Happy Anniversary!

April 29th is a special day - it's J &T's anniversary! I don't believe we've had a prettier bride in the family. (Or groom, haha) It seems like such a short time ago. They had the ceremony under a gazebo in a pretty park, and it was so beautiful.

They had a perfect day to start their lives together. I think it was 22 years ago, but it may have been 23, I'm a bit shaky about dates anymore. I'm sure they will remind me. Haha.

 Together they made a beautiful family!

Happy Anniversary, kids. Wishing you many, many happy years ahead!

Looking Back

I dug out my old home movies and did some screen shots. Do DVDs degrade? I thought these pictures were better than they are. The screen shots didn't even need to be made smaller and they are so fuzzy. I can't imagine blowing them up on the big TV! Well, for your viewing (chuckling, heckling, booing) pleasure I have some for you. Year is unknown - '95 or '96? I'm just not sure.

Hair, no gray, I hardly know the guy.

Saying, "Cheese."

Yoda said, "Meow."

Some of the grand-kids - Christmas Dinner. I think one was sleeping, one was at his daddy's, and one was in trouble.

Sons #2 & #3 goofing around, yes, their hair is long.

Rough on the way home from an Arkansas trip.

This and That

Back to the drawing board - At least everything is sorted. I have decided that the book would be too floppy with the larger pages and multiple pic on each page. I will have to make it smaller and pay the $ for more pages. 

You know, it could be interesting if your computer spit out a 'ticket' every day as to how many hours were spent on various venues and how many on actual work.

The wind was so strong yesterday, one of the trees across the road lost about a quarter of its height.

My son J gave me a 'Make-over' the other day - for those who didn't see it on Fb - here it is. I'll have to get hold of his program and swap out some of their baby faces with them now.

He looks just like me, LOL!

 We have a squirrel again. He opened up the top of the feeder to help himself. Smart little fellow!

I was so tired yesterday (sans nap) that I fell asleep around 9:00. I woke up at 4:00, the stars were shining brightly. Went back to bed and slept until 7:00. Maybe I won't need a nap today.

Have a good one!

I See Dead People ...

I have been going through the few photographs I have, in an attempt to make a family representation for those coming behind me. I have 23 actual photographs, thanks to my cousins Janet and Suzie. Many of the pictures I have are shots of photographs that I took on a trip to Minnesota about 7, maybe 8 years ago. I took the shots in a hurry, as there were so many of them and so little time to do it. In my hurry, they didn't all turn out as well as I hoped. The photographs were at another cousin's home.

I've tried to take pictures of the actual, physical photographs that I have. (Like the one of my mom and dad in the lower left hand of the collage.) About the only way I can get a better shot (if at all) is to buy a copy stand for my camera. After pricing them, I have decided a slightly imperfect copy will have to do. After all, the shots that I took of my cousin's aren't all that bad.

While putting the collage together, I realized that in the upper left picture, only 5 of the youngsters are still alive - I guess. On the right hand side, in the middle, I believe the youngest of the little boys are still around - I would hope, but maybe not. As a child, I knew most of these people. My children really don't have a clue who they are. Oh, I'm sure they can point out a few, but they never really met very many, and my youngest none at all.

Am I wasting my time trying to save these for them? 

The Easter Lady

A lot of people have friends for years and years. Today, I am going to talk about my girlfriend of 55 years, Ruth.

Why Ruth and I are friends is beyond me, she's trim, athletic, very busy, very involved with her family and friends, and nothing like me at all. (Who is a couch potato, pretty much, anymore) She runs, yeah, like races. She bikes - miles. She walks - miles. Does the boy scout thing even though she's a year younger than I am. She even volunteers her time at the local food shelf. I guess you could say she is the woman I would like to be if only I had it in me.

I bring this up because it's Easter. Every year, Ruth makes dozens and dozens of eggs for a neighborhood egg hunt - in her yard. She also fills plastic eggs with candy and hides them too. Some plain boiled eggs stay in her kitchen for anyone to dye their own personal egg. She bakes fresh bread for her guests to enjoy as well. Her kitchen is open to one and all. 

Some of her eggs for this year.

 Somewhere there are photos of her in a bunny suit, if I can locate I will add it. She doesn't wear it anymore, and has someone else play the Easter Bunny. (But she was darn cute in it!)

You can understand why I love this lady, as a sister, friend, confidant. Who wouldn't? When we talk every week or two, we talk for hours until the battery is going to die. If I am on the phone and laughing, I'm talking to Ruth.

Y'all have a great weekend!

Lighten up?

