WRONG DATE

This is an embarrassing post, but here goes!! Tech dad and I were looking forward to going to this wedding tonight-I even co-hosted a shower for the bride!! We got dressed-I even got a pedicure. We centered our day around this, not doing too much just getting ready for our trip next weekend including getting fireworks for the grandkids.
We drove up to the church and parked in the parking lot. Cars came in and people got out--dad and I said to each other-maybe we overdressed!! People had tennis shoes and casual clothes on and were walking toward the church. Finally we said maybe there are 2 events going on. A very nice lady said it was a social gathering for a study group. I asked if there was another Methodist church in Collierville--she said yes on the square--we drove over there--no one there. I called my friend and she said the wedding was on Friday Night!!!!!!!! She thought we were out of town. Well what to do-- all dressed up and no place to go so dad said let's go see a movie--guess what the name was--Get Smart!! That will teach me to read more closely next time!! I am going to write the bride and tell her this story--that will be on of the funny things that happened at their wedding......I did feel better when my friend said they had done the same thing once also. Cie le vie!!

Jury Time

This last week was my civic duty week...it was not an option, but I managed without too much trauma. My biggest trauma was driving downtown each day. We made some runs and I decided to go the streets instead of the interstate!!
It was really a learning experience-it is amazing that people from all walks of life can be put together and listen and attempt to determine the believability of the witnesses. It really does make one appreciate our great country. One can have a jury trial even if they are a habitual criminal. I also realized how important it is to have a fair and wise judge--may God give us more like the one that did our trial. Now back to work this week. We are so blessed with a mild winter when we hear of the bad winter in the North. Have a good week everyone.

A Wild Night

Last night was definatly one of the scariest nights I have had in a while. As you probably know tornadoes hit the midsouth last night. They did extensive damage very close to us. In the middle of all of the weather announcements on tv, the cat jumped straight up in the air, looked at me-at that same time my ears hurt!! We then went into the coat closet!! You should have seen the look Princess gave me-something like " have you lost your mind-standing in this closet with a flashlight and a transistor radio"? When my ears stopped hurting, we came out and saw the tornado had touched down south of us and then dropped down just north of us..All of this to say it is the providence of God to keep us or to take us Home to Him... Anyway tech dad managed to be away in Kentucky--the nerve of him!!!

Tribute

Today would have been my father's 91st birthday if he were still on this earth. I was contemplating his life as I knew him, and am today so thankful for the privledge of being in a home rich in the joy of the Lord. He made each day a special adventure and I felt like I was a big help to him but I probably got in the way more than anything. I have fond memories of going to town to get things for the farm, stopping by the filling station--picking out my cold bottle of pop out of the cooler and also a nickel candy bar. He said "don't tell mom"!! We always took longer than my mom thought we should because daddy always talked to everyone he met and sometimes they would give me a stick of gum or hard candy!! We sometimes would visit my great Aunts who were always glad to visit and really were not in any hurry. Sometimes I long for the time when society seemed to visit each other more. We always visited people on a schedule about once every 6 months or so and they would come to our house on the next visit. People would stay for about 2-3 hours and there would always be a lunch!! Now I can hardly get meals for us here at home!! Anyway enough of remembering--but I do have the great hope of seeing him again one day!! I know he would be proud to meet all of his grandchildrens' spouses and the great grand children some day!! Happy Birthday Daddy til we see you again!!

Cold Weather

It gets about this time of the year and I am reminded how cold it used to be when we lived in Wis. My mother still lives up there and she says this year so far they have had 54 inches of snow. Now not only have they had a tremendous amount of snow--they are having the wonderful bone chilling cold of 20+ below zero!! Contrast that with weather advisories of possible sleet with continuous running tickers of cancellations and 35 degrees!! I guess that is part of the reason we moved south 12 years ago!! It is lonely without the extended family but it really does have other benefits and we have adjusted pretty well. Today is catch up day and try to get dh well --he has been home with a terrible cold I hope I don't get!! Have a good weekend everyone.....

New post

Ok all you blog fairies--I guess I'll humor you. I hope someday your kids will hijack your blog just like you hijacked mine. Strangely enough I think they will be even more capable of computer crime than you all. We do have some very interesting grandchildren coming up!!
Nothing new here--just going to work, church, trying to stay warm, and trying to keep the cat happy. Now I don't think that is possible but we bought the furminator--after using it on her we had a big pile on the floor. Dad felt sorry for her and stopped before we should have so we will do it more today. Also today I am going to a chef's small restaurant for lunch with my coworkers to celebrate one of their birthdays. Dad and I also plan to see" The Bucket List" this afternoon. Have a good weekend you all........

my beloved

blog fairy

This is the blog fairy. Due to your lack of posting, your blog is being hijacked.

