Hello friends, welcome to Sentence a Day 07.2021 – my monthly review of life in one run-on sentence a day. I am putting the finishing touches on this post our last night at South Padre Island. I just love the beach. How ’bout you?
As always, want to give a big thanks to Rebecca Jo at Knit by God’s Hand for hosting this series. Please run by to check out her post and the posts of some of the others linking up. She is so genuine and down-to-earth. You’re sure to love her if you don’t already.
Now let’s get down to brass tacks, as my mother would say…
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SENTENCE A DAY 07.2021
July was a busy month for us. Lots of baseball…the Cincinnati Reds on TV almost every night and the El Paso Yankees (PC’s team) every Saturday. We got into a pretty fair exercise routine, ticked off some of the activities on my summer bucket list, I read some good books and watched some entertaining television. Check it out.
Rainy Days
- Rainy day, helped with the girls in the morning, home to finish up spring cleaning upstairs, worked on a few little craft projects, read, ran on treadmill 1.5 miles. 07.01.2021
- Enjoyed a really good walk up McKelligon Canyon…amazing to see where all the rain has cut swathes through the desert; sub sandwiches at Brown Bag deli, afternoon nap, Mexican food at Casita Linda’s then game night while watching the Reds baseball game. 07.02.2021
- No ball game, day started sunny so we cut the grass, planted grass seed, early dinner at Tsunami Sushi, walked through the local stores, picked up a few BBQ items at Walmart and it came a gully washer, hope our grass seed didn’t wash away; kitties were terrified by early fireworks, played a round of Upwords. 07.03.2021
Independence Day
- Happy birthday, America…you aren’t perfect but I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else!! Up early to check on Fluffy in the bathroom, then back to sleep and overslept for church; picked up around the house, fixed food for our BBQ, kids came to swim but Francisco was called in for an emergency surgery, helped with bathes before the girls went home, Fluff, Purrsimmony and Purrsnickitty were all frantic with the fireworks. 07.04.2021
- Quiet day after the holiday, walked around the outlet shops, delicious lunch at Salata, floated and swam in our pool, leftovers from yesterday for dinner, Reds baseball win, ran a mile. 07.05.2021
- Walked with Martha around the neighborhood in the drizzling rain, got the laundry and ironing done. 07.06.2021
Heart Testing
- Met Benita for early breakfast, helped with my babies this morning, had cardiologist appointment in the afternoon for a stress test – they asked if I exercise everyday!! – had to go 11 minutes to get my heart rate up over 100%; then had the Holter monitor attached to wear until Saturday. 07.07.2021
- Over the mountain for day 2 this week; Cami’s class was having water day so had to be at school earlier than usual, got good snuggles from my girls, took down 4th of July decorations and put out summer stuff, made sausage-gnocchi-shrimp pockets on the grill for dinner. 07.08.2021
- My boss (Lauren) gave me the day off, so I didn’t go over the mountain today, but I miss those babies when I don’t see them!!; worked on blog posts most of the morning, Facetimed with Valerie so we could plan our next craft project, cardiologist appointment to check the circulation in my limbs, they are being very thorough but I am pretty sure my heart is okay; PC left his wallet at work so we had to go get it and picked up Chipotle on the way home, ran 1.4 miles on treadmill. 07.09.2021
Pool Time
- Baseball early on this hot Saturday, initiated our new canopy shade, enjoyed talking to Mom while walking around the lake before the game, McD’s for lunch, floated in the pool, fish sticks for supper, heat and the El Paso Yankees loss took the steam out of us. 07.10.2021
- Happy anniversary to us…13 years of marriage, 18 years together!! Celebrated with church, Red Lobster and a walk around the outlet mall, I scrapbooked a bit with my sister, Paul and I floated in the pool, ate leftover Red Lobster for dinner, crazy thunderstorm with 80 mph winds at bedtime. 07.11.2021
Over the Mountain
- Across the mountain to get my girlsies to school, quick trip around Hobby Lobby, picked up a book at the library, called Mom, started laundry then Kevin called to say Mom had been taken to the ER after a fall and was being checked for a stroke, after a battery of tests, she was released and had to Uber home. 07.12.2021
- After a weight training workout, I went over the mountain to help with my babes and received kisses from Cami and a big hug from Cia; another stop at Hobby Lobby for more collage supplies, perused some junk stores for collage materials, too, another test at the cardiologist’s to look at the blood flow in my legs and to check for clots; tried on my new 2 piece bathing suit (at 63???) for PC – he approved; attended the live streaming of the Altered Food Box workshop online – going to be a fun project; walked around the new houses, sit-ups, ran 1.3 miles, saw Ernie the goat eating from the branches of a tree on the mountainside…always makes me smile. 07.13.2021
