Company again

More people came!

Old-friend-people who know about ear rubs and chasing the ball.

While they were here more old-friend people visited and everyone sat around in the living room all evening just to play with me!

They called it "catching up."

We had a fine time.

They all went to the store and came home with sacks of wonderful smelling stuff.

Especially the cheese.

Then they invited me to a picnic!

I love picnics!

But do you think they let me actually EAT any of that good-smelling food???

Not a bite.

Granddad's been having fun

Yes, the Old Guy has been living it up.

He got to dress up and stay out late.

He got to entertain visitors.

He got presents.

He had lots of fun with company.

And Mimi showed up with a picnic featuring honey baked ham sandwiches.

As he says,

"Pretty good, for an old duck!"

Granddad's Memorial Day

I took Granddad over to Meadowood to see the World War II exhibit for Memorial Day.

He was not particularly interested.

He'd been there, seen that.

He was MUCH more interested in the traditional grilling and picnic.

Because it doesn't matter how many watermelons you've had in your life,

the one you have right now is best.

Grapefull afternoon

Back in the hills around our town, hidden down narrow rural roads, a sweet fruit is growing. It is a month yet to go before it will be ready to harvest but already the bunches are hanging heavily on the vines.
These plump and juicy grapes grow in vineyards scattered on hillsides and ridge tops.
Among the rows and rows of vines are unassuming wineries.




Here is some one's dream of growing their own grapes and making a fine wine.
Back in June Mimi and I drove by the sign inviting visitors to the tasting room and we said to each other "Someday we'll have to go check that out".

We pick a pleasant summer afternoon in August to visit. The late summer cicadas are singing. Clouds float in the warm blue sky.

Mimi sets out a picnic on the porch.

Chester, the aged winery cat, supervises.

The picnic is a true Mimi production featuring bread and cheese and fruit and ants.

She sets our table next to a butterfly garden.

So as we sip our Chambourcin and nibble our treats we watch swallowtails and skippers and coppers and a viceroy flutter around the flowers.

The wine is flavored with the sunshine and sweetness of the afternoon.

I like knowing that the drink in my hand comes from the grapes that grew in the soil under my feet.

Mimi wanders down to the pond to toss left-over crumbs to the minnows.

We note that there are 9 wineries on the "Indiana Uplands Wine Trail". We've now picnicked at two of them.

Anybody else see the potential here?

Saturday evening post

Saturday evening - Our first summer picnic!
Granddad was ready and waiting long before company arrived and food was produced.





It was fine weather for sitting outside - not too hot, a little breeze, a few clouds to moderate the sun.






We had fine company for conversation and celebration.

Plate on head? Now it is officially a party.

We had plenty of picnic fare from nuts to watermelon, salad from our CSA share and an English cheddar from a farm near the town of Cheddar.

Some bubbly to toast our two honorees - the one with a new job and the one with a birthday.





There was a marvelous birthday torte provided by HoosierKitty.

And Mimi loved the torte, the champagne and the funny plates..

featuring picnic ants.

Does this remind you of something?
It should. Remember how Mimi used to sprinkle little plastic ants across the picnic table at the farm?

Another happy Summer memory!

The Fifth of July

Ahhh...the traditional Fourth of July holiday.... a nice hot day to play with fire
"Let them cook!" I say. ( I did my cooking the night before)

Soon a picnic is assembled.

There is a lot of interest in the good smelling food.

It is just as tasty as it smells.

Every bite is closely watched.

Not one dropped morsel reaches the floor.

After we eat, Granddad amuses us by showing off his newest artifact and telling its story.

What better finish to the day than a dip in the pool?
Wish you all could have joined us!

Hope everyone had a great Fourth of July, whenever you celebrated it.

Picnic Party

After weeks of unseasonably hot weather, we finally had a pleasant evening and could eat outside. What better excuse for a picnic than Mimi's birthday?

We knew she would be missing Charles (we all miss Charles) but our house is close to the nursing home and she planned to go visit him afterwards.

The little folding table from the farm came in handy to hold the food.
I tried to have things Mimi likes to eat - a green salad with sweet snap peas and avocado, bean salad from the recipe she gave me, cheeses and breads, and stuffed eggs.

And Mimi loved getting phone calls from those of you who couldn't be here during the party.

Hoosierkitty arrived with a wonderful assortment of pickle presents.

Mimi was delighted with the Pickle Brine water bottle.
Sorry I didn't get a picture of the Pickle Soap, the Pickle Picks, or the prize: the slightly obscene Yodelling Pickle.

It was a low-key but pleasant evening, filled with our good wishes for Mimi.

Picnic with Mimi

The lake may have been low, but the water still rippled in the breeze. Mimi and I had a simple picnic from the Farmer's Market--Bakehouse bread, Capriole goat cheese, fresh heirloom tomato.

And champagne, which goes with everything.
The champagne was for the memories of a lovely spring wedding day up on the hill behind us.

Picnic with the Pops

It isn't the Fourth of July yet, but we've already had a celebration. We all dressed up in red, white and blue for the annual Picnic with the Pops.

Socks couldn't go but she tried on her hat for the occasion.

Mimi fixed everyone a personal picnic in a tidy little box.
Our costumer made sure we had hats and scarves.The table was decorated with stars and sparkles (and lots to eat and drink)
We finished our food just in time for the fanfare and parade and the color guard bringing in the flags.
There was a nice breeze whipping the flags out.
Those of us with brand-new hearing aids enjoyed hearing the music.
The music went on until the sun set.
The Junior Vacationeers had light sticks
and flashing pointy light balls to illuminate the evening. They went right over beside the cannons for the 1812 Overture so they could see the fire coming out as the booms shook the ground.
After the music came the fireworks
ooooooooooh!Ahhhhhhhhhhh!

And then it was time to go home.
Now we can hardly wait for the fireworks on the 4th!