Wednesday With Reece

Our visitors have gone home. It's been a busy, fun couple of weeks. My sister from Kansas and her sweet, funny granddaughter left yesterday afternoon. We stopped by Josh's to say good-bye, and then went to Gran's for a little while before I took them to the airport.

Reece spent the night, so the house doesn't seem as empty as it would have. He absolutely loves to have company, but he gets so excited and keyed up! Last night and today he was much calmer. We spent time outside yesterday because it's so warm and pretty. In the picture, he is having supper (chicken strips and fries from Whataburger) on the patio while he watches YouTube videos.

He was ready to go see his Great Gran this morning. We stopped at Toys R Us to buy a Playmobil police car he wanted, but they didn't have it. Instead he found a veterinarian set that has two vets, two dogs, a cat, and a turtle and the vet's office with a table, kennels, a scanner, x-ray table and x-rays, and little bottles, bandages and vet equipment of all kinds. We took it to Gran's and put it together and he was so delighted!

I hope the weather stays as perfect when we go to the coast next week. It feels like summer, and makes me happy.

I can hardly believe that Lent is nearly over and we're halfway through Holy Week. We'll be at the coast for Easter. I'll be looking on the internet for a church to attend there.

Family Ties

My sister from Kansas, her son and granddaughter arrived Thursday evening. We had dinner at Mom's--pot roast with potatoes, corn and green beans. We came back to my house around 9:30 that night and stayed up late talking.

My sister from Bryan, her daughter and grandson arrived Friday morning. We all met at Mom's and had Taco Cabana for lunch. Then this evening everyone gathered here, and we had a spaghetti dinner.

Josh and his family joined us, and the kids loved playing with Jonah, my niece's little boy. He is such a little doll! He and Aubrey are the same age.

My nephew's wife also joined us. She has been here this week for a conference downtown which ended today. She and my nephew left after dinner to go back to their hotel on the Riverwalk.

Sandi took Mom home and is spending the night with her.

Reece stayed with us. He was pretty keyed up during dinner, but calmed down when people started leaving and things got quieter. He's sound asleep with Papa.

Not sure what we'll do tomorrow, but it's so much fun having my sisters and everyone here. Mom is just glowing, she is so happy.

I'm glad the weather has been pretty for our visitors!

Have a great weekend and a beautiful Palm Sunday.

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...
It's going to be 80 degrees today. It's warm, things are budding and blooming. I love spring.

I am thankful...
for the past week with all of my grandchildren.

I am wearing...
denim capris, a weird maroon top with short raglan sleeves and drawstrings on the sides, flipflops.

I am remembering...
been thinking a lot about my dad lately. I still miss him so much.

I am going...
it's already been a busy day. I picked Mom up just after 9 AM, took her to the lab. She has a doctor appointment next week, and has to have the labs done a week ahead of time.

Then we went to the body shop to have the truck examined. I was totally surprised and delighted when the appraiser gave me a pretty hefty check! :o)

We went to IHOP for breakfast then to WalMart to get Mom a new kitchen rug for in front of her sink. She also got another door mat, a bath brush and some red lipstick. I got bath towels, a couple of beach towels, and toothpaste.

Then we stopped to get her hair cut. The girl who cut it today did a great job. Mom looks so cute.

When we got back to her place, I put some rugs in her washing machine and swept her kitchen floor. I told her that we got a lot accomplished before 1 PM today.

I am reading...
I haven't started it yet, but have the book Between Two Rivers by Nicolas Rinaldi on my nightstand.

On my mind...
planning for guests who will be visiting from Thursday through Tuesday. I want to get the house completely cleaned and the laundry all caught up so that I can relax and have fun with my sisters when they are here. Need to make some menu plans and go grocery shopping, too.

Also trying to recall all of the things I need to do before we go to the coast, including my own lab work and picking up a synthroid refill, getting the bordatella vaccine for the puppies (required by the pet hotel where they will stay while we're gone) and making their reservations.

From the learning rooms...
the next unit is "Up In Space." We'll be learning about the planets and stars, constellations, and astronauts, rockets and space shuttles. I think Reece will like these lessons. :o)

Pondering these words...

I don't believe in a government that protects us from ourselves.

Ronald Reagan

From the kitchen....
planning to have spaghetti for dinner tonight. Reece will be here, and he likes spaghetti.

