A Great Family Day

Yesterday, my younger son and his family came over to have a cookout with us. I am so thankful when they come to visit because they are always so busy working with their "not the same" working hours. So, I made cupcakes that the girls went crazy over (just from a cake mix I got at Aldi's). We had some crab salad and potato salad, baked beans, chips, Nathan's Hotdogs and thick hamburgers with all the toppings. It was pretty  much traditional picnic food and not too complicated so that made the day even more enjoyable.

Son burning cooking the burgers

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My baby boy son

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The oldest kid Ray "Keeping Things Cool"

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 Hey, dil Karen was already cool in the pool!

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dil and granddaughter of my heart

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Great-granddaughter of my heart.

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Of course the babies were there too.

Today I'm remembering those who sacrificed so much for us.

 Have a great week everyone.

A Time for Remembering...

Memorial Day is a time to remember those who have gone before us; the military who stood tall ready to protect us and for some their loved ones who have passed on. Traditionally Memorial Day in the U.S. was celebrated on May 30th and called Decoration Day. It was a day to decorate the graves of our fallen heroes. Now it falls on the last Monday in May and we use it more for the first camping trip of the year, the first cookout, picnic or vacations and swimming pools open for the season. As you raise your cup to toast the opening of the season, remember those who gave all so that you might have your life and freedom.

For me, Memorial Day always brings my brother to mind. He was born on May 30th--the traditional date for Memorial Day (date didn't vary then). He means so very much to me. We have disagreements and sometimes fallings-out but he's still my brother and he is always in my heart. Here's an early happy birthday greeting Little Brother!

Me and my brother!

Happy Birthday Little Brother!!!

Summer is Just about Here...

Summer is just about here. Memorial Day weekend has always been special in our family. First off, my baby brother was born on the traditional day to celebrate Memorial Day--May 30th. Happy birthday little brother! Another thing that many of you in my age category may recall, on Memorial Day we could start wearing our white shoes again! For you younger folks, white shoes were taboo except for between Memorial Day and Labor Day. I don't know why, that's just the way it was. Memorial Day was the start of summer fun--school was almost out, the cold weather was gone and it was time to cut loose and have a bit of swimming. I'm going to take a break starting tomorrow for about a week and a half and visit some of my good friends from my younger days. Things have been happening at home that have me big time stressed but I won't bother all of you about them. Let's just say this jaunt is what the doctor orders. My crochet hook and yarn are packed and ready to go! Any of you have special plans for this weekend and your summer?

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and a great summer

Backyard Fun Memorial Day Weekend!

We got the pool filled with water and the hot tub too in time for Saturday's cookout on Memorial Day Weekend.  DH and Son #1 (aka Matthew or Matt) opened the pool and the hot tub.  Opi enjoyed the time just relaxing on the outdoor furniture.  Here's a hint that may help you save money.  In our community, we can checkout  a meter that measures the amount of water we use outdoors.  This is water that doesn't go in the sewer and that way we don't have to pay for sewer costs on the water that goes through the meter!  With a pool, pond, hot tub and garden we use more than a few bucketfuls outside.  At the end of summer, we will return the meter to the water company and they will do a reading on it and we'll get a credit on our water/sewer bill.  Pretty nifty huh?

Memorial Day--Honoring Our Military Heroes

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.  It was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May [passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays], though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.  Go to the Memorial Day History page to see the source of this information and read more about this holiday.  Below is a Universal Newsreel that contains one segment about the celebration of Memorial Day in 1945.

Pool Is Opened on Memorial Day

During Memorial Day weekend, we put up a pool in our backyard. We had one of these before and really missed not having one last year hence our decision to put one up again. Ray couldn't wait for the pool to fill completely so he "opened" it on the traditional day for pool openings. See how cold he looks? Just gotta love that guy. Hope you enjoy and find your own way to beat the heat this summer.