Monday, March 25, was my Zoey day. Zoey is really a little live wire who doesn’t slow down in a minute.

Nichole helped me all day with Zoey. We walked down to the new house and played in Nichole’s room. Jenn Smith took Samson, Nichole, and Iain swimming at her father Mike Smith’s house on Warner’s Lake later in the afternoon.

On Tuesday, Aug. 26, I took Samson, Nichole, and Iain to the Thompson’s Lake campsite to swim. Both Brandon and Jenn had to work. It was a hot day and very crowded.

On Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 27, I took Kyra, Samson, Nichole, and Iain to Myosotis Lake in Rensselaerville. Miles Pangburn, my grandson was lifeguarding. It was another hot day and the children enjoyed diving off the spring diving board. Kyra had come home last night from spending two days with her friend, Beth Courtney in Coxsackie. On the way home from the lake Nichole actually fell asleep about 5:30 p.m., because they had played and dived all afternoon in the water.

On Thursday, Aug. 28, Brandon had the day off. It was cold and windy. Miles was the lifeguard again at Myosotis Lake. Nichole really wanted to go back and jump off that diving board. We picked up Kyra, Brandon, Samson, Nichole, Iain, and we went back to Myosotis Lake. It was cold but warm in the water. Brandon and Miles enjoyed spending time together. It’s been a busy summer for both of them.

We still had to call the children in from the lake when it was time to go.

On Friday, Aug. 29, Brandon, Samson, and Nichole decided to ride their bikes to the Thompson’s Lake campsite and take a swim. It was still very cool weather, but they did swim.

On their way there, they stopped to visit Brandon’s sister, Kyra, at her home. She was expecting a friend to come spend the day.

I went up to visit Danielle and Zoey, as Danielle had the day off. Later, I rode with Brandon and Jenn to Schoharie to take Nichole and Samson home to their mother’s house. Their fourth vacation week with dad was over.

Jenn’s son, Iain, had gone to spend the weekend with his dad.

On Saturday, Aug. 30, I was invited to my granddaughter, Kassi Neal’s house, on Warner’s Lake. I went at 1 p.m. and stayed until 9 p.m. What a fabulous day.

My daughter, Kathy and her husband Gary Carnevale, were there and Kathy’s life-long friend, Lynn Kohler. They all swam and I watched from the dock. Then we had a scrumptious feast including appetizers of goat cheese, crackers, and pepper jelly, and clams. Then we had macaroni salad and cheese burgers topped with lettuce and tomatoes. Last we had dessert of Kathy’s famous brownies topped with walnuts and ice cream with heavy whipped cream prepared by Gary. I was really full and happy as the evening ended.

Then came Sunday, Aug. 31, and I went to church. This was not a good day. it has been one year ago, my son, Danny Ricketts was killed in an ATV accident.

After church, Brandon and Jenn took me on a long ride to Windham. Then we ate lunch in a little diner. We returned to Danielle’s house at 2:30 p.m. the exact time Danny had his fatal accident.

We had 10 minutes of silence with Danielle, Zoey, Matt, Marcia, Kyra, Chris Richardson, Kathy, Gary, Brandon, Jenn and me. It was a very sad day and rainy just like it was the day Danny died.

All the other days were awesome with the love of my family. I know on everyone a little ran must fall.

Unique service

 The Thompson’s Lake Reformed Church worship service on Sunday, Sept. 7, will be at the Overlook in Thacher Park. We will be worshipping there with the Knox Reformed Church at 9 a.m. Please bring a beach chair and if you’d like a shade umbrella. See you there.

A Heart for Haiti

Building education one brick at a time. Join us for a benefit concert for a school building project at St. Andre’s Episcopal Church in Flande, Haiti on Sunday, Sept. 14, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of St. Stephan’s Episcopal Church, 16 Elsmere Ave. in Delmar. The concert will feature Wally Jones with violins, vocals, trumpet, saxophone, guitar, accordions, drums, piano, organ, bagpipes, and a few friends from near and far to help. A free will offering will be taken. Please be generous. The need is great. a reception will follow in the church hall. To learn more, contact St. Stephen’s Church office at 439-3265.