The kids were here!

 It was a fun weekend. The kids arrived Saturday afternoon, while JB and I were trying to barricade the  deck. Watching for Fred groundhog, and closing the gap while he was out from under his hidey hole. (P.S. We failed: See yesterday's post!) 

Friday JB had picked up 5 bunches of asparagus for me. Some for dinner, some to pickle. It never occured to me that you should have smaller spears. I took out as many small ones as I could, and pickled two jars. 

Caitlin brought me a beautiful yellow petunia hanging basket. 

📲 I took this ↑photo with my phone. I've been working on mastering it. Caitlin was giving me a primer on my phone. She has the same one. I wanted to use my voice ("Say Cheese!"), and Siri would do that for me. I was training the phone, repeating phrases, and I realized we are an Apple family. I turned on Caitlin's photo app, and turned on JB's Siri on his iPad. Our voices are all very similar. Josephine can do make Siri work on Caitlin's phone, as well. 

JL had a nap, while JB and we girls watch Jeopardy Masters, which he'd taped all week. Izzy and I blew up their mattress, and retaped the hole. I think we need a new one. It deflated over the afternoon. I ordered a new one. They are marvellous. Ours dates back to 2021, during the height of COVID Gramma Camp, and it served us well. The girls are coming back next weekend, the long weekend.

 

Isabelle took a walkabout with Grampa, they were looking at the tree damage. These are their favourite climbing trees.

What a lovely visit they had! She is as tall as her older sister, now.

Isabelle & Grampa walkies from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

JL was the chef, he is excellent, and we had two lovely pork tenderloins, marinated in citrus. I cooked up two bunches of asparagus in the frypan, and JL roasted some small potatoes.

It was Isabelle's birthday last weekend. For dessert, Grampa bought us a cake, and we had a party. Grampa used his special dragon's head lighter! Isabelle has always been a fan of dragons.

Ever since I made the mistake over Josephine's 16th 15th birthday, it has been a running joke. Isabelle was 13 last weekend. We had giggles.

Grampa wrote this lovely message for our Izzy. She is loved. 

Sunday morning, Cinnamon decided it was time for attention at 5:30 a.m. He began by sharpening his claws on my wicker-framed mirror. Next, he climbed to the top of it. It is NOT attached to the wall, as it is the wrong size. I tried, but couldn't attach it to the door. 

 

JL made us some lovely buns with chocolate inside for breakfast! 

Goodbyes were said. Off they went home to get ready for another busy week! 

🐍 A couple of days ago, I went down to the dock and found two water snakes making out. It's too bad it wasn't when Josephine was here, as she loves reptiles and amphibians! They took off into the water.

snakes from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.