Thursday, June 29, 2017

Summertime Fun



Summertime conjures up lazy days and happy times.  Our younger grands came to visit this week.  I always ask them prior to their visit what they would like to do.  Number one was playing games.


Iced cold watermelon tastes especially good while playing games in the back yard.





Number two request was to make Toll House cookies.  These grands are great in the kitchen now that they are a little older.  I love how wonderfully accurate they are at measuring the ingredients.


They also stay with the process from start to finish.  I can remember them telling me in the past "to just finish up for us Boo."




Number three request was to go to the park.  We have a great one nearby that is next to the river.  


The boys loved throwing rocks in the water.


It was a beautiful day with clear skies and low humidity.  This is a gift for us in the summer.


There are trails that are nice to take, but today the mosquitoes chased us away.


We noticed a new game that the guys wanted to play.  I'll call it soccer pool--A very clever slant on pool using soccer balls.


We squeezed a lot into our three days together.  So much fun, but now I need a nap. 


The mimosa trees have been so lovely this year.  As we were leaving the park, I had to take a picture of this one.  They smell amazing.  You either love mimosa or you hate it.  Some folks refer to it as a noxious weed.  I must admit to removing a few from our gardens.  Do you have mimosa in your area?  Do you like it or not?







41 comments:

  1. I know nothing of this mimosa.. Are your grands a year apart? I think that they are an active, happy, involved duo. And they seem to like one another. This is always good! (I know what you mean about a nap...it's not them...it's the change in activity. That's what I tell myself.)

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    1. Vee, Alex and Miles are 17 months apart. They can have their moments, if you know what I mean. It's quite a change in activity for me with these active guys! ♥

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  2. You all packed a lot of fun into the boys' visit! (And I quite understand the need for a nap!) Soccer/pool looks like fun. I've never seen that before.

    We had a mimosa tree in the far back corner of our yard at The Farmhouse. We loved it! There had been one in the front yard of the house when we moved in 36 years ago, but it had died the very first year. So when Ron found a tiny, tiny mimosa sapling in the crack of the sidewalk as he was cutting the grass at our church, he carefully pulled it out, brought it home, and planted it in the back corner. Much to our amazement, it lived and thrived! I think mimosa trees are so pretty when they're in bloom!

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    1. Cheryl, you have a great story about the mimosa. I've heard if you make a mimosa the focal point (center of your front yard) it will die. Ron knew the perfect spot to plant the little sapling! ♥

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  3. Such fun times and happy memories made! Aren't Toll House cookies the best, fresh from the oven of course!
    I know of mimosa, it looks familiar, but I don't know of it here, possibly not the right climate.
    Have a wonderful weekend, Martha Ellen! xoxo

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    1. I don't think the mimosa would be happy in Wales, Deb. It is a native of Asia and the Middle East. A lot of non natives (though pretty as they are) are not a good idea for our environment as they push out the natives. Enjoy a restful weekend, Deb. xoxo ♥

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  4. Such a lot of fun had by all creating some lovely memories to reflect upon. I am so looking forward to my Grands coming to visit.

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    1. Have a wonderful time with your grands. It's just the best having them come to visit! ♥

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  5. Your grandsons are growing up. It's nice they have a list of things to do--obviously visiting you is a real treat. I hear you about the low humidity being a gift. What a huge difference it makes. We've had some of those lately (unusual for us) and it makes being outdoors a pleasure.

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    1. The lower humidity has been so nice, Dotsie. Unfortunately it has returned and the ac is keeping us cool inside. I know you must really enjoy those days on your pretty screened in porch. Have a nice weekend. ♥

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  6. What a wonderful visit with Alex and Miles! I love how you filled their days with good, old-fashioned fun, Martha Ellen! It's delightful to see young people making their own fun, without being plugged-in all the time. :) A nap, with sweet memory-filled dreams, sounds perfect after a nice visit!

    Mimosa trees don't grow in our area. I would just love to see one in bloom one day! Wishing you and Grayden a relaxing, star-spangled weekend! ♡

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    1. Thank you, Dawn. I'm not surprised that mimosa doesn't grow your way. They really love the hot, humid weather of the south. You would love the beauty and the fragrance that is close to that of a faint gardenia. Even though they can be invasive, I do enjoy them, especially this year. I hope your weekend brings you joy, my friend. ♥

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  7. Soccer pool looks like a great idea! Love the photos of the cookie-baking grands. I've been trying to think of games our grands will like this weekend, although we'll probably be indoors most of the time - rain in the forecast. Have a wonderful weekend, Martha Ellen. Such lovely photos!

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    1. Thank you, Judy. Our grands love playing games! They can get quite competitive. They take after their Dad and Bear. Enjoy your visit with family this weekend. Hopefully there will be times to enjoy the outdoors as well as fun inside. ♥

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  8. When I was a child our neighbor had one. I remember I loved the pretty pink blossoms. Then one day I noticed one growing on our property! Their leaves are very distinctive so I left it to grow and now I have my own Mimosa tree! I do find volunteers showing up in my flower beds and will remove them. It looks like a great time was had by all with your grandsons. I look forward to when mine are old enough to do things with like that.

