My break is flying by - one week left!
There has been progress on my list - the curtain is up, some of the weeds have been tackled. Closets and drawers have been cleaned.  I've managed to do some reading and a little online shopping.  I've taken, and passed, a CLEP in American Lit.

Here's a glimpse of the weekend in Fort Dodge.  It was sooo hot!  The drive there was uneventful.  Naphtali and Aidan were available for part of my visit and, as always, it was a treat to see them.  On Sunday,we went over to see my sister and Mike.  He's been busy siding the farm house and it looks great.  We looked in at the horses and new kittens, and played with the dogs a bit.  This kitten found a cool place to nap.  My mom and I sat in the shade and watched everyone else cavorting in the pool.

Naphtali and Aidan

Andrea grilled some chicken, fixed sweet corn and fed us a good summertime meal.  Although black tie was optional, Aidan came to the table in what looked like a smoking jacket over his swim trunks and COWBOY BOOTS!

Yes, let's put those two ideas in the same sentence, again.  Here is Aidan wearing COWBOY BOOTS!  We (Grandma Donna, Naphtali, Aidan and I) had looked for a pair at several places Saturday night, including the Goodwill, and though we didn't find COWBOY BOOTS, we did find a necessary piece of COWBOY gear - a guitar.  Why were we looking for cowboy gear?  His camp has a dress-up day each Monday, they've done clowns and rock stars, and the next was cowboy.  He found a mustache, jeans and plaid shirt, hat, and this wonderful guitar!

On our way to Andrea's, we made one last stop to look for the COWBOY BOOTS.  Aidan tried on several pair and he loved them!  Now, some might think that is a bit of an exaggeration, but let me point out that he told his mother that if he got the black pair he could wear the COWBOY BOOTS to school.  Sound logic and sartorial sense.  

I happen to think there are few things cuter than a lanky kid in shorts and COWBOY BOOTS.  Jacob wore them for years.  We had mentioned to Naphtali several years ago that the day would come for Aidan, and let's just say she was less than thrilled with the idea.  So permit me this small measure of glee - a boy should have COWBOY BOOTS - at least for a season - and Aidan is quite dapper in his. 

By the way, he opened car doors and made sweeping bows as we seated ourselves, in imitation of the doormen he had seen in NYC.  It was great.  James and Naphtali have such a delightful son.  I'm looking forward to the pictures of Aidan in full regalia.  (if you can refer to COWBOY duds as regalia)

They headed north from there and my mom and I returned to Fort Dodge.  We went to the apple orchard, played scrabble, caught up on recent events.  It was a good visit.