This very hot summer has been filled with trials and tribulations. I haven’t had much to share because I’ve been mainly focusing on problem solving. Nothing fun and stimulating. From floods to plumbing, to a week with no internet service, meaning no TV either. Just when we got that problem solved the husbands computer went down and has been in the shop for over a week now. After taking the computer in, the husband came home to microwave his breakfast and it started and stopped. Dead! Thinking it was the Advantium Convection/Microwave we purchased 14 months ago, I go forth with my extended warranty in hand and spend 2 hours text messaging with All State trying to trouble shoot the issue. Really just give me a real person to talk to! The upshot? They say it’s the plug and we need to get that fixed.

Calling the electrician, I am told we can have an appointment in 2 days. He shows up on time and starts to check things out. So when the husband calls me into the house (I was outside in my happy place,) I knew this wasn’t going to be good. He tells us our 46 year old electrical panel is made of aluminum not copper and it is a fire hazard. We need a new electrical panel, and he can’t tell us if the microwave is toast until we make the upgrade. Have you ever had to replace an electrical panel? When we sold my parents house in 2019 the panel was 56 years old and was never changed. I am seeing thousands of $$$$ blowing out the window. I was sooo naive. More like 10’s of thousands whistling their way out the door. So between that and a bad week for the mother in law in the nursing home, it’s been memorable. Or shall I say I can’t forget soon enough!

Another bid from another electrician referred by our daughter, brought us an honest electrician. He was able to get the microwave going with an extension cord in a different outlet. Duh! At least we don’t have to replace that. The quote we received to do the necessary work came in thousands less. Pays to get a second opinion!

A bit of fun did happen a couple of weeks ago. My niece and her family came into town to spend time with her parents. I had a big noisy confused impromptu dinner for the entire family. We just diid pulled pork and roasted veggies, salad and deviled eggs and a Costco bar cake for dessert. But I got to set a table!!! With everything going on, there hasn’t been much reason to set a pretty table.

Since we didn’t do anything for the 250th, as our daughter headed out on the 4th for Orlando to set up a trade show. Seriously! Who plans a trade show for the day after the 4th!!! She did get to enjoy the Disney versus Universal fireworks battle from their convention center. Anyway, I decided to set a mildly patriotic table that morphed into something else. Starting with a 54″ round table, a red quilt grounds the space. Pottery Barn blue and white dishes complete the look. My granddaughter asked what we were doing for a centerpiece and I said I don’t have a clue. My cheap TJ Maxx white enamel round tray was outside, so we used that to glue everything together.

The magenta colored double begonia was a subtle contrast against the red quilt. H brought over one of my old bottles and laid it on its side. A piece of Florida Coral was added to the pot of flowers creating a nice contrast in texture. A few small and tiny clay pots, tea towel, a geode and rock were rounding things out. H went in and grabbed some seashells for the sprinkle.

Then I was looking at the table and I felt it needed another texture and the bottle made me think of a “Message in a Bottle” I grabbed some of my grandmother’s love letters and sprinkled those in here and there.

I love this 54″ table. Not the look of the table because I specifically bought it for the size not the look. It is oil rubbed bronze and “Tuscan” in style. Yuck! But at the time it was the only one I could find in the size I needed. This is why I always cover it. I have never had 8 people around it. Seven is very comfortable, but I wasn’t sure about the 8. Just using a dinner plate and flatware allowed it to work. We tucked in some smaller chairs every other one and it was absolutely fine. Good to know.

The only problem with this theory was I had 13 on the guest list! I decided not to worry about it and let people sit wherever they wanted. It worked. We had a wonderful relaxing evening, and the weather cooperated.

It was so good to put my arms around my niece. It had been two years. There is nothing better than finally being able to put your arms around a loved one when it has been so long.

The heat is back on and blazing. It just sucks you right up the second you open the door. Tomorrow it is only supposed to be in the high 80’s. Stay cool out there and treat yourself to a loved one.

Thanks for stopping

Shelley