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    1. Cathy our grands are at the age where we can do more things with them. But we do find they enjoy repeating things from the past.
      We used to have a mimosa in our side yard, but it couldn't compete with the larger trees. It became a spindly stick, so we removed it. I know you must be enjoying your mimosa's blooms and fragrance.
      I hope you enjoy your weekend. ♥

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  9. Martha Ellen, such a special time spent with your grandchildren. Those tollhouse cookies look Yummy, and they are my favorite! I love the pictures of them baking away in the kitchen. Yes, boys love to throw rocks into the water, making ripples and splashes. What a great picture this is. I smiled when I saw the soccer pool, as I grew up with a pool table at our house, and I must say I was pretty good at the game. I've never heard of soccer pool before, that's so cool. Your posts are always heartwarming, Martha Ellen, and your pictures tell a vivid story.

    Have a sweet weekend.

    ~Sheri

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    1. Sheri, we have the best of times with our grands. I'm excited for you to experience great times with your expected grand. It's really one of the amazing joys of life. Thank you, as always, for the sweet comments. Have a happy weekend. ♥

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  10. Youre such good grandparents! It sounds like you had good times and kept busy. Too bad about themosquitos- they are so annoying! That soccer pool looks like fun and those cookies- yum! I've never seen mimosa so it intrigues me. Have a great weekend!

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    1. Thanks Liz, we enjoy all three of our grands so much. The mimosa are blooming so beautifully this year. They are a non natives introduced in the US in 1785. They are from Asia and the Middle East, so they enjoy hot humid weather like we have in the south. Of course non natives can be invasive. Have a nice weekend. ♥

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  11. Beautiful pictures! I love baking cookies especailly when I make them homemade! I wanted to pick up a watermelon for the 4th of July. Have a great weekend and holiday!

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    1. Thanks Pilar. Alex and Miles love to bake homemade cookies. Hopefully you will find a sweet watermelon to enjoy this holiday weekend. This was our first one of the season and it was incredibly sweet. ♥

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  12. It's great that the kids enjoy doing "simple" things like that. Many youngsters might have requested costly, busy-busy things. Their choice of activity really enabled y'all to enjoy one another's company.

    Blessings,
    Patti

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    1. That's so true, Patti. Our grands are really great kids that enjoy a variety of activities.
      Have a wonderful holiday weekend. ♥

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  13. Martha Ellen...this is such a lovely post...you are very blessed with such sweet grandchidren.....your kitchen looks so inviting....it's amazing and wonderful at the same time that the boys bake cookies and play games with their grandparents....Happy 4th to y'all.

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    1. Thank you, Betsy. You know the joy of grandchildren as much as I do. They are just so precious to us. Enjoy the holiday! ♥

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  14. Such sweet grands. They look like they are having a blast. Making cookies is always a treat.Sorry about the darn mosquitoes. We can do without them.. Happy 4th to you.

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    1. Thanks Linda. We were lucky when we left the trail, we left the mosquitoes! Have a wonderful holiday! ♥

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  15. You have very sweet grandsons, Martha Ellen, and it is obvious they love visiting Grandma and Grandpa's house! You are making wonderful memories for them.

    Have a very happy and safe 4th of July!

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    1. Thank you, Pat. We adore all three of our grands and love it when they visit. I hope you have great holiday! ♥

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  16. Looks like you all had a great time. I would have been set for the 3 days if you would have had enough watermelon to go around! Love it....

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    1. Pam, there's another half in the fridge waiting for you! Happy Forth of July! ♥

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  17. Your grands are growing up so fast and handsome! I use to climb the Mimosa trees in my grandparents front yard just to get away from all my brothers and sisters! What a wonderful day you had with your family, Happy 4th of July, dear friend, XOXO

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    1. Susan, that's a great retreat spot. Happy Forth of July, dear one. XOXO ♥

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  18. we grew up with mimosa trees. I love them and I do not have one though, but after seeing yours, I may have to plant one now. Very pretty unusual flowers I think, sort of exotic looking.
    So glad you had some fun times with the grand children and they are handsome lads for sure. I can almost bet the cookies didn't last long, gosh now I need to make some.
    betsy

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    1. Betsy, you should be able to get a mimosa very easily. The birds are always planting them in my yard.
      You are spot on about the cookies---they disappeared before my eyes! With three grands here they were gone in a flash. ♥

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  19. How wonderful to spend this quality time with your grandchildren! You and your husband are providing such happy memories for them. Baking cookies together is so special. Sweet summer days. Enjoy every bit of it. Lots of love. xoxo

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    1. Thank you, Rosinda. Summer seems such a short time, so we must make the most of these wonderful lazy days. Love to you, my friend. xoxo ♥

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  20. This looks like so much fun!

    My husband and I love mimosa trees because they remind us of our childhood. I remember picking the seed pods and pretending to cook them when I was little. We just moved to a new house two weeks ago and we plan to plant one mimosa here. The blooms are just too pretty.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Stacy. Those seed pods from mimosa have entertained me as well. How exciting to move into a new home. I hope your mimosa grows to bring more memories your way. ♥

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  21. Summer and family, what a fantastic mix.
    Lovely family photographs you have shared, and also the watermelon looks delicious, they are so refreshing.

    All the best Jan

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