September Happenings

We made a quick trip to the campground where our son and his family were staying this week for dinner out on Saturday evening; we wanted to help celebrate our favorite daughter-in-law's birthday (albeit a few days late). They're loving their new camper trailer and finding every excuse that they can to hit the road and explore the sights that our state (and those close by) have to offer. Gregory and Lynnleigh, being virtual learners again this year, have the benefit of classrooms without walls; now in fifth and third grades, they'll look back on these days of being truly remote with fond and happy memories, I feel certain. 

We were treated to a low-country "griddle"; it was delicious, every. last. bite; we had a great time!

When we left the house to drive there we passed beneath this flag flying at a local fire station, honoring the anniversary of September 11; it brought a lump to my throat to see this level of patriotism. No, we'll never forget!

We met these two when we arrived, they escorted us in, leading the way to their campsite on new bikes! They're squeezing every bit of fun out of these waning days of summer-like weather. 

It looks like the warm days will hang around a bit longer around here, this week shows no immediate relief despite the days getting shorter. Giving in, with a nod toward fall (Chrysanthemums and a hot meal at noontime), I made up another big batch of homemade tomato soup for lunch today, thanks to a church friend who's sharing his bumper-crop of remaining summer goodies; those generous tomato plants just keep on giving!

Life is Good!

Getting Out

Being that it was Earth Day 🌎and everything, Mr. Goodneedle and I loaded up the bikes and took a bike ride on one of the local greenways yesterday afternoon, it was so good to get outside and enjoy nature. There were a few joggers, a few dog walkers and a few exasperated Moms with children but they really were few and far between; everyone that we encountered, without exception, was observing proper social distancing. It was a beautiful day, almost seventy degrees; we rode the trail seven miles. I stopped at several grocery stores on the way home and found it impossible to find any yeast. I have a home-baking project in mind and this is thwarting my efforts! I guess everyone is at home baking and they've beat me to it! Running into a store takes so much more effort than ever before: masking up, taking my hand sanitizing wipes, following the arrows marked on the floor in the aisles, making as little contact as possible; it's one more adaptation as we mark day after day of an upside down world. I was talking with our daughter on the phone yesterday and we wondered together if the social world that we knew before will ever look the same again.

I have a question for all of you; if you have trouble remembering something do you look it up or wrack your brain and try to recall that missing information on your own? Here's an example: yesterday (don't ask why!) I was quoting the nursery rhyme "Georgie Porgie..." and couldn't remember what Georgie did after kissing the girls and making them cry. I thought and thought and all I could come up with was "when he saw what he had done..." and realized I was confusing it with the rhyme about Lizzie Borden. Clearly, my mind was running amok and I couldn't recall, so I Googled it. Ah, that's right, "when the boys came out to play, Georgie Porgie ran away!" Easy- peasy. Problem solved. But, this bothered me the more I thought about it. Is all of the information that's out there too easily accessible, to the detriment of our brains? I think that maybe it is. Although I appreciate what's at my fingertips I'm going to give my own gray matter more of a chance going forward, that muscle needs exercise too. What do you think?

And maybe I can't find yeast, but I can still bake. Peanut Butter cookies fresh out of the oven.

Stay safe my friends, take good care and wash your hands! 🧼

Life is Good!

B and B Lifestyle

Our church has started a bowling league, the Luther League. At the outset Mr. Goodneedle was enthusiastic, I encouraged him to join; I thought that was a great idea for him. I wasn't interested. In the least.  I'm not anti-bowling, I bowled in a league myself  twenty years ago. But now? I simply didn't have the time. My husband persisted, "please, why don't you come along and just watch?" he asked. I balked. "No, look at my calendar, I explained; "it's already full-- every day. If I add one more thing something else will have to go, I have no idea what to eliminate". He simply looked at me. It wasn't an accusatory look, it was more of a pleading one. "I would love to have you come along" he quietly said, "but it's up to you." Hmmm. You know where this is going. I went. I bowled. I had a terrific time. Mr. Goodneedle bought me my own ball (he got himself one too). Now, let me tell you this: I am NOT a good bowler, not by any stretch, but I am persistent. I am hopeful that over time I will at least see some level of improvement (and I am here to tell you that the ball wasn't the problem!😉).  You know what the most interesting thing about all of this was: I found time. So, that would be a great story in itself, but it doesn't end there; oh, no. "We should get bikes" he said casually one morning. "What?" I was shocked this time. "We should get bikes" he repeated. "That's what I thought you said" was my reply. This came from out of the blue. "Why?" I asked. "Well, now that we are down to one house (having sold his mother's home last month) and we have more free time wouldn't it be fun to take bike rides together?" This question was so dear to me, and he was so sweet, that I was almost convinced it could be a good idea. But then there was that over-crammed calendar again (neither of us ever have what I would have called "free time); that, and the fact that I have never been all that fond of riding bikes, even in my childhood. I could think of a million reasons to object to this proposal, but I held them inside. Again, you know where this is going. We bought the bikes, and the cages for our water bottles, and the odometers; I even got a helmet. I pedaled 7.2 miles on our "inaugural" ride. I am not sure that I had ever ridden over five miles at one time in my life before. We enjoyed it thoroughly; we biked on a greenway at a leisurely pace (7.9 mph), and I am ready and eager to ride again! Yeah, that calendar is still full but I have learned that I am a master at moving things around.

Life is Good!