Boy does life ever have a way of quickly passing by. September draws to an end and I haven’t even recorded what I have spent the month doing. Greg started his sophomore year of high school and was surprisingly happy to be back at school. I think it is such a social thing for him that he misses his friends over the summer (everyone is off to camps, working, etc.). He has a full course load once again, but is already saying that it is too easy for him. He loves AP Stat and Chemistry and is even taking Journalism. He is working for the school paper, mainly concentrating on the national sports scene. He signed up for fall ball in Flemington once again and is enjoying that. It just isn’t the same without our friends, the Mercolinos, but it is still enjoyable sitting in the cool evenings under the lights watching baseball.
Casey enjoyed a quiet early September before heading off to school last weekend. Her boyfriend came for a visit and we went apple picking and made scarecrows (something we haven’t done for a few years). She won the Common Knowledge – Jim Kramer Mad Money scholarship contest and earned $500 towards college tuition. Just a drop in the bucket, but every little bit helps. Her and I enjoyed a nice weekend taking her back to school and getting her dorm room set up. I miss having her around – not only was she a big help to me, but we enjoyed nightly walks together.
In wrapping up the summer projects accomplished, we had our new storm doors installed yesterday and what a difference it makes. I just wish we had done this much sooner. Lucky likes to sit and look out the doors.
This weekend I am busy stocking the freezer in order to have quick prep meals during the week. My recipes include homemade pizza sauce (made from the bounty of tomatoes my neighbor gave me), Cincinnati chili, beef stew, chicken and broccoli fettucine, roast chicken, and cookie doughs. I am trying out some new recipes and using some old favorites. My plan is to spend every other weekend doing some cooking prep so that we always have something to pull out of the freezer. We’ll see how long this lasts!!! Maybe next weekend I will make Dad’s spaghetti and meatballs in his honor.
Yes, it is that time of year when Dad and Mom’s death hits me pretty hard. Even 4 years later, it still hurts to believe that they are gone. I remember Mom asking me to pray for her and Dad and I’m happy to say that I do that every night. She also asked that I keep on top of the family history. I haven’t done too much of that unfortunately. I did resubscribe to the Rumford paper in the hopes that I can keep track of those family members. I can’t beat myself up about this, but I know that I should be doing more. I think it just overwhelms me at times.
Check out the size of these kittens. Yes, that is a post it notepad next to them. They are still so tiny. 
Loving how our front entrance looks this year. The scarecrows were made by Kevin and Casey in early September and the pumpkins were picked out by Larry and Greg later on. The mums look better now that they are getting regular water (it's been pretty dry up until last week). Loving the new glass doors. I have wanted to have storm doors on there since the time we moved in (17 years ago). Now we have them and every chance I get I open the doors to let the light in.
Getting up and out by 6:30 am every morning has made me remember how beautiful the sunrise is. This morning I grabbed my camera (actually Greg's since mine died), and captured a few pictures. I have stopped using my ipod in the morning because it is very dark and I want to be able to hear what animals are lurking in the yard. Yesterday, Kitty and I came upon a herd of deer on our sand mound. Of course, Kitty wanted to follow them through the evergreens, but my fear of getting stomped by a buck stopped us from following them.
I have to learn how to take good pictures in the dark. I haven't figured out the settings on Greg's camera and I probably won't since I know I am getting a new camera for Christmas.
Before Casey went back to school in September we celebrated her 19th birthday. About a month before, Larry and I were in Superfresh and decided to order her a pirate birthday cake. She had seen it before, but never in a million years thought we would get it for her birthday. So the night before she left for NH we had a special dinner, opened some of her presents and had cake. This was probably the richest cake I have ever had - but boy was it delicious. The icing as about an inch thick and being that icing is my favorite, I overindulged. The left over cake was taken to school with Casey and enjoyed by her and her friends (even though it didn't travel very well in the heat and was dropped in the parking lot[in the container]).
Since the beginning of September we have been busy going to Greg's baseball games. This is about his 5th year playing fall ball and I have to say one of my favorite coaches. His coach Mark is such a nice guy and thinks the world of Greg. Of course, Greg is so coachable and willing to play any position and play it well. Mark has had him mostly catch and play third, but last Friday he had Greg pitch. Greg pitched 3 innings allowing 0 hits, facing 9 batters, and only throwing about 33 pitches. A fantastic outing. Mark was shocked. 
The next day they had another game and Greg caught the entire game and played exceptionally well having many plays at the plate and catching a popup to end the game with a victory. He pitched again last night with less success, but his team's defense did not help him at all. He had 2 singles and a triple (which once again Larry missed because he got there late). The game ended in a tie, which was fine for as hard as both teams played. One thing that was so nice about this was that I was trying to take pictures of Greg through the netting and the other team's coach at third offered to take them for me. I passed the camera to him and he stood there taking pictures of Greg. I thought that was so nice.
Hard to believe he is already 15 and we will be going through the driving issue again in one year. It seems like just yesterday Casey got her license. Where has the time gone? I say this all the time - but it's true. It seems a lifetime ago that these young adults were attached to my side all day long. I miss those days sometimes, but when I look at the wonderful young adults they have become, I am so proud of them and love this age as well. By the way, in the picture, Greg is showing how happy he is to get the 1975 Reds vs. Red Sox World Series on DVD (all 6 games).
In other news, Casey is home from college and look how she spends some of her waking time - helping Larry to paint the house. She has been a big help in painting those hard to reach places.
I forgot how tiring small children can be. The kids were great, but I realize how hard it must be to have children when you are older. We got to see the Grove City Memorial Day parade. 
I took 3 pictures and that pretty much covered the entire parade. It was so small that the entire parade fit on 1 1/2 city blocks (small city blocks). However it was stirring when they played God Bless America and the Star Spangled Banner and the requisite candy came flying from a tank (like my Dad's).
These are pictures for you Casey. This is the cabinet that Dad brought back from Illinois that is over 100 years old. It is for Greg if he wants it, but after he saw how many pieces in came in he may have second thoughts. The dishes inside are for you to do with as you please. I have shown a picture of one piece so that you can see the pattern. They are beautiful dishes and for dishes that are over 60 years old, they are in remarkable shape. I only found about 3 pieces that had chips or other slight damage. The gold leafing is wearing off, but they still retain quite a bit of it.