Around the house...
sunshine spilling through the blinds, little wren trilling on the patio, stack of kids books on the lamp table, peach iced tea and cornbread crackers on the ottoman.

One of my favorite things...
church bells ringing.

From my picture album...

First rose of summer.

Read more daybooks at Peggy's site.

Health Care Travesty

Over 60% of the country has told this corrupt congress that we don't want this health care bill, but they've rammed it through anyway. It makes me sick that the people who are supposed to be representing US have caved in to president obama and his cronies. All the pressure tactics, bribes, and arm twisting worked. It's pitiful.

It's not as if we haven't tried to do something to prevent this. We've contacted our senators and representatives, signed petitions, sent faxes, and showed how we feel at tea parties and town halls all across the nation. But they haven't listened to us. They don't care what we think or what we want. This president wants to go down in history as the one whose administration brought health care under the control of the government.

I don't know about you, but I don't want socialized medicine. I certainly don't want one red cent of my money going to fund abortions for ANY reason. There is just so much about this that is wrong.

I didn't want my money used to bail out banks, car makers or big business, either. I didn't like the "changes" that obama promised before he was elected, and I still don't. And these "changes" are just going to keep on coming, because if they can't get what they want by following the rules, they just say there are no rules and do what they want.

But maybe, just maybe, what happened tonight will be the straw that breaks the camel's back? Over 30 states attorney generals have said they will file suit if the bill passes. All Americans who opposed the passage of this bill need to shout out in protest. We can't let up.

Here's the statement from the Texas attorney general:

Attorney General Abbott: Texas and Other States Will Challenge Federal Health Care Legislation

Following the passage of the health care legislation, the Texas Attorney General provided the following statement:

"The federal health care legislation passed tonight violates the United States Constitution and unconstitutionally infringes upon Texans' individual liberties. To protect all Texans' constitutional rights, preserve the constitutional framework intended by our nation's founders, and defend our state from further infringement by the federal government, the State of Texas and other states will legally challenge the federal health care legislation."

Greg Abbott
Attorney General of Texas

Maybe this travesty can still be stopped in some manner.

A Happy Sunday

This is Camryn in a tote bag that was hanging on the railing between the breakfast room and family room. :o)

Jason and his family left this evening, headed home after spring break. It was such a nice week; hope they enjoyed it as much as I did! It's very quiet here right now, but we'll all be together again in a couple of weeks at the coast.

We brought Great-Gran home with us after Mass today, so that she could spend time with Jason and family. The daughters-in-law went out to lunch together, and the boys and all the grands were here. We had Chester's hamburgers for lunch, and hot dogs for the kiddos.

Mom enjoyed having lunch with her great-grands. They all wanted to sit by her. She was here for a few hours, then I took her home since we didn't want to leave Teddy alone too long.

I made apple dumplings when I got back from her place. I told the kids they were Gramma's going-home treat for them. Reece was still here when I started making them, but had to go home before they got done. He was so sad because he wanted apple dumplings, too. Ron had to run an errand this evening for work, so I sent some dumplings with him to take to Reece and the rest of his family. Ron said that Reece came out to the truck and said, "Gramma's apple dumplings!" :o) I hope he liked them.

I cleaned up the yard and played with the puppies while Ron was gone. They are now snoozing in their kennel next to me.

The discussion of the health care bill on Fox News is making me sick to my stomach. What a crock.

Saturday Summary

This funny little guy does make me smile. :o) It's Jake with his fake glasses, nose and big eyebrows. Isn't he adorable?

It got cold and windy today, but our three children, their spouses and our seven grandchildren were here for the cookout and we had a great time. Dinner was yummy, and we all enjoyed being together.

The guys were outside most of the afternoon, even though it was cold. They brought the grill onto the patio under the deck and sat out there in spite of the cold, drinking beer and talking, talking, talking.

For dessert we had some yummy chocolate cupcakes that Kelly brought, and the fudge that Lyssa, Lily and I made last night. Oh, and root beer floats for those who wanted them.

The kids played and watched Up for the umpteenth time.

Kelly and Mike brought Darcy and Banzai, and the puppies were overjoyed to see their playmates. They left around sundown.

In the evening, the guys brought the chiminea onto the patio and sat around it smoking cigars and talking some more. I love hearing them laughing together. Cyrise and Lily joined them. They all came in smelling like wood smoke. :o)

It was such a lovely day. There is nothing like being with family, and we are richly blessed.

