First day of School-Wow!

And the fun begins!!  I heard the sound of silence this morning~except for the wheels of the School Buses going by-LOL!  My neighbor texted to me "hurry, look out of the window, there are little people on the corner!"  Love seeing their little feet as they board the School bus.

Pooky's Grandma is always up for anything just like my Grandma Rachael, my Mom Carrie and myself~Kerrie.  She is a combo of all of these people....

I do not know where August went at all, it just flew in and out like a hummingbird!  It was another great summer in Auburn NY and Owasco Lake though.  My John taught sailing lessons this year and though I was not a student as I was last year, it was still great to see the youngsters so enthusiastic about learning from little ones up to teenagers.

My girlfriend Nellie has a small apple orchard in her backyard in the country and she gave me Apples for pies, eating and sauce.  There is nothing like fresh fruit with no insecticides!  And I took several photos with the leaves still on the fruit so I can draw or paint them later.

I love the rich colors of the apples.  A pie is in the offing-ha!  She also gave me some small apples and a couple of pears-I am in fruit heaven-ha!

Fall is my favorite time of year.  Others get Spring Fever but I get Fall Fever when the mornings start to get crisper in temperature and the fresh air smells heavenly.  Warm Indian Summer type days with lots of sunshine....what's not to like??

So while I am picking some green tomatoes to ripen on my window sill, I picked up the first very colorful leaf from the back lawn.  A sure sign that it is Fall, Y'all!  

Wonderful Sunflowers much taller than my car and even with me when I look out of my dining room window.  This one plant must have had at least a dozen blossoms so far-Joy de vi!

New beginnings:  I have been accepted for a p/t job and I cannot wait to start!  I can walk to the location if I want!  My granddaughter is getting married the 19th of this month and John is going to SC with me for that.  So exciting!  Trying to lose a few pounds before then but John and I are addicted to ice cream!  He buys it and leaves it at MY HOUSE so he is not tempted.  Works for him but not for me-LOL!   My closest cousin became a born again Christian at the beginning of August and I could not be more delighted.  God has been so busy in all of our lives!  We are so blessed.

Some sadness as a niece was hit with a sudden illness in the spring and is unable to move in the prime of her life.  There is no true diagnosis as yet either so we all continue to pray.  And my oldest friend from Kindergarten lost her son just a few days ago in his midlife from cancer.  There is no pain like the loss of a child..... ♥

I am still singing and playing guitar with the praise group at church but have added my violin to the mix for the first time this last Sunday and enjoyed ad lib with the organist for the final hymn.  Took me back to my youth when I made that violin sing at times!  Our group has grown from 3 to 5 and now as many as 9 on various instruments and voices. God is really blessing our United Church of Auburn, NY.  There are more children all the time filling 2 pews sometimes and their enthusiasm and participation is so refreshing!  

My wild and happy heart to yours....

Come back soon and leave a comment, easy to do and I treasure them. :)

SAILING ON OWASCO LAKE, AUBURN, NY

It's PINK SATURDAY with Beverly again!  

Last year I took sailing lessons and just loved it!  My friend John was one of the instructors this year (in photo with student Kait (who is visiting for the summer with Grandma and lives in Alaska)  and I went every day for the last two weeks and watched but also got to sail a couple of times.  
We live in the Beautiful Fingerlakes area of NYS.  Auburn is at the foot of Owasco Lake and just a wonderful area to live in.  Here are the students ranging from 9-15yrs. listening to  instructions before rigging their boats and sailing away.

The sailboats are so beautiful and look like butterflies on the lake.  The kids all love sailing and are so attentive and willing to learn.

The instructors all love working with kids and the fee is very reasonable at $20.00 per week per child which covers the cost of their Pizza Party on the last day and supplies.  The kids actually take a boat out by themselves at the end of the first week!  Some kids come back every year.  They also learn how to tie nautical knots, discipline and teamwork.

I cannot say enough about this wonderful program put on by Owasco Yacht Club.  Thanks to all instructors and their wives who participate in this program and give of their time!

Kerrie 

My heart to yours...

My Life in My Hometown

Last June I took sailing lessons at Owasco Yacht Club Auburn, NY.  I learned to sail the small boat in the top photo. (Neighbor John is taking it out to test some rough water).  John invited me to learn how to sail and in the process, we fell in love.  My lessons were with children and it was so much fun!  My learning partner was Erik below and he was a wonderful sailor and teacher for me!

 When we ended the 2 weeks of lessons, I told him he could tell his friends that he taught a Great Grandma to sail-ha!

This was the most wonderful Summer ever!  Once I had the sailing lessons under my belt, John took me out on The Star, his racing boat and he is still trying to make a good sailing partner of me-ha!

I cannot believe that it has been a whole year since I posted here!  Life is what happens while you are making plans....
I have gained some weight back since this photo and I have let my hair go white because John likes me just the way I am.  What a blessing!  I am so happy!

I became very active at my church, United Church of Auburn.  After I moved back, I became involved in a multitude of works in the church and through this last year, I have narrowed it down to Singing and playing guitar with the Praise Team which was newly formed when I returned and started out with just Pastor on Banjo, his daughter Megan singing and myself and has now grown to Praise director Russ, his wife Vicki, Phil on Base Guitar, Tina vocalist, and sometimes children participate.  It has been wonderful to see how the group has grown and improved.

Here is an earlier photo of Phil on Bass, Russ on Guitar, myself on Guitar, Megan singing and her Dad, Pastor Damon Gagnier on Banjo.  And what a joyful noise we make to the Lord every Sunday!! ♥ 

I also give Christian counseling at church, but gave up Outreach Elder, Choir and other activities.  I have learned that at my age, I cannot fill every post-ha!  I attend Bible Study every Wednesday and Praise Team Practice on Wednesdays, also.  I participate in outreach programs and events.  My life is full of wonder and contentment....

John and I shoveling snow together.

And then winter was one of the worst in Central NY State for sure.  But when Life gives you snow, make snowmen or in this case, I made a Miss Piggy....

I was so happy when Spring came feeling the warmth of the sun and the greening of plants, trees and grass...

John and me on St. Patrick's day.  How blessed I am to have found a wonderful man in the Autumn of my life.  God is so good.

Yesterday, we went up to the Yacht Club and washed the soil of winter storms off of the Star and got her ready for the summer.  

Owasco Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in the FingerLakes of NYS.  I feel so fortunate to live right here in Auburn, NY at the foot of the lake.

And so dear hearts, forgive me for neglecting my writings and I will try to be more diligent in my postings.  I love all of my followers and remember all of you who were so supportive when my hubby Bill was suffering with cancer and again through my loss.  I don't know what I would have done without you all.  You were my lifeline!  THANKS!  God's blessing be with you all.

John and me taken by my friend Sue Camaraire on her visit of last summer.  Luvu Sue!

My heart to yours....
Kerrie ♥