So Much to be Thankful For . . .

This is a picture of the Sonoma Valley (where we live) in the fall.  To drive through this little valley right now is a breath taking experience.  The colors of the trees, the vineyards and the moutains are so beautiful.  It's nice to be the passenger in the car and be able to look around and take it all in.  When the fall colors are at the peak of their beauty I always have the conversation with myself, hmmm, "I think I like fall the best!".  Of course I have the same conversation with myself in the spring as the daffodils are sprouting up, the trees are getting their leaves and everything seems to come alive, hmmm "I think I like spring the best!"  But the colors of nature that we are seeing right now are definitely something I am thankful for.

We had a fun little outing the other day.  Mike has been home from work for the whole week of Thanksgiving due to furlough days and the holiday.  So he decided we would go out and take some pictures of him and the kids for their Christmas card.  He decided they would go visit some of our Charlie Browns, Woodstocks and Snoopy's that are still around town and get the pictures taken.

We started looking for Charlie Brown's in 2005 and Mike's boys were 2, 4 & 6 when we started.  Here's a picture of us then:

So, we went back over to the Ice Arena and re-created the picture the other day.  Now the boys are 8, 11 and 12.  And of course Mike now has Benji as an additon since the first picture.  Here's our newest picture.

Look how the kids have grown!!!  We had such a good time!!  Now, of course, you have to see the picture with Benji in it!

Well, this isn't such a great picture but Benji's in it.  Anyway, we had a really fun time, lunch out and a good time was had by all!!!  A day to be Thankful for!!

Our daughter Tina, got here on November 17th and she's basically been sick ever since she arrived!!  As of today she's planning on trying to find a walk in clinic and seeing someone on Monday, hoping of course that she feels better by Monday.  She was feeling a little better on Thanksgiving and was able to see Erik, Seni and the kids.  She also went down to Connie's and saw Gena and her family & Tony and Hayley.  She'd seen Katie a few nights before so she's seen almost everyone.  Jeff's supposed to come up today, by that time she should have infected everyone!!!  I'm kidding, I'm kidding!!  BUT, having her here for the holidays is always something to be Thankful for!!

I have been trying to jazz this blog up forever.  I even bought a program to make it better.  Unfortunately I can't figure out the program but thinking I was going to try and make it look better I worried about losing the almost 3 years of blogs that I've been writing.  Basically it's been a little diary of my life since 2009 when I started it.  I found a site where I could have my blog entries put into book form and decided to do it just to be sure they would be saved.  The book doesn't have any of the side items that I put in but the blog posts only.  I got the book already and am very happy with it.  Here's a picture.



Front cover



 Well, this is one of the "things" I don't like about creativity process of creating this blog.  I cannot get the 2 covers side by side.  So at this point I'll just have 2 large blank spaces and keep writing.

Back cover

So, even though it's frustrating, I don't have time at Christmas to figure out how to do "it" better, so for being able to write my blog I am Thankful!!

Every night as I crawl into bed and get warm and comfy I thank God for his Blessings, which is the same as being Thankful.  So for me, it always starts with my FAMILY!  Kent, Mike, Tina, Erik & Jeff ~ my daugher-in-laws Seni and Paula (her children Kaleb & Santino) and my son-in-law Max ~ my grandkids, Cyrah, Matt, Joe, Zach, Chloe, Benji and Rhone ~ My Mom and Dad ALWAYS, my sisters, Connie, Cathy & Susie, Connie's kids Tony, Gena, Katie, their spouses Hayley (not yet but close), Ryan & Jared, Connie's grandchildren Justin and Julia ~Cathy's daughter Amy ~ all of Kenny's side of the family, his Dad who died an amazing 20 years ago, his Mom, sisters Louise, Diana, their husbands Frank and Martin, my nieces and nephews, Rob, Renee, Rhonda, Marty and Danny and their spouses Craig & Russ and their children who are our great nieces and nephews Alisha, Jeremy, Tyler, Cassie, Amy, Emily and Kylie ~ my cousins, Judy, Janet, Linda, Marti and Christine and their families ~ all of my Grandmas and Grandpas, my Uncles and Aunts and Cousins that have passed away ~ my friends, Sandi, Linda, Yolanda, Marie, Linda Robertson Groobin, Fred, Bill C & Pami ~ not in my family but the service men and women who have put their lives on the line in the name of our country America.  Now, obviously I don't name all of the people mentioned above every night when I'm saying my prayers but there are nights when I come close.  I'm sure I have left someone out or maybe several someone's out but I truly feel I AM BLESSED!!!  And Thankful!!