Busy Spring Break Week

Our son, daughter-in-law and grandkids from the Houston area have been here this week, and we've enjoyed spending time with them. They got here late Monday night. I asked what they wanted to do during their spring break, and they said "swim in the pool!" It rained and was cold on Tuesday, but they got to swim Wednesday and Thursday. Today they met their Aunt Kelly at the theater and saw Alice In Wonderland. I stayed here with the little kids while their parents and the older kids went to the movie. In the pics are Jacob (5), Camryn (10 months), Reece (4), and Aubrey (22 months).




One or two of them have gone with me every day to see Great Gran, and of course she enjoys that very much. On Wednesday when we were coming back from her place, a young woman ran into the back of our pick-up truck. Reece and Lily were with me, so it scared me, but fortunately no one was hurt. We were in a rather long line, waiting at the light to turn onto the highway when I saw the car behind me coming at a fast clip, and I braced myself knowing that we were going to be hit. I pushed hard on the brake, hoping to keep the truck from ramming the minivan in front of me, and honked my horn. He moved forward just in time, and drove on when the light turned green. There is no visible damage to the truck, other than a scape on the bumper, but the car's hood and front end were smashed. The poor girl was so shaken. She had three passengers with her. They had been in a funeral procession, which had already gone by (the reason for the backed up traffic), and I guess she was trying to catch up and not paying attention to her driving. Her insurance company has already set up an appointment for me to take the truck to be looked at, and will pay for repairs if there is damage that we can't see. It was a very minor accident in the scheme of things, but it sure has been a hassle. :o\

Other than that, it's been a pretty laid back visit. Reece spent Tuesday and Wednesday night, so that he could spend time with his cousins. He and Jacob have fun together, and he loves playing with the older kids, too. Lyssa and I worked on a jigsaw puzzle for a couple of days. Caelen is learning to play the guitar, and I've enjoyed sitting and listening to both him and his dad practice while I worked on the puzzle or on the computer.

The girls have made lots of bracelets and necklaces with the beads I got at the thrift store, and we've played with the Cootie game, too. Jake likes to put all the cooties together; he doesn't even have to play the game. :o)

Tonight we had fried catfish for dinner. After dinner I took Lys, Lily and Jake to the dollar store for little treats because Jake was a good boy and ate all his veggies last night and tonight. He got a yo-yo, some plastic tee balls, and one of those funny faces with a big nose, glasses, eyebrows and a mustache. He looks so cute in it. :o) The girls got a couple of little things, too. Then we came home and made marshmallow fudge.

We were hoping to go to the zoo tomorrow, but now a cold front is coming and the weather will be colder and maybe rainy, so I guess we'll do that the next time they come. Instead, we'll have a cook-out. It's become a bit of a tradition for the kids to make Korean kalbi when they all get together, and they are looking forward to it.

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...
It's foggy this morning. Our mountain laurel is beginning to bloom; I love the big purple clusters of flowers. I can see the puppies in their dog yard. Sister saw me looking out the upstairs window, and Kate can't figure out why Sister keeps looking up.

I am thankful...
for warm spring days.

I am wearing...
denim capris, a green t-shirt.

I am remembering...
to put out the recycle bin.

I am going...
I may go shopping for some short sleeved shirts after I visit Mom. Then I'm going to make up the beds in the spare bedrooms. Jason and his family will be here tonight.

I am reading...
nothing interesting at the moment.

On my mind...
the next few weeks, which will be very busy. Spring break visitors this week, my youngest sister from Kansas will be here next week, and then we're going to the coast for a week with all the kids and grandkids.

From the learning rooms...
we may finally get around to building that beaver dam this week.

Pondering these words...
Make us know the shortness of our life
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Lord, relent! Is your anger for ever?
Show pity to your servants.

In the morning, fill us with your love;
we shall exult and rejoice all our days.
Give us joy to balance our affliction
for the years when we knew misfortune.

Show forth your work to your servants;
let your glory shine on their children.
Let the favor of the Lord be upon us:
give success to the work of our hands,
give success to the work of our hands.

From today's morning prayer, part of Psalm 90.

From the kitchen....
I'm having frozen waffles for breakfast. Need to make a menu plan for the week since the grandkids will all be here.

