Preparations

I do love to have company in our home, and getting ready for visitors is a labour of love, truly it is. The downside is the extra chores I think I have to do before my guests arrive; you know the routine--iron the good table-cloth for the dining-room table, check for dust in obscure corners, make sure the good silverware is polished and ready. As I always tell the folks I'm visiting, "It's you we've come to see, not your house".

Having said that, I should tell you that my (youngest) son, his wife and that new grandson of ours are treking "down the river", as we say in New Brunswick, to spend the night, and maybe more, with us today. I've got brown beans in the slow cooker (it's slower that usual and needs to be replaced), brown bread is rising on the kitchen island counter, ingredients for salads are at the ready, to be put together later. Have I forgotten anything? Yes, I must make a dessert; carrot cake is an excellent choice (especially since I haven't tasted that treat for months now) and I believe that everyone *must* like it as much as I do!

As mothers do, I want this visit to be perfect and it will be, even if little things like dusting aren't finished. It's pleasant enough today to eat our supper in the "Miami Room" as Arend refers to the back screened-in deck. That's one of the best things about our summers here--being able to enjoy outdoors without the blackflies chewing us up.

I think I'm really starting to wander in this post now, as my mind is far away, listening to a wee lad cooing and watching him grin at his Grandma, while she's filling her heart with as much love as it can possibly hold.

I did say in the last post I would talk about gardening today, but you understand how I got sidetracked. The hours can't go by fast enough until I'm holding Riley, giving him kisses to make up for lost time. Ahhhh, the joys of grand-motherhood. Love it, love it!!! Until the next time (look for pics then too--grin), Barb (who's scooting to the kitchen now)