Memoirs

It does not seem possible that I have been home from Florida for a month!  It also amazes me that the Fourth of July holiday weekend is fast approaching!  The weather has been so lovely — seventies with light breeze during the day and down to low sixties in the evening and during the night.    So pleasant for the walks I have been taking and the cool nights are so good for sleeping!  Seems more like early spring than summer.

Because of this beautiful weather, I have been able to eat breakfast, lunch and even dinner on my front porch.   I love to sit so close to the two clumps of maple trees and watch a variety of birds flit back and forth.  I am always happy to see them drink out of the birdbath.   They have bathed in it but not lately.  I loved to watch the birds bathe in the birdbath in Wes and Deb’s yard and wish more birds liked mine.    They did not even drink from it after the last storm; when I checked, I found that the water had leaves and debris in it so I cleaned it out and gave them fresh water.  So, a few more than been drinking.

Since Monday, I have been taking short walks before breakfast, before lunch and before dinner.   At first looked upon them as necessary exercise but each day enjoy them more.  Yesterday and today saw blue birds – not the noisy  Jays but dear little blue birds.    Think a neighbor down the street has a blue bird house  in their yard.

I love this time of year when the fields have been plowed; when corn is growing;  many Amish food stands with fresh vegetables.   It is always so much fun to go to Middlefield with daughter in law, Tina and my sister, Cheryl.  We make a day of it with several stops along the way.

Of course, this month has had its usual crush of activities.   Most recently, got an e-check on my car and passed.  Yesterday took the car for an oil change and then stopped to get a tag for my license plates.    Plates not need renewing till my birthday in August but now I will not bury the reminder and forget to get on time.   Also read a whole book:  Rainwater by Sandra Brown.     It is on the list of suggested books to read before my book club (Holy Ground) meeting July 20.    I just loved it, especially the ending.    Although a lot of conflict and pain, the ending made it all worth  while.  Do not remember reading any other books written by her by there are a lot of them and I intend to read more.

Feel that I am blessed by God.   Grateful that He guided us to buying this house in this neighborhood.   I have wonderful neighbors, and the area is so beautiful and safe to walk through!

When I was in Florida, Wes helped me set up another blog and get on Facebook.  The latest excitement in my life is that with the help of Matt, Yvonne and Wes, I now have Skype!!!     Pam suggested it so Aud and I could see  one another on callsl; I got the Webcam kit at WalMart; Matt installed most of it; Yvonne helped some (we use cross loop and she can do wonders with that) and Wes guided me through my first couple of calls!!  It is amazing!!  The first call to Wes, I could see the building that is going up on his back lot — see men walking on the rafters!  I had been disappointed that the construction did not start till after I left but God must have heard my wish because I am actually watching it being built!  The second call to Wes, Deb chatted too and showed me a piece of her artwork in which she incorporated some of my writing!  I am so honored and proud to be a part of this piece.   She has been working with en caustics  which is a form of art using hot wax!  It was wonderful to watch her work and see some of the beautiful pieces she makes.  It was so much fun, too, to talk with my nephew, Kevin.   He has such a delightful sense of humor and we laughed a lot.   Hope to chat with him on Skype often.

Every day, when I awake, I thank the Good Lord for the new day of possibilities.    It is so wonderful to awake to the sunshine (or the quiet rain), stretch and treasure these golden days of life. Read the rest of this entry »

Although I miss my loved ones in Florida, I am grateful that I returned just as the hot, muggy weather moved in!   Here, in Ohio, the weather has been beautiful.  Some rain but no real storms near me.   Pleasant days and cool nights.

