Happy Birthday, Brynn!

Brynn is ONE year old today and as sweet as she can be!  Cuuuuuuuuuuuute!


The official birthday party comes on Sunday.  It will be a day to celebrate for sure!

Grocery Shopping R Me

One of the sucky things about living with my friend, Lupus, is that shopping of any kind requires 3 knights, 14 horses, the alignment of the stars and/or my scooter (which I have a hard time navigating on and off the car on my own - not to mention the dear little basket on the front which would hold a bottle of salad dressing and a pack of gum - maybe). 

ANYWAY... blah blah blah... whine whine whine... I discovered online grocery shopping.  What a hoot! 

I can make my list online - reserve a pickup time (half hour span) and then go to the store - drive into the "Shop at Home" drive-thru (oh yes!  A drive-thru!) and within a minute or two, some smiling person comes out to the car, asks my name, and loads my groceries into the car.  Could be my new best friend!

Yesterday I arrived at the store at 4:00 on the dot and I was home at 4:18.  Really... how cool is that?????

There is a $10 charge, but after coupons, etc, I was still ahead almost $40. Not bad!

I arrived home with boundless enthusiasm and optimism, carried in the frozen and refrigerated things (2 trips).  On the 3rd, 4th and 5th trips (walking with a cane severely hampers your carrying ability) I brought in "regular stuff" - for the pantry.

After the 5th trip I was just done. Finished.  The cases of water?  Let's just say that warm water from the car was beginning to have some appeal.  And the watermelon?  It looked to me like it wanted to ride around in the car for a day or two.  I mean... I didn't ask it, but it just looked that way to me.  You know watermelons.  They're not very opinionated.

Michael came home from work and rescued me - brought in the rest of the groceries, the water and the watermelon.  (Maybe I read that ol' watermelon wrong. Maybe it wasn't interested in a ride.)

I would say that Michael was less than thrilled with my quest for independence.  (I think that's what it means when his two eyebrows turn into one somewhere over the bridge of his nose.)  I KNOW that all I had to carry in was the frozen and refrigerator stuff, but I wanted to do it all - all by myself.  And given another 24 hours (not unreasonable) I would probably have done it.  After reminding me "Honey, you know I would have taken all of that in." Michael gave me a hug and handed me the ice packs (ice always follows activity) That ol' Michael is a very kind and patient person!

I remember when Kate went through that "I want to do it myself" stage at about 2 years old.  She's now 4 1/2 and has outgrown it.  Just like all those cute little cartoons and stories about "old people" predict, I'm regressing - back to 2 years old. Oh!  Let's not go there!

ANYWAY... I went grocery shopping - something that I used to take for granted.  There is actually food in the refrigerator that hasn't reached the expiration date (a story for another day - maybe tomorrow) - food in the freezer - an extra this or that in the pantry.

Really, it doesn't take much to entertain me - or maybe my gratitude level has changed.  I don't know. I do know that yesterday was a great day!

Life is good!

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Farewell, Cousin Tom

We had a visit from my cousin, Tom, this week, although I can't figure out why anyone would leave the cool of the mountains for this humidity pot!  Ugh!

 

We had one of those quiet, laid back, weeks - not much doing - mini tours of the local pizza establishments - computer time - and even some porch painting!  We have a ceiling fan on the porch but Tom couldn't use it because it churned up the dust and made the new paint unhappy.  It was oppressive this week - all week. 

If I closed in the porch and had it air conditioned, would it still be a porch??

Yesterday we  "tried" to beat the heat by heading to the Delaware beach and Jersey shore.   (And no, we did not see Snookie or the Situation). I repeat... "tried".

We started the day on the Cape May Lewes Ferry - on the Lewes side. 

We took the Ferry across the Delaware Bay to Cape May, NJ.  This is the first time since in all the years that I've lived here that there was no... and I mean... NO air on the boat.  Not one hair blew in the wind. 

We did a little mini-tour of Cape May and then headed up the coast to Somers Point, where friends of Tom's own a restaurant called the Clam Bar. (Also known as Smitty's Clam Bar)

They were almost as happy to see Tom as he was to see them.  We had a great dinner and and were treated royally! We arrived at about 4:30 and by the time we left, the parking lot was jammed!  Our timing couldn't have been better!

We took the back roads - ran into torrential rains - and made it back home before 8:00.  All in all a great day!

Grand Opening!

Today is the day!!!!!

 

After months of planning and weeks of physical preparation, the new Guitar Center is here!