Around the house...
vacuuming, dusting, making up beds, some laundry.

One of my favorite things...
little kids with freckles.

From my picture album...


"The year's at the spring
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hillside's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in His heaven -
All's right with the world!"
- Robert Browning






Happy March!

Saturday Summary

Aubrey and Reece love going to see Great Gran on Saturday mornings. Today was such a gorgeous, warm day, so they spent time on her patio, looking at her flowers and playing.

Aubrey, like Reece, loves Mom's Mary statue. :o)

Mom enjoys watching them play. Her favorite way to describe Aubrey is, "She thinks she's just as big as anybody." And it's true. Mom loves that when Aubrey bumps her head, or falls down, she just gets up and goes on like nothing happened. We think she is such a tough little cookie. Today she was throwing one of Teddy's tennis balls, and Mom said, "She throws like a boy!" And she throws left-handed. But Aubrey is a very feminine, petite little girl. She has a green fleece blanket that she loves, and she likes to hold soft old cloth diapers to her face--they are her lovies. She is talking more and more, and can be quite feisty. Sometimes when I tell her to do something she will reply in a sassy voice, "No!" Yesterday I asked her, "Aubrey, where are the scissors?" And she kind of shrugged her tiny shoulders and said as clear as a bell, "I dunno." If someone is eating, she will hold out her hand and open and close her fingers, saying "Bite!" She eats like a little piggy, but is not one bit chubby.

This afternoon after taking Reece and Aubrey home, Ron and I worked outside in the backyard. We finished putting up the fence for the dog yard. Hammering the poles down into the ground was hard work, especially since our yard is full of rocks under the surface. I called Josh to see if he would come and help us, and he made short work of hammering in the last three poles. Thanks, honey!

Putting the fencing up was quick and easy once the poles were installed. The gate needs a better latch to keep the dogs in. They were curious and eager to see what we had been doing, but they didn't much like being closed up. They won't be expected to stay in their yard all the time, but it will be nice to have a place for them when we can't supervise them, or when we have company for a barbecue or swimming.

Speaking of company, barbecues and swimming, it is spring break time in Texas, and our grands from the Houston area will be here next week. We are looking forward to seeing all of them. It's always fun when they visit. Reece can hardly wait, and keeps telling me "Uncle Jason is coming!" :o)

Rest In Peace, Corey.

I thought that Corey Haim was such a cute kid in the movie, The Lost Boys, especially in the scene where he was singing one of my favorite oldies, Ain't Got No Home, by Clarence "Frogman" Henry, in the bathtub. (Kind of a scary scene, though).

It's such a shame that so many young people who become famous turn to drugs. What a waste of a beautiful life.

Wednesday With Reece

I asked Reece if he wanted to go on a nature hike yesterday when he got here, and he was all for it! I told him that nature is all the things that God makes outside, like trees, flowers, the sky, birds and animals, and that we were going to look for things like that on our hike.

The first thing we saw was a bird's nest in one of our trees. I might try and get it down for him tomorrow (it's an old one) so that he can see how the bird made it.

Here he is eating a piece of apple and inspecting a fire hydrant. :o)









Wow, God made some big old plants in Texas!


















He wasn't interested in picking up too much, but he did pick a couple of pretty yellow dandelions, and this stick. Earlier he had given me a little stick, which I dropped and couldn't find. He said, "It's okay, Gramma. You can have mine." :o) He's so sweet.

He is still munching on apple slices.








Another red fire hydrant caught his eye, and then an open water meter. He took a good look at it, then announced that there was a clock in there, and that it was going round and round.

He had oatmeal and toast with apricot jam for breakfast. A bit later he had some of the chocolate fudge oatmeal cookies we made last night and watched The Little Rascals on DVD. I thought it was going to be the old Little Rascals series on DVD, but it turns out they made a Little Rascals movie--who knew? Reece likes it.



He went with me to Gran's and fell asleep in the truck on the way. But he was alert and happy when we got there. She likes to watch Francis with him. She thinks the characters are so cute, and loves the way they move. :o)

Reece has a doctor appointment this afternoon for some tummy trouble he is having. His daddy is taking him. I hope all goes well. Reece hates for strangers to touch him, and wouldn't even let the pediatrician examine him the last time we were there. Please send up a little prayer! Thanks.

