Someone to love you and someone to fight for your right to be who you are.....

Happy Anniversary Betty and Frank.....8 years ago close to 400 people attended the wedding held on our beach. What a great wedding and what a great husband my daughter wed. Love you guys!! Monday night was my last Bunko (Bunco) game of the season. Said hello to the newest member of our Grindstone family....welcome Caleb Bogacz, son of Lindsey, grandson of Pam Brooks (Barton) great grandson of Elaine Brooks.....

and here is the new "mom" receiving her gift for losing the most games....

and Doreen Meeks for winning the most.....

and Erma, for most Buncos....somehow or other Erma has received a prize every week!! Way to go Erma, now you have all that extra "stuff" to dust....LOL

Elaine (great grandma), I believe got the "travel" prize.....Salt and I will be having dinner with Elaine and Bruce at their home on Sunday. I know, I know, I said no more socializing this summer....just can't stop; way too many good offers!!! Elaine is a great cook!!! And.....a WONDERFUL friend!!

And the hardest part of the evening saying "goodbye" to Kylie....she has been such a joy on the island this summer. Janna, Paul ad Matt had such a good time hanging out with her. Best of luck in school Kylie!!

Salt went back to the doctor today....they are still not sure what is wrong with his ear (completely lost hearing in the right ear). At first they believed it to be a blocked sinus tube but treatment for that has not helped. They now have him on steroids for a week and if nothing happens with that magic bullet, he is going to the specialist in Syracuse on Sept. 2. They are aware of the fact that we are leaving on the 15th for the season, so said they will do the CT scan and whatever else is necessary all in one day! Providing of course it isn't something earth shattering!!!

Oh I know I found in you....my endless love....

Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Dale McLaughlin....after 19 years together they have tied the knot!!!
My very favorite kind of reception.....held in the yard of their beautiful summer home on the island on our beautiful St. Lawrence River.

Even the dog got dressed for the occasion.....

The entertainment was provided by Keith Brabant.....an excellent musician and singer....oh yeah, and pretty darn handsome as well!!!

Tom and Julie catching up with Peter and Frances.....Peter does NOT like my camera...can you guess? He likes me though so he tolerates it....sort of!

Ellen explains to Gwen just exactly what happened to her wrist.

Aaron (Dale's son) and girlfriend chat with Shirley Taylor and Lauren and Renato Ennis.

Emma found a friend from school and was delighted to have a pal to hang with!!

I thought this was a particularly clever hor deourve.....the pineapple was cut in chunks with a cherry, a toothpick and flavored with rum!!! It seemed to be quite a hit!

The food table crowd....food was plentiful and delicious!!

Doc Withington and Bruce Taylor.....Doc is retired from his orthopedic practice but he is still taking care of all his river patients. We love you Doc, and appreciate everything you do for the community!!

Some of my favorite island girls enjoying the day!

Dave Stilley giving marital advice?????

Urch grabs Salt for a spin around the dance floor....

Just as we were getting ready to leave I had a gentleman approach me and introduce himself. He worked with Bill (my deceased husband) at IBM in Owego. Come to find out, they live in Owego, where I grew up and his wife who was a teacher at the elementary school in Owego, taught my brother Joe's kids. Then they tell me they have a home right here on the island....again, small world!!

Salt and I came home, had a quick dinner and took a jet ski ride across a river of glass and into yet another beautiful sunset. Life is good!!

Watch out for Mr. Stork....That persevering chap. He'll come along and drop...a bundle in your lap!!

Congratulations Jada and Garrett... and welcome precious little Greyson. Your are too handsome for words!!!

Oh how we danced on the night we were wed....

Someone asked Salt the other day, how long we had been married....he replied "Forever"...I said "Hell, it's been longer than that"!!

20 years ago today....Family and friends boarding the triple deck boat for a cocktail cruise to the island where we were married on our beach.

Following the ceremony we had a 5 hour (was supposed to be 3) cruise around the river....open bar, dinner and band!! The weather was spectacular. I can hardly believe it was 20 years ago!!

