SUMMER CATCH-UP

Well, as the summer vacation draws to a close for me...
I look back to the Dog Days of Summer...
Good times....when Chung Hae came to visit...
What a great way....
to get to see a lot of ...
old friends....
and eat lots of desserts...


My helpers and amateur photographers....
Then Caslers were gone....
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But I got to attend a great concert on a hot summer night...
The Flower Hill String Band...

Betsy and Melissa can sure harmonize!!
And the fiddling is mighty fine....
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One Day Sam & I decided to go outlet shopping...
in Leesburg across the Potomac...
So we took the Whites Ferry across and back!!
Got some good bargains and had fun.
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Sharing a meal with Stephen and Denise
in their beautiful yard was a real treat.
They've had one heck of a summer with hospital stays...
But God is good. Stephen is doing well!!
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We knew the summer was coming to an end
when our back-up daughters arrived fresh
from their spring semesters abroad to share a meal.
We even got Mike & Sam involved in assembling the kabobs.
After enjoying Lauren's pictures, we had a contest...
to see who looked the best in the Ray Bans....
Sam and Mike put on a good show...
But Sarah pretty much gets the prize!!!
Was that look "Blue Steel"?
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WORST IDEA OF THE SUMMER!!!!
THE TOPSY TURVY PLANTER!!!
When I add up the cost of soil, planter and plants
And divide that amount by 6
the number of little tough skinned
tomatoes I harvested....
I estimate their worth at about $4.00 each.

Rocky Mountain High Colorado

Tanned and rested from the week at Sunset Beach
Sam and I started a new adventure.
Our first MOTHER-SON VACATION!!While his plan was to ditch me as soon as
we got off the plane, I had other plans
including seeing his GREAT Aunt Reba in Colorado Springs.
He & I enjoyed a good meal along
with her witty banter & spunk...
and got to see my cousin Nolan again, too.
Then it was on to Fort Collins where Vivian & Jamie's
home is the ultimate in hospitality...
It is hard NOT to relax in their guest suite---
and the fellowship is always precious...
Kita kept us from being too lonely for our canine Becky
who was bach-ing it at home with Dad.
However, Sam needed some "sans Mom-time" --
so we headed to Westminster for lunch at a local pub..
where Sam's friends Brittany & Natalie live...
as well as my dear friend Torrey.
We shared a great lunch before the girls
whisked Sam away to concerts and shopping....
his 2 favorite activities!!
Torrey & I spent the day savoring our friendship that
began during our teens & has now spanned 5 decades.
God is good!!
That evening the fun continued...
Jeanette's visit from Florida coincided with mine
and a great excuse for a "Girls Night Out!!"
Mary & I knew each other in church
before we ever became Lambkins.
And Margie got me my first job...with her Dad---
the best employer I've ever had.
The next day daughter Beth, son-in-law Mike & sweet grandkids
stopped in at Viv's to say "Hi" in the midst
of a camping trip up the Poudre.
Sam let Viv take him out to dinner---
and stop by cousin Abe's place---pretty nice digs!!
Abe gave us a demo of his style using Michael Jordon's putter!!
New Belgium Brewery---home of Fat Tire Beer
Jamie, who's associated with them as a physician,.
arranged a special guided tour for us.
Brett and his friends were able to join us as well.


Jamie explains the ways & means of extracting a person who
might accidentally fall into the "kettle."

Hops!!
OH, do we HAVE to taste it???

Sampling was the best part!!

These contain beer---Lots of It !!



A slide is just for fun!!
Then it was time to try some different varieties...
All good!!
The tour was over and we were on to my old work place...We ate pepper steak and fellow shipped with the family--
including Abe and his girlfriend Katy!!
Saturday we got to spend with Beth & the grandkids.
Their new home has a wonderful view...
and a great kitchen...
We left Mike home to work and headed for Estes Park...
my old summer home during college...
It may not be Jersey-style...but Tony's continues
to serve up awesome pizza!!
We forgot the stroller--but still had a fun walk around town...
ending at the old Taffy shop!!
SUNDAY MORNING ADVENTURE
Viv, Devin & Sam left early for Winter Park to meet Dustin...
who outfitted/ guided his cousin on a wild and crazy
extreme mountain bike ride...
dinner on the mountain
a little muddy...
the cousins had a great time together...
even if my son sported the most scrapes...
and bruises....
While Sam had his Sunday adventure, I went to church and
then met my "old" dear friend Kathy & daughter Tonia
for a wonderful visit over a tasty lunch.
Later in the day, Elaine & I got to enjoy sweet fellowship...
recalling our days as teen-agers and old boyfriends...
She married hers 41 years ago & I was the maid of honor!!
Burgers & Kabobs on the grill at Viv and Jamie's that night
brought a wonderful day to an end!!
My sister looks pretty cute in pink!!
As we headed out of Fort Collins Monday,
we picked up Brett
for a Mexican lunch and a few laughs
(mostly them laughing at me!)
Stopped in Denver to spend some time
with Aunt Helen & Uncle Duane...
How precious they are...and the visit was too brief.
The Denver International Airport was the last stop
on a wonderful vacation...
Thanks, Sam...for letting your mother tag along!!