Something old, something new…

The weekend that I went up to Strawberry with Annie and Alice just happened to be the weekend that dear friends of mine were getting married in Tonto Basin.  Just a hop, skip and a jump from Strawberry.

Years ago when I was just a little scamp, we lived in Peoria when my dad was stationed at Luke Air Force Base. Our neighbors were Jim and Elinor and their two children, Tom and Mary.  Mary and I become the closest friends and have maintained that friendship over almost fifty years and thousands of miles. 

Her parents went their separate ways years ago, but remained friends.  They found their way back to one another and he proposed.  Well, in one version of the story, she fesses up and says she may have actually done the proposing.

 

They had the most amazing wedding at the Brown’s Ranch.  People were taken to the pasture down among some trees on wagons pulled by Belgian Draft horses.  They actually use these horses to work the ranch…no tractors.

 

Hay bales were set up for the guests to sit on and an arch made up of horse shoes completed the “church”.

 

 

The flower girls and ring bearers all rode in on horseback.  Notice the bare feet with painted toenails.  Several of the guests chose to attend on horseback also.

 

 

The happy couple departed the ceremony in the beautiful white carriage that the bride and maid of honor had arrived in pulled by gorgeous grey Belgian Draft horses.

 

 

It was one of the most enchanting evenings I’ve had in a long time and I know it was the perfect start to years of marital bliss for Jim and Elinor.

 

Who You Calling….

 

                                                              Bucky???

 

                            Does this fleece make me look fat? 

 

If you look very closely, you can see who’s the apple of his eye.

While I was up north this past weekend, I attended  the most wonderful wedding.  It was held on the Brown’s Ranch in Tonto Basin.  They have all kinds of adorable animals on the ranch (including the pig from yesterday’s post) like this llama.  I was a little concerned he might spit like camels have been known to do. He was a perfect gentleman though and my camera and I stayed dry.

I’m as happy as a pig….

 

                               in slop….to be back home.

I’m working hard at catching up with all your posts and to get something new on for myself also.  There is  a lot to do now that I’m back home though and it’s going to take a few days.  I had a wonderful time up north and can’t wait to show you some pictures.

 

You know how you can tell this pig is happy?

 

       The tail tells it all.  :)

Cabin bound…

 

These are not my feet (I only wish I had toes this long), but they are Annie’s feet and they are relaxing in a hammock up at the cabin and we are going today!  Did I mention TODAY????

I will be off the grid until Tuesday because right now neither my laptop nor Nicole’s are functioning with any kind of trustworthiness. 

I will have my camera and I will be with good friends sharing good times.  I’m looking forward to coming home renewed and strengthened. I hope you all enjoy your weekends as much as I plan on enjoying mine.

Assume the position….

 

This is the table out in the backyard that I always have Star jump up on to get brushed.  So every time we go outside, she runs and jumps up hoping to be brushed.

 

Isn’t she a pretty girl?  She grew into her feet like I was afraid she might and now weighs 93 pounds.  The weather is starting to get nice enough we should be able to go for our walks again real soon.

Promises made….

 

 

and kept….

 

Finally!!  We got some rain.  The temperature has dropped nicely and we’ve got the doors open and the AC off.  It’s nice to have some fresh air in the house.  Hopefully, we’ll get a little more over the next day or so.   

Ten years ago today….

 

If I had a picture of the Twin Towers, I would post it.  But sadly, I don’t.  Every year since that day, this date has been a day of remembering and honoring, sadness and grief,  prayers and petitions.

Ten years ago something happened that America just couldn’t comprehend or understand.

Ten years ago someone struck out in anger and revenge.

Ten years ago everyday people became heroes and gave their lives without thought to self.

But, eighteen years ago today, Greg and I promised before God and our family and friends to love, honor and obey ‘til death do us part.  It’s hard to celebrate, when so many around us are mourning.

Scullery maids need more respect….

 

We’re in the home stretch with getting our house ready to rent again.  I have a new found respect for scullery maids and anyone who has to work on their knees to make their living.

Things are getting checked off the list and we can see that light at the end of the mop bucket.  I’ll definitely be ready for my time in Strawberry with Annie and Alice. 

I’m doing my best to keep caught up with all my blogging friends.  You all are such a sanctuary for me.  Soon I’ll be out getting more pictures to astound and amaze you.  :)

“Leaf” me alone…

 

I found this fellow on the back porch this morning and he was quite nice about posing for some photos.

 

 

What I could find about him on the internet tells me he is a Leaf Bug of the order of Phasmida. The internet also said that he is most often found in Australia and Southeast Asia.  I’m guessing he’s a little off course, but I have seen them here in Arizona before.

 

Up close and personal he’s a little intimidating.

 

PS: On a happy note, I believe we may have found new renters!  There’s still more to do to complete the process, but so far it’s looking promising. :)

Too stressed out…..

 

and overloaded right now.  There are a lot of things going on right now and I’m going to be a bad blogging friend for a few more days. Please forgive me.

We had rented our house out so that we could come to live with Mom and care for her. That was four years ago next month…time really flies.  The house has been rented to the same couple for 3 1/2 of those years.  I hate to say it but they didn’t treat our house kindly and as first-time landlords, we have learned a lot.  We have spent the entire Labor Day Weekend trying to bring the house back to rentable condition with the help of family. We still have a lot to do.

