Day at the beach

Over the weekend we went to Moraine State Park for a day of canoeing and swimming at the beach. We had canoed last year in one canoe and the kid's loved it. When we were getting our canoes this time the woman said we needed two canoes and looked at us with crazy eyes when we told her we were all together before. So Kurt and Aaron went in one and Ella and I went in the other. I have always been a passenger when canoeing never the paddler. As soon as we got in Ella starting panicking and saying "I don't want to do this! I don't like this!" I knew before she was worried at the beginning but got used to it as we went along. So we followed Kurt until wakes from other boats completely turned me in direction I had know intention of going and the mantra of Ella's "I want to go back" and "Why are we going this way" were starting to make this not the idillic canoe trip I had in my head. So Kurt canoed around this little island with a happy Aaron who thought it was the coolest thing ever. I on the other hand pretty much paddled in circles with a panicky child and practically kissed the ground when we got back.

After the canoe trip we went to the beach to swim. This was great. Any time my kids are are around water and something to dig in it is a good day. 

Beach days are also great people watching days and what should I see but a man with an arrow shave onto his chest pointing straight down to his penis. I looked, then looked again and made Kurt look and yes he had a 'hair arrow' on his chest. He was there with his son and no wedding ring. So ladies this man may be available.

It is hot!

It is about 150 degrees and humid with no air conditioning so what should I do? I know, I'll turn my oven on and bake some cupcakes for my friends who are coming over. They were yummy and worth every drop of sweat. 

Seriously it is HOT!  We swim, go to Target, the bookstore anywhere there is air conditioning so we don't have to come home. I am sticky and sweaty and don't think I have peed for a week. I know this to shall pass but I AM HOT!

Sweet Peas

I wish you could smell these!

If only I could create the technology, I would be a wealthy woman.

Before & After

Before

After

I am not one for 'before' and 'after' pictures. The 'before' bothers me so much that's why I changed it. When I was going through old photos discs I found this picture of our hillside when I started planting it. The real 'before' was just a blank piece of mulched hillside. That is why no picture exists.  I could not stand to look at it.

We moved from Ohio back to my hometown more out of necessity than want. When we moved into my parents house our main goal was to make it livable. It was in a huge state of disrepair. We were going to fix it up and move out. My Mom was in a nursing home and later passed away. My Father developed Alzheimer's disease and also passed away. A strange thing happened. The house I always was embarrassed about became a house I was starting to love. The yard became my sweet obsession. My mom used to work out in the yard all the time and come in with scratches and be all sweaty. I thought that looked like misery. By the time I got in this house the yard was a blank slate. My dad had most things ripped out so it was easier to care for. I was like an unstoppable force. I had gardened at apartments that we had lived in but something about this place made me go nuts. Being out in the yard made me feel close to my mom. It took my mind off of all the other crap that was going on in my life. Some people drink, I garden (and drink). Now I come in all scratched up and sweaty and dirty and usually a much nicer person.

Too much time on my hands

Ella and I were picking veggies out of the garden this morning and we found this wacky carrot that looked like it was sitting down. So having nothing better do to I added eyes and started snapping pictures of it. Kurt and I found it much funnier than Aaron & Ella did. I am hoping for some more deformed vegetables for other photo-ops.

Why I love the garden

This is one example why gardening is my therapy. I can be cranky, walking around the yard with my coffee and see this perfect little moth loading himself up with pollen. A sight like this always stops me in my tracks and can instantly make me forget why I was cranky. Thank you little moth. 

Kurt has a web site

Kurt has finally entered the 21st century and has his very own web site. Half of it is devoted to his paintings and the other half to decorative painting work. I created it through iweb and though some of it was time consuming and very frustrating in hindsight it was much easier than it used to be. Check it out at www.kurtkornacki.com

Bad luck, Good luck

Breaking your arm is never fun but breaking your arm in the middle of a hot summer stinks (literally, that cast stinks). A dishwashing glove and some waterproof tape does the trick for the pool. We keep telling her she can do some cleaning before she takes it off. On the bright side Ella entered an American Girl contest to win Kit Kittredge and her friend Ruthy. When we entered she said "I'm going to win those dolls!" Me being the pessimist said "Honey lots of people enter don't get your hopes up". Well wouldn't you know she won those dolls. 

Justin's visit

Kurt's  nephew Justin came home for a visit after being in Iraq for a year. It was such a pleasure to get to spend fourth of July with him and his wife and assorted friends and family. It was a day of swimming, water balloon fights, badminton and too much food. After this week he goes back for another year. He is such a wonderful person and we hope he stays safe and can't wait until he comes home for good.

These are the Pittsburgh fireworks and they were fabulous. After the party we drove back to the city grabbed our blankets and were blown away by the massive fireworks and laser show. I don't know who was more in awe me or the kids. This is the first year we saw them up close and personal and nothing beats feeling the booms in your chest. Aaron and Ella kept saying "This must be the grand finale" and it wasn't. When it did happen they knew. WOW!