Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks

A Poolside View of Our Summer

My view from the chair:

After doing a quick swim lesson (with Annie) and a lazy river cool-off (for myself), I indulged in this.  Very good.  Supper plans were on the chopping block when we left the pool:

"A sharp knife and a supply of tomatoes is all one needs to make tomato salad.  Add some fried bread and you have a first course. Offer some corn on the cob, a plate of steamed vegetables, and some homemade mayonnaise if you have the energy.  For dessert, peaches, berries, and melons in their natural state without a thing on them.  After a day of water and sunshine people are hungry, but no one wants to fuss, and since on vacation all plans go to h***, no one feels guilty about sandwiches for supper."

~ More Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin

Second Week of Summer '08

Joann was right.  Our first week did look exhausting.  And, perhaps, it was. But blogs don't show the whole story, remember?  We blog the brightly colored threads of our life when, in truth, there are a lot of white areas around the embroidery of our lives.

Without the white area, the colored area is meaningless.  I am not an over-the-top mom, so I will weave in the downtimes of our summer days as well as the rich weavings of our days. Summertime is suppose to be fun.  It's also suppose to be mellow and relaxing.  I want to show that more than the fun times.

* * * * * *

Sunday: Relaxed at home*/ Finish Patricia Polacco study/ Dad cooked chicken fricassee dish for Kayleigh's b-day party with family & friends in the evening

Monday: Slept late*/ Library Summer Reading Program Kick-off (came home with armloads full of arts & crafts books---perfect!)/ Home-craft (plastic peanut jars painted and decorated for storing doggie treats/Dance/ Baseball Game/ Baseball End-of-Season Party at Casa Ole'

Tuesday:  Kayleigh and Garrett were up and gone early on summer trips with friends/Girls played "catch-up" on school work/ We wrote our family story in honor of May author Patricia Polacco/ Home Reading (Began our Anne-with-an-e read-aloud/ Library Storytime w/ arts & crafts/ Revealed new author at Fiesta and to my girls/ Toured seminarian friend's summertime residence & went to prayer service at the church/ came home and played on computer while children played outside/ Spent the evening reading a few books by new fiesta author and relaxing at home

Wednesday:  Morning, stayed in pjs until 10 AM*/ Girls finally cleaned up their room (does it really matter that I had to threaten them with "No friends, absolutely no friends over until that room is cleaned-up!"?/ Children played "catch-up" on schoolwork while I ran to buy bridal shower gift for this weekend/ Ballet/ Home to play/ Read more of "Anne-with-an-e"

Thursday: Stayed in pjs until 10 AM...again*/Visited MawMaw/ Lyrical Dance/ Went to cousins last baseball game of the season & cheered...mightily

Friday:  Stayed in pjs until 10 AM*/ End-of-year awards ceremony & swimming party for Girls' Club (the girls had fun while we (the adults) relaxed in lounge chairs under the shade of the trees and visited with the other mellow adults the whole time)

Saturday: Attended bridal shower for cousin/ Mass/ Read couple of chapters from "Anne-with-an-e"

* So now you all know my secret to surviving busy afternoon/evening hours. :)

First Week of Summer '08

Friday: Park Day/Picnic/Water Park with Friends

Saturday/Sunday:  Family Reunion/ Swim at Aquatic Center

Monday (Memorial Day): Beach/ Friend's Outdoor B-day Party

Tuesday:  Ice Cream and Walk the Crosswalk/ Baseball Game/ Basketball Practice

Wednesday: Immunization Update for 4-H Camp/Library/ Children's Museum/ Swimming at Aquatic Center/ Ballet

Thursday: Water Park/ Children's Museum/ Lyrical/ Bring cousin back to Lafayette/ Baseball Game

Friday: Shop for Kayleigh's b-day/ Take a long nap/ Take younger girls to friend's b-day party at Club Tabby

Saturday: Kayleigh's French Cafe' themed birthday luncheon w/ friends/ Mass

Our Weekend Get-away

<p><a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=800,height=600,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/100_2696.jpg"><img title="100_2696" height="150" alt="100_2696" src="https://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/images/100_2696.jpg" width="200" border="0" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px" /></a></p> <p>The <strong><em>big</em></strong> slide!</p> <p><a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=800,height=1066,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/100_2720_1.jpg"><img title="100_2720_1" height="266" alt="100_2720_1" src="https://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/images/100_2720_1.jpg" width="200" border="0" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" /></a> </p> <p>The watermelon lady...Oma.</p> <p><a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=800,height=600,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/100_2721.jpg"><img title="100_2721" height="150" alt="100_2721" src="https://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/images/100_2721.jpg" width="200" border="0" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px" /></a>Opa prefers to sit and observe.</p> <p> <a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=800,height=600,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/100_2717.jpg"><img title="100_2717" height="150" alt="100_2717" src="https://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/images/100_2717.jpg" width="200" border="0" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" /></a> </p> <p>Gotta love that watermelon!</p> <p><a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=800,height=600,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/100_2699.jpg"><img title="100_2699" height="150" alt="100_2699" src="https://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/images/100_2699.jpg" width="200" border="0" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px" /></a> </p> <p>It was fun!!!<a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=800,height=600,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/100_2700.jpg"><img title="100_2700" height="150" alt="100_2700" src="https://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/images/100_2700.jpg" width="200" border="0" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" /></a> </p> <p><a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=800,height=600,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/100_2715.jpg"><img title="100_2715" height="150" alt="100_2715" src="https://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/images/100_2715.jpg" width="200" border="0" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px" /></a> </p>

Our Weekend Get-away

The big slide!

