European Presbyterian peanut brittle....

Okay, this one will be short and sweet. I don't really know what I had before I went to bed last night that gave me such vivid dreams, but I had a couple of doozies!! All I can tell you from this one is that I was eating European Presbyterian peanut brittle and someone lost their emu in the field next door and two little boys were looking for it on a tricycle, but they found a skunk first!!!  'Nuf said.

These shoes are made for walking....

These are my new walking shoes. Lisa thought I needed better shoes to walk in and I'm sure she was right. My old pair were pretty worn out and these are much more supportive.

As you all know, exercise has to become part of my daily life to help combat  diabetes. Over the Christmas holidays I had lots of walking company. Cindy and I got in a quick mile on Christmas morning and then in the afternoon four of us headed out on another walk. There was Cindy, Leslie (in flip flops - where does she think she lives - Arizona??), Lisa and myself. Walking with people is much easier than walking alone. The time just seems to fly and everyone is laughing and giggling...I love it! We were on the backside of our mile and Lisa (the newcomer to this whole walking thing) says let's do another....I ain't a'scared...she says. So we did!

Then the next day, Richard came out to pick up Greg to go to the flying and field and Lisa came along. She told me on the phone not to take my walk until she got here...oh, my, have we created a monster?? So we did another two miles that day!

Sunday was Lisa's birthday and I went in to celebrate with her and Richard. She made sure to tell me to   bring my walking shoes. We did two miles that day too. Yep! She's got the bug. Every day since then, she's been out walking. She did one day by herself, but  her neighbor, Sarah, joined her the next day. So now she has an in town walking buddy. That's great.

Now Lisa calls me and asks "Have you taken your walk yet?" I laughed at her yesterday and said she was becoming the Walking Nazi!! But it's good to have someone who cares and helps me keep motivated. I do love to walk and I feel much better once I've done it, but these are still my favorite shoes...

Such a tender little creature…

After I took my walk today (are you listening, Lisa?), I was outside cleaning the birdbath and refilling the bird feeder. I noticed both hummingbird feeders were empty and decided I better get them taken care of too. After I mixed up the sugar water I stepped out on the front porch and before I could hang the feeder –there he was!!  Zoom looking at me as if to say “Hurry up, will you!”

I still had my hand on the feeder and talked softly to him and told him to go ahead and eat. And he did!!  He must have been starved. He sat there and ate and ate. He looked a little wobbly and weak.

 

 

 

He kept filling up and would fluff up and almost shook himself off the feeder once. He let me pet him!! I couldn’t believe it. I turned around and there was Nikki with her mouth hanging open.

 

 

I even had time to go inside and get the camera and he stayed there while I took his picture. He tolerated the flash and all.

He finally said he’d had enough and flew off. I hope he finds somewhere safe and warm to spend the night.

And the celebrations just keep coming…

It is such a busy time of the year. Can you tell by how long it’s been since I posted anything? We have lots of family that we’re thankful for and love to spend time with them this time of year especially. So I’ve been rather busy.

Case in point – yesterday was Lisa’s birthday. Now, should I tell you how young she is?? No, I think I shouldn’t. I’ll just let you know she’s old enough to be forgetting exactly how old she really is. She keeps adding a year!  But she was having such a fine time yesterday. She was in a festive mood and enjoyed her day to the max. We even took a two mile walk to work off this delicious slice of Black Forest Cake she had with lunch at Brother’s (awesome restaurant in Peoria – get there if you can. It’s wonderful!)

The cake was free because it was her birthday…that’s like getting a twofer….have your cake free and eat it too!! The waitresses sang to her and everything. Happy Birthday, Lisa. 

(Hint: she wasn’t born in 1962 or 1964…but right in there somewhere…ssshhh don’t tell her I told)

The Night Before Christmas…Redux

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house,

Not a dieter was happy, not even an ounce.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that  sugar-free candy soon would be there.

Nancy was nestled all snug in her bed,

While visions of Dr. Pepper danced in her head.

Greg hid the cookies, and Nikki the cake,

To keep Nancy from making a big mistake.

