I hadn't intended for it to be a month between posts but you know how it is, "the best laid plans".  There have been some good things, like that beautiful rose.   It's called an Evelyn rose.  We planted the bush in July and were prepared not to see any blooms till next year (you're supposed to cut off the buds on the first year to encourage root growth.

One morning, Pk was out back communing with the wildlife (talking to the birds and threatening the squirrels) and he came in to show me a photo of a rosebud.  We were so pleased.   We decided to allow it to grow since it's the end of the growing season.  It blossomed into this palm sized, delicate pink (with a pale yellow center) flower with a gorgeous scent.  It felt like Evelyn was speaking to us.  We bought a bush for Kate and Patrick and theirs got 3 blooms.  Our bloom is hanging upside down to dry so we can keep it.

Two weekw ago, we went to Allaire State Park for their flea market.  It's usually a good one and this year was not different.  I got the best deal!  

8 place settings (7pcs each) and all the serving pieces of Noritake china.  This is Geneva.  I paid 40 dollars for the entire set.

It looks like it was made for our china closet.  I have china.  I have 4 place settings of a beautiful pattern that we got for a wedding gift plus a set that was my grandmother's and of course, the holiday china my family gave me a few years ago.  So we didn't "need" china.  But this spoke to me and Pk actually sad he liked it, too.  I am looking forward to using it over the holidays.  

We went to the Garden State Sheep Breeders show in September.  It was a glorious day.  Sunshine and sheep and knitters and spinners and 4H kids showing off their animals.  

We had a geat day.  Pk fantasized about buying goats (but then his brother the farmer, introduced him to the cold hard reality of goats and he decided to pass).  I bought one skein of yarn and a pattern for a shawl, a bag I couldn't resist and some roving. 

One of my (younger) cousins died in September.  I'm still not sure of the cause of death but it shook me up.  We were not close but I felt the loss.  It reminded me once again that none of us know how much time we will have.  Live accordingly.....

We finally made it to the park for dinner.  We sat there (surrounded by people of all ages looking for Pokemon-it's evidently a hot spot) until the sun went down over the Delaware River and the ranger told us it was time to leave.  It was just too hot most of this summer to enjoy picnics out doors.  I missed that.  

Next week, Pk and I will celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary.  We are going out to dinner on Sunday (our day is Monday) and will probably go to work as usual on Monday.  It's hard to believe it's been that long.  Somedays it feels like we've been married forever and others, well, it feels like it was yesterday.  The love of my life and my best friend.  35 years ago, we joined hands and boldly marched toward the future.  And here we are, all those years later, still holding hands and holding each other.  There's no one I'd rather have by my side.  "For richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part".  We took those words to heart years ago and we live them today.  And I am not unaware of how lucky we are.