Busy, busy, busy

Wow, here it is the end of August already and the weather is still sweltering hot. We have had a great month. We hosted a dinner party for ten on the 2nd. These are our good friends who we met through Joe working a The Beer Store, Jim and Peg, Dan and Jane, John and Sheila and John and Jean. Dinner went really well until Bonnie spilled cold tea all over the kitchen floor and then proceeded to spill red wine all over John Dew and the carpet. How embarrasing! John and Jean Bolton were quick to respond and had it all cleaned up with not a stain anywhere! Thank you guys. John Dew didn't fare so well and had to change while Bonnie washed and dried his stained clothes. Always some entertainment at our house!

John and Jean returned the invitation later in August and their sons John and Matthew joined us as well as Joanna and Cal Ames. We had a great dinner and breakfast the next morning. We always stay over at the host house so that we can stay up late and have a few drinks. Nice to catch up on what everyone has been doing, especially since we are not here in the winter.

My two sisters came to stay with us for a few days. They came on a Wednesday and Pat stayed until Friday evening and Jacquie stayed until the next Thursday. I (Bonnie) have never laughed so much in a very long time. We played card games, Joe served us drinks and generally took care of things and the sisters went shopping at Walmart and Canadian Tire. Let me just say that we giggled and laughed so much in those two stores that I am sure people thought we were just let out of the loony bin! It was so great, and we hope to do it every year from now on.

On the 24th we went to Wendy and Graham's house for a get together with them, Doreen and Bob, and Sharon and Bob. Doreen, her brother Graham, Wendy and I have known each other since we were kids. Graham had just laid hardwood on the main floor living room, dining room, family room, hallway and stairs and it looked fantastic. We had loads of fun playing Pictionary and Catch Phrase. Friends are so wonderful and we try to get togethere whenever we can. The girls are planning a "girls" getaway soon and I will let you know how that goes. More laughter I am sure.

Joe's sister Chris came to stay with us for a few days and when we took her home, we picked up his brother Tony who also stayed with us for a few days. We enjoyed having them as we don't get to see them as often as we like, even though they both live in Toronto. Chris's cat has cancer in the lymph nodes and needs his medicine every day, so Tony took care of the cat while Chris was here. Otherwise we would have had them both with us at the same time. Cat's doing well by the way

Also, every Friday night we go to Laurie and Rob's for dinner. This is so great! They do a delicous barbeque and then we all play Texas Hold'em. This gives us a night off from cooking and we get to see everyone and spend some quality time with our grandchildren - who do a lot of the cooking by he way, and the setting up and clean up. Jamie does most of the winning at poker but the rest of us have our turns too.

So, that's the month in a nutshell. No wonder I am so tired. I love being with everyone, but we really need some down time.

July 11 to August 2nd

Well, it is now August 2nd, ALREADY! Where did July go? We (Joe and I)went to Laurie and Rob's for dinner and a Texas Holdum game. Sarah cleaned all our clocks. What a girl. She came back to our house and on Saturday Sarah and I went looking for sewing stuff. She took a week at sewing school and was raring to go. We picked up her Janome sewing machine and the nice lady told her how to clean it and operate it. While we were there we picked up more sewing paraphernalia and headed out to Fabricland for patterns and fabric. We got it all home and set to work. Sarah doing most of the work and Gran (me) helping and advising when needed. Lo and behold by the time Laurie and Rob came to pick her up on Sunday afternoon, she had finished a gorgeous summer dress, white on the top and patterned with a black design on the skirt. Last I saw, Sarah was working on a pink and white summer dress for herself.

We have been keeping busy. Jim and Peggy came to dinner one evening. We went to the barbeque put on by our phase one day. I took broccoli salad and there was beef and lots of other good food. It was a good opportunity to socialize with our neighbours.

Joe went golfing on the 22nd for the Beer Store annual tournament. He had a good time and came home with a sport bag, water bottle, shirt and some other stuff.

We had dinner and the poker game on Saturday this weekend because Rob and Jamie had to work. Jamie was happy to do it because it gets him more hours towards his apprenticeship and double time pay. Way to go Jamie. What an industrious fellow. I think he probably won the poker game that night but I am not sure. Senior's memory again. Matthew was there with a friend of his and that made it so nice. Matthew is almost finished his third year at Walerloo in the chemical engineering program and starts work on August 16 after exams are over. Smart fellow and hard worker.

Well, enough of the grandparent bragging for a while. We have been doing a few things around our house and that is keeping us busy. We went to a barbeque at John and Jean Bolton's last Saturday and it was great to see them, Matthew and John Jr. and many friends from the Beer Store that we haven't seen for quite a while. Now we are getting ready for our dinner party/sleep over with Dan and Jane, Jim and Peggy, John and Sheila and John and Jean. Joe is barbequeing a roast of beef and I am making artisan bread (which I hope turns out well as I haven't made it much as yet) and we will have a birthday cake for Peggy but she doesn't know it yet. Shhhh. Hoping for great weather, but what will be will be.

That's it for now. Looking forward to having both my sisters for a few days. We will all go to Laurie and Rob's for a barbeque and Texas Hold'em game on Friday.