September 21

The kids and I rounded out August at the lake for the long weekend.  I've probably mentioned this before, but it is wonderful that Haley and Dustin have a cabin less than 10 minutes away from my trailer.  I prepared for the long weekend by preparing. a Saskatoon crisp, cinnamon buns, dinner buns, salmon salad, and lazy man's cabbage rolls.  Yes, I continue to be Susie Homemaker and the kids seem to enjoy my cooking.  On September 1, Haley, Dustin, and I went to Dustin's parents' cabin for Dustin's dad's birthday supper...steaks par excellence.  Hockey began on September 3 and surprisingly, I wasn't too gassed after a summer of no hockey.  Slow pitch is continuing into the fall so there are some days when I play hockey in the morning and ball in the afternoon.  Today, my gal and I went to a rodeo in her hometown.  In two weeks, we are flying to Nashville for nine days.  We have tickets for The Rymen and The Grand Ole Opry.  We plan to do a lot of dancing on Music Row and hopefully, take in a college football game.  I will only be home for two days following Nashville, then I am flying to Toronto to spend three days golfing with some high school buddies.  From Toronto, I am flying to the UK for a solo 8 day train holiday.  I will be home in early November in time to make a huge batch of pirogies in preparation for Christmas.  My little Luv Bug is learning new things everyday.  One of my greatest joys is walking into Mary and Morgan's home to the sound of, "Hi, Poppa!"  Her vocabulary is expanding every day.  We play tag, hide and go seek, read books, snuggle, sing, spend time at the park on the swings and slides, go for long rides in the stroller... Life is grand.  Mary and Haley have had a busy start to the school year, but they are starting to settle into a more sane routine.  They still make time to see there dear old dad at least once during the week and they often call to let me know how their school day has gone.  It never gets old.  Next weekend is our Annual Judy Traditional Walk At Cranberry Flats and on October 6, I am cooking an early Thanksgiving dinner because I will be in Nashville on Thanksgiving weekend.  The girls will be with their in laws for Thanksgiving.  That's all I have for now.  Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.