I was not left without an idea though. While taking pictures at the Fathers Day gala, I saw one that sparked my memory.

Goomba and Beeve. I have seen this horse many times.

It reminds me of another horse, almost 50 years before. Here is my Father, Dennis with Girl Cousins Lynn and Kay, at my Grandpa and Grandma Hoover’s house on Stout in Detroit.  The photographer, who may or may not have been my Mother, chopped my head off.

There I am! 21 months old and dressed to party! Anyone see a resemblance in the 2 horses? Oh.My.Word. Sometimes it’s just weird.

Mousey and I are off to pack up my Mom and Dad’s house on the lake. It could be SOLD and we need to get packing!!!!

Have a really good middle of the week.

Well, Goomba was counting!

He wanted IN! The pool finally got open and cleaned up and ready for its close up in perfect unison with his last week of school.

Striking a pose for the obligatory first swim photo. Notice anything different? No water wings!!!!!!!

He was practicing the no wing look last summer. but he took a swimming class over the winter/spring and he officially doesn’t need them anymore. He also got a super hot new swim suit featuring one of his favorite people. He is all Super Hero, all the time!

We warned them that the water was C.O.L.D. The solar cover usually does a great job, but it had been cool-ish and there had been buckets of rain. Goomba and Beeve took the plunge!

No sissy wading in for him, CANNONBALL!!!!!

That is 5 and 1/2 for you.

Let the season begin!

There was even dancing, but not the kind you might be thinking. WII dancing, something that Goomba excels in. He is a big old fancy dancer, with a year of lessons and a recital under his belt!! Yesterday he and Uncle Honey were co-performing something about gangnam style. Honey handled the music, Goomba brought the moves. I did not have the camera out at that time, I busted it out to capture this rare event!

Oh yeah, The Ab-Cat was throwing down! She was on fire! Love Goomba riding his Dad in the background.

Then Ab and Beeve did pairs. The old guy did a’right! I even saw Stacey shaking her groove thang and she has still got it too!

The oldest father in the bunch with his old kids.

We then moved the party over to our place because Goomba had a hankering to swim, which I also did not get pictures of. But I will show you the first swim of the season pictures tomorrow. Why cram it all into one post when I can milk it for two?

The Boy and The Dane are working in Chicago this summer, so it was a girls photo shoot with the fathers. I must say, it went much quicker without The Boy and his shenanigans. We did have to take a couple extra shots because some girls didn’t like one shot or another, but heck, I do that!

With The Grandpa. I feel I must clarify here that people had already put on their tater clothes. Well, not Grandpa, he remained spiffy in his orange Tiger’s like attire until the end. And not Mousey, because she had guarded lives all day and had not been in attendance until now. So basically Honey and The Ab-Cat had tatered.  Take a hike spell check, tatered is TOTALLY a word at our house! It is the short version of changing into potato clothes. If you don’t understand that sentence, you had better check The NutHatch Dictionary in the left column, and welcome to the blob you must be NEW!

Honey, featuring The Boy’s hand me down shirt, with his favorite Girls.

They gave him all manner of Detroit Tiger presents. The Tigers are doing well. So far, so good.

We snuck in a Detroit Red Wings cling too, even though we all know how their season turned out. Now his super sexy (say it like Heidi Klum on Project Runway) grey Taurus will be all blinged out with his favorite teams!

He requested headphones for his iPod so he can get his groove on while cutting the grass. He also wanted a stylus for the iPad. My Uncle Bob had one when we were in Florida, and Honey thought it might solve his iPad problem of ending up somewhere he did not intend. It causes him great angst when that happens, and the weeping and gnashing of teeth is something we try and avoid around here.

He rounded out the rest of his Sunday by watching a little important golf. I think he had a pretty good day.

They like each other, except for Honey’s bird calls and his random shouting of things like “LIVE ACTION!!!!” and “GANGNAM STYLE!!!”, that wears on them.

Yessir, that’s his Babies!

Happy Fathers Day!

“Fathers represent another way of looking at life – the possibility of an alternative dialogue.” Louise J. Kaplan

I don’t care how poor a man is; if he has family, he’s rich.  ~M*A*S*H, Colonel Potter

“Good fathers make good sons.” Anonymous

I’m always going to love my father. Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

I just have a little bit of time here before I head out to my Dad’s place. He has listed his house and so far he has had some serious interest in buying. That means my summer just got a whole lot busier! We are tackling some drawers and closets today, and whatever else we have time for. There will be a bi

] downsizing involved with this move, so he has some decisions to make.

How about a list?

Capri’s Patt and Deb came yesterday to get their hairs cut. That also involves lunch, Homegoods, Hobby Lobby and now, Yogurt City. Which is good, but can’t compete with Sweet Frog in Virginia. I am truly sorry Yogurt City, but that’s a fact Jack.

I have a sweet bartering deal with these gals. I do their hair, and they help me manage my life.