When from Nancy’s tummy there arose such a growl,

She sprang from her bed to look for some chow.

Away to the kitchen she flew in a flash,

Tore open some Twinkies, and hid the box in the trash.

The cream in the cake of the calorie-laden treat,

Could put inches and pounds on the dieter’s seat.

When, what to her hungry eyes came into view,

But a pumpkin pie, and a tub of cool whip too!

With golden brown crust so flaky and light,

Nancy knew in a moment it would be pure delight.

T’were more goodies to eat than she could name,

And she gobbled and munched, til she ‘bout went insane.

Now, Snickers! Now, Pay Days! Now, Hersheys and Reeses!

More, chocolate! More, sugar! More Rolos and Sweeties!

From the bottom of the sack, to deep in my core,

Now binge away! Binge away! Binge away, more!

As M&M’s through Cindy’s hands do fly,

Nancy ate quickly and passed out with a sigh…

Well…you get the idea. This was much tougher than I thought it would be. Feel free to continue and complete the story. I’m going to take an antacid and go to bed….

Merry Christmas to all, and to all

a good night!!

Happy Birthday, Nicole!!

This was written by my daughter, Nicole. She was 12 at the time. We were sending a gift to welcome Lisa's grand niece, Lila, to the world. She wanted to contribute something that she did on her own.

This one would have been from about kindergarten or the first grade…

Translation…”You are a blossom, a beautiful blossom. You and me will be a rose together.”  Wouldn’t that just melt your heart???

This one hung by my desk at the last two jobs I had…

This one would have been from second or third grade…wish I had dated them.  

Today is Nicole's 15th birthday and Greg and I thank God everyday for her. She is growing up to be a loving, tender, kind-hearted soul. She is truly a blessing and a joy...all things a child should be. 

Happy Birthday, Nicole!!!

Oh, to be a teenager again….not

This morning Nicole’s bus was running really late and to keep her and the other two kids who wait at her stop from being late for school, I offered to drive them. It was really cold out there or I don’t think the kids would have agreed. There was Nicole, her friend, Dianna, and the neighbor boy Emilio. (Please forgive me if I massacred the spelling of his name) At first he wasn’t going to accept, but when even the grade school bus had come and gone, he decided I was the lesser of two evils. He’s not fat, but he’s a big boy and I was telling Nicole to let him have the front seat, and she’s laughing because he’s violently shaking his head “no” until I turn around and look at him. I’m okay with that…he doesn’t know me. So he and Dianna pile in the back seat and Nicole is up front with me.

We head out to school and they start going on about their bus driver and how much they hate her.  She’s even driven by Nicole and Dianna before  and said they weren’t out there!! She told them she can’t change the radio station because she’s too short and can’t reach the button. She’s always threatening to write one or the other of them up. I told Emilio he better watch out or  he’s going to be persecuted by association. “Huh?” they say. Then since this is Dianna’s last day, she has plans to tell the bus driver off on the way home. (Nicole won’t be on the bus, so she’s already enlisted the aid of a friend to video it on her cell phone so she  can watch.) I warned Dianna to be careful and not threaten anyone.

She has it all planned out. “I’m gonna ask the bus driver what her name is and she’s gonna say blah blah and I’m gonna say  Ms. Blah Blah you need to find another job because you shouldn’t be around kids.”

I tell her she’s a real diplomat.

She says, “I don’t know what that means.”

Emilio says, “Me either…I don’t like big words.” 

Nicole says. “I feel so smart.” 

Dianna says one of her friends called her a tard. She said, “I don’t know what that means.”

The friend says, “Put re in front of it.”

Dianna says, “Retard…I don’t know what that means…hey wait a minute.”

I hope they’re just pulling an old lady’s leg.

Theme Thursday - History

History, there it is, etched in the lines on my father's face. Living through the Great Depression, leaving home at 14, hitching rides on boxcars, marrying, joining the military, raising a family of four children, being away from his family in places like Saudi Arabia and Vietnam, owning his own business, retirement, watching his grandchildren grow and have children of their own, outliving his brother and sisters. From dirt floors to beautiful homes covered in tile, from no phone to cell phones and computers, from no radio to satellite TVs, from outdoor "plumbing" to homes with three bathrooms and "running" water...