My nephew Todd, Salt's best man, making the toast!


When we arrived back in Clayton....several people who "enjoyed the open bar" decided to jump or dive from the upper deck of the triple decker....including a couple of members of the wedding party!! What fun; would love to do it all again!!

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer....

So Grandma woke up this morning with a little head poking into her back.....Emma spent the night and Pop said sometime during the night he felt this little finger poking his chest. He sat up with a start and said Emma whispered...."Poppy...I can't sleep unless I sleep with Grandma"....of course Pop went and got in her bed and let her sleep with Grandma!!!

I put my bathing suit on first thing this morning.....it definitely is going to be a beach or dock day....somewhere I have access to cool water!!! It's only 10:39 and I have consumed my 8 glasses of water!!!!

Joe, Rindy and Matt for two days....didn't get the storm the weatherman predicted....another beautiful summer day!!

Sweet sleepy warmth of summer nights.....

It took awhile, but summer is here with some REALLY hot weather....90's for the last few days. I am enjoying every minute of it!!! Sunday after our long trip on the jet ski, we were invited to the Adamson's for dinner. Jim cooked and it was great....lots of fresh vegetables (from Chester's garden) and speidies that Jim concocted from his own recipe.

I had to add this picture of our granddaughter Rachael.....this is how she had to spend her birthday...getting her braces on. She sent a picture of the final picture (pink and green) but it was blurry so she is going to have to send another one. She is such a trouper!! Miss you little one!

Emma goes for her first orthodontic visit on Sept 14....not sure they will put hers on????

Salt and I went to Watertown today (hotter than heck). I dreaded it but it was a very productive day. Salt had to go to the urgent care clinic to have his ear checked. He has fluid in one of his sinus tubes so they gave him Drano (what the nice little doctor jokingly called it) to put in his nose. He is hoping that will help him; if not he will have to go on steroids....urgh!!

Salt ordered new (stylish) glasses and I ordered new contacts. They will both be ready before we leave. Salt also finished his clothes shopping. We are pretty set for our trip. What we don't have we will pick up at LLBean when we go through Freeport, ME.

Take me away on the river of love...I wanna go where you go. Take me away on the river of love...just let me roll with the flow...

What a fabulous summer day (that's 3 in a row!!). Salt and I decided to take advantage of it and took off on the jet ski. I took the camera this time and got some cool shots, including this one of this Osprey getting upset with us when we came too close to her nest. There are a lot of nests on the river this year but this is the first time I have been able to capture a shot of any more than the head of the bird......


After that we rode all the way to Lake Ontario....and then crossed into Canada and stopped at Wolfe Island Lighthouse

We also made a stop at Tibbetts Point.....


And on the way home we met up with Paul and Matthew and their harem (except of course for their sister Janna).....

We passed by Potter's but once we saw all the boats and PEOPLE lined up we stayed far away. The kids took their steaks and Hoffman hot dogs over to the beach and Katie Carlisle's dad cooked their dinner.The kids love it when it is crowded .....they get to check out the "hot" girls or guys. I used to like to do that but hell, now I can't see them until I run over them....

Salt just got off the phone with our daughter-in-law Robin, we will be stopping to see them for a week on our way to Florida, but we are now making reservations for all of us to meet up in February for one of Rachael's cheer leading competitions as well as Salt's birthday celebration. We are going to have one VERY busy winter.....and I love it!!!!

Pig roast! It's my favorite meal...Pig roast! Let's hear you squeal....Pig Roast! It's a hell of a deal.....

I opened the refrigerator this morning and it looked like "Old Mother Hubbard's Cupboard". I really forgot how much teenagers eat when they are water skiing, tubing and swimming!!!

The beauty of my life now is; all the kids that I hauled around this river for years, are now driving Aunt Kitty in "Daddy's Boat".....Paul took the wheel on the way to the grocery store.

When we got back to our house, we came around the corner and here was Janna, sunbathing and reading a book.....any wonder WHY she doesn't want to go home tomorrow?????