As the Christmas season approaches, I always try and "do" too much.  I have great plans of things to make, to send, to let people know how special they are to me.  I'm thinking maybe I won't put so much pressure on myself this year.  Maybe I won't become possessed by starting another project and being disappointed because I didn't finish it.  I'll let you know how I do with this, on one hand I'm getting older and a lot slower in everything I do, on the other hand I really enjoy giving to people.  We'll see how it goes.

One of the major things that I am thankful this year is that my husband, Kenny, is back to his old self again.  He can be grouchy and aggravating and seemingly cheap and those things are all part of who he is but he also is nice and caring in ways that aren't going to get much attention.  So, after a long year of recouperating, he's BA-A-A-C-K!!!  I am Thankful!!!

I hope everyone that reads this blog had a nice Thanksgiving and enjoyed the long weekend.  Now we all need to gear up to get ready for Christmas!!!

My thought to leave you with today is:  Start a gratitude journal, find 2 or 3 things to be thankful for every day and write them down.  You'll be surprised at the things you take for granted daily that actually make you smile and makes the day a better day, writing them down helps you to appreciate the little things in life!!!! 

Until next time . . .

Time flies when you're having FUN!!!

Someone very close to me pointed out last night that I had not written a new blog post since July 5th. He (Mike) pointed out that a lot of things have happened since July 5th. Chloe turned 8, Cyrah turned 16, Joe turned 11, Rhone turned 1, Matt started Middle School, our niece Katie got married, Joe joined the basketball team and played in all 7 games, Kenny and I went on a couple of trips up to Redding and one trip to Reno, my pumpkin season came and went and miracle of all miracles ~ I finally got my ipad 2!!! Life Happens!!

I haven't even been to my blog in so long that the whole format has changed, I have absolutely no idea of how this is going to look when I press the publish button. So, where do I begin. Our little Chloe girl turned 8 on July 26th. She started 3rd grade in August and continues to be a happy little girl with a funny sense of humor, a big smile on her face and has already went to her first concert - Selena Gomez! She's also got Bieberfever! She loves Justin Bieber also, so she's growing up way to fast!

Here's a picture of Cyrah, just after her 16th birthday. It seems we hardly see her anymore, she's busy with school and her internship at the Academy of Sciences Museum in San Francisco. They have a wonderful intern program and Cyrah's has gone to some pretty cool places as a result of her involvement in the program. She wanted a car for her 16th birthday but didn't get one. She wasn't really expecting one, I think it's good to DREAM BIG!

Next on our list is our niece Katie's wedding on October 1st. Everyone had the day saved since January I think. Katie married Jared Kinzel on a cloudy day that blessed us with no rain. It was a beautiful wedding and Katie was a beautiful bride. The ceremony was short, sweet and to the point. The reception was lovely, the cake delicious and the dancing, so much fun!! Here's a picture of our beautiful Belle!

Hard to believe but our Joe Joe boy turned 11 on October 3rd. He's in 5th grade this year. Has a man teacher who also happens to be the basketball coach and is doing very well in school. He was chosen to be his class representative on the Student Council and he goes to the meetings and reports back to his class. Joe decided to go out for the basketball team and made the team. They had 7 games and Kenny and I attended every one. Joe did well, made 5 baskets and learned alot. He's still very quiet but apparently it drives all the girls crazy and they are constantly harassing him to talk. Of course, he LOVES that attention (although he will deny it). Here's his school picture.


Time really does fly when you consider that we just had Rhone's 1st birthday a couple of weeks ago. Erik and Seni had a nice birthday party at Crissy Field near the Golden Gate Bridge for Rhone's birthday. Unfortunately he wasn't feeling that great and Grammy did not get even one good picture but this is one cute little boy. He's just starting to walk, still holding on but I'm sure walking all over the place is just days away. Actually, we're pretty lucky, all of our grandkids are all very cute.

I'm not too crazy about this new format, I don't like all the blank spaces. On the old format I could type stuff in those spaces, but I'm going to keep going, I'm not done yet!