Halloween Spook House? Nope, right in the front yard and close to an elementary school where children walk, or are driven to and from every day. Controversial? You bet! The comments to the news postings are pretty much split on this subject. One group of people say it's too much, too graphic, too hard on the children that see it. Another group of people say these folks are within their rights, name calling the nay-sayers, and they should grow a pair. I didn't read all the comments, but one person actually said screw the kids. I will say that it sounded like a lot of the comments for the yard art were from teenagers and non-parents, though not all. I will say that most of the commenters that think it's great, cannot spell and use a potty mouth.

Somehow, in light of all the events happening in the news, I don't think it is the wisest move to have something like this on display in your yard for over three weeks. That is just my opinion. I say they are well done, although not appropriate where little kids will see on a daily basis. Would be great in a spook house or for a backyard party. 

For those who think this display is all fun and after all this is Halloween and we should suck it up - please tell me how a small child is supposed to UNSEE THIS?

 

Dear Readers,

I know it has been a while. There's not much to tell.

I apologize to those in parched places, but we had a gully washer here this afternoon. If I could have sent it your way, believe me, I would have. The thunderstorm that came first was - hmm - shocking almost? I think I must be losing it, but as lightning hit nearby, I swear that I saw a bright red ball of light shoot through the window and headed for Jill. LOUD thunder with that one. I heard it as I saw it pass through the room. It was like one of those laser lights, you know? Shock collars were taken off immediately. The storm had to be right overhead. A few minutes later, Kablam, my computer screamed, it was bright white outside in the flash. DH said it looked like it hit between the oaks. We will examine tomorrow. Scared all of us, not just the dogs.

Picture is of my number 3 son - J. He was here last weekend, cannot remember why. I took a picture of him and his mustache. I think it looks pretty good! (Not that I would want one, I would probably slap myself silly in my sleep, thinking it was a bug or spider on my cheek.)

My presence is getting thin on the web. FB is so full of hate and politics. Everyone has an agenda. Meh.

I am a lousy writer, and have no business even trying, but I am at it again. The story may not make sense, but then again, few will ever see. It keeps me out of trouble. I ordered some wrist things and they help with the pain. I slept through, all night, last night. First time in months.

Sparrow Hall is looking pretty rough. The rosy house finches have all but abandoned me. I still have lots of sparrows and doves. I suppose I will see more variety again as fall nears. That won't be long, I think. The redheaded woodpecker was here in Sparrow Hall the other day for a look-see. I'm not fast enough to get the shots I want. Bleep.
Take care of yourselves!

Letter From Home 07/12/13

It has been a week! 

I did get most of my numbers into the new phone. It is amazing and I love it! If it is one of those irritating 'non-calls' the pleasant female voice just says, "Call from" and then a string of numbers. I have the ring set on 7 rings, they usually hang up before it goes that long. The ring is not unpleasant or jarring. I am now a happy camper.

Chiggers are a nearly invisible parasite or bug that love tight warm places on our bodies. A search will give you more info. They are not fun and really itch.

Someone I know, is getting his wish for a natural yard. DH has no time to mow it, but it is just thick and only some yellow spindly flowers are growing out there. Not glamorous. DH said that if someone comes by with an offer to mow it that I should have them do it. Yah, like that is going to happen out here in the boonies. More likely, I need to keep the shotgun handy because the place looks deserted.

I finally got my 'Premium' status on Lincoln Avenue. I heard that it was harder now. Hmm. I lack a cover for 'Bad Things' and a blurb, it is ready to send as soon as I have that. Cannot put pretty flowers on that cover... My brain is getting overworked. I am proofing the last one, sigh... Then I will be finished with 'Julia'. I hate to see it end. I was my goal - to get them all out there before my mushy brain cells gave up the ghost entirely. I hope I can do that.

Lastly, my grandson told me he has joined the marines. He will do training throughout his senior year and go in when he graduates. I hope everything goes well for him, there is nothing more that I can say. I get too emotional...

Up and running!

Son installing programs - no mouse. I have to get a new mouse!

I believe he's thinking "this blows my warm, sunny Sunday!"

Why do all my children make faces at me when I am taking a pic?

Bless him, he spent six hours making the new one exactly like my old one, without benefit of a mouse. He didn't get to clean out his car or goof off on his only day off. Sorry Son! (I just noticed the gray in your beard, I'm not helping much, am I?) Thank you. I love you!!!

As Time Goes By

Growing up and growing old and it's all still good.

Remember When?

Bittersweet memories of "Wow, look at that truck!" and "What's that guy doing?" come to mind. I miss that.