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...
It's springtime. Our high will be near 80°. I can see the new arbor. We haven't had a chance to finish the fence or attach the arbor yet because it has been rainy, but today is sunny and pretty.

I am thankful...
my endocrinologist said the lab results showed that my synthroid dosage is exactly where is should be now, a year after having had the radioactive iodine treatment of my hyperthyroidism.

I am wearing...
a green nightgown.

I am remembering...
springtime in the Ozarks, when the redbud and dogwood trees are blooming against a background of woods just beginning to get that hazy, pale green color.

I am going...
to Mom's, to the grocery store (maybe).

I am reading...
a library book, When The Finch Rises, by Jack Riggs.

On my mind...
my grandchildren.

From the learning rooms...
we may go on a nature walk.

Pondering these words...
"I was thinking about my house."

Mom said that yesterday when I was there. She was remembering that she had painted one wall of her bedroom blue, and wondering if the woman who bought the house liked it.

I'm trying to imagine what it must be like for her to have made such a radical change in her life after so many years. It has to be hard.

She is sometimes wistful about her former life in Kansas, missing her house and neighborhood, but she does see the advantages of not having to take care of a house and yard, and not having the expenses involved in that.

From the kitchen....
I need to go grocery shopping. The only meat in the freezer is hamburger, and I don't want anything from hamburger today.

Around the house...
yard clean-up this afternoon.

One of my favorite things...
daydreaming.

From my picture album...

This is what I remember. So pretty!

Visit Peggy's site to read more daybooks.






Photo Credit

The KM Culinary Meme

I got this meme from The Kitchen Madonna. She has beautiful aprons for sale, and she's a great resource for info on whole grains. You can purchase a really nice looking grain mill there, too.

1. What food does your best friend not like?

My best friend is my husband, Ron. He does not like liver. And he will not eat stuffing/dressing, which is my favorite part of the Thanksgiving feast.

2. What is your favorite cookbook?

I compiled some of our favorite family recipes into an 80+ page cookbook and gave copies to my daughter and two daughters-in-law for Christmas in 2008. I think that's my favorite.

I have a whole shelf full of cookbooks, but I use a 1999 Southern Living Annual Recipes cookbook more than I use most of the others. I like all the Southern Living cookbooks.

3. Are you more of a sushi person or a lamb person?

Sushi. I've only had lamb once, and I liked it okay. But if offered a choice, I'd pick sushi.

4. Given a choice of something fried and salty or something baked and sweet, what would you choose?

Hmm. Hard to decide since I like both, but probably something baked and sweet.

5. Do you buy whole chickens and boil them and pick the meat off or does that gross you out?

It doesn't gross me out, and I do cook whole chickens for soup or casseroles. I didn't like doing it when I was younger, but now it does faze me.

Do your children know what a whole chicken looks like or do they think they are made up of four breasts?

Ha! Yeah, my kids know what a whole chicken looks like. In fact, I was putting a chicken into my mom's crockpot a couple of weeks ago and our 4 year old grandson was with me. I started making the chicken dance around and he thought that was the most hilarious thing ever. :o)

6. How do you feel about butter, sour cream, cream cheese, and half and half?

Yum! :o)

7. (Skip this question if you are a vegetarian) If you are a carnivore, would you be willing to hunt or butcher your meat? Or to watch someone do that for you or would you rather not think of it?

I'd do it if I absolutely had to in order to eat, but I'd rather not have to hunt or butcher or watch it being done.

Or are you grateful for the animal who gave its life to sustain your life?

I am very grateful for the animals who supply us with meat.

8. What is the most exotic ingredient or spice in your cupboard?

I have some different types of noodles--udon (buckwheat) and rice stick, and I have a box of instant miso soup. :o) Not very exotic, but maybe a little different.

Thanks for the meme, KM. It was fun!

Rainy Sunday

We've sung the beautiful Adoramus Te, Christe by Dubois the past two Sundays at Mass. Simple. Reverent. Gorgeous. Our congregation doesn't sound quite this pretty, though.

(Turn off my playlist on the left to listen).

After Mass we went out to lunch, then in the afternoon I drove over to Kelly and Mike's to take them some food Ron brought home on Friday. I knew we wouldn't eat it, and meant to take it yesterday when we went to the shooting range, but forgot. Kelly and I went to Michael's craft store for awhile where we did a little bit of shopping.

