Busy Days

Another hot day in the Midwest. In fact, it was hot enough today that we did our walk at the inside walking track. At 9:30 this morning it was already too hot to try to walk outside. It might have been okay, since the walking trail in the park is along a creek. But we didn't want to start walking and then realize it was too hot.

We finished our walk and I started my daily chores. My container gardening project hasn't been a rousing success, but I did pull the beets today. We had only about seven small beets each, but they were SO good! We're having a few cherry tomatoes. There's one pepper on that plant, but it has a spot on it – so we'll see it if gets big enough to eat or not. There are three regular tomatoes, one has already rotted on the vine as it ripened. Maybe it's the hot sun, but the blossoms on all the plants are drying out and dropping off instead of making veggies.......that includes the zucchini plant. It survived its early attack by the starlings and has had stellar blossoms. But no zucchini. We had one nice mess of peas earlier in the summer. I'm struggling with the idea of having someone till up part of our back yard next summer so I can actually plant veggies. I can't decide if I want to make that kind of commitment or not.

It's a really busy time of the year for most people. Younger daughter and son-in-law are frantically prepping for a national conference in Seattle in a few days. They're at that point of feeling like they're not ready yet with all their presentations, etc. I know the pre-event shopping is done – now they need to get the organization position campaigns nailed down, presentations finished, etc. Some posters have been printed and delivered; some still need to arrive. I feel good knowing they have some down time scheduled before the conference, including celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary tomorrow.

Older daughter has already started her pre-school-year meetings. It seems to early for that! Plus, she and her hubby are prepping to leave the end of this week on a Gulf of Mexico cruise as a belated celebration of their 15^th wedding anniversary. Since we have their kids for next week, I need to touch base with her tomorrow night on last-minute instructions, etc. I'm sure she's starting to feel frantically overwhelmed.

Son keeps working six days a week – they can't seem to keep a full staff at his work. Daughter-in-law, as a mental health counselor, is on call 24/7. With two active kids to keep up with, they're always busy. Plus, it seems like if anything is going to happen, it happens to them (within the last week, a dead alternator which drained the battery, resulting in a tow bill and eight hours of recharging the battery – plus a flat tire on Sunday morning when he needed to go to work), so there's never a dull moment at that house.

I have a really close relationship with all the kids, and I'm glad they all feel comfortable calling me frequently. I enjoy all our talks. I'm so glad I can be here for them, whether they need to vent, or whether they need a cheerleader.

But I must say, I'm at the point that I'm glad it's them and not me! Some days it makes me tired just hearing them talk about what they have coming up in the next few days – when you add in the active kids for two of them, it's even busier. I'm glad I can hear about what's going on and just relax in the comfort of our living room. I've spent enough time participating!