Hiker Babes
- Day off from helping with the girls so I could hike Hueco Tanks with the Hiker Babes; great to catch up with my friend Christina and to make new friends in the group, the park was lovely after the recent rains, our guide was entertaining and brought the rocks and rock paintings to life; stopped for my first Boba tea on the way home, picked up around the house, finished laundry, worked on my altered houses with Valerie, HelloFresh for dinner. 07.14.2021
- Over the mountain to help with my babies, played Mario with Lucia, dropped them at school, then ran to Target for kitty food and hot pink earrings; chatted with Cady on Facetime, worked on my altered houses with Valerie, leftover potato soup and grilled ham and cheese for supper, started watching “The Undoing” on HBO, ran 1.0 mile, did our weights and sit-ups. 07.15.2021
Busy Day
- Last day of the week to help with my pumpkin pies…Miss Cami was being stingy and wouldn’t kiss me but Cia made up for her baby sister; dashed into Target again to grab a pillow for Cady’s bday; home to mow the grass, shower and head back out to meet Christina and our mutual family counselor-now retired Kathy for lunch at Salt & Honey, cardiologist appointment for yet another test…this time the blood flow in my carotid artery; makeshift charcuterie board for dinner, Reds baseball, sit-ups and a bedtime walk, Mom has not changed clothes all week…worrisome, especially after her fall on Monday, she told Kevin she misses our dad so much and that he hasn’t visited her in awhile. 07.16.2021
Hectic Weekend
- Paul had a baseball game on a new-to-us high school field, thank goodness for our shade as it was very hot; another El Paso Yankees win; lunch with the team at Rib Hut, home to work on my altered houses with Valerie for a few minutes, crazy winds blew up late in the afternoon, we could see the storm moving in as we drove across the mountain for Ke Flauta take out and Pictionary with the kids, Cia and Cami were such fun; PC and I won…we can play some Pictionary!! 07.17.2021
- Scurried around for church only to discover the mountain road was closed and we had to drive all the way around the city to get there; great service about ways to know strangers; walk around the outlet mall, Whataburger for lunch, home to work on my houses while PC watched the Reds, then off to get supplies to repair our pool shade that pulled out of the ground in the winds yesterday; planted more grass seed, bought rolled ice cream for National Ice Cream Day; sammies for supper, finished watching “The Undoing“. 07.18.2021
Sleep Late, Up Early
- Did not want to get out of bed this morning, after rolling around a part of the night; helped with my babies, cleaned the pool – our neighbor’s trees are just horrible for polluting our pool with pods, leaves, twigs and flowers; packed away my 4th of July decor…almost tossed it all into the trash…feeling very conflicted about my decorating; worked on my altered houses and finished one; laundry, spaghetti for dinner, blog reading all night, back to Duolingo again, PTL – Mom rode the bike and won at Bingo!!; PC bought us anniversary necklaces with ‘meant to be’ engraved on them. 07.19.2021
- Up early like a good girl to do my devotional, started my new workbook, followed by a strength training workout; helped with the girls, called mom on the way and she sounds so good, talked all about the Blue Origin!; home to finish laundry, start spring cleaning on guest bedroom downstairs, made a chicken pot pie and Jello salad for dinner, cardiologist appointment – thank You, God, there is nothing seriously wrong with my heart just venous insufficiency causing cramping, itching; dinner and Reds game, ran 1.2 miles. 07.20.2021
Eating Too Much Mexican Food
- Enjoyed a mountainside walk with Martha, then volunteered at the Clothes Closet, folding and sorting children’s clothes in bins, had lunch with Suzie and Davette at Su Casa, really good flautas and sopapillas, planned to iron this afternoon but just didn’t, worked on blogs posts instead, homemade pizza for dinner. 07.21.2021
- Up for a weight training workout then over the mountain to help with my babes, saw Ernie right along side the road, Lauren and I dropped the girls at school then delighted in meandering about Target together, ate a quick salad at Salata, then I picked up groceries and worked on my altered house a bit with Valerie; brats for supper, Mom had another good day; Brennyn had an appointment with a genetic obstetrician who discovered 3 fibroids on her uterus – praying they don’t interfere with our baby boy. 07.22.2021