Favorite sayings

We have been home a week from our Thanksgiving gathering--my favorite pastime is of course to see the grandchildren--not because I love them more but they change so much that I can hardly keep up with them!! Em is 6, Mad 4 and Hannah 2. They can surely liven up the place. Em had the tooth fairy visit on Thanksgiving--she got 10 dollars only because it was a holiday--then she saw 20 dollar bills in my billfold and asked me if she could trade a 5 for my 20!!! Gram had to inform her that if she gave her 20 she had to give Mad and Hannah 20 dollars also!! She also said-"now Gram", "can you send me a golden retriever puppy up to Chicago for our real Christmas--also send up a fence and a doghouse--please make sure the doghouse is big enough to hold the puppy as it grows!!" Ireally don't know where she thinks I work--obviously somewhere different than I do! Madison is not going to be outdone--she sings and dances and is in quite the pretend world--she perhaps will be our entertainer!! She wants a princess dressing table for her real christmas!! Hannah talks so much and so clear-it is fun to hear her talk--her mommy was showing her some flashcards of bible characters--she saw Abraham and Sara and said--"Grandma's friends!!" Great gram thought it was about her but I am her gram so that put me in my place chronologically!! Aunt Sara entertained the girls by doing cartwheel and headstands--it did get a little crazy when uncle j joined the group--it is hard on your body when you do all that kid stuff!! Thank you all for a wonderful time and great memories may you all have a great Christmas with your families!!

Beano for Cats

Last Saturday we took out some friends out for dinner--we had Pei Wei--dad and I shared honey seared chicken. It had been a while since I ate something that was greasy and it gave me gas at about 4 in the morning. I got up and took beano--put the container back in my purse. Upon rising we saw the beano bottle on the floor and 3 tablets 1/2 gone!! It seems that princess had indigestion also!! I must have not put the lid on all the way! I just couldn't believe that a cat would like beano pills-they must be made with a food source!

back for now

I have to post or risk being hijacked!! So here goes--we had a working weekend--painted the eaves on the garage (in the backyard) then cleaned the house and rented a movie. Sunday we went to church, took dad's rental car back and then came back and rested. It was a good thing as today was one of the busiest days we have had at work for several weeks. Anyway--yesterday afternoon tech dad turned on the tv and saw the PGA tour --it so happened that the golfer that was currently in first place was Steve Stricker and his caddy is my cousin!! So we enjoyed watching them and he and Chiou battled it out and Steve ended up winning the tournament and is in the playoffs for the fedex cup with a prize of 10 million dollars. I really didn't understand much about the rules of golf until T. came down here for a tournament and explained how the process of being in the money works and how they decide who can play at the tournaments!! It is because I am so ignorant about sports that I found it quite fascinating, I guess. Anyway we wish them well and hope everyone has a good week!!

Lazy Weekend

Today tech dad and I did the lawn early and about 11 o'clock took the bike out and went to Miss. he had a sneaky plan!! We took our bike to the Honda dealers and test drove a Honda Gold Wing--now I have heard about those things for years but I had no idea how comfortable the ride could be!!--honestly it rode like a dream!! I could actually fall asleep on the back of that thing!! Then we came back and went to a consignment sale at the agricenter. I got 2 skirts, 2 pairs of shoes. and 2 capris--I may go back tomorrow as they are 50% off so we will see what's left. I did pretty good and they really had some cute stuff there--then we got a movie--Dream Girls--it was good--we actually remembered the time when it occured so we truely enjoyed it. I have much to do yet as we need to get ready to go to the wedding next weekend in S. Carolina. Have a good Sunday everyone!!

No Cooking

Tech Dad is gone to Penn. so I decided that I would take a break and not cook --my first break was tonight-- I had a pedicure--a gift from him for mother's day. Tomorrow the girls from work are taking me out for my birthday early--we are going to the Deli Mexicana. Then Thurs I am meeting a friend from SS class for dinner. So it pretty much sounds like I am lazy and not accomplishing much,but it feels good!! I also went shopping tonight for a dress for the wedding and pretty much struck out!! It is such a chore to shop--I wish they would bring the dresses to me but unfortunately I am not that rich!! Oh well!! Cie la Vie! Have a good night everyone!

Back to the 60's

Last evening tech dad and I went to a play--it was "The Odd Couple". Not only was it funny, it took us back to the 60's!! The two girls that came in were something else--I thought we were in a time warp. They were complete with turquoise shoes, hot pink shoes, 60's sheath dresses complete with matching headbands!! The best part was it was free--I went to get my hair cut and my stylist had 2 extra tickets--she asked if we would like them and I said "sure"! It was a fun night after a stressful week and we also plan to go and see Alison Kraus and the Union Station tonight!! We go for weeks and don't do anything and then we do a bunch all at once!! Dad loves the dobro player so it is his Father's Day treat.