Now who have I left out??? Well, it looks like my Matty boy, oh, I mean Matt, Zach and my little Benji boy. Matt started the 7th grade in August. Oh, my gosh, I was so nervous for him. The night before school started I had to give myself a good talking to and tell myself, if I know anything I know the first day of school at a middle school. In my vast experience in that area, I can honestly say, we never lost one 7th grader. Oh, of course 7th graders got lost but they always found someone to help them on their way. And that's exactly what happened with Matt. No one dumped him in a garbage can, he did get lost but someone helped him and now 9 weeks later he's an old pro at Rincon Valley Middle School. He's doing great in his classes - 5 A's 1 B - riding his bike to and from everyday and really doing well.
Zach is in the 3rd grade this year and has a lot of friends to play with, they love to discuss baseball, he's doing well with his grades and him and his 3 brothers take martial arts classes every day after school. In his martial arts class he's in a class with Matt and he really gives it his all, he is soaking wet with perpiration when he comes out of that class. He's also in Cub Scouts, so he's a very busy little boy.

Last but not least is my little Benji boy.

Although he's not so little anymore. We are doing Wednesdays with Grammy again this year and we have fun together. He cracks me up constantly. These are some of the things Benji says to me with a twinkle in his eye. "Grammy, you just not very smart" (while I was trying to play a video game with him), "Grammy you are wasting my time" (I was trying to show him something on the computer and he knew his time over here was running out). He continues to be a bright, loving, happy, funny little boy who can count to 49 in Japanese, LOVES his martial arts class, works on school work every day with his other Grandmother and can keep right up with his 3 older brothers.

WE ARE BLESSED!!!

Last weekend we had our big pumpkin harvest. I ended up getting 26 pumpkins out of my plantings. Erik & Seni brought Chloe and Rhone up and Mike's kids were here so we put all the pumpkins on our backyard grass and the kids picked a pumpkin and then Erik helped all of them carve pumpkins. It was a beautiful fall weather day and the kids had fun but they only took 1 pumpkin a piece, so I still have 20 pumpkins out on my back lawn. I think I might pass on that idea next year!

Today, is November 3rd, my Mom and Dad's anniversary. Sixty-six years ago today they went to Reno from the Bay Area (can you imagine how long that drive must've been back in 1945?) and tied the knot. I don't have a picture that they considered their wedding photo but I think Connie has one and I'll go scan it and hopefully figure out how to get it into this blog.

I did mention that Kenny and I had traveled to Redding a couple of times in the last couple of months and we had fun going to a couple of Shasta College football games. Our niece Renee is married to Craig Thompson the head football coach at the college. One game was a blowout 48-0 and Shasta was on the wrong side of that one and the next game they won with 2 seconds left to go 30-27. We had a good time, got to see Kenny's sisters, his Mom, and nieces Rhonda and Renee and their great kids Alisha, Amy, Emily and Cassie. The missing person was our great-nephew Jeremy. I think I mentioned in a previous blog about Jeremy joining the Air Force and going in after his high school graduation. Well, he just graduated from whatever the Air Force calls basic training. His Mom, Rhonda, his sister, Cassie, and his Grandma, Kenny's sister Louise, had just returned from Texas when we were up there and we got to hear all about Jeremy and how he's doing. I'm telling you it gave me a little more meaning when we rose to hear the Star Spangled Banner, with our hands over our heart knowing that our Jeremy is one of the servicemen that has joined up to keep us safe from harm's way. I'm really proud of him, as is our whole family.

I did finally take the plunge and got myself and ipad2. I've wanted one since they came out but I really couldn't justify the cost of it with what it can do for me. Really, I still can't. But I got it anyway. When I retired the school district gave me 3 payments based on my salary and years of service as an "incentive" to retire.
LIKE I NEEDED AN INCENTIVE!!!
But of course, I took the money, and this year was the last payment and I wanted something to commemorate that, so I got an ipad 2.

So I've been doing a little painting and some sewing to keep myself busy. It's incredible how slow I am and how I can find anything to get me off track. But I still really enjoy the creative process so I'll just keep doing it even if it does take me forever. Here's a picture of one project I have finished and 1 that I'm in the process of doing.


