Rising Waters

"Into each life some rain must fall." So goes the old adage. It never said "Into each basement some rain must fall." Probably because not everyone has a basement. But I do. And fall it did. Like a waterfall.

It came up through the floor (at a point I've known needed repair and I just hadn't done it). And, it came in through the windows, dribbling down the wall in some cases. In the worst, it was gushing as loud as a waterfall (not exaggerating -- it woke me up).

After plugging as much as I could with towels to at least slow it, I tried to start cleaning it up. I tried two shop vacs and neither could handle it. Finally the best method was dumping buckets of water into the utility sink until the floor drain could finally handle it and it began to go down. I'll be very good at bailing boats, should the occasion arrive.

And don't ask me how this happened but at one point I saw a small frog or toad, which I captured and released outside.

That was Tuesday. It's still damp in parts and smells grim but at least I can work on the clean up -- and I have been for the past few days. I am far from done -- so far, 15 trash bags are in my bin and the car is packed to the gills with things for charity that aren't damaged or smell. And there is so much more to come.

I look at every weather report with trepidation. In this, our year of rain, there is plenty to worry about but no way any of the repairs can be done right now. There are many (including several of my neighbors) who have it much worse -- they had carpeted, living basements. Mine is just storage. I lose "stuff."  They not only lose stuff but have significant renovation work that must be done.

 So back to the basement I go once I get my morning brain working. As soon as I can get things away from the walls and purged as much as possible, then I can call the de-molding people to come do their thing. It will be a dent in the England 2020 fund, but hey, it could have been so much worse. Lots of things that mattered were in plastic bins and to be honest, it forced a job that has been moved from one to-do list to another for far too long.

There have been a few good things this week, though. Rick got on a bike on the road this week. Well, riding around the neighborhood and then he realized he was doing it earlier than he should be so that might be on hold again, but he felt glad to be back on two wheels, even if the going will be uphill for awhile.

My friend Jane, whom I hadn't seen in several years, came through town with another we'd been longing to meet -- Mike, who was a great support to Rick after the accident, even though they'd never met. We enjoyed some wonderful conversations during their visit and a great lunch, too!

(This is my soup sampler -- nettle soup, seafood chowder, French onion and Peppedew Tomato. All excellent!)

Jane brought a me wonderful vintage cookbook (1941) by Ruth Wakefield, who invented the Toll House cookie. In addition to tons of recipes it has hints on stain removal and first aid!

For those of us who appreciate cookbooks as historical records of food during various periods, it offers a wealth of tidbits about cooking, serving and entertaining in another not too distant time.

I hate to think I'll ever be using the first aid advice from the 1940s, but some stuff is timeless!

Five years ago this week on a day that looked like rain but ended up being gorgeous, these two were married!

In the time since, there have been new jobs, an MBA program and best of all, two Baby Grands we adore to the max! And of course, having Molly in our family is four star! Kevin couldn't have made a better choice!

This weekend we'll head to Detroit area and for a bit of Grandlittle time while they go celebrate and the next day celebrate Father's Day. And on that note, I wish those of you with Dads around, a wonderful holiday. And for those of you like me who have made that final farewell to Dad, sweet memories.

I miss you, Dad. Every day.

A Few Books, a Backyard Critter and a Big, Happy Event!

I join those of you who have moaned and groaned (as I have) about our dismal spring. The sunny days are few and far between. Most are loaded with rain and even the dry ones have gray skies and are unseasonably cold. Good days to paint!

It's a good time for reading, too. I've been plowing through an assortment of books -- a hefty (500 page) bio of Edward VIII, Michelle Obama's "Becoming," selections from the British Library's 1930s collection of lesser known (but quite good) mysteries, some wonderful mysteries by Susan Hill and now  I'm into Fiona Barton's "The Widow."

I can't say I've bonded with the newest critter in my hood. In fact, I was surprised to see what I thought was a nocturnal creature in my back yard during the middle of the afternoon this past week.

He seemed to find quite a feast in the bird seed. Some of my FB commenters have mentioned that 'possums eat ticks. I don't think I have any in my yard but it's tick season and you never know.

Speaking of which, my vet sent out info on flea and tick natural remedies which you can find on the website HERE. It's that time of year, more so for dog owners and those humans who might be in more tick-infested areas. She also reminded us that it's cat shedding season (as if I didn't know) and frequent brushing is essential to help prevent your fave feline from serious hairball and possibly other issues from spring grooming. The one-pound hairball surgery mentioned below was enough to get me brushing Lizzie fast and furious!

                           

The big news in our house this past week was the graduation of Rick's youngest, Kevin, from his MBA program at University of Michigan!

It was quite the day -- cold, gloomy. Our handicapper parking pass didn't help much given that the handicapper parking was still pretty far from the arena, not to mention having to climb the stadium stairs inside, which seemed extra steep.

I have to hand it to Rick. He made it but it was a long hike. I felt for the really old grandmas who probably couldn't have pulled that off. If it had been me on the crutches, I know I couldn't have pulled it off and I'm not that old yet. But there was no way in the world he would have missed this; I think he would have found a way to be there in person even if he'd been in traction!

We were in the peanut gallery near the end zone of what is usually the basketball court.  For those who asked how far I was from the heron in the photos in this post, I could say I was about half this distance. I think that's about how far my zoom works well. (Harry, for the most part, isn't much of a moving target, either!)

