cooking is just like science..with tools that blend and baste and every fun appliance...

So now the girls can make pizza...from scratch. Yesterday was yet another rainy day. The girls decided thy wanted a lesson in pizza making. After dinner, and several games of Mancala,
Grandma got out the ice cream maker..... French Vanilla (Ben & Jerry's recipe) with homemade hot fudge sauce....YUM! Now Rachael wants a Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker. Her birthday list gets longer each time I introduce another new gadget.

Rachael started her own personal cookbook yesterday. I have this wonderful computer program which allows you to put you own recipes in a cookbook...with pictures! She has decided working on that will be her rainy day project from now on.

This will probably be my last post for a few days. The girls and I are headed to Watertown for a BIG grocery/craft shop, and the rest of the week will be filled with company and all sorts of activities. Anneliesse and Luisa arrive around lunchtime tomorrow and as I take them back to the mainland on Friday, we will leave for Syracuse to pick up Robin.

We just received news this morning that our good friend Bruce Faust lost his long battle with Leukemia. He will be sadly missed by all of us here on the island!

Gonna stay cool, cool at the swimming pool.....

Another busy, busy week! Salt launched the Wave Runner (jet ski) last night so we could start taking some evening runs to Canada for Chinese dinners or White Mountain ice cream.....and so I can hot rod around the islands with my girlfriends. Emma and Rachael are thrilled! I am sure Pop will not have a single restful evening now it is in the water!!

Both the girls passed their swim classes and have moved up to the next level. Of course Rachael proclaimed "that means I have to come back next year"..... The lessons were great, but there has been so much going on I am glad they are over for the season...everyone is tired out as you can see from the picture of the girls when they got home.

When they take a nap on their own, you know they are tired!!

Betty took the girls to her house Wednesday evening and kept them all day Thursday and Thursday evening, as I hosted "Girls Coffee" on Thursday morning (approximately 20 women) and entertained Frances and Peter Rossmassler as well as Gwen and Bill Taylor for dinner on Thursday evening.

I took this picture from my office in the loft just as the girls started coming in for coffee.....

Margaret Taylor and Carol McDonald share some wisdom.....

Paige Durdon was over on Tuesday to spend some time with the Rachael and Emma. Here they are returning from the beach.

Rachael will be doing her first Grindstone Saturday night dance this evening....thanks to Betty.

Salt and I choose to stay home and watch a movie or read a good book. We are resting up for next week when my friends Louisa Chernachov (VT) and Anneliese Strube (PA) will be visiting for 3 days. Louisa, and Anneliese were both married to good friends of my deceased husband Bill. They all worked together when Bill was General Manager at the IBM plant in Essex Junction, VT. It is hard to believe that has been more than 30 years ago. Both Louisa's and Aneliesse's husbands are now deceased. It will be so great to see both of them again and do some "catching-up" on present times as well as reminiscing about our wonderful times together while we were all in VT.

When they leave on Friday, we will be heading to the airport to pick up our daughter-in-law Robin, who will spend the weekend with us. It will be a full month since Rachael has been here and the longest Robin and she have ever been separated.

We are having problems with our satellite, so I am patiently (NOT) waiting for a call from Direct TV as they will be sending one of their technicians over. Of course we have to go and get them and take them back.....and they can't give us an exact time so it will be a hurry up and wait situation I am sure!!

He preached the word of God throughout the land....He preached so plain a child could understand....

This afternoon we attended a luncheon, in honor of Dick and Mary Petry. Dick served as minister to our Island church for two summers approximately 9 years ago. He holds a special spot in our heart as he is the minister who baptized Emma. He and Mary, who reside in Jacksonville, FL, were in town for a "family reunion" and were shuttled to the island by Fred and Nancy Schmitt and Nancy's parents, Al and Pat Taylor.

Here is Dick with Bob Edwards. I am sure he is writing down an address or phone number but being the smart Alec I am, I asked if I could have an "autograph" as well!!