I saw a program on 20/20 the other night and it has really stayed with me. It was a report that Diane Sawyer did on the Lakota Indians and the people that live on the Pine Ridge Reservation. She documented the people for a year and a half. The conditions that these children live in are deplorable, and of course, alcoholism is rampant which affects everyone in some way young and old. But these children have such hopes and dreams and alot of them are learning the Lakota language and the tribal dances so they don't lose their heritage.
It made me think of rich people who choose magnanimous ways to help other countries. To help their children to health and education. And yet the Indians, for the most part, were our first Americans and the Government treated them horribly. Cheated them out of their land, put them on reservations and forgot about them. Now if you know me you know that I am not a political person but I thinking my attitude on this might make me a bleeding heart liberal. Put any kind of name on it you want but I actually found a link on the 20/20 website and followed it and I think that I am going to contribute some money to this cause. My little pittance of a donation won't really help anyone but you know what, I will feel better. This story touched me. I don't know if it's because I've read a lot of history books concerning the plight of the Indians but I feel now that I know about these people and I cannot act like I don't know their situation.
I will now get off my soapbox!
I had absolutely no reason to share how I feel about this situation with you but I can and I did and I like that I wrote about it!!!

I think I've caught you up on just about everything, I'm not really sure how this post is going to look. I certainly don't like the format that I'm typing it in. As an update, Kenny is feeling and doing much better!! Back to his old cantankerous self!!! This winter will be much better than last year for him. He HATES winter! Oh, Tina will be coming home for a visit in a couple of weeks and we all look forward to that. I'm going to try and figure out this format and try and put some more pictures on but who knows if I can!

Thanks for taking the time to read this, it is awfully long, but want you to know I appreciate you taking the time!

A thought to leave you with: As the winter weather starts to settle in, read a good book, write a note to a friend, look at your old pictures and figure out a way to use them. Keep busy!!

Until next time . . .

A Little of This, A Little of That - observations from the Windmill of my Mind!

Today is July 5th, I meant to write something patriotic yesterday on the 4th but I just never got around to it. So here goes. Years ago, on the 4th of July, it was always a "get together - family occasion". We would usually go out to Kenny's Mom and Dad's house have a barbeque, the kids would swim, play games - a big full day. Then in the evening we would do fireworks at our house, everyone would come over to our house and at first we did them in the street in front of our house, later on we switched to the backyard where we would get the chairs all set up on the lawn for the big spectacle!! A really fun memory. Well, that's all it is now because a few years ago fireworks were banned in our town and we don't care to go to the extravaganza at the fairgrounds, so we didn't see anyone yesterday except for Mike who lives here, we never went outside (it was so hot) and when we started hearing the fireworks over at the fairgrounds we continued to watch tv. Pitiful, apathetic, uninspired - it was not the kind of 4th we had when our kids were home. Last year we went to Redding and had a great time with our family up there, great day and went out and found a hillside to ooh and aah at their fireworks from afar. We could've done that again this year but we had just been up there a couple of weeks ago - so thus - me whining! On to more important observations!


I have observed recently something that we all probably take for granted but I think is the most universal expression of happiness, love, caring, sorrow, forgiveness and many other things. A HUG!!! As I watch videos of men and women coming home from the war (any war) when their loved ones see the returnee - they immediately run to them and throw their arms around them - a HUG! I've watched many touching reunions on the internet and young and old express their happiness with - a HUG! Of course as I said in my beginning statement, a good hug can give you comfort when you're sad, share in gladness when you're happy, connect you when you've been apart, let's you know instantly you are cared about. So, go out and give someone a hug and let them know you care, you'll both feel better! A HUG!!!

I started a new project this weekend and it's a doozy! I am cleaning my craft/sewing/computer room. I think I have mentioned in the past - I am a slob! But the other night as I looked around this room (which was hard to do because it was really a mess) I started thinking about how I miss painting and there was no room to paint in this room. So I measured, scooted things around and was able to bring in a 6 foot table to put under the window so that I can now paint. Of course it's now 3 days later and I'm almost done organizing. I also make dvd's of our family and have been going through pictures to try and make a dvd of our camping trips and one of little league baseball with both my sons and my grandsons in that dvd. It's very time consuming because you have to go through a million pictures and then go through our old movies. But what else do I have to do?? LOTS!!! So I want to paint, I want to get started on some Christmas projects, my pictures and dvd's, my sewing projects are calling me - I guess it's better to be busy than bored! Onward and upward!