The watermelon lady...Oma.

Opa prefers to sit and observe.

Gotta love that watermelon!

It was fun!!!

Beach Photos

Had to share some of our beach photos from this summer.  Go here to view the rest.

Beach Photos

<p>Had to share some of our beach photos from this summer.<a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=500,height=375,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/walkingtowardsbeach.jpg"><img title="Walkingtowardsbeach" height="112" alt="Walkingtowardsbeach" src="https://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/images/walkingtowardsbeach.jpg" width="150" border="0" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" /></a>&nbsp; Go <a href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/photos/beach_day/index.html">here</a> to view the rest.</p> <p><a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=500,height=375,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/sandyfoot.jpg"><img title="Sandyfoot" height="112" alt="Sandyfoot" src="https://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/images/sandyfoot.jpg" width="150" border="0" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px" /></a> </p>

Vacation Season

Nancy at Flying Stars has an idea I really like.  It suits my pioneering foot, my wanderlust, my flights of fancy.

Vacation in Your Own Town ~ grab your camera and your children and become a tourist in your own hometown.

Try it sometime this summer and report back to us.

My family will try it soon.  It's a good excuse for a field trip.

Vacation Season

<p>Nancy at <a href="http://mrsnancybrown.blogspot.com/">Flying Stars</a> has an idea I really like.&nbsp; It suits my pioneering foot, my wanderlust, my flights of fancy.</p> <p><a href="http://mrsnancybrown.blogspot.com/2006/06/vacation-in-your-own-town.html">Vacation in Your Own Town</a> ~ grab your camera and your children and become a tourist in your own hometown.</p> <p>Try it sometime this summer and report back to us.</p> <p>My family will try it soon.&nbsp; It's a good excuse for a field trip.</p>

Home Sweet Home

<p><a onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=800,height=600,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/100_2173.jpg"><img title="100_2173" height="150" alt="100_2173" src="https://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/images/100_2173.jpg" width="200" border="0" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px" /></a>We are home earlier than planned.&nbsp; The only thing we didn't get around to seeing was the Bombing Memorial in Oklahoma City, but we got a lot packed into five days.&nbsp; Our schedule went like this:</p> <p><strong>Day One</strong>:&nbsp; Travel to Dallas, Tx. /&nbsp; Visited <a href="http://www.palaceofwax.com/FlashSite/map.htm">Palace of Wax and Ripley's Believe-it-or-Not</a> <span style="color: #3300ff;">(</span><a href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/photos/2006_vacation/index.html"><span style="color: #3300ff;">photos on righthand sidebar</span></a><span style="color: #3300ff;">)</span></p> <p><strong>Day Two</strong>: <a href="http://www.sixflags.com/">Six Flags Over Texas</a> <span style="color: #3300ff;">(</span><a href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/photos/day_two_2006_vacation/index.html"><span style="color: #3300ff;">photos on the righthand sidebar</span></a><span style="color: #3300ff;">)</span></p> <p><strong>Day Three</strong>:&nbsp; <a href="http://www.sixflags.com/parks/hurricaneharbordallas/">Hurricane Harbor</a> (no photos/ we didn't bring the camera to the water park)</p> <p><strong>Day Four</strong>:&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/tex/ballpark/museum.jsp">Legends of the Game Museum</a> and <a href="http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/bpkarl.htm">Tour of Ranger's Stadium</a><span style="color: #3300ff;"> (</span><a href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/photos/day_four_2006_vacation/index.html"><span style="color: #3300ff;">photos on righthand sidebar</span></a><span style="color: #3300ff;">)</span></p> <p><a href="http://www.alconexpo.com/planetarium.html">Planetarium at the University of Texas</a> (watched two planetarium exhibits---no photos)</p> <p>Ice Skating at the Ice at the Parks in Arlington Mall <span style="color: #3300ff;">(</span><a href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/photos/day_four_2006_vacation/index.html"><span style="color: #3300ff;">photos on righthand sidebar</span></a><span style="color: #3300ff;">)</span></p> <p>Night-time Rangers' Baseball Game at <a href="http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/bpkarl.htm">Ameriquest Field in Arlington</a> <span style="color: #3300ff;">(</span><a href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/photos/day_four_2006_vacation/index.html"><span style="color: #3300ff;">photos on righthand sidebar</span></a><span style="color: #3300ff;">)</span></p> <p><strong>Day Five</strong>:&nbsp; <a href="http://www.jfk.org/">JFK Museum at Book Depository in Dallas, Tx.</a> (photos coming soon)</p> <p>Lots of swimming at hotel room.</p>