Salt and I were all ready to go to the pig roast....I looked out at the river that looked like glass and asked him the question...."Why do we want to go up to the middle of the island and all the drama when we can take a jet ski ride into a beautiful sunset"? It wasn't hard to convince him!!!

We gave the kids money and sent them to the pig roast while we slipped away.....We rode into Canada and through the Admiralty Island chain. I was so bummed I didn't have my camera; this weekend was Pirate's Weekend (in A-Bay) and there were a bunch of beautiful tall ships (pirate?) ships anchored out. LOVE those boats!!!

When we returned we walked onto the screened porch and this pile of shoes.....FIRST clue there might be a bunch of teenagers awaiting us!!! Love these kids!!!

Here they are ready to hop on the 4 wheelers and head to the Saturday Night Dance.....

My kids all head back to Owego tomorrow and Dan (Adamson) heads out for his freshman year at Virginia Tech.

We will miss all of them but Salt and I are excited and ready to hop in the motor home and start our trip across New England!! A month from today....lots to do before we leave!!

Tomorrow morning is the Pancake Breakfast, Big cookout on Potter's Beach and after the kids leave, Jim and Ellen have invited Salt and me to dinner at their home. Life is good!!

Focus on your teacher...Focus on your work...Don't focus on the things that make you go beserk.....

Here are my "kids" along with Katie Carlisle doing what they do best.....chowing!

We all went on Friday for a 7 hour boating course.....mandatory now to operate a jet ski.

Here Paige Durdon displays her expertise in knot tying ....as well as her new glasses and haircut!!



And Matt and Paul....display their ?????

Kristi tries to do a balance with the "beer goggle" on.... We were all pretty surprised that these were only the equivalent of 3 beers.... We also learned that 90% of all boating accidents are alcohol are drug related......

And Jared attempts to kick a ball.....didn't do it!!

Do you think they were bored???? Caitlin Smith is in the middle!! Aunt Kitty kept her cool as they all did pass with grades in the 90s.

The tears of a clown, when there is no one around....

Our good friends the Towners, Mel, Cassidy and Frank (aka Xroads the Clown) stopped in for a visit before heading back home to Lansing. We didn't see the tears but I do know they were sad to be going home on such a beautiful day. They were, however blessed with fairly good weather during their stay, considering the summer we have had.
Frank as Xroads....

Was a beautiful beach day and then had dinner on the deck at sunset. Having SO much fun and laughs with Paul and Matt. Janna will be here this afternoon to add to the enjoyment!!

The island is beginning to quiet down....kids are all out school shopping....Salt and I are starting to pack for our travels.

I'm always one card short....Always one day late. For once I'd like an ending I can celebrate....

Even though we had torrential downpours over the last few days....we did manage to get enough decent weather that Joe and the family had a good break.....

Kierston Pickett and her son TJ (Maryland) stopped in for a visit. Kierston is now an EMT and loving her work!! TJ is 2 and yes, he is VERY 2. Cute as a button!!



Joe got to log a few hours on his boat and got some skiing and tubing in. Emma was bound and determined to try and ski.....she got in the water with the skis on and chickened out. She will do it when she is ready. There are plenty of battles to pick with kids and skiing isn't one of them.

And of course a visit from Joe is not complete without a few good cut throat games of "Hearts".

I won every game, but of course Joe said he let me win so I would keep his kids for the rest of the week.....NOT!! I do have the kids however.....

Emma also spent the night last night so Pop took the three kids and headed out to pick up the motor home (new brakes on) this morning and promised to take them for lunch and an ice cream. Janna will be in tomorrow and they will all be staying until Sunday evening. Friday evening they are going to a Luau and Saturday to the Pig Roast and dance so 2 days without cooking. When We got back to the island this Spring I was SO tired of eating in restaurants I couldn't wait to do some home cooking. Now, I am so ready to get on the road and start eating out and have Salt do some BBQing!!!