While she was here, Patt arranged the patio/deck/pool area flower pots for me. She is a pot whisperer. One of her many gifts.

I had another job for her. We are having a clicker problem over here. A serious clicker problem. I said I needed something to corral them. Something…..attractive looking. She found this at Homegoods. Looks like a big book, but it’s sneaky!

The WII clicker isn’t even in there, hasn’t turned up yet. The tv clicker doesn’t fit, it’s too long, but I can handle 1 being out and about!

See? Looks like a book! A big secret squirrel, hiding book!

Deb is my tailor, sewer/mender. She brought me mended sleep pants that we both forgot she had. I swapped them out for more mending. One of her many gifts.

The Peanuts Champ bought me this twinkie at a garage sale, isn’t she a big old hunk of honey? She is so thoughtful! One of her many gifts.

Honey has a new tv show. We think it is intolerable. He calls it The Turtle Man, maybe that is even it’s name. He mimics this ridiculous person’s pose and shouts “LIVE ACTION!!!” . The Girls and I are not sure what to do with this new…character. Imitating characters, one of his many gifts.

Have a good weekend, hope it is full of many gifts.

DIY Sharpie Mug. Dots around stickers & then remove stickers.

Garden Balls – who knew?

1. What do you think makes a good dad?

I will use Honey for my example, because I have seen him in action for the last 24 years. When we were still dating, Honey talked about how he couldn’t wait to be a father. He had all kinds of plans of doing this and that with them before I was even sure being a mother was IN me. From the day The Ab-Cat, The Boy and Mousey arrived, he has been loving his children immensely.

I can recall my Mom telling me many times that Honey was such a good Dad. She always commented on how much he enjoyed his children, and that was it. All fathers love their children, the majority even like them, but Honey so enjoyed them. He worked a ton of hours when they were young, but it never stopped him from being present and active in their lives. His job was necessary, but his family was his life. He worked to give them security and the opportunities and things that he wasn’t able to have. He modeled a strong work ethic, character, integrity, and a kind and generous heart. He played and sang with them and created adventures and memories that he hoped would make their lives richer and more fun. He tried to be a Godly example, to train them up in the way they should go so when they were old they would not depart from it. He taught them many important things, and many silly things.

So, what makes a good Dad? Loving, present, self sacrificing, God honoring, willing to teach and guide, and fun. And that is the short list of all Honey has done as a good Dad.

2.  What’s something you learned from your own father?

I have two dads. My Father and my Dad. My parents divorced when I was very young, so for the majority of my life I did not live with my Father. What I learned about that was when the parent is not present, the longing remains. What I learned from my Dad was patience. My teen years were not easy for him, but he somehow believed that I would come out on the other side, and we would be fine. 
3. It’s your birthday-what kind of cake will we be having?

For the majority of my life I chose cherry chip cake, made by my Mother. I still like cherry chip, but have discovered that there is not much cake that makes me unhappy. As Jim Gaffigan so eloquently puts it, “I LIKE CAKE”. I don’t like fruitcake though. And that Mexican wedding cake hovers just above that. I guess I don’t like chunks of stuff in my cake. Well, that narrows it down nicely, doesn’t it?

4. When you’re faced with a big decision are you more of a go with your gut type of person, or are you someone who reasons it all out, weighing the pros and cons?

This is where I think Honey and I are a really good team. He is a more “reasons it all out, weighing the pros and cons” type of person. He is a methodical, thorough researcher and thinker and these are valuable skillz to have when making a big decision. He majors in reason and weighing, but he also minors in gut. On the other hand, I major in gut, I have very good instincts. My guts are pretty accurate. Sometimes unfortunately accurate. Together, with a lot of prayer, we make the big decisions.
5. June is National Dairy Month. What’s your favorite dairy item? Most often purchased dairy item?

I like almost all dairy, but I don’t want to live without cream in my morning cup of chai. I will make a trip to the store just for the cream.
6. Explorer Jacques Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910….what’s something you’ve recently discovered or something you’d like to explore?

I have recently made a sad discovery of something that I don’t want to explore.
7. Are you typical of your generation?

I don’t know, I have never given it much thought. I do think that our generation is different from the previous one and the next one.
8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Good thoughts about cake. HILARIOUS.

Have a good week, and I hope it involves cake.

I have several of these invitations left. One in my car, the laundry room, the office. I just love them. I need to keep them, just to look at them and be proud of the accomplishment of my dear friends!

While Capri Deb and Jeff were in the throes of last minute preparations for their much anticipated show, Capri Patt and Capri Lis (Mrs. Schmenkman) and I were in the throes of our own …..deception.

Back in the winter, Deb had told Schmenky the dates of their show in hopes that Schmenk could make the trip up from Virginia to be there on opening night. Schmenky then told a whopper of a lie. She said she couldn’t, because she had to work. Capri Deb and I discussed this at lunch later on and let me tell you, I rolled my eyes appropriately a good, long time to show my disbelief.

