What's on your Saturday menu?

I wish I knew how to convince your MIL that she would be so much happier in a place where she is not a burden to you and your husband. I did a lot of downsizing and went from a traditional home to a one level condo, I feel free and happy that I do not have to depend on others. There was an old mentality that you raise children and take care of them when you are young and they take care of you when you are old.

When I spend time with my family, I want it to be enjoyable time for everyone. Look into people, programs, and organizations that could provide care for her when both of you travel together. I would not let her rob you of this time in your life when you both have the health and means to do things together.

Enjoy your trip to Chicago.

Today DD, her friend and I drove up to the ski hill, ride the ski lift to the top, found some huckleberries to pick, then rode back down the ski lift. It was fun. We picked maybe a quart of berries altogether. It is time consuming but I found it meditative. The weather cooperates as it was low 80s. We have a bunch of wildfires around our city so it is pretty Smokey but luckily at the hill it was clear. We went to lunch after. I was super linked since it was about 6.5 hours since I had eaten. The restaurant we selected we had been to before. Granted they were very busy when we first got there but seriously. We ordered 2 salads, order of French fries and the girls got milk shakes-so it shouldn't have taken 50 minutes to get our food. Especially when a lady sat down at the table next to us and received her salad in 5 minutes. Ugh, I was not happy.

I have slept poorly last 2 nights. I fall asleep then wake up around 2:30-3 am. I could not fall back asleep yesterday then this morning I was up for about 2.5 hours before I fell back asleep but woke around 6. I am tired. I know Mel- you have it worse and I feel bad for you because it sucks.

QOTD: I have nothing.

Hope you sleep better tonight! It's foreign to me that others can not wake up all night.

Your trip sounds fun. Not sure I've had huckleberries. I'm sure they'd make some kind of great cobbler or berry dish. When I was little we lived near whole fields of blackberries and would spend days out picking them and getting pretty scratched up in the process. It was always rewarding to have a treat cooked from the "harvest", though!

Huckleberries seem to be specific to the Pacific Northwest. They grow in higher altitudes with cooler weather patterns. They are somewhat similar to blueberries in appearance and taste.

I have some raspberry, blackberry and strawberry bushes. I had a poor crop this year since I transplanted and culled the plants due to overgrowth.

They are native here as well but I think we are the far edge