Back home in Indiana

...and after crossing the state line; Mom, Dad, and I sang for the rest of the family. Afterward, DH confirmed that none of us have the a career in music.

Getting in later then initially planned proved that life is small town is so special. Our B&B hosts are currently on vacation themselves so they left the keys in the mailbox for us.

Today was a quiet day, we stuck around North Manchester, visited with Grammie, and enjoyed the park. It is great being in small town USA.

One park with a great playground is just seven blocks up from our B&B which is easily walkable. Heck, there are actual sidewalks through out the Main Street section of town. We also didn't have to check out every inch of the playground for problems, poor maintenance issues, or other stuff. The kids had fun climbing, sliding, and swinging without one of us right on top of them the entire time.

One favorite at this playground is this slide. It is a series of rollers, as some industry uses to move product down the line. Fun watching the reactions of the kids first trips down the slide.











LB also found his own wheels -
Heaven help up us when his wheels aren't firmly attached to the ground.

His inner Spiderman also jumped for
this new option in the playground.



MM's inner desire to fly toward the the second star on the right and straight on till dawn finds a glimmer of possibility on the swings.

Talk about frustrating

So my summer reading program has been short circuited - dh returned Northanger Abbey to the library with a quarter of the book left to finish. I asked him to return a couple of CDs which were still in the truck from Chautauqua. Since he knew it was a library book, he figured it too needed to go back.

Tonight was library night with the kids, so I'd just get it back out and pick up where I left off. Well, that didn't work someone else has the book already. I'll have to go online and see about getting a copy from another branch. I would like to finish the book while we are on vacation next week.

Luckily I have Persuasion also, so I've jumped into reading this next title on my Austen list. Oh how wonderful to travel with Ms. Anne.

I'm done!!!

I don't enjoy the heat and humidity of the summer, but I headed out of the A/C anyway.

Yesterday was Plays in the Park's performance of Beauty and the Beast. The show was great, but waiting to put chairs out was just such a wipe out. It is worth giving up an afternoon in the A/C for quality community theater. Mom and I got so time to sit and chat, knit, and watch the kids. The kids had fun and found "play" friends while we waited. They went hill rolling, played Frisbee, catch, and Uno.

MM has now seen Beauty twice on stage. With the exception of the temperature, I think the water ice after intermission made this a better show for her. LB was having fun but sleep took over about 30 minutes before final curtain. That power nap just gave him the get up and go to chat with the college kids waiting in the car next to us, while MM got her autographs.

Next show for the kids is Cinderella at PIP on the stage this fall. I'm sure it will be as much fun as everything else.

Happy 4th

Well here's the my gang! I made these outfits from fabric in the stash.


Thursday (7-3) the kids got into their new duds so that they would be the feature photo on the Presbyterian House memo for the Fourth. I'll have to go through the photos from DH and Mc to see what we have of the four kids together.

In fact all I had to purchase was buttons for the boys shirts and MM's dress. Since this fits with my refashionista commitment, I'll pop a short post over there too.

Feast for the week

Appetizer

What is the weather like today where you live? Summer in full force - hot and steamy - and not enjoyed in my world.

Soup

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how career-minded are you? I would have to say 6. I like what I do, but will never put it before the time with my family.

Salad

What type of window coverings do you have in your home? Blinds, curtains, shutters, etc.? Curtains all over - I love making window treatments. The challenge and problem is finding just the right fabric for the plan in my head.

Main Course

Name something that instantly cheers you up. The best cheer up is a knee hug from LB with an "I love you, Mom." No matter what is happening around the house, at work, or with MM, that hug and statement will just brighten my day.

Dessert

How many times do you hit the snooze button on a typical morning? Who has time to hit the snooze button. I may not bolt out of bed, but I don't dare hit the button. I may never get up.

More from the porch

With the first three days being rainy, I haven't had much to show off of the place.

Here's the Presbyterian House, which has the distinction of being the first brick building at Chautauqua.



Most nights we sit and listen to the Chautauqua Symphony or whatever other entertainment is in the amphitheater.

Hey with seats like these who wants to go down and sit on a hard 19th century benches.




Yesterday was nice and dry enough for the Sklar family picnic on Bestor Plaza. After lunch, R and LB had fun playing with other kids on the plaza and at the fountain.

Even our newest family member joined in the fun in the plaza.



Before the return of showers, we headed back to the porch for play.