His generation has seen so much and been through so much. They are living history and we owe them so much more than we can ever repay.

Little by little and bit by bit…

Well some years it takes longer than others to get in the Christmas spirit or to at least get things done. I caved and  jumped on the Christmas card band wagon. I wasn’t going to, but it’s a hard habit to break. I’ve been doing it since before I graduated from high school!!  (Stamps were oh, so much cheaper back then.) Lisa says she knew I was going to cave all along. Wish she had just told me so I would be done already.

Come closer, gather around, mind the small children – ta da –  here it is…The First, The Only (so far), …..Wrapped Christmas Present!!!  

Stockings have been hung….Nicole and Joseph

The mistletoe we brought home from Prescott is in a high traffic area to achieve the most benefit…(if anyone calls the forestry service to say we took it, I’ll know who you are)

We’ve placed an angel on the highest bough….

And we’re counting down the days….

We’re wishing you all

a blessed and Merry Christmas

and a safe and prosperous New Year!!!!

The wonder of books…

This is a house of readers…okay maybe not. I raised readers…yes, that’s right. Greg and Mom, who make up a full 50% of our little household, do not like to read. Nicole and I, who make up the better 50%, do like to read. And my son, David, loves to read as much as Nicole and I….so I raised readers is accurate.

Every year as the Christmas decorations came out, first David years ago and now Nicole, would always wait for the books to be unpacked. We have a collection of favorite Christmas stories and we read them over and over again every Christmas.

This story has become one of my mostest, bestest, favoritest of all…This copy came with a CD on which James Earl Jones reads the story. It is truly wonderful.

A classic…

 

 

 

 

 

A Toots and Puddle story…

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a story of true sacrifice….

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love books and I love Christmas time and I love Christmas books at Christmas time…

It’s beginning to look a lot like…

You know it’s that time of year when Mom gets out the address book, the holiday notepads, and buys Christmas stamps…. She’s working hard at getting out her Christmas cards. She’s not really behind schedule, this is about normal timing for her. But we were in a panic because she didn’t get her first card until the 10th of December!! That’s unheard of for her. She was headed out to pick up her friend, Linda, and stopped at the mail box. Sure enough…there is was…she turned back to the house and waved, just in case I was watching.

I didn’t get my first Christmas card until….today….the 13th. But I’m not going to dare complain, because I’m not even sure I’m going to send them out this year. So I’ll be glad for whatever comes my way.

So very well done...

Glen sent this to me and I was very impressed. It was for a contest put on by AARP entitled U@50. This video won second place. I no longer support the efforts of AARP as I feel they have lost sight of their original mission, but I wanted to share it with you.
I do believe there is hope and it will come from our children, but we need to let them know it's possible and worthwhile.

Thinking thoughts...

Mom and I have been working on a labor of love....going through all the pictures she has accumulated over the years. She wanted to have this done every year for the last several Christmases so that she could give them to the respective children and now grandchildren. Well this is the year!!

You can not imagine what an emotional ride it has been. We have looked at pictures that were very recent then some that were 50 plus years old! It's amazing to see the people who come in and out of our lives. It's funny to laugh at hairstyles or clothes or even home decorations (that we still have!!!). To see all the places we've lived and remember neighbors and houses and schools and friends.

It's sad to see people we'll never be able to visit with again, but enjoyable to see the pictures that bring the memories we cherish so much. I have a picture of Nicole when she was around four years old beneath this absolutely huge oak tree that was in my grandparents' back yard. I used to play under that tree when I was younger than she was in the picture, and my brothers played there before I was born. Sadly, my grandparents and uncle are gone now and so is the beautiful old oak tree. But I see that picture and remember all the fun we had beneath that tree, how it shaded my grandparents' house in the summer and dropped a ton of leaves and acorns in the fall that drove my uncle crazy and I can't help but smile.