I got home around 6:30, fed the puppies and watched Angela's Ashes on TV. I almost turned it off after the first 15 minutes, it was so sad. I stuck it out because I'd heard it was good, but it's not the kind of movie I enjoy. Too bleak.

I have an appointment with my endocrinologist early tomorrow morning. Had labs done last week, and will find out whether my current dose of Synthroid is working correctly or not.

Saturday Summary

Had a good Saturday.

Reece and Aubrey were here in the morning, being cute and sweet. Reece wasn't feeling very well, and was much quieter than usual. Ron noted that when Reece is calm and quiet, so is Aubrey. :o)

I didn't take them with me to Gran's because I thought he needed to be with his parents. He didn't object to going home.

Mom and I worked on trimming back her ferns. We also moved them to bigger pots. I hope they will come back out again. The flowers we planted yesterday for her patio looked so pretty and perky today.

In the late afternoon I got to be with some of my favorite people while I learned to shoot my pistol. Ron, Josh and I drove over to Kelly and Mike's, and they took us to a shooting range near their house where they go to practice shooting. It was super crowded (and noisy), but I really enjoyed it.

I was a little nervous about shooting, but once I did it the nervousness disappeared. I think I did pretty good for the first time ever shooting a pistol. I even made a bullseye! :o) If I ever have to shoot a crazed intruder though, he will have to stop in the doorway while I take a minute to get him in my sights. Ha! I guess I'll get faster at aiming with some practice. Mike, Kelly and Ron were good teachers. Thanks guys (and girl)!

Josh bought a gun at the same time I did, and he enjoyed practicing with his, too. He has more talent for shooting than I do. We were both surprised at how quickly the ammunition gets used up.

After shooting we went to eat at an Asian restaurant the kids like. It was good. I had pad thai and brought most of it home with me. It was even better when I finished it tonight.

We didn't get home until almost 7 PM, and the puppies were hungry and glad to see us.

Look Alikes?

San Antonio police chief William McManus.
















Richard Gere in the movie, Brooklyn's Finest.


If McManus squinted his eyes, I think they could pass as brothers.

First Friday

I got up early this morning to take Ron to work so that Josh could use the truck today. Reece and Aubrey will be here to spend the night later, and I am soooo sleepy! I hope they will go to bed early tonight.

I got to Mom's later than usual today, and stayed longer than usual. We planted the flowers she got yesterday. Her patio looks like Springtime! She really enjoyed planting them. We still need to cut back her ferns and see if they will grow out again.

While we were busy doing that, three neighbors stopped by to chat, at different times. I'm so pleased that the people there are so friendly. Most everyone knows Mom and Teddy, and they watch over them like elderly guardian angels.

Reece will be delighted to see the flowers when I take him and Aubrey over there tomorrow. He always notices anything new, and he likes flowers. I'll try to remember to take my camera.

When I got home and looked out back, the puppies were tugging the dried vines from the lattice at the side of the patio. They pull and pull until a long piece breaks loose, then they chew on them. They are little mess makers. :o)

Off to clean up my kitchen.

A Toad Prince

This little lampworked toad bead is one of a strand Kelly got at the bead show we went to last Sunday. Isn't he a cutie? She put it on a satin cord and tied some of her pretty Chinese buttons, and voila, a gorgeous adjustable necklace.

She is selling it for the amazing low price of $6! Go get one; perfect for March, perfect for Spring!

(You can see other views of the necklace at her Etsy shop, Biologie).

This And That

Yesterday evening Ron and I went out to eat, then to Lowe's where we bought a gated arbor.

We took the arbor home, then went to Academy to buy a pistol.

I've wanted one ever since our home was burglarized, and because Ron is out of town often and I'm here alone. But they are expensive, and I kept putting it off. Then Josh called to tell us about one on sale, and I got it.

I hope I never have to use it, but I'm looking forward to learning to shoot it.

Josh and Reece went with us to Academy. Reece looked so cute in his jeans and Gap sweatshirt. He was so happy to be going somewhere with his Daddy, Papa and Gramma. We were standing at the gun counter, and he came up to me and gave my legs a hug, looked up at me and said, "Gramma, are you my punkin seed?" Oh my, talk about melting your heart! That child can do it. I hugged him and told him that yes, I am his punkin seed. :o)

It was a pretty day today, and I thought Mom might like to get out of her apartment for awhile. So we had lunch at Panda Express (orange chicken, rice and veggies--yum), and then went to Lowe's (a different one, closer to her place) and bought some flowers for her patio.

