Family | Peaches Prattlings

{July 18, 2015} Hugs can heal

Is there a truer statement?

When something is wrong, sometimes a hug makes everything better. When I got off the phone with a friend who had surgery on Wednesday and I knew she was ok, I walked back in to the office and asked two people for a hug, for good news, that worked.

There are so many different reasons we might need a hug…good news, bad news, scraped knees, bumped heads, just because. Do you love hugs as much as I do?

There are also different types of hugs…side hugs, from behind, pick me up hugs, full on front facing hugs, parent to child, sibling to sibling, friends, family, you name it, there is a hug for every situation!

How about you, want a hug? I do!

{July 11, 2015} My sister, my hero

Tonight, I just want to spotlight my sister.

I’ve told you a little about my sister, GES, but I haven’t given you all the details about certain things. I know I’m the blogger/writer in the family, but tonight, I want to share an article that she wrote, about how she told her young children about cancer.

Tonight, she gets the spotlight, my admiration and my love, well, the last two she gets all the time!

How I Told My Young Children I Had Cancer

{July 8, 2015} The weekend in Nova Scotia…Happy Birthday PSM!

Happy Birthday PSM!

“PSM”, “Yes JJ?” “Your birthday is coming up, what would you like?” “I don’t know” “Well, think of something! A trip?” “Hmmm..I’ve always wanted to go to Nova Scotia” “Nova Scotia it is!”

Get online and find Nova Star, the ferry that goes from Portland, ME and docks in Yarmouth, NS, http://www.novascotia.com/. This was really like a mini cruise, let me tell you about it. As you know, we made it just in time, I was getting us there, PSM was getting on that boat!

We had an exterior cabin with a porthole, it had 2 twin beds, bunk beds above and a bathroom with a shower, great cabin. There was a formal dining room, a buffet, a few cafes and bars. They showed movies, had live entertainment and a casino, what more could you ask for!

Turns out, I’m not much for cruises, I found that out when I cruised years ago, thought this might be different, but no…I now am the proud owner of another pair of seasick bands and the Canadian version of Bonine, the aquatic version of Dramamine.

I had my stash of saltines and ginger ale, then sacked out and slept until we pulled into port. PSM, on the other hand, no problem with the boat had a good time in the casino and won a bit of money! Go PSM! Prior to crashing, we experienced a beautiful sunset!

There were families, friends, a tour bus and a bunch of bikers, fun for all!

We docked at 7am, got off the boat, went through customs and welcome to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia!

First a trip to the visitor information location, oh my they were helpful! Then breakfast at The Shanty Café

Dropped the top, on a very well traveled car and headed up The 101 highway towards the Bay of Fundy. First stop, Light of the Bay lighthouse, built in 1868. What a view!

Back in the car, another fabulous lighthouse for a nice stop and a lie down in the sun to smell the sea…ahhh…

We drove to The Bay of Fundy, Hall’s Harbor, and found a fabulous B&B, The Deft House, http://www.delfthaus.com/, we were in The Rose Room, the suite went on and on and on! The fireplace was controlled by wall switch, a lot of fun! The couple who own and run the B&B were charming and kooky, perfect! There were other guests there and we enjoyed meeting and talking with them at breakfast, a three course experience! Cereal, home made fruit crepes and omelets, oh my!

Up to Hall’s Harbour, http://www.hallsharbour.org/, to see the tide go out. This is one area of the Bay of Fundy, recommended to see the tide changes. Some of the tide swells measure up to 50 feet! We weren’t in an area to see the swells, but we did get to see where the tide went out!

See the poor boats! They’re grounded! See PSM, he’s walking the ocean floor!

The wishing well lighthouse gives you a good description of Hall’s Harbour and The Bay of Fundy.

We went up to the Look Off to get a great view of the tide going out and the amazing landscape of the Bay of Fundy, isn’t it amazing!

How about this! My beetle saw her cousin…a motorcycle with a VW back end! A VW Beetle engine!!! Guess who wants it! Me! Me! Me!

We went back to Hall’s Harbour to watch the sunset. It was amazing, apparently it’s a local favorite and people come in from all over to watch the sunset almost every night! Spectacular!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Fundy

[My phone died the next day, no more photos, boo]

That was just Friday! Can you believe it!

Saturday, we drove up the other coast to Halifax, what a beautiful city, right on the water, trendy and picturesque. Such a change from other parts of Nova Scotia, not in any negative way, more modern, a very different feel to the lifestyle. The Bay of Fundy is more fishing village and Halifax is a modern city.

We spent a few hours in Halifax, then drove back to Yarmouth for a great dinner at Rudders, http://www.ruddersbrewpub.com/, a fun restaurant and brew pub, one of the few spots open and happening in Yarmouth. We had steamers, lobster and fish and chips, yes I tried everything!

Sunday morning, we boarded the Nova Star and sailed back to Portland, Maine. Let’s just say, I don’t remember much as I spent most of it asleep and I’m ok with that! Back in the states and on dry land.

What a weekend! A great birthday! Where are we going next? I’ll keep ya posted!

Happy birthday PSM!

{July 4, 2015} Happy 4th!

It’s July 4th everyone!

Today, we celebrate our independence, the day of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)

People celebrate in so many different ways, some celebrate with picnics, travel, friends, family. In Atlanta, there is the running of the Peachtree Road Race, the 10k I have told you about for six years in a row, volunteering for five years with and participating in for six years with CKM, very surreal that we weren’t doing it together, but sent her good vibes all day!