There are pictures of people who aren't a part of our lives anymore (I'm not sad to see some of them go), but good or bad, they helped shape our lives and make us who we are now. And looking back, sometimes it's easy to forget the bad and just remember the good times in our lives. And I guess that's okay.

Water, water, everywhere…

I love water. You know I do.

There is a beautiful water feature at the Goodyear Ball Park.

 

 

Of course, I found it after dark and with no tripod. This seems to be a recurring theme with me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

See the drops of water. I’m so fascinated by them.

 

 

 

Goodyear Ball Park…

Here are some more shots of the Goodyear Ball Park. Tracy and I had a lot of fun taking these shots…and then not so much fun comparing how out of shape, stiff and sore we were from walking around in the cold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This explains this….

   They made good use of the jumbo tron and were airing “A Charlie Brown Christmas”.  And believe it or not, it wasn’t preempted for a presidential speech!!!

It’s a very nice facility. We’re glad to have it in the neighborhood. So as soon as Spring Training starts, get those tickets and enjoy the  great American pastime…drinking beer and eating hot dogs!!

Let it snow…

For those of us who live in the Valley of the Sun, snow is something we don’t often get to see. We can head up north to Flagstaff and enjoy the white stuff, but not everyone can do that. So, snow is a big treat for the kids around here.

The City of Goodyear put on it’s holiday party yesterday at one of the new Cactus League ball parks.

There were lots of things there to do. Jumpies and slides for the kids, craft booths, food stands, and SNOW!!

 

 

 

Jumpies and slides, oh my!!!

 

 

                                                           

                                   Aprons…oh la la!!

 

 

These are the older kids. They weren’t nearly as much fun to watch as the younger kids. You had to be careful because they might get you with a snowball.

 

These little ones were just adorable. You couldn’t wipe the smile off your face even if you wanted to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hands were cold, bottoms got wet, some were underdressed…                                   and some had just had enough….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But then some were prepared, pampered, comfortable, eating popcorn and living the life of Riley…this is Russell…such a cutie!!!

Santa arrived in a fire truck, the tree was lit and all the kiddies went inside to sit on Santa’s lap to tell him what they wanted for Christmas under their tree…..  

Tracy and I had fun taking pictures. I have other shots that didn’t have to do with the kids and snow…I’ll post some of them later…right now I’m off for hot chocolate.

Going to the birds...

Sorry, if it seems like my blog is going to the birds, but I just had to post this guy today. He's all puffed up and sitting in the corner of the flower bed. I didn't realize the position of the frog until I cropped the picture.

Looks to me like the frog is a little worried....

Bluebird of happiness…

A couple of weeks ago for two days in a row, a flock of these cute guys hit the bird bath and were gone.  I thought they must be migrating through. It appears as though a couple of them have decided to stay around for awhile. Which is quite alright with me!

They are Western Bluebirds and like to hang out with the Say’s Phoebe that lives here all the time. We also have a Black Phoebe that I’ve seen around the yard, but that one is very camera shy.

This is the Say’s Phoebe. It’s a fly catcher and I love having them around. They eat bugs and that makes me really happy!!

Here’s our turkey….I mean roadrunner. The shot I took of him all fluffed up didn’t come out very well. But he gets really big and round…he was just about to move on in this picture and had “deflated”.

Here kitty, kitty…

Just playing around on my laptop and I found these pictures. I couldn’t remember where I downloaded them. That’s the problem with using two computers. These are Lisa’s kitties.

 

This is Lucy. She’s the hunter of the group.

 

 

 

This is Jax…not sure of that spelling. He has a shoe fetish. He’s the old timer…they’ve had him the longest.

 

 

This is Jimmy. He doesn’t have a tail, he’s lazy, but has the prettiest eyes and the coolest nose.

 

There’s a fourth cat, Junior. He’s one of Lucy’s kittens…he should have gone when he was little. He’s really a wasted use of fur and I’m not just saying that because he wouldn’t let me take his picture…honest.