Monday Morning Coffee

Good morning, my friends! Happy "Recovery from the Holiday Weekend" Monday! I hope your weekend was everything you planned and hoped for. We had a wonderful time celebrating our country's 250th Birthday. We spent time at Madison and Nicolas', our house, and at the condo, doing all the things. Most importantly, we spent time together.

Hot Dog and Hamburger Eating, Flags Waving, Stars and Stripes Forever Playing, Fireworks Bursting, M&Ms Melting, Waves Crashing, Old Memories Comforting, and New Ones Making

It was so much fun! Yesterday, after we said goodbye to Peyton and Chris, with reassurances that we would see them soon, I got to work wiping, washing, sweeping, and tidying. This is something I have always done after saying goodbye to one of my children after a visit. I don't do this because I feel like I need to clean. Rather, I do this to keep myself busy and distracted until the sadness passes, and the fact that my house is put back together is simply an added bonus. 

After my quick therapeutic cleaning session, I promptly lay down on my freshly made bed and fell asleep. Afternoon naps in the heat of summer bring me a special kind of happiness, I tell you. I woke refreshed and ready for Mass, which our parish holds on Sunday at 5:00 PM and is often lovingly referred to as the "Last Chance Mass." After Mass, we grabbed some burgers at 5 Guys, a place we don't often frequent, but we wanted something quick and easy so we could head to the beach. 

Just the evening before, this beach was filled with people, sitting around fires in the sand, listening to music, and watching fireworks. I enjoyed that, for certain. Last night, however, was my kind of evening on the beach. It was less crowded, quieter, and calmer. We sat and visited, and I read my book until it was time to head back home across the bridge.

Today will be a quiet one around here. I have a short list of things I want to accomplish this summer, one of which is catching up on Flynn's scrapbook. I also want to go over Flynn's curriculum and make some choices for the fall. I also want to sit on the porch with my coffee and simply be. Believe it or not, that is the hardest thing to do. With so many things competing for our attention, we may find it hard to feel comfortable letting things be. Things I want to work on? My phone can ring, and I can let it go to voicemail. A text can come, and I can respond later. The constant need for instant gratification can be replaced with contentment, peace, calm, and coffee. And a cookie or two. 

Have a nice day, my friends. Thank you for visiting. I am going to visit with you today, and I am looking forward to seeing what is new in your world. 

Billie Jo

Wrapping Up A Week Of Celebrations

Good Friday morning! Grab a cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa and settle in. This is a long one! Thank you so very much for the wonderful anniversary wishes as Steve and I celebrated our thirty-fifth! We spent our special day together doing the things we enjoy. We went to dinner at one of our favorite places here and ate outside with a beautiful view that somehow gave me Gilligan's Island vibes. You see it too, right? I had my favorite crab and shrimp salad, and Steve tried the Cobb salad. So delicious. 

And before you start thinking we were overly healthy on this special occasion, allow me to show you the decadent dessert we shared!

They call it Pie in a Jar. I call it the delicious peanut butter and chocolate dessert that comes in a mason jar. Either way. Yum! After dinner, we headed to the condo, where we were greeted by the most beautiful bouquet of flowers from our children. 

And where Steve and I attempted to take a selfie with them to send to the kids. LOL

We sat on the porch looking at the moon, and sat on the sofa watching Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Because we are crazy like that. On Monday, our actual anniversary, we went to a little Italian market for breakfast, I spent time at the spa, and Steve took a long walk on the beach. Then we headed back to the condo to tidy up before heading out to a sunset cruise on the bay to end our celebration. Now. I must be fully transparent here. If you know me, you may already know I suggested canceling that sunset cruise. Why, you ask. Well, in typical Billie Jo thinking this is what I envisioned...

Again, you may ask why. Well, I tend to think the worst-case scenario on most occasions. I am actually quite good at it. Wiser heads, aka Steve, prevailed, and we went on the sunset cruise, which turned out to be one of the most fun and exciting experiences ever. The water could not have been calmer, and the young man who took us was so friendly that we felt very comfortable and had a wonderful visit with him. Plus, we saw dolphins and a very beautiful sunset.

Afterward, we headed back over the bridge, and we were home in fifteen minutes. Flynn had held down the fort beautifully, and after a quick shower and some fresh jammies, I was in my spot on the couch with my pups. 

That might have been a lot of celebrating for one week, but we weren't done yet! I mentioned before Madison's love of the Fourth of July. And summer. And celebrating. And this year, her actual birthday is on Thanksgiving Day. She will be turning thirty, and Nicolas had an idea to surprise her with a birthday celebration this week since Peyton and Chris will be here for the Fourth of July. It was such a thoughtful idea, and Madison was totally surprised! Nicolas planned a lovely dinner, followed by a beautiful and delicious cake back at their house. 

She was thrilled! She didn't know Peyton and Chris were coming. It was a fun evening celebrating our almost thirty-year-old firstborn. Yesterday, we had a fun day here at home, swimming, playing dominoes, watching movies, and cooking dinner. Peyton makes the best, and I mean the best stromboli ever. So, she taught me! And it was amazing! Madison brought some fresh sweet corn, and I added a couple of boxes of macaroni and cheese, because I am a sucker for anything seasonal! Steve added some fresh peel-and-eat shrimp, and we were all set! 

Today we are heading to the beach for a bit, then gathering at Madison and Nico's for hot dogs and hamburgers. Tomorrow, when our country celebrates its 250th Anniversary, we will join so many Americans in celebrating this blessed country with family, food, fun, and fireworks. I hope you all have a wonderful day, celebrating in the way that makes you happy. I will leave you with some random pictures from my camera roll and wishes for a fabulous Fourth of July!

Billie Jo