There was a wonderful turnout...I know there were many who could not attend, as it was held on a weekday when many people were at work. With so many people to see and all their prior commitments, today was the only time they could get over.

Below is a picture of John and Aminta Marks. John was a preacher on the island back in the 50's. He and Aminta fell in love with the river, the island and the people and built a house here, where they continue to spend their summers. John was the church organist for many years and Aminta taught Sunday School, painted many island scenes and published several books and poems pertaining to the river.

Art Couch, who led us in many of the earlier services this year and runs the current bible study, brought Dick up for a few words.

Oh yeah, and that is Al Luce, (in the corner), who has until now, escaped my always pointed camera and a place on the blog.

After Dick's spiel, he handed the mike to Mary (who commented it is not something he usually does) for a few words.

And here is Andy Davison...another long time (and favorite minister). I bet most of you are thinking with all the ministers in attendance I was probably on my best behavior....NOT. I love all of them and they each have such a wonderful sense of humor. They wouldn't recognize me if I actually behaved!!

The whole gang....

The drowsy islands slumber one by one...close their sleepy eyelids say goodnight to the sun....

Dinner on the deck with Salt and the granddaughters as they laugh and tell their day's adventures. Looking into the sunset as Rachael serves the coffee and her homemade cupcakes. It doesn't get any better than this!!!

It's just another rainy day song...Way beneath the sorry sky...

Betty took the girls today and entertained them with some indoor activities. She also sent along a few pictures she had previously taken.

The screened porch is the perfect place for their crafts....I think mainly because they can make more of a mess than in the house.....Here they are working on their picture holder /treasure chests.

Today they decided to get Emma's "Easy Bake" oven out. I can't believe these things are still around. The girls proudly display their baked goods....I am hoping they don't bring home any samples for us to try....

One of the many air hockey games at Sylvan Beach....

and one of the many trips to Potter's Beach.....

Is it love that brings you here or love that brings you life.....

I think I am socially bankrupt....the fun on this island just never stops. We woke up this morning to rain and when I peeked in at the girls they were sleeping so soundly that I didn't wake anyone for church. I believe I will find some "service work" to do this week to earn that spot in heaven!!

Here are the girls all decked out in their dresses for the big wedding yesterday. Jacey really lucked out as we had cold lousy weather on Friday and rain this morning. Yesterday was BEAUTIFUL....good for you Jacey (as well as mom and dad Steve and Debbie).

This is just part of the magnificent gardens that surround June Augusbury's beautiful waterfront property. This was the view as you drove up to the house. The grounds were beautiful. As well as June's own hard work in maintaining the gardens, many kudos to Harry and Urch Slate who do such a magnificent job in keeping the grounds!!!

Along with her handsome husband, Jayce was also gifted with these two beautiful stepchildren. Abbey and Emerson did a great job in acting as Flower Girl and Ring Bearer!

Serving as Maids of Honor were the other 2 beautiful Donaldson girls, Jayce's sisters, Stephanie and Jamie.

I loved the fact that the family was so involved in the ceremony. Here is Kristin Marra (cousin) reading one of the scriptures.

and Uncle Jeff who did a magnificent rendition of Paul Stokey's Wedding Song....and YES, I cried! Great job Jeff!!!

and here is the happy couple reciting their vows....in the 90 degree weather!

I love this picture of Jayce with her mom and dad!

Phil and Yuvonne Marra, the proud grandparents join them in this picture. The beautiful St. Lawrence River in the background, added such a peaceful presence to the event! There is nothing quite like a wedding on the river!!

Salt and I, actually, had to leave the reception early as we had committed to a dinner party held at our friend Louise Ford's. Weezie and Peter just recently returned from their home in London, England.

Peter cooked the steaks to perfection.....

Weezie looking serious.....

but when she left the girls on the porch and joined the men for dinner she had a BIG smile!!