- Over the mountain again today, saw Ernie the goat coming and going, got good kisses from my babies this morning; home to clean house – it smelled so good; PC got home early and we catnapped after deciding the pool was too cool for a swim; early dinner at Casita Linda’s – how I love mole; evening rain while watching the Reds game and working on book summaries for the book club to vote from. 07.23.2021
Another Weekend
- Baseball Saturday had us at the ball park for another Yankee win then lunch at Dominguez afterward, home to float in the pool then ice cream and Reds baseball for a Cincinnati win, watched the Olympics before bed. 07.24.2021
- Up early enough for church but just didn’t feel like going; fixed chipped beef on toast (or as Lauren always called it, ‘my favorite’) for breakfast, took a quick walk, then watched the Reds game and read blogs, did our 7th inning crunches and ran a mile; Lauren and babies came to swim and she treated us to pizza, started “Ted Lasso” on Apple TV tonight. 07.25.2021
Faltering
- Really think I am depressed but hate to try to find someone to talk to professionally. Hate to take some drug that may work or may not, or might become a crutch. I just don’t feel any more. Purged clothes from my closet – mostly shorts and tees; all of my summer decorations with the exception of some very dear ones; going to just decorate the mantel and my tiered tray from now on…done with that; took loads of stuff to the curb and it all disappeared – thank you, neighbors; tried to nap, couldn’t; didn’t feel like working on my altered house – what’s the point?; floated in the pool for several hours, just drifting; ran 1.2 miles, been awhile. 07.26.2021
- Thank goodness, I am feeling better; got up to do a 10 minute weight workout for arms, took a quick walk; called Mom and talked to her from the chair on our balcony – so pleasant; took clothes to Uptown Cheapskate for consignment, grabbed a few things at Target, ironed, worked on my second altered house, met with our kitty sitters to show them the ropes, made a tikki marsala chicken dish from a Target kit for dinner, “Ted Lasso” and Reds baseball tonight. 07.27.2021
Celebrating Cady
- Happy birthday, Cadence Ellie!! I love you so. Got my suitcases packed first thing, then ran to have my eyebrows threaded and to buy my Cady Coo 2 pretty little bras for part of her birthday, spinach salad for lunch, blog reading and writing all afternoon, Subway for supper…we are ready to get this vacation underway!! 07.28.2021
Vacay Begins
- WHAT A DAY!!! 3 exclamation points worthy. Up at 5 am to catch our 7 am flight, but I forgot the itinerary at home, we had to go back for it, then got to the airport to discover to my horror and PC’s that I had forgotten my bag with laptop, medication, makeup, bathing suit in it on the couch. PC dropped me off to check in then flew home to retrieve my bag (and HIS meds) and got back in time to board; met Lauren, Lucia and Cami at the airport, flew to Houston, changed planes, onto Harlingen, Valerie was waiting for us at our gate, Enterprise did not have the rental car Lauren had reserved, PC picked up our rental and McD’s; we ate lunch in the airport waiting for a car to be returned to Enterprise so Lauren could have it; finally got a car, then realized PC’s duffel bag was missing, somehow it had gotten separated from us and the police had picked it up; after about 2 hours we were on our way to Walmart for groceries where we met up with Brennyn, Mustafa and Cady, got to Seabreeze but the condos weren’t ready – makes things difficult with kids, so we wandered on the beach for a bit: white sand, clear warm water; the condos are really pretty, well stocked accommodations, sandwiches for dinner, fell into bed exhausted…but happily at the beach!! 07.29.2021
My Own Birthday Babies
- Happy birthday, Brennyn Alexis, my first born baby girl!! I love you so much. Coffee and breakfast on the balcony with my sister, then off to the beach, thankful that Mustafa set up the shade everyday, boogie boarded, dug for shells, watched the other beach-goers, early afternoon catnap, birthday dinner at Señor Donkey – my shrimp taquitos were delish; birthday party afterward at Bren’s condo, opened presents and ate Whole Foods Chantilly cake. 07.30.2021
- Happy birthday, Lauren Allegra, my babiest daughter!! I love you so much. Valerie and I took an early morning walk to get some supplies, I walked myself into blisters on both feet; gathered the gang but in doing so, poor Lauren fell down a flight of stairs with Cami in her arms, hit every stair going down, Lauren was bruised up and down her legs, but Cami escaped unscathed, explored the turtle sanctuary, so many sad instances of mutilated turtles who have fallen victim to speeding motor boats and fishermen; regrouped on the beach after lunch for the afternoon, pizza for dinner in our condo, at sundown walked along the shore looking for crabs with flashlights. 07.31.2021
And there you have it. Another July in the books. Anyone else starting to look forward to fall and the holidays that come with it?