That meant that Nicole was charged with staying with Grandma. Saturday I received a call from Nicole saying Grandma wasn’t feeling well. I talked to Mom and felt the problem was probably gas but to keep me posted. Mom thought she was having a heart attack.  The symptoms didn’t sound quite right.  I called my brother to see if he could go and sit with her and see what he thought. After he spoke with her on the phone he was concerned enough to call me back.  I headed home and the long (sorry) of it is that I called 911 and then the party got started.  My Mom lives in a 38 year old double wide.  In her small family room there were soon four firemen and two paramedics, oxygen going, IV’s started, blood pressure taken, glucose level checked…and heaven only knows what else.  After a ride to the hospital in the ambulance (a first for both of us), Mom had to stay overnight for observation.  Thankfully, all the tests came back negative – no heart attack, no pneumonia, no gastro-intestinal problems.  But everyone assured us we did the right thing in calling 911 and to not hesitate to do it again.

Needless to say, I wasn’t much help on the house.  There’s still plenty to do.  Hopefully we’ll have it ready to rent by the 15th.  In the meantime, I’m going to be very busy and probably neglectful. I apologize ahead of time.

I’ve got sunshine…

 

This is Shelbi Lynn Pierson.  She is another one of my grand nieces.  She is the daughter of Todd and Amanda.  Todd is the son of my older brother, Richard. Got all of that?  

 

But what and who she really is, is sunshine.  She can light up a room with that megawatt smile and her sweet little giggle.

 

 

Mom assures me she can have her moments too, but what’s that in the big scheme of things…really?

 

I love you little Miss Shelbi!!!  Come back and visit real soon.

Been through the desert…

 

in search of water.  Okay not quite the song lyrics you were expecting, but it fits what Tracy and I were up to on Tuesday.

This piece of art is entitled “Water Source” and is located at Goodyear’s Dog Park.  The artist Marta Thoma was inspired by the nearby Gila River. The art piece is made of recycled materials and has solar-powered illumination.  We’ll need to stop by some time after dark to see how it looks then.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was, of course, also at the dog park.  But it’s more what I would expect to see.  :)

Guess who turned two???

 

Remember the little man who stole my heart the minute he was born?

His name is  Justin Donald.  If you missed some of our fun times together, you can check out one such story here.

 

He so totally owns me and will get whatever he ever wants from his Aunt Nancy.

 

How could you say “no” to this little guy?

 

 

 

 

So HAPPY SECOND BIRTHDAY, JUSTIN DONALD….little love of my life.

 

Lazy days…

 

                                              of summer…

 

I need to get out and take some new pictures, but the heat is keeping me inside.  This picture was taken in Strawberry at Annie’s cabin and it makes me smile.

I have a long weekend planned with Annie to head back up north in September. I can hardly wait. Hopefully, before then I’ll venture out and get some new pictures.

Thank you all for your kind words and support. They do mean a lot to me.

Trying to push back….

 

the hands of time.

 

Mom and I play games and do puzzles to help keep her mind sharp.  Some days we see progress and some days – not so much. I’m still making that transition from seeing her as astute and focused all the time to confused and foggy more often now.  It’s a hard transition to make.

Friends who have been down this path tell me that there will come a time when I will want to just nod my head and agree with whatever she says.  I’m not ready for that.  I want to try and keep her memory and dignity intact for as long as possible.  It somehow feels less than honorable to “humor” her. I know I’ll need to make a shift in my thinking, but I’m just not there yet. 

The worms crawl in….

the worms crawl out….

well you know the rest of it. 

I have passed this huge pile of these “worms” for months along an area of our freeway that is being widened.  From the very first, they reminded me of a pile of worms and yesterday I finally had an opportunity to stop and take a picture or two.
This is what they are used for….

Puzzling around….

 

In an effort to keep Mom awake and entertained, I’ve resorted to jigsaw puzzles.  Unfortunately, this one seems to be beyond her ability to see clearly enough and beyond my ability to just put away.  So, myself and my OCD will complete this one and then move on to one easier for Mom.

"There are no extra pieces in the universe. Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle." - Deepak Chopra

Hope you all had a relaxing weekend spent with family and friends.

Paradise Lost????

 

No!  Paradise found.

 

This is where you will find Paradise….

 

This is what you will find in Paradise….

This is a Caramel Cream Coffee Smoothie.  As a testament of just how good it is,  anyone who knows me well knows I don’t like coffee.  Don’t drink it – never have.  But this I love! 

 

This is the new picture ID that comes up on my cell phone when Tracy calls me.  Guess who goes to Tropical Smoothie Cafe with me all the time? 

Do you have a favorite smoothie place?

He’s the Most Interesting Wine Sock Monkey in the world….

           When he cliff dives in Acapulco, the water comes to him.


                             He CAN see the forest for the trees.


                                 When he reads a book, the pages turn themselves.


                 For him, the Wandering Gnome quit wandering.


               He IS the most interesting Wine Sock Monkey in the world.

See what too much time on your hands can do to a person?  :)
Dedicated to Tracy and Lisa.

Addendum:  My 16 year old corrected me...it's Roaming Gnome not Wandering Gnome.  But as Tracy pointed out, I'm sure I did that to avoid copyright infringement. :)