Our usual last freeze date here is March 2, so I hope we aren't jumping the gun. Mom was so pleased and happy to have her flowers. I didn't have time to stay and help her plant them today, but we will do it tomorrow.

She got pinks (dianthus), similar to the ones in the picture, for her window boxes that are on her patio railing, an apricot colored geranium for one of her pots, some purple petunias with white edges for her big bowl, and lemon thyme that smells heavenly to replace the herbs she lost over the winter.

Katy's ear infection looks much, much better, but I'm to continue cleaning her ears and putting the antibiotic drops in them until the end of next week. She and Sister both love having their ears cleaned. It's so funny. :o)

He's Back!

The little wren I mentioned in a post a few days ago is back. I'm so excited!

Today I was standing at the back door, talking to Ron on the phone, when the wren suddenly flew onto the patio and went into the wren house with a beak full of nest materials. I grabbed the camera and waited, and pretty soon he came back with more stuff. He moves so quickly that I didn't think I'd be able to get a picture of him, but I managed to get a couple of fairly good ones. Isn't he the cutest?

I made the wren house (with help from Ron and Josh) several years ago, and had fun painting it and putting an embossed copper strip on the top to keep the roof from leaking. Now it is looking pretty battered and weather worn. We've never had a bird show any interest in it until now.

It's going to be so much fun watching them raise their family there. Usually they build their nest someplace crazy, like in the outside grill.

Wednesday With Reece

Reece was so sweet yesterday and today. He is always so happy to be at our house, and it lifts my heart to see him walk in the front door, smiling and talking.

Here he is watching Pingu on my iphone. He is usually not allowed to touch my phone, so he was delighted when I handed it to him and let him hold it while he watched. :o) (Don't you love his little hands)?

After supper we played with his Hot Wheels City while Papa went to the grocery store. He came back with cookies and candy and a "present" for Reece--more Hot Wheels, of course.



Our home school unit for now is "forest animals," and I got a bunch of library books with that theme to read. We read some of them, but still have plenty left.

He wasn't interested in the book about beavers, so we haven't built the beaver dam yet, but I'm looking forward to doing that with him.

I didn't find all of the books on the list for this unit, but I think these will do. They are: Bedtime For Bears, Box Turtle At Long Pond, Otters Underwater, In The Deep Dark Forest, Every Autumn Comes The Bear, Raccoons And Ripe Corn, Rabbits And Raindrops, Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?, The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes, Bears In The Forest, The Beaver Pond, Over In The Meadow, Small Green Snake, and Father Bear Comes Home (a Little Bear book. He loves Little Bear). We're a bit heavy on the bear books, but he likes stories about bears.

He was a sweetheart at Great Gran's today. We stopped on the way at McDonald's (yes, again!) and took her some lunch, too. Then they played with some cut-out cars and bears we had made. Then Reece wanted to walk Teddy, so the three of us took him out.

We met one of Mom's neighbors with her son and grandson. It was Patricia, whose husband Ralph wrote the book Tad. She said that Ralph is not doing well at all. I think that is why some of their children are here from out of state. They are the sweetest couple, and I'm really sad that he is so ill. Please send up prayers for him. Thank you!

Reece has met Patricia before. She gave him some candy when we delivered a cake to them for Christmas. Their interaction was so sweet. Reece talked to her and her son and grandson, and showed them a dandelion he had picked. Patricia gave him a big hug. I hope we brightened her day.

Sometimes Reece gets upset when it is time to leave Gran's, or when he realizes that I'm taking him home, but today he seemed to be looking forward to seeing Aubrey (his little sister). He kept asking me what I thought she was doing, and I'd give him a different answer each time. When we got to his house, he went right in and went looking for Aubrey to see what she was doing. :o)

Ron has found a gated arbor at Lowe's that he likes, so we are planning to go out to eat this evening, then stop and pick up the arbor.

Beautiful Tuesday

It's a gorgeous day, without the wind we had yesterday. Sister and Katy look pretty lying out by the pool in the sunshine. Their black coats are so shiny. I love how they do everything in unison.

