woman in a small village next to us. She is an attractive blonde with three adorable young children and a very handsome, ruggled husband who is a full-time welder and a volunteer firefighter. She is a leader in the "Embers", the volunteer fire department's women's group who help with the annual breakfast fundraiser, the booth at the village festival and all the other activities. 

She is very sweet and nice and popular and everything I just said about her and her life is important.  

It is important because that is how to help you afford healthcare in this country.  

Megan has cancer. And the fire department is rallying to make sure she can afford treatments. 

Last Sunday the fire department sponsored a Chicken BBQ.  Every business and family in the village volunteered to help.

Firemen barbequed the chicken and roasted the corn. There were cups of cole slaw and homemade baked beans. A local candy maker donated chocolate covered pretzels as a dessert. 

There were over 100 raffle baskets donated for drawings.  There was a second raffle for more expensive tickets that included a freezer and a 1/4 beef donated by a local beef producer.  

We were smart to get there early because they sold out of the 400 dinners in 45 minutes. And because it was the week after the village festival, they still had some boxes of hamburgers in the freezer and were able to start frying burgers for those who missed out on chicken.  

I have not heard the total amount raised, but it will be substantial.  

Megan's family is lucky that they have life long ties to the village, that they are well known and, to be honest, they are an attractive and sympathetic family in photos. Because that is the formula to raise money for health emergencies.  

Rose O'Sharon

I've shared this story before. My sister in-law Peggy had Rose O'Sharons planted around her house.  She was splitting them and gave me three baby plants. 

When she was 33 years old she got up, got dressed and went to her eight year-old son's soccer game. She was standing with my brother and her 5 year-old daughter when she suffered a massive heart incident and dropped to the ground.

Despite numerous doctors in the crowd, nothing could be done. She was dead as she fell.  

This was over 31 years ago and it seems like yesterday to me.  And my Rose O'Sharons are a memory of her. 

For most of the summer my gardener (Mr Merry) has been at war with Japanese Beetles. 

The Japanese Beetles can devour every blossom on a bush in a few hours.  

Mr Merry is winning the war! 

More. And More. And More.

 

This morning.