Monday, May 18
Had breakfast and did exercises. Found the battery on my Dutch cel phone running low. Called Radio Shack to get a connector for my iGo car charging but they didn’t have it in stock. Hm. Will think about ordering it and in the mean time have Nico call me via Skype.

Got dressed and went to help Gram with set up for the cousins tea. By 10 a.m., she already had found all the serving plates and vegetables cut up. We put together relish trays, made lemonade and mint tea, crushed strawberries, found all the silverware and plates needed and touched up the flower arrangements. We were finished by 2pm.

Came home and phoned cousin Linda. Had a nice long talk about what’s been going on in our respective lives.

Started making Mexican dinner with lots of toppings and corn tortillas which I’d never used before. They were a bit too fragile but no one complained.

During dinner, Norma came by after her trip to the Iris Farm to deliver a brown paper grocery bag full of blooms. They were for me, if you can believe it. I've really been blessed with so many kindnesses. Sometimes it's kind of hard to take (but I do anyway).

Beautiful sunset even up until 8:30.

Worked on my blog some more, Gram came and had a look at how it is put together. Dad and I looked up info on video cameras online just before going to bed. Enough! Slaap!

Tuesday, May 19
Did exercise routine and mom participated a bit. Took shower and got dressed for party.

Insurance guy came and wrote a check to Grandma for damage to barn, cherry tree and house. Mom and Dad decided the barn needs to be torn down – some of the rafters came loose during the high winds and the next high winds could tear it down.

Visiting with the cousins began near 11 o’clock when Ida Mae arrived. She makes her own beaded jewelry and mom remembers her as taking time for herself called her play day. She brought us each a bouquet of flowers.

Barbara from St. Louis and Jeanette arrived around 11:30. Mavis, Janet and Ester brought me a lovely silver angel pendant. Ester is 86 and looks way better than my grandpa when nearing that age.

The party went on until nearly four. We were finished cleaning up and home by five, when I started updating this day’s entry.

Looked at camcorders some more and meanwhile discovered mom’s camera has pretty good video feature with audio. Instead of wasting more time trying to find a camcorder on my vacation, I’ll just use that while I’m here and look into it more later.

Ate taco salad on the picnic table and read my book in the setting sun. Cardinal game on TV. Won 3-0. In bed before 10.