I'm glad I took Kate to the vet yesterday. She does have a slight ear infection, and the vet gave me ear cleaner and some antibiotic drops to use. Katy was very good at the vets and in the truck on the way there and back. She is calmer than Sister; makes it a bit easier to handle her. She weighed 51 pounds, and I think Sissy is a little bigger. They are still growing, but not as quickly now. They used to gobble their food the minute I set it down, but now they take their time eating, sometimes leaving it for hours, as if they aren't as hungry.

I'll be off to Mom's soon, and then I think I'll go by the library to pick up some forest animal books. Reece will be here tonight.

Have a great Tuesday!

(From Tuesday Morning Prayer: Make our light shine so brightly before men, that seeing our good works they may give glory to the Father.)

Regrets, I've Had A Few

If you've been reading my blog for long, you know that I'm a pretty upbeat person most of the time. There are not that many things that I regret, but there are a few.

1. I wish blogging had been around when my kids were growing up. Maybe I'd have written more stuff down and remembered things better. All those little milestones and funny things kids say and do, pictures of them from month to month. I meant to journal all that, but I didn't. Too busy living it.

2. I wish I had been more outgoing as a kid. People think I was shy, but it was more that I was quiet and cautious. With friends I was crazy, joking around and acting goofy, but most people never saw that side of me.

3. I regret that I didn't grow up Catholic. I knew from the time I was in grade school (and went to a catechism class for a short time) that's what I wanted to be, but until I was a mom with three children, religion was not a part of my life.

4. I regret not finishing college. I went until the second semester of my junior year. Some bad things happened in my life around that time, and I dropped out of school to work full time. I always thought I'd go back and finish college, but it didn't happen.

5. I regret practicing birth control. From the time I was a teenager I knew that I wanted to have six children. Ron was an only child (he has a half brother 20 years older than him), and he was never too keen on a big family, although if he had known how much I really meant it, I know he would have agreed. I believe that I had a miscarriage a few months after we were married. Our first baby gone. After three beautiful babies, I had my one remaining tube tied (I had only one fallopian tube because of an ovarian cyst the size of an orange which was removed a month before our wedding). Why, why, why did I do that? By the time we converted I was too old to have any more babies anyway, but not having more is one of my biggest regrets.

6. I regret deleting the "stories" that I started and worked on for a few years, hoping to write a novel. One day I got discouraged and just deleted them. Why didn't I stick with it?

I don't dwell on my regrets, but today for some reason, these came to mind.

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...
It rained during the night, so it is wet outside. The sky is partly cloudy, the temperature is mild.

I am thankful...
for my sister, Sandi, whose birthday is today. She is an amazing, wonderful woman.

I am wearing...
still in my PJs.

I am remembering...
March in Japan, when the cherry trees bloom. Makes me feel homesick for Camp Zama.

I am going...
to the vet, to Mom's and to BAMC for lab work. Katy has a sore in her ear. I noticed that Sister kept licking Kate's ear, so I took a look and saw that the inside was red and there were a couple of raw looking spots. I cleaned her ear with hydrogen peroxide a couple of times, and it looked better, but yesterday it looked worse again. Kelly looked at it and thought I should take her to the vet, so we are going a bit later this morning.

I am reading...
Walden. Still having a hard time staying with it. I used to read a book in a day, but it's not happening with this one.

On my mind...
plans for Spring--the fence for the puppies, some flowers in pots, sprucing up the house and yard.

From the learning rooms...
still on the forest animals theme.

Pondering these words...
Today if you hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts.
(Invitatory Antiphon for Lent from Morning Prayer)

From the kitchen....
Roast in the crockpot for supper tonight, apple dumplings for dessert.

Around the house...
the usual stuff--laundry and cleaning.

One of my favorite things...
Anticipation.

From my picture album...
After some internet research, I've discovered that the birds I saw in our tree last week were cedar waxwings. They looked like the one in this picture from the internet. Isn't he pretty?

Please visit Peggy to read more daybooks by bloggers.

(Peggy has moved the daybook from Monday to Tuesday, so I'll give you the link to the daybooks tomorrow).

Happy Birthday, Sandi!

May God bless you on your birthday and always.

I pray that this new year of your life is filled with much happiness, love, good health, and contentment.

You are so loved!

Hugs and prayers always,
Sharon