Memoirs

My life seems to be a roller coaster ride through a three ring circus!
Not complaining but lovin’ it! And, that is my excuse for being unable
to add to my blog. I have decided that since this is the last day in
May, I will get a good summer start and enter some thoughts. Often, in
my life, what seems to be a lemon experience ends up being a wonderful
opportunity to make lemonade. One recent example is the weeks of rain
we have had in northeast Ohio. In fact, seems like we have had months
of rain. Not steady but in May many days of rain followed by sunshine
or sunshine followed by rain. Though many people dislike rain, I have
always loved it. It seems so soothing and also cleansing as it keeps
us from dashing madly to and fro and gives us an opportunity to
meditate and rebuild our spirits. Even the thunder storms show the
power and grandeur of God especially when lightning streaks across the
night sky.
All of this rain has actually been a blessing to me. My daughter
Yvonne and my son Wes surprised me with a Mother’s Day gift of two
apple trees!! I had been buying apples to toss across my back yard and
watch the deer dining on them without buying apples. My neighbor,
Marilyn, has an apple tree that the deer love and I often envied her.
Well, with my own trees, I will be able to enjoy the deer, too. Yvonne
preferred a Cinnamon Spice apple tree but left the decision up to me.
When Wes heard that she planned to buy a tree, he said he would send
money if she would buy one for me from him! I agreed the Cinnamon
Spice sounds intriguing and I love Honey Crisp so the day before
Mother’s Day, Yvonne said she wanted to go somewhere with me, and she
drove my car (a CRV with lots of room to carry stuff) to Breezewood
Gardens in Bainbridge. There I picked out the trees that I liked and
they loaded them in my car. My neighbor is contracted to mow my lawn
and he volunteered to plant them! Well, it rained and rained and
rained which delayed the planting but also made it unnecessary for me
to water the trees in their pots! The sunshine was welcome and that
helped to keep them healthy. Eric was away one week and his wife said
she would do it but the rain made that impossible so Eric came over
this morning and very quickly planted them on the first terrace behind
the house where we had marked where we thought they would grow best
and where not only the deer but I could access the apples. He did a
great job and I am so grateful to have such loving, caring people in
my life.

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.

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. (more…)

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. (more…)

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. (more…)

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! (more…)

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. (more…)

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. (more…)

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. (more…)

It is always fun to be with my granddaughter, Claire, great-grandson, Malik and great granddaughter, Leila.  They go to a wonderful school where their mother and uncle went.  In fact, Mr. Dodge, not only still teaches but was there when my granddaughter, Claire and grandson, Matt went to school.  They have a lovely practice of allowing family to have lunch with their children so Leila asked Wes, Deb and me to join her for lunch.   She buys her lunch but Deb packed cheese and crackers, bit of cold tempeh, apples and grapes and ice tea for us.  Leila brought a girl friend to eat with us and we had a lovely time.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Quiet day.

Grandson-in-law, Shaheed dropped by to say hello and we had a really nice visit.   In the evening, we had a nice dinner at home and then watched movie:  Sunshine Cleaners.   In the past, often ate dinner while watching movie.  Good thing we did not do that tonight as this was about a couple of girls who started a cleaning business and cleaned crime scenes!   Some pretty graphic scenes!