A Day Out East

Every once in a while, Mike has a job site around the Hamptons or out East someplace. If I'm off from work and the weather is nice, I come along for the ride. Once the job is done, we have lunch and take a nice drive.
On Tuesday, after he did a site, we had lunch at this nice place called Hampton Coffee. My sandwich, which was ham, gruyere cheese and more on Tuscan toast, was unreal it was so yummy. The house dressing for the salad was to die for, as in: there was something in it I can't describe but I wanted MORE.

Afterwards we hit a few farmstands. There aren't many left here now. I bought 4 quarts of strawberries at one where they grow their own. Not all farmstands have local fruit or vegetables, yet. I made jam when I came home.

We drove on the South Shore and I saw the Shinnecock Canal. I'm not sure I've ever seen it before. I also some a place that sold life-size statues of horses and cows and things. And a dinosaur. I can only imagine what that would cost but wouldn't it be cool in our backyard?

Mike just brought home pizza so I'm off to eat Sicilian Pie.

Mike's birthday

My husband turned 57 on June 25th. He does not celebrate birthdays any more, he says. I still got him something--nice filet steaks that we made on the barbecue on Sunday. His birthday was Saturday, and John (his brother) took us all out to the diner. Mike had a souvlaki. Nobody sang "Happy Birthday" which was fine with Mike, LOL!

He actually spent his birthday morning clearing out half the garage so he can park the Camaro in there over the winter or in bad weather. It's a funny way to spend a special day but it made him happy. Jamie pitched in and I helped just a little. Nicky was at work, I think.

Father's Day

It has been a nice Father's Day. I gave Mike this cool folding chair that you can take to a park. It has these pockets and it also has a little 'table' on the side. Mike likes to hang out at a park near the water sometimes. He takes a book with him. Now he can have a place to put his cup, too!

The kids are going to get him a new lounge chair. He has picked one out at Big Lots that is leather, like mine. They also gave him one of those acrylic cups with a straw, some nuts and some protein bars. Michael even gave him a big can of San Marzano tomatoes!

John and Noreen put out a nice mid-day spread of clams, mussels, king crab legs (what a treat) and some other things. We pigged out, needless to say. So we're only eating very lightly for dinner.

There aren't very many pictures in this blog. I will take one of Mike in his new chair when he gets it.

Nick is legal now

Nicky turned 21 on Sunday. His friends took him out to Chili's. Then they stayed the night. At one point they all walked to 7/11. We couldn't figure out why until we saw the beer cans. Hey, they're all legal kids now. At least they have the common sense to NEVER drink and drive.

I gave Nicky some candy and will be giving him money to pick out an Airsoft rifle. Jamie's got an arsenal, so I guess Nicky wants one, too. I'm okay with it. They are responsible young men and the guns only shoot plastic pellets, anyway. 

Dinner and Rain

I'm meeting with Katherine and Michael for dinner at a local Japanese restaurant. In the meantime, after 90+ temps, the sky has gone black and it is pouring rain. I hope it cools us off. They're talking thunder, lightening, high winds and heavy rain. And maybe hail. Fun, fun, fun.

At least it isn't snow.

I had a little snack earlier since we aren't eating until after 7. That's why Mike isn't coming with us. I can stay up late but he has to get up for work in the morning.

I think I better look for my umbrella.

Fence work

Mike wanted to change the fence so that it swings outward rather than into the yard. The trouble with the outward swing is that we're on a hill, and it leaves a gap big enough for Shadow to escape. So we have to put a piece of wood and some bricks in front of it to cover the gap.

By swinging outward, the fence is over flatter ground and the gap will be much smaller. Mike and Jamie are working hard today to also level the ground near the fence. I just brought them out big glasses of orange juice.

Speaking of Shadow, I took him out for a walk this morning. He is SO FAT that the harness was making him gag--that, along with the fact he wouldn't stop pulling. We both need to get in shape so I will be walking him a little for as often as I can. I might invest in a bigger harness until he loses weight. Half of this is from him being 'fixed.' I almost wish I hadn't had it done.

Is he writing his memoirs under there?

Today I moved the couch out a little bit--yes, me with the arthritis. I did it because a)I'm tired of always asking the boys or Mike to do things and b)I knew there was a stash of pens under there.

Rocky the ferret loves to steal pens and hide them. I took out eight--count 'em, EIGHT--pens! And I only moved the couch a little bit.

No wonder I can never find a pen when I need one.