Sweet Summertime....

 Beautiful puffy white clouds in a sky of blue. That is summer to me. We are getting ready for the first day of the summer season  and have had some 80 and 90 degree days. Hoping that doesn't mean the dog days of summer will be even hotter.  The big rains and these hot days have really made the crops grow around here.

I like to take a few short drives on nice days and think about my life. I have been joining a couple ladies who have lost their husbands the past year. I grew up in the same neighborhood with Pat and Rita. They are sisters. We go to the American Legion to play bingo, where the prize is money.  And  4-H bingo, where the prizes are decorating things, and cleaning products.  We also go to a community center to listen to a group of  fellows play music. I  have truly enjoyed that. Of course it takes me back in time to when my parents listened to country music.  I was amazed I even knew the words to most of those old songs.  I know my parents would be laughing , because my siblings and I wanted to listen to Rock and Roll  all the time.

 I have done a lot of yard work. Doing the mulching with bags, that are 33% larger than normal...and wet, because the hardware store has it stacked outside, is very hard work. I don't mind telling you , I do not have the strength I need. So if is a struggle to get the mulch to the right spots.  I won't tackle that job again. 

   I think of so many of you. You are in my daily prayers, to have good health and be safe. I am going to ask a favor of you. Please tell your loved ones , you love them. Hold them close. Get videos and voice recordings. Life is short...spread love and kindness. XO
 

Spring Is Here....

 My pictures are from the past. Spring supplies and decor from Horton's in town. I have some fake tulips I keep out all year round in my house. I just move them here and there. 

Butterflies are not real here, but I love them. I am ready to spot real ones. I will see if my daughter will take me to the butterfly building at a little petting zoo near her.

 It's March and already half gone. This little beauty , granddaughter Savannah, was born in March and will be twenty two years old. I remember the day she was born, we had a bad snow and saw cars off the road on our way to the hospital. Time has gone so quickly. She has grown and has her own place now. My daughter has that empty nest heartache. We want our children to grow up and get their own lives, but the big quiet in your house makes for a longing to wish our children small once more. 

    I have been doing a few news things ...like going to bingo with friends. Union lunches. Promised a friend I would go listen to some oldsters play music one day. I find I am not good at sitting still at times. LOL  Oh it's almost yard season. Planting flowers, spraying bug spray around the outside and good ole mowing. Plus I will stain the deck this year. Do you think retirement sounds somewhat like working ?

   Take care all of you. Stay safe, XO
 

Spring Is Near....

 Our weather has been so high , 67 degrees, and then back down to freezing, in the same week's span. There's starts of green growth coming up and it's still February. Got my taxes done  this past week. Actually will get a few dollars back from State. That's like hitting the lottery. :):)

 A full moon too. Well totally full this evening. I've been loving the sunny days. Never go anywhere at night anymore.  It's rare if I do.

  Caught a sunset on a late drive. But was back home before dark. Not much going on at this time.  Tomorrow will be my first great grandchild's birthday.  She has some fancy cookies for her classmates to help celebrate. Layla is one of those children that seem old before their time. I always say, she is an old lady in a kid suit. I think I was one of those myself.

    My son in law just spent 4 days in the hospital with pneumonia. He just had it two weeks ago, but he needed a longer dosage of antibiotics, ran out and had a set back. Oh that worries me. I have four daughters and their husbands are my boys. Love them all.

   This is a short and boring post, thought I better do one so you know I am still around. Take good care of each other and hold your loved ones close. And "come on springtime!" XO

     
 

What I Did....

I had 4 Christmas gatherings.  I did not cook a thing. LOL. I helped with clean ups. I saw all my beautiful daughters through the holidays. One was during face time, with my daughter Kathy that moved to Washington state. I did not get to see her son and his family. He was the only grandson I did not get to hug. I hugged all my grandkids and all my great grands, but Bennie ( he lives in Seattle, along with his mommy and daddy, and g,ma Kathy) 

  I even snuggled and played with my newest great grandson, Layne. He is 6 months old already. Just about all the new was sniffed off by the time I held him. You grandmothers know what I mean. :):)

We have been blessed with a decent winter this year ....so far. I did clear the driveway and front walks on Saturday. Then it rain the next round and melted all the snow. A good report from my dentist in December.  Saw my dr. yesterday and had labs done. Good report from my dr.  His office called today and gave me a good report from the labs.  Hot dog, I am good to go for another year.