Still getting organized here at home and striving to keep up my blogs, Facebook, and emails!   Also to get more writing done. Read the rest of this entry »

Woke at 6:30 and packed.  Wes made breakfast which we ate on the back porch  – accompanied by Toulouse, of course.  We read the paper and I started to work on the crossword puzzle.  Deb pointed out more birds than usual were singing in the mimosa tree — I said a whole bouquet of birds.  It is hard to say goodbye. Read the rest of this entry »

This is one of the loveliest holidays I ever spent.   Wes, Deb and I awoke after a refreshing night’s sleep and Wes made a great breakfast of fried potatoes, toast and eggs.  Deb and Wes are a great team in the kitchen (and elsewhere)  as they usually each do something in preparing great meals. Read the rest of this entry »

There is a saying that time flies when you are having fun and that is sooo true!   On Tuesday, we had a quiet evening with a wonderful salmon dinner made by Wes and Deb.  Different in that maple syrup and garlic were among the ingredients that flavored it!   Terrific.  This sure is a five star bed and breakfast! Read the rest of this entry »

Deb had to work, but Wes and I had a lot of quality time together.  Was able to check my Facebook and pleasantly surprised to find many people want to be Facebook friends with me.   Especially pleased that when I encouraged Pam Kelley to be a friend, she showed my picture and comment to her mom,  Aud, who is a very dear cousin visiting Pam in Alaska.  Aud asked her to comment on my picture where I am wearing a tie die shirt that says: Let me Tell You a Story.  Aud said she would like me to tell her one.   This is wonderful to be able to communicate this way.  Bless Wes. Read the rest of this entry »

Perhaps because I am having so much fun being with my loved ones in Florida, I think about all of the fun that can be found in life.  Sometimes it comes to us as a surprise, but we can look for it as well.

It was fun to ride to the airport with my youngest son, Matt whose sense of humor always brightens my days.   I enjoyed the plane trip down, and it was fun to be met by my oldest son, Wes who also has a great sense of humor.   The warm welcome by my daughter-in-love, Deb, confirmed that this would be a wonderful visit.   It is always fun to be with them and also to spend time with my granddaughter, Claire, her husband, Shaheed and my great grandchildren – Malik who is eleven and Leila who is nine.   A rare treat is for Wes, Deb and me to have lunch with Leila and her friends at school. Read the rest of this entry »

There has been a whole week of adventures:  Quiet evening at home on Monday but watching Julie:Julia.  Especially meaningful as Wes has been encouraging my writing career and my blogging; ordering Chinese carry out on Wednesday and enjoying it with Claire here.   Pizza and wine and watching Blind Side on Thursday (courtesy of Netflix),  Wes and I visit to farm that belongs to an adult student of Wes – she has one donkey, two horses and three goats and 80 a lovely remodeled farm house on 80 acres.   We walked through her house and drove around her property – on way back to the house stopped at a blackberry patch and we all picked some and promptly ate them (she gave me hers too.) Wes fixed lunch for him and me and went to a meeting and shopping.  I rested, read and did some dishes before Wes and Deb got home around 5:00.  Met couple of friends for dinner at Jones Restaurant; watched lightening and then rain, wind and hail as we ate.   The storm ended before we left.  Lovely evening after a full day so we were all in bed by 9:30. Read the rest of this entry »

This is the beginning of the Writers’ Storytelling weekend.   It began with a reception at one of the school halls and they had a lovely buffet of small sandwiches, veggies, desserts, etc. and almost a small bar.   We spent a lot of time with a man from Sarasota who had graduated from the University of Florida but we also walked around and mingled with others.  Afterward the University had lists of a few Gainesville restaurants where the participants could continue conversations if they wished.   Wes took me to the Bistro (have been there before and thoroughly enjoy it) and our table was very close to one where a young man, his young wife and 11 month old son, Hans, sat.  We talked all through dinner and it was very enjoyable.  Two of the waitresses had been Wes’ students and both wanted to wait on us.   I have met and like Andy, a young man who works with Claire and did work with Wes.  He has decided to take the summer off and go on a bike trip along the West Coast with a friend of his.  To celebrate this, they met friends at a variety of restaurants;    Wes and I joined the group, including Claire, at  Common Grounds, another interesting restaurant and that was fun too!  Of course, regaled Deb with our adventures when we got back. Read the rest of this entry »