There are so many great traditions I shared in, growing up in NYC, summers on Long Island, Atlanta, Boston, even just because.

The truly surreal thing is today, we saw fireworks over the water, but very far away and by chance, maybe by some ex-pats, but they don’t celebrate the Day of Independence for the United States in other countries and that’s where we are this weekend, out of the country! So quite a few people wished us a happy July 4th, it wasn’t quite the same, but…I did eat a veggie hot dog, so that helped!

However you celebrate, I hope it was a happy, safe and healthy celebration. Enjoy some fireworks! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAzT6VnUBw8

One of my favorite speeches from a movie is Bill Pullman in Independence Day. Enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoLywiaM6PA

{July 3, 2015} The things you overhear

Sometimes, it’s just hard not to listen.

We’ve all been in this situation…you’re out somewhere in public and people are talking loud enough for you to hear and you start listening, you just can’t help it. If they wanted their conversation to be truly private, they should whisper or have it somewhere else!

Sometimes it’s a fun conversation, sometimes…not so much. This morning, PSM and I were having breakfast and there was some turmoil going on in the kitchen, big open window into the kitchen, someone was having a bad day! At lunch, the women at the table next to us started talking about needing mani’s and Pedi’s and the pros and cons of gel polish, I could have given them my two cents!

Tonight, we were having dinner at a pub and there were very few people there with us. Two tables back were a pair of guys having a drink and talking. First, it was about the Marvel Universe, how it’s changing and how it needs to, then Stan Lee, then the merits of X-Men, finishing up with building a bar in the basement and friends would come over. I’m sure they would!

I love people watching, I know people are doing it to me and I’m ok with that!

What did you happen to hear tonight?

Eavesdrop date

{July 2, 2015} I got us here, by gosh by golly! To

Ok, so, have I told you about my led foot? Well, today I used it and we got here!

I’m not going to tell you where we were going, I’ll give you the full rundown on Sunday, but what I will tell you is that I pushed the speed limit where I could! And paid off, by gosh, by golly! I know, strong words!

I truly underestimated the Boston traffic on a holiday weekend! I went to GES’ house to pick up Annie, the beetle bug, back to the hotel to pick up PSM, a trip which should have taken 40 minutes…at the most…took just at TWO hours!

We booked it out of there and got on the road, we had to be at our destination by 6:45at the latest, or so the guy said when we called!

Let’s just say I channeled my mom, EMS, a touch… I didn’t break any sound barriers, but…

Did we make it by 6:43? You bet your sweet bippy we did! This is my birthday present for my beau, we were not missing it!

More to come!

{July 1, 2015} They’re making a run for it!

The cats are heading for the border!

HH came to my hotel room today to drop something off and as she was leaving, the door was open and as we’re talking, all of a sudden, we see two little furry blurs run by!

Jymy and Peanut have escaped!

First they went to the left down the hall, they headed back towards the room, but no, down the hall towards freedom! We couldn’t help but watch and laugh! I kept thinking and I said once “I really should be filming this”, all we did was stare and laugh!

I closed the door a bit and Peanut said, ‘oh no, let me in!’, Jymy, on the other hand went back in the other direction and started crying! When I went to get her, I knew why she was standing there crying…I smelled chicken soup! I scooped her up and in she went!

Adventure had and now it’s time for a nap! The life of a cat…

{June 30, 2015} I miss my daddy

I think I’ve told you I talk to my dad every day, haven’t I?

Well, on Saturday, dad and LaLa went on vacation. I got to talk to him yesterday, but not today and I don’t know when I’ll get to talk to him again, I’m sure one or two more times until they get back, but it’s not the same!

We talk almost every day, some times it’s a few minutes, sometimes a few more, sometimes an hour. Some days he calls, some days I call, but it’s just about every day. Admittedly, there have been times we missed one day here and there and I notice, but it’s never more than a day.

It was the same when I went to Ireland, I didn’t get to talk to him every day and it was weird and here we are again. I like sharing my life with him, telling him about my day and hearing about his.

He’s having a great time and I’m so happy for him. When he gets back, so much to catch up on!

{June 28, 2015} A new adventure

Life is an adventure, full of new experiences.

My brother-in-law, ACS, is about to have a new adventure and plenty of new experiences. He is going back to school to get his Masters in Education and start a new adventure as a teacher.

He’s been at the same company for over 15 years and he is very good at what he does, but after so many years, he is ready for a change. He’s been thinking about it for a while, but wanted to wait until the time was right, for the family, for the job, for the company, before he made any big decisions.

One of the deciding factors was MGS going to kindergarten next year, both girls in elementary school was a start. I’m not going into more details, that is his story to tell. I just know that this next year will be full of changes, experiences and new adventures and I look forward to hearing all about that!

Good luck ACS, it’s going to be a grand adventure!

{June 22, 2015} How beautiful! What a lucky girl I am!

Are these beautiful or what?!

I got back to my hotel this afternoon and found a wonderful and beautiful surprise!

I had received a text message earlier in the day asking what my room number was, not knowing why, I did ask if he was going to surprise me and he did!

I walked in the room to drop off some stuff and pick up other stuff, looked across the room and there they were, with a lovely note and the smile spread on my face! I have a wonderful beau.

Thank you PSM, I love them!

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What was I thinking?