Saying Goodbye

Last night was a difficult night as we went to a visitation for a friend who put forth an incredible fight for her life but breast cancer proved to be the mortal enemy. She only took chemo so long for the sake of her children (she had 2 at home 11 and 15). I know she is with her Heavenly Father and seeing her father up there but her family down here will miss her fiercely. Four years ago we had a table group of 5 couples that became unusually close ; now two of those ladies are with Jesus. We are only promised this breath, so we need to just put ourselves in His hands.
On a lighter note we also celebrate a special day--Happy Birthday-CRT--we wish you a great day and great year. We are blessed to have you in our family--God was so good to give our children mates that love Him and we are so grateful..

Petvax

Today we took Princess to Petvax for her vaccinations and she did not like the trip-- she meowed the whole time!! We cleaned the garage and even spray painted our chandelier the color of hammered bronze. I am surprised how good it looked and what a difference color makes!! Sounds like a scattered day but it was good to not rush and just putter around. We need to water again as the ground is so dry. But flowers are looking good and it is nice to have them blooming, it is so heartening to look at the flowers.. I have to work on Monday so it is pretty much a normal weekend for me. Dad says he may take out the bike on Monday!! It is fine with me, I just wish he had someone to ride with but he likes to ride anyway even by himself. Have a nice weekend everyone!

Mother's Day

Today is always a special day--even when I was a child I have special memories of this day...I would always remind my dad not to forget mother's day. He always at least would get her a card and sometimes we would get her a dish or perfume..He always treated her so grand it was such a great legacy for future generations. Now my mom is alone and I am sorry that I live so far from her but we make the best of it and I call her twice a day..I didn't know what to send her for mother's day so I bought her a dress with a necklace. Now if you have looked at dresses lately there are not many that go up to the neck!!! When you are 86 you do not want your dresses below the base of the neck--well this one was about 1" below so I bought the necklace to cover. now what does she do--she takes it up to her sister's and tries it on for her and she did get her approval!!!! I am so glad so she will wear it now I hope....
Now to the family--I so much appreciate the calls, you never outgrow the skip in your heart when your child calls you--you that are young parents will know what I am talking about someday!! I am grateful to the Lord that all of my children married great spouses and the fun part is watching them grow towards each other and start the cycle all over again by becoming parents--or in my daughter's case (future parents) should the Lord bless their marriage some day with a little one. So thank you "family"--I do not want to take life for granted--each day is a gift from the Lord and I am proud to be your mom, "mom" to the spouses and gram to each of our special grandchildren....Til later

new yard

blue summer wave torenia
















pretty red flowers
















front makeover- no more smothering shrubs!
















back paradise
















from the street


just so you know--this is only happening when i have someone here to help me-- ie lauren or cheryl or sara!!! anyway--this is a start of the new yard....

work,work,work

Sooner or later we should be done with all of our projects--tech dad and j went to the storage place to take some furniture over--while they were test driving trucks just for fun. Lauren and I went to a nursery to pick out some plants. We were joined by the guys only because they were over there beside the place. We bought some purslane. begonias,tenorias,lantanas and a new red plant that seems like a cross between a petunia and a -portulaca. After about 5 hours of digging and planting we declared it done and went out to eat Mexican. It was good and Hannah as usual ate her food with gusto!! Tomorrow is Sunday and I sure hope it is a lighter day than t0day--we do need our day of rest!! til later.....

advancing age,amish,and an amazingly fast trip

Well I made it to wisconsin in a whirlwind trip--we drove 13 hours on a week ago friday, got to wis grandma's --stayed overnight --went on a 5 hour trip to a wedding--then back home that same night!!! We all enjoyed the fun wedding of ben and bekah. The rest of the week sort of slowed down after that except that wis grandma and I did something every day...We started out our week arguing over the big bank behind the house--it is very steep and has crown vetch, wild phlox and berry canes --I wanted to hire two mennonite children--ages 12 and 15--she said she could do it and didn't want to do it while I was there. I didn't think she should do it by herself so I won and hired the kids and they did a great job--it took 3 of us 2 hours to do it and if she had done it by herself it would have taken her 8 hour or more--now she is so grateful that it is done!!Then one day we went to Fennimore to an amish bulk food store and bought paring knives by rada cutlery,various spices,oatmeal,flax seed and even lebenese salami--also stopped by an amish furniture store and bought Hannah a little rocker like her cousins have!! It was good to visit with old friends,relatives --allworth being without a cell phone, computer and shower for a week!!
This week wandering heart and j and Hannah bear are here and I absolutely can not believe how much she is talking now!!I love to hear her talk!!Tech dad and I treasure every minute we can spend with our grandchildren....til later