    Truly, I am blessed with a wonderful loving family and basic good health. I never take either for granted. My job is staying healthy and believe me it's full time job at my age.  Heck no, I am not telling you how many years that is. I told my neighbor, cause he flat out asked...and as I was saying it , it sounded impossible to be saying it out loud. LOL   But I will tell you what he said. He said OMG, I am 10 years younger than you and you work harder than anyone around here.  That work keeps me going. At least that is what I keep telling myself when I ache all over. 

  Hope all of you had a great holiday and I am praying we all have a good year. XO
 

Wishing All A Wonder Christmas.

Here it is a week into Dec.  Time just seems to be going faster each month.  I have two tiny trees for decoration this year. Can not make myself do much else. I will display any cards I receive. I never go shopping at the stores for anything but household supplies and food.  Gee, at times my life is a total snooze. LOL

 Here are Santa and his wife in the old car in a town north of here. This is an old picture. I will miss my daughter Kathy taking me to see lights, as she moved to Seattle.  Saying that takes me back in time. Our mother used to pile us in the car and drive around looking at lights .  We never had very much, but mom let us enjoy the sights around town. 

   A couple times Salvation Army brought us some toys. Now I look into a playroom at my daughter's. There's more toys in that room than all eleven of  us saw in our lives growing up. I know none of my grandkids or great grandkids will ever be in want of something to play .  One thing I love about my daughters and their families, they pass things along to the next in line.

  I try to stay busy. I do go to brunch and lunch every now and then. My best times are with family. I pray all of you are well and  have time with your families this holiday. Hold each other tight . XO

  

 

October A Busy Month.....

 Here are some old sunsets and a sunrise from the days I lived in the country.  You can not get this in town.

 I miss sitting on the porch and seeing the horizon.  It's all so different now. In town your sunsets are on rooftops. Just not the same great views.

 In this shot the corn is still standing. It's been harvested in that field already.  I some times take a drive to just enjoy views I can no long see.

 Today we gathered at my oldest daughter's house for all the birthdays and Angie and Mark's anniversary.  It was a celebration for Ricky, Sierra, and Finnlee's birthdays. Finn is 4 and he and his cousins Leo 6 and Meadow 3,found a caterpillar and took turns holding it. They seemed  be enjoying it. I just loved the whole day. I pitched baseballs to the boys , so they could practice swinging the bat. The weather was nice and warm, but it was a bit windy. Have to love these pretty days. Being with family made it perfect. Hope all of you had a great day too. XO
 

Time Is Passing .....

 Look it's time for mums. I still have one. There were two at the end of the front walk. I tried to keep mowing around them and just got too close as they were growing and ran over one.  I dug the other up and put it in one of the flowerbeds.  I had great hopes of having so much done before winter. But honestly at the rate I am going , only a small amount of my to do list will get done. 

   I hoed some tight spots for weeds today. Then mowed because the forecast calls for rain tonight and tomorrow. Then I went to the store for cleaning supplies and some food items. Got home and sat down and my feet were hurting. That's it, tomorrow will have to be a slower day.

    

 This past weekend was our Pork Festival. I did not get invited to go and just did not want to go alone. I think I must have saved some money, my daughter said the food items were pricey. She drove the golf cart to town and got tenderloins for their supper. 

   I was invited to their house for brunch  and visiting with my granddaughter from Cincinnati. It is amazing how fast the g.grands are growing. Leo is in kindergarten and Meadow is in pre-school. Meadow seemed to have taken a long time to grow her hair and now it is long enough to fix in cute little girl styles.  That brings back so many memories for me. With four girls I did many a hair-do.

  The weather is starting to cool down some. I am glad it's not in the high 90's. Take care friends and stay safe. XO