Notice the red and blue theme?? On my screen the background is white, I know it's not on yours, work with me here people!! So as I was cleaning this room, I need music to work to and one of my all time best albums to listen to is Kenny Loggins - Outside in the Redwoods (or something like that). It's a live album (which usually I'm not too fond of) but this one I love. A few years ago my sister Connie and I went to one of his concerts and we totally rocked out! At one point I said to Connie, "I want to still be doing this together when we're 85!" I can guarantee that you cannot listen to his music and not get up and dance! So that's what I've been doing as I clean today, rocking out with Kenny Loggins, probably nothing as pathetic as an old lady rocking out but I like it! Recently I was at a wedding where I was out on the dance floor with all 4 of our grandsons (Matt, Joe, Zach & Benji) and one of our granddaughter's (Chloe) and we all ROCKED IT!! To see all of their faces and having so much fun together, I hope it's something they always remember! We had so much fun so if you feel so inclined - dance like no one is watching!!

One of the things I had to do in this cleaning project was to straighten up my little bookcase. I had to laugh when I looked at the books in it. The books were primarily cleaning and dieting books. What a laugh! I already told you I'm a slob and obviously I haven't been following the diet books - I thought about my kids going through my stuff after I'm dead and gone - I'm sure they will get a huge laugh out of me having those books!!!

I have been reading a lot lately - and such good books!! The last one I read was titled "1000 White Women - the journal of May Dodd". The premise of this book is that a Chief of the Cheyenne Indians went to President Grant in 1874 and made the proposition that if they would give them 1000 white women, the Indians would give 1000 horses to the U.S. In doing so the white women would agree to marry and have a child with an Indian - thus the child would be 1/2 & 1/2 and would help to assimilate the 2 cultures together. This proposal apparently really did happen but President Grant rejected the idea. The writer though was intrigued with the premise and wrote this book. I think he did a wonderful job but I was crying by the end. This book, although fiction, will stay with me. My Dad loved to read westerns. My Mom was always on the hunt for a new western for my Dad to read. Then he would read it in about 2 days and she was on the hunt again. This was before used book stores. So I always read a western or two in honor of my Dad. One of the reasons this book struck me was the time was 1874 and at one point they are encamped on the North Platte river. My Grandma was born and raised in North Platte in 1883 (I'm pretty sure) and to think there were still Indians roaming around just 9 years before she was born!! Again it makes me sad that I didn't ask my Grandma more questions about her life when she was still alive. I, of course, think the same thing about my Mom and Dad. Take note anyone reading this that still has people to ask questions of - do it - for they are gone too soon! Also, if you have a video camera, take video so you can see them and hear their voices. I miss hearing all of my relatives voices - but they are always alive in my heart and my mind!

Just a short garden report, my sweet peas finally bloomed and they've been beautiful and their aroma is delectable - sad to say the heat we're having now will kill them off but I've had some nice vases of them and have been able to give them as gifts. If you click on the picture it will enlarge and you can see how pretty my sweet peas are - too bad we don't have "smellavision" they smell glorious! In my garden I've planted something new this year. I decided I would try and grow a pumpkin for each of my 7 grandchildren. I planted 2 seeds in 8 holes thinking everyone would have a choice of pumpkins. WHAT WAS I THINKING!!! I now have 16 plants with tons of pumpkins growning on the vines!! I will have to put up a "Free Pumpkins at Grammy's Pumpkin Patch" sign!! I'll report back and let you know how they're doing!

My thought to leave you with this time: Don't moan, groan and complain about something that is fixable - get off your butt and do something about it if it bothers you so much!! (Duh, I should take my own advise).

Until next time . . .

What a difference a day makes!!!

If you've been following this blog at all you must now realize I am the original "Wendy Winer" now that was "winer" as in moaner, groaner, crybaby. NOT, "Weiner" as in lewd and perverted Congressman.

I griped, complained, suffered through the last few months of ongoing rain, grey skies, cold weather (after we had turned our heater off for the year), my plants not getting planted, then after getting planted - getting drenched. Just waiting for the sun to appear and warm us all up a little bit.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR!!!

For the last 2 days Mr. Sunny came back to Santa Rosa, CA. It was 89 yesterday and 86 the day before, it's noon right now and it's 83 degrees. So, now of course I'm still "Wendy Winer" but now it's because it's too darn hot!!! Our grandkids have been patiently waiting to jump into the pool - we kept saying "it's too cold", "the water is freezing", "it will warm up soon enough". So yesterday, we take a water sample to the pool place, they declare that it's fine, we take the solar cover off of the pool, and it's GREEN! Kenny tests the water, everything reads "normal" but you can't see the bottom, it's like the green lagoon! The kids come over we tell them "you can't swim". They are MAD!!! Kenny gets in the pool and vacuums and gets the bugs out and declares "if they want to go swimming, they can go". So they jump in and have a great time but today we will be going back to the pool store to see if someone can tell us how the water can test "normal" and still be green.

