A very pleasant 4th of July

Melissa and I had a very pleasant 4th of July with our friends Howard and Shannon.  We went canoeing on the Delaware, which is what Howard, Shannon and I did last 4th of July, but this year Melissa was able to come with us.  This year we started just north of Matamoras, Pa, and finished at Dingman’s Ferry, Pa, for a total of about 16-17 miles over 5 1/2 hours.  At first Melissa was very nervous, as her only previous experience in a canoe was an unpleasant one when she was a little girl, but she calmed down about half way through, and at least wasn’t frightened after that.  I don’t think that Melissa had a very good time, as she kept asking when we would be done, but the company was good as always, and that’s what really matters on a day like today.  I, on the other hand, enjoy being out on the water, and other than getting a little pink from all of the reflected sun, had a good time.  Only God knows when we’ll get a chance to go again, as we’ll be leaving 6 weeks from today, but we’ll probably try it again somewhere down the road.

That’s about it for today.  We’re both so sore and tired from our trip that we’re going to go to bed early, without having seen any fireworks, since Melissa is scared of them, and it wouldn’t be any fun to go alone.  I guess I can give up fireworks for the love of my wife.  Sounds like a pretty good trade, right?

Thanksgiving!

We had thanksgiving at our house for the first time ever yesterday afternoon, or perhaps I should say we hosted it since we didn’t do any of the actual cooking.  Since mom and dad are living with Grandpa now to take care of him, they couldn’t have it over there, so they decided to have it here.  Dad came over about 8am to stuff the turkey and get it in the roaster.  That was seemingly easy enough, then Mom and Dad came back around noon to do the dirty work, and do I ever mean dirty!  We had turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, rutabaga, corn, brociflower (first time for that), mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, apple pie, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bead, pumpkin delight, and real whipped cream.  I think thats all but I’m not writing down appetizers either.  I took some pictures of the food, as well as the aftermath in the kitchen, but I’ll get back to that later.

Dad carving the turkey.

 

Fran

 

Mom

  The food was great and the company was as well, as it was myself and Melissa, Mom and Dad, Aunt Fran and Uncle Jack, my cousin David and his daughter Kaylee.  It lasted from about 2 to 5 and then everyone went home.  Now came the dirty part, cleaning up after that mess!

 

 

 

Mother of God!

  I’ve never seen so many dirty dishes in my life!  It took about 2 1/2 hours just to do the dishes, not including over 2 full dishwasher loads!  Just got done this morning, as some of the pots needed overnight soaking.  Now thats done Melissa and I will be going to Connecticut to visit her parents and see her friends.  That should be a nice time, and we’ll come home Sunday afternoon in time to get ready for Monday.