Heat Wave!

A month of temperatures over 90 degrees feels like one continuous hot flash!!
Needless to say, I have been a little out of sorts.
I spent July 6-12 at Brant Lake with the "family."  It was soooooo hot, I went in the Lake, first time in a few years.  All the planning and e-mails made for a very well coordinated vacation, lots of good food, drinks and fun!  Sarah was only able to stay the first weekend because of work, but she made the most of her 2 days and had a great time swimming, skiing, and visiting with her cousins.  We all look forward to our yearly family reunion at Brant Lake, so many memories, both old and new.  For me, the yearly trip to the lake is bittersweet, I love spending time with my mom and sisters, but I miss them even more when the week is over.  We walk, talk, reminisce, and catch up on the daily lives of our families; and then the week is over.  As all of our children get older, finding time to get together gets harder and harder, between jobs, school and sports, finding a common "free" weekend is not easy.  We have to get by on phone calls and texts until the next reunion,  "girls weekend" and that is not until October or November!

This year was our first trip without my dad, so many memories of him at the lake, making pasta was not the same without him!  On our first night, as a tribute to Dad, we set off Chinese Lanterns.  All of us sent our love and wishes to him, along with the lanterns.  It was a touching and really beautiful way to remember a great man.  Later in the week my mom, sisters and I went on a boat ride and sprinkled a few of Dad's ashes in the Lake he so dearly loved.  Brant Lake is and always will be a very special place for my family.  Rest in peace Daddy.

At home it was back to business as usual; laundry, cleaning, knitting, shopping and cooking.  I have been trying some really great vegetable and salad recipes from a website called, Oh She Glows.  I have been making a conscious effort to eat healthier foods, and have been trying to get Zen and the kids to do the same.  Convincing them to eat healthier is like banging my head on a brick wall, oh well, at least I am setting a good example!  I am also trying to use products with ingredients that are safer for myself and my family; another undertaking that is not as easy as it seems.  So many products have added ingredients that are unnecessary,  unhealthy, and possibly even dangerous; I have been spending these unbearably hot days indoors, doing research, much to my family's dismay!  I am determined to have them be healthier, whether they like it or not.  Livestrong and Wellness Mama, are two other websites that I have found to be very informative and useful.

Have a happy, healthy day, and keep cool.
I am off to get a cup of green tea and do some more research!

Getting Ready

It is that time of year again, getting ready for Brant Lake.............
The one time during the year that all of the "Marino" girls are together, spending a week at the lake where we spent all of our childhood summers.  With any luck it will stop raining before we go.
The preparations have begun: phone calls, numerous emails, planning, shopping, packing, more emails,  baking, and so on.... It takes a lot of coordination to entertain and feed 11 adults and 16 "kids."
The kids range in age from 5 to 22; it is wonderful to see them all together, enjoying the lake and each other.  It is a balancing act to figure out which of the older kids will be able to come and when. Unfortunately summer jobs tend to get in the way of summer fun!!!  Sarah and Jacob will only be able to spend the first weekend with us, Greg will be joining us during the week, and sadly I don't think Jessie will be able to come at all :(    Zen will be there for his usual 2 days, and then back home to see our "camper" off to work every day.  I am hoping to stay the week this year and catch up with my mom and sisters, and hopefully some much needed sleep.  I just can't sleep through the night lately, maybe some clean mountain air will help!
 Last year was disastrous, with Sarah having so many restrictions as she recuperated from her stem-cell transplant, I hope she enjoys this year, even if it is only for a weekend.  As far as her job goes, she is tired but loving it; her 8 year old campers all love her.  Everyday she comes home with notes and pictures made by the girls.

Time to go check for more lake emails,  make some lists for the lake, and do laundry.......the one constant in my life.

New website...

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