I stopped to see a "Weeping Willow"

OK...so it's been a month since I updated the blog....reason being, this is how it would read: "rained today, cleaned my house" "rained again today, cleaned my clean house" rained today started a new book" rained today went to town in the wind and rain and froze my a** off"! Not a fun spring!! In all seriousness, I did get all my bookwork, filing, closets cleaned, etc.

The activity on the island is picking up now....all my "Island Girls" are back or headed back in the very near future. Janice McPhail held the first coffee and there were 10 in attendance.

Last Thursday June Augsbury hosted at her beautiful farm on the North side of the island. A much larger crowd. Here Janice McPhail gets every one's attention while she describes the coming activities and congratulates Joan and Al Luce who celebrated their 50th anniversary on that same day. Joan is on Janice's left.

Junie, in the yellow is the most gracious hostess!!!

Since I am, so far behind, I am sure none of these events are going to be in order....at least they will be documented. Below is one of our granddaughter's Sarah's graduation photos. Of course, I don't have my scanner hooked up (because the disc is in Florida). I took a picture of a picture. Oh well, you can still see how beautiful she is. I am flying into Norfolk, VA next Wednesday, for her graduation. I will be staying a week and Salt, Betty and Emma will drive in on the 18th for the actual graduation and party and then drive back on Sunday with Rachael. We are not sure now how long Rachael will be staying as she has made the cheer leading team and will be starting practice during the summer.

Salt has been very busy working....but has had some time to get at some of the things we needed to do here at the house. When it finally dried up enough to get the tractor down to the beach he took this ugly Willow tree down. We figured if we had to pay all these ridiculous waterfront taxes, we might just as well as have a better river view.

Check out the "after" view!!!!

We went to my brother (George) and his wife, Cheryl's home for a Memorial Day picnic. Betty and Emma joined us along with my niece Britt and her family, husband Glen and children Hannah and Jordan. Bobby and Jill Schultz were also along with a quick visit from their daughter Katie. Food was fabulous and was so much fun catching up with everyone.

OK...here is our new "mother to be" Kelly Rusho....not sure exactly what she was contemplating but she sure looks deep in thought.....is it a girl or a boy?????

Our duaghter in-law, Robin flew in for the Memorial Day weekend ....she thought this would be the perfect place to get some peace and quiet while she studied for her exams. Fortunately she did get one day without rain. As our friend Clay Kolle always says "a rainy day on the river is better than a sunny day anywhere else"!!

I stepped out on the deck with my coffee the other morning and couldn't resist going for the camera to capture the calm of the beautiful St. Lawrence. There wasn't a ripple on the water which made the shadow in the water as clear as the actual island!

It is so difficult to grow much of any kind of flower here on the island anymore. Unless you fence everything in the deer will eat anything you plant. We are still able to enjoy a few things they either don't like or can't reach. We filled the guest bedroom with the smell of fresh lilacs before Robin arrived.

Salt tore all the yucky carpeting out of my boat and we put new seats in. I was so excited when we took it out for the first run to town. About 2 feet out of the shipping channel she blew her lower unit....urgh. Oh well, fortunately we have a son-in-law who is an ace boat mechanic. She is once again "well" and ready for a busy summer....and still Knot Mortgaged . Here we are being towed back by Rick Gregware, owner of Northern Marina and Frank's boss.

Can you believe I got this far in the blog without mentioning Emma? Me either, so here I go.

Her latest endeavor is learning to carve and paint decoys (from her dad). Here is the first one she did (with help from her dad). He hasn't got her into the actual carving yet but she is doing the sanding and painting. I think it is something she will be very good at. She LOVES wildlife and also loves working with her dad....who has the patience of Job! This was her Mother's Day gift to Betty.

And of course what is Spring on Grindstone without some good Bullhead fishing at the lower bridge. Here Emma digs worms with Dad. I hope this kid never changes.....she is digging worms right before she wants Grandma to take her for a fancy dress for Sarah's graduation (which of course Grandma did!!).

Well, I am sure I have missed a lot in letting myself get so far behind in my blogging, I am making a concentrated effort to keep up now, as our life promises us a very interesting summer/fall and winter. I am trying to get in shape for our "Zip" line adventure in Honduras!

Tonight we are headed over to the Riverside Cafe for dinner and then to the Opera House with 16 of our Island friends!!

I will leave you with yet another beautiful St. Lawrence River Sunset.