I went out early this morning and cut some sweet peas. I still don't have many the rain really did a number on them but the "volunteer" bushes that just popped up have been giving me quite a few. I'm just starting to get some other colors so hopefully the heat won't fry them and I'll get a variety. I had my haircut last week and took a vaseful of them to my hairdresser, she was thrilled. They are such a nice little gift, people are always so happy to receive them.

Last week I had lunch with my 3 best friends from work. We have been through thick and thin together (literally, as far as I'm concerned). We had such a great time. Traditionally after school was over every year we went to this one restrauant and had a nice, leisurally lunch (where there were no bells and no interruptions - we worked at a school remember). My friends are Sandi Taber, Linda Walker and Yolanda Silva. The original group was Sandi, Linda and I. We were celebrating because Linda just retired. So we're the "old ladies" of our group. Then this young "whipper-snapper" came to work at our school and she is an "old soul" who became one of "us". She, of course, is Yolo. She's young enough to be all of our daughter's but she just fits with us. Her laugh can make the grouchiest day - better, fun and happy. Here we all are. I'm serious when I say this group of women has been a lifesaver, to each one of us in different ways. We have always been "safe" with each other. Able to share feelings, thoughts, ideas, ask for help, get a hug, share some kleenex, laugh our heads off to the point off wishing we were wearing depends!! I Love these Ladies - it was GREAT getting together.

Just finished another excellent book. Sarah's Key by Tatiana deRosnay. I am convinced that I had former lives and that I was a black slave at one point and a Jewish person during the time of the Holocaust. I know, it sounds weird, but I really believe it. Anyway, I am drawn to both those types of books. I thought I should share that when I'm telling you that I really enjoyed a book. Full disclousure ~ I am NUTS!!!

So, tonight, Matty boy has a playoff game so we'll be out at the ballpark. Let's hope he wins, he wants a trophy!!! Go Diamondbacks!

My thought to leave you with this time is: Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it!

Until next time . . .

I'm Late, I'm Late, for a VERY IMPORTANT DATE!!!!

I am so late in wishing my Zachary a Happy,

Happy 8th Birthday in Grammy's blog. Zachy was

8 on May 23rd. Grammy and Grandpa were up in Reno

having a very good time and Grammy forgot to get Zach's birthday wishes written up before we left. This
picture is of Zachy at his class play, doesn't he look

grown up? This year he is in Rincon Valley Little League in the Peanut league and he really has enjoyed it. He's a little sad about it right now because yesterday was his last game. So I guess, if Summer ever comes to Santa Rosa, he'll be happy to switch to swimming when-ever he can. Zach is a smart, funny, sometimes intense

boy who can keep up with his older brothers. He's taking karate and loves video games. So, a late, Happy ~ Happy ~ Birthday to our Zach-A-Rach-A!!!

We've been busy, last weekend we went up to Redding for the weekend. Our great-nephew Jeremy just graduated from high school. Jeremy has made what I think is a bold decision, he has joined the Air Force and will be leaving for basic training on August 15th. I've always wondered how and why young people join military service and I don't really know Jeremy's reasons but Thank God! the people that join, do so. They are keeping us and a lot of other people safe because men and women have chosen the military as a career path. I personally don't think they are treated with the respect they deserve - both while they are in and then discharged from their service - but that's something I won't get into. But while thinking of Jeremy going into the service - I think "he's so young", "he's not very big", "I'll worry about him". That made me think of Memorial Day and how we take time to remember what our military past and present do for us throughout history. That made me think of the brave men in my family that went off to participate in "The Big One - WWII". So I have pictures to share of my Dad and my Uncles (everyone except for my Uncle Clarence and his son Jimmy, my cousin, who who were both in the Navy, although Jimmy of course, was not in WWII. But I did think of one other uncle who was, my Dad's other brother, my Uncle Kelly who was in the Army and survived an awful march (I want to say through Africa but that doesn't sound right, what would they have to do with WWII?).

