My other little grandson, Charlie, turned one this week.  His mother was kind enough to invite us to his birthday party.  The party was a bust, his mom was tired and stressed but the little guy had a good time and that's all that matters.  His one eye looks red because his big sister tried to put his face in the cake but only managed to get icing in his eye.  We got to meet her family which was interesting.  They've all had difficult lives.  

My garden is coming along nicely, enjoying the heat after a wet, cool spring.

The veg, especially the tomatoes, are growing great guns, as my mum would have said.  Next to the bird feeder in the photo, is a bird house which has been filled with a family of sparrows.
 

I saved some pumpkin seeds from Jack's Halloween pumpkin last year and they've grown well too.  I had no idea how big their blossoms were.

I planted some sunflower seeds on the deck planter and they've grown well too.  I can't wait to see them bloom.  I love yellow flowers.

Life continues on.  Gracie was a huge bitch to me this week when I asked how Jack was.  I think she has borderline personality disorder.  I try really hard to not take things personally when she attacks me but it's hard and this week was really difficult.  Then she wouldn't answer any of my texts or phone calls when I told her we were picking Jack up so I had to contact her mother, who had to contact her sister, to contact Gracie.  So you can see how it goes; lets pull everyone into my dysfunctional life and make their lives hell as well.

Jack is with us and had fun at his brother's birthday party last night.  Tomorrow we're off to the zoo where we'll meet up with my daughter in law (still feels strange writing that) and Charlie. On Sunday Jack is going to another birthday party.  Our neighbor's little girl is turning six and Jack has been invited to her party.  Which reminds me, I have to pick up a barbie doll for her.

Today we're going to Wetaskiwin to visit my father in law who is still with us and is doing well, thankfully.  I'm going to make him a treat to take down for him, kapucijners.  Not something I would view as a treat but he loves them.

I have a hard time allowing people into my life, for many reasons, and my family seems to have exploded in number this year.  It's not a bad thing but it does cause me some stress, more balls to juggle, more people to get along with, more people to worry about.  I was always told that I was a difficult person by my family and my ex-husband and yet the people who know me now think I am a kind, wonderful person and it's confusing to me I guess.  Did I change, or was I just difficult for them?  I have different people in my life now and less stress.  Dealing with Katie's diagnosis and caring for her was the hardest thing I ever had to do, with no support from my family.  It hurt a lot and I imagine I lashed out at them in anger.  But when I look back, my family was never there for me, they never had my back.  I told my brother in law not that long ago that I was the black sheep of the family and I was. I have a lot of hurt still I guess.  So unusual, I know, pain and disfunction in a family, how novel:)