Tonight is the grand opening - at 7:00 pm.

Below is the article from Delaware Online this week:
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011106150307

The new Guitar Center is located in the Brandywine Town Center on Rte 202 and Naaman's Road - next to Ashley Furniture and down from Target.



Note:  Some of the pictures below are "ready to go" pictures, but some are "work in progress" pictures that I thought you might enjoy.

Michael spent the day yesterday tuning about 200 acoustic guitars.

  At the last count from Michael, they had opened over 400 boxes of guitars.  I can hardly wait to see the new store!  "Excited" doesn't even begin to say how Michael feels about being part of this new venture. 

Guitars, amps, drums, basses, keyboards, and all things related are unpacked, displayed and ready to go for tonight's grand opening event.

I wish them all the best!

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The Ever-Amazing Doc Watson

Michael (and Michael's friend/boss, John) and I went to see Doc Watson on Sunday.  I've been a huge fan of Doc Watson since my teens (Yes, contrary to popular belief I was once a teen - and the wheels on the cars at that time were NOT carved out of stone).

I remember seeing Doc Watson for the first time at The Main Point in Bryn Mawr in 1965 with his son, Merle, who was a year younger than I was.  Amazing!  Doc turned 88 in March - and he can still play! (and sing!)

Doc Watson was born sighted, but lost his sight before he was a year old due to an eye infection.  His talent as a musician (and as a kind, gentle man) has always been an inspiration to me.

ANYWAY... I wrote a concert review for my friend, Joe and his new music website.  You can find the review at:  
http://www.whatmusicmeans2me.com/concert-reviews/doc-watson-with-david-holt-t-michael-coleman-and-richard-watson-by-jane-mckinnin/

Doc and his wife lost their son, Merle in 1985 as a result of a tractor accident on their farm.  I would think that every time Doc steps on a stage, he remembers Merle and all the times that they came out on stage together.  Bittersweet memories, I'm sure.

Doc met his wife, Rosa Lee, when she was 14 years old.  He said it was just a couple of months later that she told her father that someday she was gonna "marry that fella".   And... she did.  Doc still refers to her as "my little darling".

It was a wonderful evening - filled with nostalgic tears... sweet memories... and amazing music!

She Can Dance!!!

Kate had her first dance recital on Saturday and not surprisingly, she was awesome!

 
Julie has some great pictures on her blog.  Sooooo sweet! Kate is the one in the middle on most of the pictures.  She's on the left side on the first group picture (with her head tilted).

At the end, they said that one parent could come up and dance with their child and I guess Richard was elected.  It made me cry to see them dance (in a good way, of course).

Kate is quite the dancer, but... I DO remember Julie and Richard's wedding and they didn't do too badly themselves on the dance floor.  I specifically remember how much fun Julie seemed to have when she danced.  Kate must have inherited the gene.

I'm SO glad I was able to go and share in Kate's special day.  I can hardly wait for next year!  

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Rock Star!

Gregory is a rock star!  I mean... really... that's not news to me.  I've always known he was a rock star.  (A completely objective opinion and one totally independent of the fact that he is my oldest grandson) BUT... now the rest of the world is finding out.

Gregory's band (Gregory and two of his friends) played at a Leukemia Society Fundraiser concert a couple of weeks ago and had a terrific time!

Gregory (in the black t-shirt), John (in the stripes) and DeLon (on the drums) and people setting up on the left

Gregory's friend, John, heard out about the concert and called the venue to see if there was an opening for their band.  Their timing was perfect!  One of the bands had just canceled so.... they were in as the opening band.

I don't think that the Leukemia Society knew that the band was comprised of 12-year-olds.  We wondered what would happen when "G" and friends arrived to set up. 

John, DeLon, and Gregory

 

As it turns out, they were treated like any other band.  They were given a half hour for the opening set.  The only problem was.... the band was formed VERY quickly - (they practiced twice) and they only knew 2 songs.

BUT... they had a GREAT time playing their set (without their drummer, who was late)!   Gregory and John had a chance to play their 2 songs again, but, they were trying to wait for the drummer and they missed their opportunity.

I'm not sure they ever came up with a name for the band.  They last I heard they were considering calling themselves "Paradox".  John was the guitar player/songwriter.  DeLon played the drums and Gregory did vocals.

John, DeLon and Gregory (and someone setting up on the left for another band)

What an encouraging day!  I can hardly wait for the next gig!

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