Thursday countdown!

Summer, summer, summertime - summertime!
It's here, whether you consider rainy, kinda cold days summer or not. Summertime's here.
We're adapting by building a wooden deck, having guests over, weeding, being out and active and never ever having time for any kind of indoor activities... Such as this blog, for instance!

Way to go hubs - you're getting there...!

 We're trying our very own strawberries for the first time - yummy!

 What say you?!!

 Loving the sunsets.

A story from my childhood
When I was eight, my family moved to the south of our country and we lived not far from where I live now. My paternal grandparents had a summerhouse in these parts and my grandfather's brother also had a summerhouse and a third brother had his home here as well.
Come summer, come good times - back then! Relatives from all over the country would gather in these two summerhouses - especially my grandfather's brother's house - and we would go to the beach, BBQ, have huge family dinners and play and laugh a whole lot.
Us kids had a blast with a very high hanging swing and the adults would talk non-stop, trying to update each other and they would hug and smile so much, greeting each other another year.

This week we were invited to my grandfather's brother's house for dinner, by a relative who stayed there for a week.
Sweet Memory Lane and a magical evening.

 Like in all times: bikes ready to take to the beach!

 My sweet "cousin" Ivo.

 Hubs likes my relatives!!

 What en evening, eh?!

 Looking around the rather derelict house.... I remember every part.

 Brothers having a good time!

 Dinner's ready soon...

Fish and fresh vegetables! 

 I love the surroundings. My grandfather loved them too and called these parts "The Hills".

I was thinking, during dinner, and during wandering just a little, taking pics, that 30 years ago my grandfather, my grandmother, my grandfather's brother and family, my parents and all us kids were here - maybe this very date!
The adults probably sat right here talking about life, love, time and invention (both brothers invented stuff their whole careers) just as we did, sitting here today. Their offspring. They're all gone now.
I thought of them and almost felt their presence.

Thursday.
TWO more workdays and then: vacavacavacavaca!!!!!!!!!

Have the grandest weekend you possibly can <3

Last work Monday for a while....

It's getting closer: vacation time. Last work week, coming right up!
I must admit it: it's hard being productive when one is tired and longing for the vaca time. I have never ever started my vacation this late, before, and I now feel it is a little too late.... I need a vacation and I have to make it through the upcoming week.

Well well, enough already.
What have we been up to? Those that follow me on instagram know: we've been carrying timber and driving back and forth and digging and .... what not. Come rain (mostly) or shine (not so often).

We're about to become wooden deck-owners! We just have to do some work first.... 

Hubs, digging in the rain.

Seriously digging in the rain!

Impromptu visits, I don't like them all that much. We had one, just when we were heading out to the timber store: my relative (who I absolutely love!) from way up north, came over with his family. They had tried calling me several times but my phone was on no signal at all, so alas...... I was of course thrilled seeing them but we didn't get much time together.

My dear relative on my father's side. I see him rarely but we sure do share some things, in our character. I can't really say what but there is a connection of some sort. Family is special!

Our boys got along so fine together, within a second. 

So much to say, so little time... 

Hopefully we'll get one more chance to get together before they go back!

They brought strawberries, we had cream...!

Trying to get their youngest to pose with us...

I have to accept it: I was dressed for the timber store, not for a get-together...!!!

I enjoyed the time together, oh so much.

Is this weed or "proper" flowers? Anyone here, who knows? Doesn't really matter.... Love the strong color, it sure makes a statement!

The lettuce grows like I just don't know what!!!!!

We're getting roses this year, finally. Lots of them too!

Yes, I'm partial to pink! Do you think it shows?!!

So, like any other year (and as it very well should be) summer is intense. Socializing, gardening, outings - everything has its place this gorgeous season and the balance I talked about this passed autumn is in its bloom now! We're all in and then autumn comes to offer rest.

It's a good pace, it works.

Now we're very busy enjoying, sucking the marrow.

The only sad thing is that Funkie has hurt his leg or paw, he walks with a limp since a week now. I don't know what's wrong. No jogging for him at the moment. I hope it improves with rest.

Time for me to jog now (it's Sunday evening writing this)!

I wish you a wonderful Monday and an equally wonderful week.