What Capri Deb did not know was Schmenky had every intention of coming , but wanted to surprise her and BFG, her brother. So then Patt and I had to keep a secret. That can be hard! We managed quite nicely until the week before, and I had to resort to some unusual answers. Or maybe I just lied, I can’t remember.

The weeks before the reception were the first 2 weeks week of my sickness, named The Scourge for memory purposes. The only thing I had to do those weeks were keep a GIANT secret that threatened to leap out of my mouth at any moment, and do Capri Deb’s hair. Because normally, I would have done her hair sometime in the previous 2 weeks. I am not sure if you are all aware, but when one is hosting an art reception, one MUST have their hair looking presentable. Even I knew that!

The reception was at 7 on Friday evening. Schmenky was due to arrive in town around 2:30 on Thursday afternoon and I was fetching her from the airport. It was then the plan that Capri Patt would join us and I would do both of their hairs. Already knowing this plan, I had to think fast when Capri Deb called to ask if I could do her hair on Thursday afternoon. I probably could have done her that afternoon, time wise, but how would I get her out of my house in time to go and get Schmenky from the airport??? When we do hair we talk, and linger, and sometimes do lunch, all things I love, but how was I going to get her to leave without looking rude or putting on a dramatic show of Scourge relapse?  When Deb asked, I am pretty sure there were minutes of dead air before my brain came up with an answer. I weakly offered, “how about Wednesday afternoon?” And then gave an excuse so lame that I can’t even recall it’s lameness. That is where I could have lied, and I confess it to God and y’all right here. She said alright and I breathed a great sigh of relief.

It was all gravy after that. She and BFG were busy with their preparations and did not expect to see Patt or me until Friday evening. Here is the result of our deception at the reception, tears of surprise!!!!!

Some of their pretties. This is new and I think it’s loverly! BFG makes the metal frames and Dab mosaics inside. Fitches!

BFG, Sneaky Schmenky, and Capri Deb.

Purty horsey.

One of BFG’s specialties is metal work. I have seen some of his ships before, but I had not seen the added glass.

I quite like it!

Capri Deb makes many beautiful things, but I am a little partial to her roosters because they are so darling.

The star of the invitation. I know for a fact this one sold, LOVE it a LOT! I think the lines are zippers? who’da thunk it??!!

The reception was very well attended by friends and family. Deb blobbed about it here, and Schmenky here. 

I think it was a good surprise,

for wonderful, talented, darling lady!!!!!!!

BFG said he had a “feeling”, you can’t get anything past him!

1. Honey has worked for Ford Motor Company for about 26 years now. They have plant shutdowns every year in July, but this does not affect his department. They also periodically have layoffs, and this rarely affects his department. When he hears about a layoff he always wistfully says he wishes he could get laid off for a few weeks to get caught up around here! He has been laid off once and that was years ago. Any benefits of that long ago layoff are long forgotten.

2. Honey got laid off for the week!!!!!!! There was much rejoicing and happiness in the land!!!

3. He always has a mental to do list. Sometimes this mental list is 2 miles long. This was one of those years.

4. We have been working like rented mules. Hard and mercilessly.

5. Well, I’m pretty sure rented mules don’t get to go out for dinner after their long, hard day.

6. We have accomplished a great deal! I have been asking him every evening if he is happy with his accomplishments that day. He has been known to set…….unreasonable goals.

8. He has been happy with his progress !!!!!!!

9. He has had to accept the fact that he cannot accomplish as much as he used to when he was younger. It has been a bitter pill to swallow. B.I.T.T.E.R.

10. We have had such nice weather for all of our outside endeavors.

11. He knows he will not get to everything on his extensive list in one week. There is still the deck dilemma, and a hundred little things. But yard work is like the poor, always with us. Matthew 26:11, I didn’t make that up. Well the yard work part I did.

12. All the flowers are planted. There was much angst when I went to the favorite flower place and they did not have 3 of the most represented brands I needed. Coleus, lantana and Zinnias. Poor Jip the Farm Dog, she had to witness my weeping and gnashing of teeth.

13. It wasn’t pretty.

14. I required 5 more stops to find what I needed. I offer great thanks to my friend CMB, who called to tell me about a place she discovered on her way home. They had what I needed. First world crisis averted.

15. Abrupt change of course, Honey and Ab-Cat went to the Tigers game yesterday. And they WON!

7. I just realized I forgot number 7. How could I forget 7, it’s God’s number??!!

16. I didn’t want to go back and change everything. I can just stick it up there out of order if I want. It’s my blob.

17. My true friends will still love me.

18. Speaking of friends, I have the best.

19. The prayers of good friends availeth much. James 5:16. I didn’t make that up either.

20. Tell me something you have done this week. Come on, lets hear some chatter.