Before I bid you farewell…here’s my month in 30 seconds.
YOUR TURN
What highlights would make up your Sentence a Day 07.2021? Are schools back in session where you live? Kids in the El Paso Independent School District, where I worked for years, started back on Monday. August 2nd. So early. Poor babies. My Cia started kinder with a few tears that day. But she is adjusting well.
FYI, will be sharing my 10 thoughts on life-long learning later this week for 10 on the 10th, get more info, here. And will try to get my Currently post together tonight. Would love to have you visit my friend Leanne at Cresting the Hill, where I was a guest blogger on Monday, writing about my lost sense of belonging. There’s Thankful Thursday. And have a post coming that will identify my hopes to refocus my blog. Had hoped to get it written at the beach, but alas, that didn’t happen. Hope you will stop back by.
If you have a month-in-review or SaD post, please link-up with us!! Then show some of the other gals some love by stopping to say hi!
But you can still join us, even if you don’t blog, by sharing the memorable moments of your July in a comment below or on my Facebook page, here.
Off to change the laundry. Washing the sand out of everything but still basking in the warmth of the memories of our trip. Hope to see you again soon.
Hugs and kisses,
Retirement Reflections
Happy 13th anniversary, Leslie. If you wouldn’t mind sending some of your extra rain to BC, we could REALLY use it. You are an awesome blogger and always give others such a positive energy. Sending warm thoughts your way.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I am so sorry you are still wanting for rain. We had such a wonderfully rainy July but things have slowed down so far this month. I cannot complain, though. Our grass is greener than ever and the seed we laid is popping up. Wish we could trade weather conditions with others!! I would certainly take a few days of your snow.
Thank you, Donna, for the sweet words. You are always so kind to come by and cheer me on. That means SO MUCH!
Nancy
What a difficult start of your vacation! But you are there, so enjoy. And you were pretty sporty last month!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
LOL, you make me smile. I have such blisters from walking with sand in my shoes but have to get back to running again!! Before I eat my way out of my clothes.
Deb
My goodness, you needed a holiday after that stressful morning! So lucky you live close enough to the airport to allow PC time to get home and back again before your flight. It looks like you had the perfect location for a wonderful holiday. That beach …
There certainly is a lot going on for you and your family, I hope that this next month is a bit more relaxing for you all!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
So enjoyed your beach photos. Need to pop by your blog for a visit. We had a very nice time but I am glad to be home again. I may be working over the next few weeks. Would like an opportunity to make some money!! But always have so much going on, like you said. And this is a crazy time in the schools as they adjust and readjust around Covid.
laurabambrick
Those sausage-gnocchi-shrimp pockets look so good! I’ve pinned them for later. I always love trying new recipes! It sounds like quite the month for you! Lots of fun and you got a lot done, too!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You have been cooking up some scrumptious looking meals. Thank you for pinning the sausage pockets. We used to make pork chop pockets with a chop, sliced potatoes, carrots, onions and a wedge of cabbage, seasoned a little, and with a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Would wrap them in foil and bake them for 30 minutes or so. Had forgotten all about them until I read your comment. Need to try to make them again. Easy meal and easy clean up.
Joanne
Oh no; what a tough way to start your vacation! I hope you relaxed and enjoyed the beach. Your July hikes look fabulous.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you!! The vacation did get off to a rocky start but we survived. And the beach was delightful!
Karen
I like the beach, the water, the waves, the atmosphere, though the sand makes my feet hurt if I walk barefoot, then there is as you know, all that sand that gets on everything. Sounds like yall had a nice family vacation at the beach. One of my favorite things about the beach was walking at night looking for crabs like yall did. We went on several beach vacations when our daughter was little. I was afraid for her to get out over ankle deep…LOL! that the waves would carry her away. She was about your Cady’s age at the time. The 4th fireworks were canceled in our area this year due to the dry weather conditions. I thought we would hear some around town anyways, but seems everyone abided by the fireworks ban. Oh what nice big rocks you had the opportunity to climb around on & look at with your hiker friends. School starts here toward the end of August, after the county fair. Happy Anniversary! Karen
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Ahh, county fair. I have such good memories of county fairs in Tennessee. We got out of school to go!!
How respectful of your community to abide by the fireworks restrictions. Our neighborhood wasn’t as compliant.