Also in attendance were Lauren and Renalto Sarti, Jim Adamson, Cliff and Debbie Coffey and Lauren's friend Kim Hewett, visiting from VT...

And last but not least....here is Rachael having her driving lesson from Grandma!

We hired Erika Luce to babysit Emma and Rachael while we were at dinner. I didn't think to get a picture of her but I am sure we will have one in the near future. She will be living on the island until Labor Day and is willing to babysit whenever!! She is as cute as a button and the girls LOVED her. She came armed with all kinds of games, played "charades" with them and took them to Potter's Beach. Right after she left, Emma gives me this very coy look and says, "Grandma, I think you and Poppy deserve to go out more often"....then she fessed up... she really wanted to spend more time with Erika!

Oh me it's do or die....I've got to learn that auction cry!

Last night was the annual Turkey Dinner and Auction at the church on the island. The girls had been going all day, so I suggested they take a nap before we took off again. Of course neither of them were tired...NOT...Emma didn't even get her bed pulled out!

Here they are riding to the church in back of the pick-up truck.

Skip Tolette once again served as the auctioneer....

Weather was beautiful.....

and with a broken wing she still sings.....

Crazy and wonderful day on the river yesterday! The morning started out with me dropping the girls off at the schoolhouse for their craft day. After that my babysitting was relieved for the rest of the day by Betty, who picked them up and took them to their swim lessons. I was then able to attend the weekly coffee, which was held at Margaret Taylor's this week. The turnout was I believe the largest yet, as there were 31 in attendance.


Pictured below are Janet Gregware (Janet and her husband own Northern Marine where our son-in-law Frank is employed). Janet is getting ready to donate her hair, for the third time to the Locks of Love program which is the organization which makes wigs for cancer patients.


Sitting next to her is Gwen Taylor, who will be joining us along with her husband Bill and the Rossmasslers for dinner on Thursday evening.

Bev Davison gives a big smile to the camera as she catches up with Janice McPhail's busy schedule.
Shirley Taylor, Margaret's daughter-in-law is always responsible for putting on the best parties! She is pictured with Lauren Ennis who just recently returned for the summer.

and the Mrs. Luce and Schwartz

And of course the "Queen of the Hop"....our close friend and hostess, Margaret Taylor visiting with Frances Rossmassler.

After swim lessons, Betty came back to the house with the girls and while they rested up from their busy morning, worked a couple of hours helping me prepare for dinner with our friends Clay and Kay Cole, along with their 2 daughters Amber and Aaron and their niece, Megan Pickett.

While we were on the deck straightening up, this Palliated woodpecker flew into the window and knocked herself silly. We concerned at first that she had broken her neck....the girls however, nursed her back to health. They had made Grindstone Island treasure chests at craft school so they padded one of them with a washcloth and began feeding her drops of water. Once she came around she took off, with we think no serious injuries. Another "Grindstone" adventure for the kids to pack in their memory bank!!

Rachael with the patient.....

Amber Natali, Aaron Kolle and Megan Pickett....right after a big BBQ rib and chicken dinner....


Kay and Clay Kolle....Clay, along with being a great friend is also our CPA....and as you can see with a great sense of humor!!

Here is our precious Emma singing God Bless America at the Adamson's post 4Th of July annual fireworks display. Raising Emma has been a challenge for everyone involved....she has always been a cyclone out of control but has had so much self confidence and zest for life. In trying to discipline her and yet NOT break her self image or love of life has been interesting, to say the least. As she approaches her 9Th birthday this year, I believe we are over the hump. She is the light of our lives, polite, focused, doing well in school and has an amazing wit and sense of humor. Last night she stood up in front of the entire crowd, smiling and singing loud and confident! We are all so proud of you Em!!!

The fireworks display just gets better every year. Thanks Jim, Ellen and Daniel for a great time! We are blessed with wonderful friends!!!