Out with the old

The kids came over yesterday and tore down the awful ceiling in our playroom. (We still call it the playroom even though it isn't used like that now--mostly it's an exercise room for Jamie and a game room for Nick. Plus the ferret has his cage there.)

I'm so glad to see it go. Unfortunately, there's also damage (probably from a mouse or two) in the original ceiling. Mike says he'll probably hire someone to redo it, since he doesn't like working with sheet rock. It may be a while, but I'm glad to not have to look at those sagging tiles and water stains!

These are before photos.
Here is Katherine after her hard work:

We had a barbecue for dinner. That's guacamole in the bowl and fresh-squeezed lemonade in the jar, both made by me. I had nothing to do with the ceiling because of my allergies, although it was cleaner than I expected. The kids wore masks and gloves. Michael and Nick helped, too. James was at work.

Father's Day

Yesterday was Father's Day. The kids got together and bought Mike a Blue Tooth. Below is a picture of him learning how to use it. I suggested it because I don't like the way he insists on looking at his phone when he's in the car.
Katherine also bought him a wand for washing his car and Nicky got him some cans of nuts. Me, I took him out to a nice Italian dinner Saturday night. He had lasagna and I had manicotti. It was a local restaurant I've always wanted to try and we really enjoyed it. We'd definitely go back!
For dinner last night, we had pork tenderloin on the barbecue. Katherine brought a nice antipasto and I made a salad with lettuce, tomatoes and nectarines.
Mike said he had a very nice day!

Michael enjoys the antipasto Katherine brought!

So many pics...

...so many memories.

Shadow loved to snuggle under blankets:

And he loved to be held...

This is the very last picture I ever took of my pup. I'm holding him like a baby. I miss him so much.

June 11th: busy day

I went out this morning to have my annual eye exam. I'm not that great about anything to do with doctors or dentists, but at least I have this out of the way. I picked out a very cute pair of glasses and I get them in 10 business days. Can't wait--I'm tired of looking at blurry words on the TV screen or on road signs. I had all the other tests done you are supposed to do, too, and am happy to say my retinas and all those blood vessels look healthy. Have the very, very start of a cataract but nothing vitamins can't handle for now.

Mike dropped me off and picked me up. We took some laundry to the laundry mat and had lunch at Wendy's. Then, later in the day, we went to Patty and Mark's house to get haircuts. Here is Mike getting a trim by our stylist, Tina. She is great at what she does and a wonderful conversationalist!

PS--I dated this in the title because I'm writing it on the 12th, which is Nicky's birthday. That's the next post!

Movies today

Mike and I haven't been to the movies in ages, partly because they're expensive and partly because there's nothing much I can't wait until it runs on TV to see.

Today, Nicky treated us both to a matinee at our local theater (and not for an arm and a leg, I'm glad to say). We saw "X-Men, Days of Future Past." I have to say it was excellent, and we really enjoyed the outing with our son!

On a sadder note, I think Shadow's ashes are ready today. If I feel like it, I'll write about that later. Katherine came for dinner last night and we were talking about Shadow. Like me, Katherine sees something out of the corner of her eye and turns expecting to see our boy there. We both agree, he will be waiting for us when that time comes!