A Rainy Weekend

So the big weather news around here last week was the rain that occurred for two days straight. It started raining at about 8:30 Friday evening and didn't end until late Sunday. So, two full days. The rain was steady but it never came down too hard or too soft. It was just an average, steady rain. The temperature remained mild both rainy days- mid to high sixties. Both Saturday and Sunday felt spring like to me. I was half way shocked to see Halloween candy in Kroger rather than Easter candy when I went grocery shopping on Sunday.

The biggest change of plans for us due to the weather was soccer related. Alyssa was supposed to have played her first two ECNL games this weekend- one on Saturday and one on Sunday. The games were canceled on Thursday before the rain had even begun. Teams from Tennessee were coming to Alyssa's team's home field to play. Alyssa's team, Ohio Elite, plays home games in a low lying area and the fields flood easily. Canceling the games on Thursday ensured that no one from Tennessee began the trek north in vain. We sure were looking forward to seeing Alyssa and her team play (they've not played any league or tournament games yet this season).

Abby had six hours of dance on both Saturday and Sunday. Since her dance studio is indoors (obviously!!), the rain didn't impede those plans. Jacob didn't have any outdoor plans either, so he wasn't impacted by the rain.

Donnie's work picnic was held on Saturday. The picnic is an annual event. We always look forward to it because the food is superb (everything is from Dorothy Lane Market), the company is friendly; everyone is jovial while catching up with one another and the chance to win money at bingo looms 😀.

This year, the picnic was held at a fishing club. HOW NICE WOULD GREAT/ ANYTHING OTHER THAN RAINY WEATHER HAVE BEEN?? Thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis nice. Although we aren't fishermen (fisherpeople?), we still would have enjoyed the outdoor amenities of the club had the weather cooperated.

But, because of the rain, we had to be inside in one of the lodges. We were still able to catch up with everyone, we still ate lots of good food from DLM, and we (Alyssa, actually) ended up winning at bingo; we had a good time. Alyssa was the only one who went with us. Abby couldn't go with us since she had dance all day. Jacob was going to go with us but then some friends asked him to go to the Y and play basketball. The times conflicted and Jacob chose basketball. 

On Sunday, the cancellation of soccer meant we were able to go to church. If Alyssa had had her soccer game, we wouldn't have been able to make it to the first or second services. So, a silver lining in the whole rain for days thing. Abby missed church because of her six hour dance session on Sunday but the rest of us went.

Donnie grilled steaks for us for dinner on Sunday. After the picnic ended on Saturday, all the left over food was bagged up and guests could take home what they wanted. A baggie full o' filet mignons caught my eye and I secured it before we left (I also secured some Killer Brownies and Pine Club Pasta Salad so that I could have some later Jacob and Abby could enjoy the treats even though they didn't attend the picnic). Anyway, despite less than ideal conditions for grilling (the rain), Donnie grilled the filets from the picnic.

The rainy weekend changed our plans but did not, of course, affect our lives in any meaningful way; hoping and praying that the effects of Hurricane Florence (and any hurricane that forms and hits land...) are minimal.

Lunch at the picnic- everything was so good!

Alyssa won two bingo games in a row- the kids in general did very good at bingo- at least two other kids also won two games.

Our drive out of the club- the water level in the creek in the left of the picture is rising

 Sunday morning before church- Alyssa and I made cupcakes with cream cheese icing.

They were *pretty* good :)