Kevin was in the third row from the stage, so we were about as far away as we could be. Here's one shot -- that was about as good as I got. (I don't usually like to show blurred photos but several of you have asked about the camera. This is pretty soft, but then we were up high and more than a basketball court away.)

I could make out the smaller print on the seal that was on the curtained wall of the stage. That didn't move but it's still "soft."

Unfortunately, graduates are moving targets -- especially when there are a zillion of them (masters and undergrads). Consequently, my photos of the ceremony itself aren't great! But I had to include this one! That's our guy, shaking hands!

The speaker was some fellow from Shark Tank who did a creditable job, along with a couple of students, one of whom was quite good. Rick and I agreed he was a far more compelling speaker than the Shark Tank guy. I'm sure the other student speaker made her parents proud. Hey, we were proud and our guy wasn't even speaking!

I don't think anyone could be more relieved to see Kevin graduate than Molly! It's not easy going to grad school with a full time job, a toddler and a 9-month old who has started walking, and it's not easy being the full-time working mom, either!

And I don't think anyone could have been more proud of Kevin than his dad!

And I was pretty darned happy too!

So, here's to the graduate, here's to spring (whether it shows its face of not) and here's to Rick doing yeoman's work to get to and from the ceremony, stay for the party and even drive home with one foot swollen like a football and maybe five hours of sleep the night before. (And the night before that and the one before that. And that's probably a generous estimate.)

And here's to this one, too, who hung in during the whole however-many-hours-long ceremony without a nap! I adore this little monkey and his brother too!

Now, onward! Maybe with some sun for a change?

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Three Dads Who Mean a Lot to Me

Loads of bloggers are saluting dads this week and I'm no exception! Here are three who have made a big difference in my life!

First, my own dad. This is how I remember him most -- hanging out at his ham radio set. I learned Morse Code before I learned how to write. I can't remember it now, but it was fun to have this secret language of dots and dashes. I suppose the first time I said "hi" to someone I could never see on ham radio was my first foray into social media! How he would have loved this wild and crazy blog world!

Then there's Rick. I've used this photo before because I love it so much. It may be the first or second Father's Day I was part of their lives and the expressions tell the story. I remember the gloriously easy and fun times and the tough ones, too. I know all the love, the worry, the fears and the joys a dad faces, seeing it through Rick's eyes. (And seeing that helped me to understand my own dad's. You think you do. You don't until you've lived it.)

And then there's this one. He's learning the ropes. The ups and downs of being a parent. And all the love that goes with it. There's just a little bit of us that hopes that our Baby Grand gives as good as his dad gave when he was a teenager! (Huh? Why do you want to know? I have a life, you know. Whatever.) Just enough! And I'm also confident he'll love this little guy and all who come after him, till the cows come home.

That little baby will one day, perhaps, be a dad of his own. Somehow I think he has a lot of legacy to live up to -- and I'm pretty darned sure his parents will prepare him for the challenge.

Here Comes the Bride! (And It's Not Me!)

An event more than a year in the making! Last weekend we celebrated Kevin and Molly's wedding!
 

You'll have to bear with me, because I just have to share, partly because it was fun, partly because I'm so happy for Kevin and partly because we now have a daughter!

 Like all weddings, ours started with the rehearsal -- and then the following morning, we were all out decorating the Grand Ledge Opera House, the wedding's venue. (More on that in a Pink Saturday post, coming soon!) Then came the big day!

We were so excited to see family again -- many of whom we hadn't seen since the last wedding! Rick's gang is spread out all over the country, so it was good to connect.

Before the wedding, the photographer took photos of the wedding party. I was pretty far away, using my zoom -- but when I saw Molly standing on this ledge which was only about a foot wide -- above a deep river (on a windy afternoon), my heart jumped into
my throat!

Fortunately, she's an athlete with great balance and apparently no vertigo! I was awfully glad when she came down!

The photos with the guys (again, shot from far away) were a little more casual!

The ceremony was performed by a family friend. It was warm and personal.

 The wedding music was performed by a former teacher that Kevin had known since middle school.
You'll hear more about him in a bit!

It was fun to see both Kevin and Greg dressed to the nines...

And fun for Rick and me to get dressed that way, too! (And yes, I did find shoes.)

Of course there were the family photos. We don't often get one of Rick's dad, mom and all the brothers, since both his parents are now married to other people, so this was nice.

 Then came the party! The opera house ballroom filled up with people for dinner...
 

And then came the dancing -- a little more sedate at first....

 
Then lots of music I'd mostly heard in my spinning class! Only even louder! All of us above a certain age will get junk mail from hearing aid companies -- and if we get one, I'm convinced the wedding will have been one of the reasons why! (That and too many rock concerts when we were in our 20s!)

DJ/violinist Rodney added to that fun by playing along with some of the pieces. Everyone there kept talking about what a fabulous DJ he was (and we agreed!). Anyone planning a wedding in Michigan -- talk to me!

And as it began with Kevin and Molly's dance, it ended that way, too, surrounded by a circle of friends.

And then, it seemed as soon as it began -- although it was really six hours later, off they went, through an archway of loving arms!

I came into Kevin's life when he was seven and I've seen him through Harry Potter and football, high school proms, graduations and jobs so far away it made our heart ache. We'll always be a notch down the 'food chain' now that he has his Molly.

 And that's just the way it should be.