Just reread the last blog entry... be back in a week or so, definately an "or so" thing going on here...
What happens during those first few days home from a vacation? It's like the life you left behind just sort of finds you again and sucks you down the drain in a swirling vortex of-- what's the word I'm looking for? I don't know. Or is it just me that feels like that? Out of place and sorta depressed. It takes me awhile to feel like I'm really home again. And then there's all that laundry that follows you home from that nice vacation life-- like about a hundred pounds of it. And then I found out my Dad was having surgery in a day (outpatient, and he's doing fine), and that threw me into a bit of a tiz... all that to say sorry, I've been AWOL.
But our vacation to Ohio and Virginia was so good. July was very cool and un-humid in Ohio. Mikes' parents' had a wonderful celebration for their fiftieth anniversary.
The anniversary cake was an exact replica of their wedding cake. Mikes' Aunt Jean made it. John and Jos' party was held in the school where they met, now a community center. Which was a really nice full-circle kinda thing, I thought. Their four children made a slideshow of their lives, and their parents' lives, which played throughout the party on a screen on the stage in the gym. Lots of misty eyes watching that big screen.
Mike's parents live in rural Ohio, in a log home his Dad built by hand about twenty years ago. It sits on top of a hill, surrounded by acres and acres of awesome woodland. They've made a wonderful home for themselves here.
Mikes' Dad and Mom are always busy working on their home and their gardens. John has built three fishing ponds over the years. And the bridges.
He doesn't feed the fish for a few days before grandkids arrive...
I really enjoyed seeing my kids with a fishing pole in their hands instead of a Wii remote.
John also built a playground and fort for grandkids. I don't think he was imagining adult grandkids (I use that term loosely), but what the heck.
One.
Two.
Three. How to launch your big sister and make her scream, "PUT ME DOWN!" And yes, that is an outhouse in the background; John (no pun intended) thinks of everything ;)
Fort Sassafras.
Complete with a zip line.
And a place for a campfire.
Mikes' Mom is a wonderful gardener. This is her garden behind their house.
I was so taken with the water lilies. I get Monet a little better now.
They raise and sell koi. And farm fresh chicken eggs. I forgot to take a photo of the new chicken coops. Did you know chickens will eat leftover salad? I didn't.
We spent one day at the Longaberger basket company. Shopping and well, taking our picture in front of the worlds' largest basket.
Don't Americans just love their worlds' largest stuff?
And then we were off; in a crowded minivan, with way too many "Are we there yets? Don't touch me. He touched me. Who did that? And rollll down the windows-- someone reeeks!" Twelve hours later we were there-- Virginia Beach and us. If we didn't need the beach before we started, we certainly needed it by the time we arrived.
Nirvana. Is there anything better than the beach and the ocean? I'm thinking not much...
If someone would invent the job of professional beach/kid photographer, I'm pretty sure I'd want that job. Of course, it would mean relocating. Oh well :)
I could have snapped away all day, in fact, I did.
My big kids told me, "No photos, and NO photos on your blog!" I almost listened :)
We loved you, Virginia Beach. Thanks for new happy memories. We booked our tickets in January, but it turned out to be a very well-timed vacation for us.
I'm still working through things here... during our trip I would think, "Oh, I'll have to tell Mom and Dad about this." And then I'd remember, she's gone. My heart feels like it's healing around the edges, but still raw in the middle, if that makes any sense at all. I don't know how to describe where I'm at emotionally, but I sure haven't got any creative mojo going on yet. Feeling like doing things now though, for awhile I didn't feel like doing a thing. We're making progress here, and I'll bet my Mom knows all about the beach.
Take care and don't give up on me completely... I'll be back fully one of these days, with something creative to share.
Love,
Kelly
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