COTTAGE PLAYDATE....

Grandpa and I made a playdate

with our grandson Hunter.

I no longer babysit on a regular

basis and Grandpa was having

withdrawls from not seeing him.

He is walking now and so much fun.

First we went to the mall to play in the playland

which is right next to the baby store.

Here is where Hunter found a big bear

which he kept hugging. When we said it

was time to go he took it by the nose

and tried to drag it out of the store.

He really enjoyed the playland

We had to stop at the store to get some baby food
and he rode on the horse.
(only a penny)



Outside the store they were selling
hay bales and corn stocks

We sure had a fun day.

I think Hunter did too!!

Next weekend we hope to go to the pumpkin patch.

NEW AT THE COTTAGE.....

The buffet arrived today...yeah!!!

Before...

After...

Dinner can now be served in the dining room

Sometime between now and next month there

will be some living room furniture.

We are trying to decide on style and fabric
I really feel very blessed.

We have struggled alot in the passed so to

be able to do this now is a real blessing for me.

I am looking forward to the Holiday meals that will

soon be served here.

AROUND THE COTTAGE...

I was over at wallyworld (aka. walmart)

and stumbled upon this bistro set on clearence

It fits perfectly on the porch.

The chairs rock and swivel

which will be nice when the grandbabies visit.

At least for a few more weeks while the

weather is still nice and not to cold.

The table has a small shelf for books or magazines.

Just a cool drink and I am all set for relaxing

and enjoying the view.

I also found this clock on sale and thought it

would go perfectly above the fireplace.

also the lantern on the hearth.

I have started my Fall decorating..

a work in progress:)
The little black milking stools

are for the grandkids when they visit,

they are the same so they don't fight over them.

This is a peace lily which we recieved a few years

ago when Hubbys dad passed away
The follwing year his mom passed.

Our first blooms since then and there are two.

Off to eat some bacon and drink my morning coffee.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND

COTTAGE FOOTBALL SUNDAY....

Eleanor had her first football sunday with grandma.

The Seattle Seahawks won and so did the Minnesota Vikings

She was our lucky charm (I don't really believe in luck)

She is almost back to her birth-weight and the jaundice is almost gone.

She had her first day at church and did very well.

Grandpa and I had a good day with her and her mom and dad.

COTTAGE SUMMER MEALS

This is the last of the summer meals at the cottage:

Chinese Chicken Salad, Fruit Plate and Apple Cake.

Salad
2 cooked and chopped chicken breasts

1 bag coleslaw mix-or 1/2 head chopped cabbage

1 bunch green onions chopped

1 can water chestnuts

2 tablespoons sesame seeds toasted

1/2 cup slivered almonds toasted

1/2 bag chow mein noodles (not ramen)

Dressing

1/2 cup oil

2-3 tablespoons vinegar

2-3 tablespoons sugar

pinch of pepper

splash of soy sauce

Mix together and eat-- it will get soft if you make it ahead so I put the chow mein noodles in 15 min. before eating and sprinkle on the dressing at the same time.

It was warm and the humidity leavel was high so we had one of our summer meals.

I had made the Applecake earlier in the day..the first of my Fall baking but then the weather was too warm for a Fall meal. I caught my first cold of the season. Last year I stayed healthy so I guess it is my turn. I am hoping to be better by Sunday so we can go over to my sons house and watch the Seattle Seahawks play. Yes I know I live in Minnesota and it should be the Vikings but we are transplants here and my Husband loves the Seahawks as well as my son. I don't want to expose the new baby to my cold germs so I hope I am better.

Happy weekend everyone!!

COTTAGE BABYSITTING WEEKEND...

Grandpa and I did some babysitting this weekend. first Hunter came for Saturday and Sunday.

He has gotten taller in just a few short weeks and is walking every where.

We took him for a walk which is the only time I was able to get him to be sort of still.

I would have taken more pictures but I was chasing after him the whole time.

He likes to go and touch everything he is not suppose to like the fireplace, stereo, he tried to but his hands down the heater vents and a few cars. Needless to say not much was accomplished this weekend but we had fun seeing Hunter again.

On Monday we went out to look at furniture, all the Labor Day Sales. We got a few ideas ...now to save the money to purchase the things we found. We have been purchasing one thing a month so that we give it a lot of thought and can find the best price. This furniture will probably be our last so we want to make it last and be sure we will be happy with the pieces. The sales were not that great so there is no rush. We stopped at Target to get a few things on our way home and I recieved a phone call from my son Michael. They needed to go and return some items, could we please babysit Eleanor for aboout an hour or two?? She is still on the light bed and is unable to go with. We were over in a flash..our first time babysitting Eleanor how fun. She slept the whole time and It was good for mommy to get out for a bit. It has been hard on both parents not to be able to hold the baby except at feeding time.

Today is another Lab appointment her bilirubin has gone from 14.5--14.6--14.8 on Sunday which is very slow but still rising. We hope today it has run its course and will begin going down. She looks better but all these little things worry the new parents and make for a stressfull time.

These are nothing new for me..with 3 premies I have been through it all but I understand how they feel ...You just have to remember who is in control and put your trust in HIM

HOMECOMING ...near the cottage

Eleanor came home today but she has, what we like to call, a tanning bed.

Really it is a billibed for her bilirubin was high, but they still brought her home as long as she stays on the light bed.

This is hard for her new parents because they are not able to hold her except at feeding time.

She will go to the doctor everyday for a blood test until the numbers drop.

Hopefully they don't get any higher or she will have to go back to the hospital and go under the big lights. Having had all premies myself I have had lots of experience with those lights. They cover their eyes with patches and they look like little racoons, but it works and they don't usually have to be there very long.

With the jaundice making her a little extra sleepy and losing weight she has to be fed every two hours...so her mom wakes her up even though she needs the rest( her mother) Remember when those first two weeks you thought you would never get any sleep?

I forgot to delete myself out of this picture so sorry about that. It does not flatter me

She seems to be a good baby so far, more like her mother and definately not like her father who never sleeped through the night and ate every two hours until he went on solid food at 5 months.

Here she looks very tan. I remember my last baby was so jaundice we didn't know how red her hair was until it cleared up.

WELCOME HOME ELEANOR