This Past Week

This past week I received a surprise bouquet of flowers
from a generous friend named Gary
who grows the most beautiful dahlias.

This past week I also learned I lost a dear blogging friend
whose name was Terry from his beautiful husband named Gary
after I spoke to him just the day before sharing my love and admiration.

This past week I worked and I played and I laughed and I cried
in determination and freedom and joy and in sorrow
for family and friends both cherished in my life and those I have lost.

Tomorrow is Labor Day in the United States.
A day set aside to honor the American labor movement and the contributions
workers have made towards the strength, prosperity, laws and well-being of our country.

I think about Gary laboring over the beautiful flowers he planted.
I think about Terry laboring to breathe when I spoke to him the day before he died.
I think about Gary laboring to get through the days following the death of his love.

I think about those who labor to provide comforting care to hospice patients.
I think about those who labor in hospitals and emergency rooms and trauma centers.
I think about those who labor to protect our country’s freedom.

I am grateful for a weekend of respite
and the opportunity to work
this past week.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

Amber Waves of Grain

Amber Waves of Grain - America the Beautiful

Amber Waves of Grain – America the Beautiful


O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

America the Beautiful.

Independence Day, also referred to as the Fourth of July or July Fourth, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence 241 years ago on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, the United States of America, and were no longer part of the British Empire.

Happy Birthday America!  Happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

On our way home from dinner out one evening a week or so ago, I convinced Hubby to pull over when we drove by fields of grain growing as far as the eyes could see as the sun was setting.   Amber waves of grain glowing in the sunset caused me to pause and rejoice in the beauty of the country we live in.

And lest you be fooled by the gloriousness of the moment… To get the right angle, I tried squatting in the field when my leg decided to cramp up, so I ended up on the ground with muddy knees and bum, and Hubby asking if I fell as he saw me rolling on the ground.  Thank goodness nobody else saw!  Just keeping it real here….. at life in between.

 

Lake Park Bash 2016

flags and roses

Happy Fourth of July to the USA!

flags

We are relaxing today after a fun-filled weekend

flag centerpieces

at the Second Annual Lake Park Bash

flag pallet

hosted by the the best ever “hood”

da hood

in Conneaut Lake, PA…

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Look at this crew in their red, white, and blue

lake park gang

from Lake Park Way!

lake park way

Whether by land or by sea…

lake park landing

a fun time was a guarantee!

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A photo booth welcomed guests

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and hosts alike.

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Some of us were silly…

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pb 3

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an others were very pretty.

pb 2

pb 10

pb 7

pb 8

pb 11

pb 6

Friends and family

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and my most specialiast of all ladies.  ❤

pb 5

There were refreshing drinks

beer

sangria

wine

greenhouse drinks

because the cutest mixologists/most generous hosts/sweetest family ever made sure!

Nik and Mike

There was food galore…

food line 1

food line 2

with lots of meat…

meat

food chicken

food chicken 2

food line 3

and of course there were also

food desserts

plenty of treats!

food desserts cookies

food eating

To work  play it off

hot rod

there where games a plenty…  Like Twister

twister

and life-sized Kerplunk

kids noah kerplunk

and Jenga

jenga

and corn hole

corn hole

and Bocci Ball to name a few.

bocci

bocci 2

bocci 3

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There was also music

music

kids music

and young ones to make life bright.

kids

kids mason

kids running

All were winners

twister winner

on a gorgeous Saturday.

eating

And when the sun set

greenhouse night

the bonfires lit and the sparklers twinkled

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while fireworks glowed and banged and shined.

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And then since one day was just not enough…

there were bloody marys and screwdrivers with the next morning’s coffee

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and a shared breakfast of pancakes with blueberries and chocolate chips

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and scrambled eggs and bacon and sausage.

morning after breakfast

morning after breakfast 3

morning after breakfast 2

The Lake Park Bash was a real holiday treat!  Thanks to all that made it so sweet!

aerial

Hope you are enjoying –
wherever you are –
the special moments to cherish.
Reach for a star!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Lake Park Bash Fun

signs

What a fun Fourth of July Holiday Weekend we had!

I am just catching up after a great picnic in Conneaut Lake with family and friends…

a couple hours of sleep at the best “Brugnoli B&B”…

then off to Cleveland to to celebrate a wedding with more wonderful friends!

aerial

So today, I’m sharing a little photo journal of the fun festivities we had the great pleasure of being a part of at The First Annual Lake Park Bash!

Group Shot

And I’m guessing, it will not be the last!

group telephoto

I hope you will join me in reminiscing on the fun gathering.

1st Annual Lake Park Bash

We were greeted by an “Uncle Sam” Scarecrow

uncle sam scarecrow 2

and festive decorations in red, white and blue.

table decor

Those who arrived by boat, were greeted by a salute from George himself

 

Lake Park Landing

and directed with arrows to point the way to the party.

This Way

One you got near, the smell of smoking chickens, pork, lamb, and beef permeated the perfect summertime breeze.

 

Meat Truck

chickens

Pig

And an ice cream truck offered sweet treats to satisfy every child….

Ice Cream

and every grown up

ice cream 2

with delectable, cool, creamy yumminess.

ice cream 3

There was plenty of beer…

Beer Station

and “Crappie White” wine

Crappie White Wine

and “Chewed Alive Red,” and even a special Fraternity Brother Blend!

Chewed Alive Red Wine

There were games galore –

like Kerplunk,

Kerplunk

and Bocci Ball,

Bocci

and Corn Hole,

corn hole

and pickle ball,

games

and putt putt.

Putt Putt

There were crafts

 

kids crafts

pennants

and hula hoops

Hula Hoop

and music

band

and dancing.

dancing

dancing al on ground

There were families

families

and friends

ladies

and lots and lots of hugs,

hugs

 

Ella and Marty

and even High Fives!

High Five

Puppies joined in on the fun.

puppy

New talents were discovered…

 

musking hula hoop

and serious discussions were had.

conversations

There were private little chats,

laughs

and twinkle lights when the day grew dim.

 

flags fence lights

bikes

And the day didn’t end until early the next morning

with bonfire songs sung with guitar and fiddle.

bonfire

It was a great Bash on the Lake Park cul-de-sac.

Thanks to the members of “da hood” for allowing us to be a part of it!

da hood

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Broken

911 Memorial Rose

911 Memorial, New York City, New York, USA

Broken Hearts…
Broken Dreams…
Broken Families…
Broken Bricks…
and Broken Mortar.

All of these things may have been broken
by those with hatred and evil in their hearts…
those who have no regard for the sanctity of life
those who despise our freedom…
our liberty…
our justice…

But they cannot break our spirit.
We will not be a Broken Nation.

On my visit to New York City last week, I had the honor and privilege of visiting the 911 Memorial site where our nation experienced such great tragedy that awful September 11th day. It is evident by the rebuilding, the memorializing, the reverence, and the beauty, that we will not… and cannot… be broken.

Happy Memorial Day.
Celebrate Peace and Love,
Jodi

These week’s WordPress Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge is Broken. This is my contribution.