This is my Uncle Connie and across from him is his brother, my Dad. Uncle Connie actually was not in WWII he served in the Army after the war was over. My Dad, served aboard ships in the Merchant Marines. Oh, the stories he could tell!!! We grew up hearing the ones that were okay for 4 girls and 7 grandkids to hear!

This is my Uncle Frankie and his twin sister, my Mom (who was not in the war but I couldn't find a picture of Uncle Frankie by himself). Next to them is their little brother, my Uncle Babe. Talk about being too young, look at his baby face! I think he was maybe 18 when he went to war. Uncle Frankie and Uncle Babe also served in the Merchant Marines. So I guess Jeremy is following in an age old tradition - leaving home to see the world! We wish all the best for him and will keep track of him via Facebook. And thus my little tribute to service people, Thank you for keeping us safe!

We are finally enjoying some rainless (is that a word?) weather. The sun kinda creeps through a hazy sky somewhere around noon and it's predicted to be mid 70's for the next 10 days. I'm totally okay with mid 70's (I'm not a fan of extreme heat) but I think my plants would like it a little warmer. They have been water logged. I do have some pictures but trying to put pictures in at this point is really a pain. So next time pictures of my water logged yard and a great picture of my friends I used to work with at Cook Middle School.

Today, we went out to watch our oldest grandson Matt play in a playoff game for his team. It was warm and I sat out in the sun (bad idea when you have white, white skin - but I did put on sunscreen) and his team lost. They have another game next Wednesday, so hopefully they win that game. They will be in a Tournament of Champions later in the month but Matt has been spoiled, they went 16-2 this year so a loss at this stage of the game was hard for him.

I will close for now but just wanted to say I've read some really good books lately - 1) the girl she used to be by David Cristofano 2) The Beach Trees by Karen White 3) Crooked letter, Crooked letter by Tom Franklin. I LOVE to read. Unfortunately, when I read, I do NOTHING else, if I can get away with it.

Let me also just say, thank you for reading my blog. I think there's only about 9 of you, but I really appreciate you taking the time to read it.

My thought to leave you with this time is: Give someone a compliment, say Thank You when maybe you wouldn't ordinarily do so, it takes so little to make someone's day better!!!

Until next time . . .

Love & Marriage

Today is Kenny and my 45th wedding anniversary!!! Truly, that does not seem possible. Talk about time flying, whether you're having fun or not! On May 14th, 1966 did we have any idea what we were committing ourselves to? NOT A CLUE! Here we are in our wedding picture, in for a life sentence!!!! Do those people look ready to live together, make joint decisions, make and raise a family, and a million other things that make a marriage??? Not on your life!!!

BUT, we did it, and we've done pretty darn good for ourselves!!! We had good examples, my Mom and Dad were married for 48 years before my Mom's death and Kenny's Mom and Dad were married 6 weeks short of 50 years before his Dad's death. We used both sets of parents for examples and tweaked everything to suit us. Was is always fun and games? Nope! Did both of us at one time or another declare "I'm leaving, this is not working!" Yes! Did we work out whatever the problem was and keep on keepin' on?? Yes!! And by doing so, we became a stronger unit. A couple that still has the ability to drive each other crazy and then laugh at the craziness!!!

This has been a hard year. Kenny's heart surgery has been much more that we thought would be involved in the recovery. But he's slowly coming back to be more himself. We're in it together and as we get older it gets kinda scary thinking that something could happen to either one of us and the other person is our main link to wellness. I think we'll be okay!

I just thought of a funny story of when we first got married. I was a person that was afraid of every noise I heard in our house. I had just left my family where my Dad would go out and look for all the boogey men that I knew were in the house somewhere just waiting to kill me. Let me give you a visual ~ my Dad, middle of the night, walking down the hall in his underwear with a loaded pistol in his hand, ready to save us from lurking evil that I was sure was in the house. Now, all of a sudden I'm in a house, sleeping next to this kid, who when I wake him up and tell him I hear a noise, is just as scared as I am. I'm thinking, what in the heck have I gotten myself into!!! Eventually he would learn to get up, go down the hall and look but he didn't have a gun with him!!

This is a picture of my Grandma & Grandpa Hogg. My Mom's Mom and Dad. It's a picture of their 50th anniversary. Don't they look old?? I'm hoping in 5 years Kenny and I don't look that old. I Love this picture, just wanted to make the comparison.

My friend Linda Robertson Groobin who was my maid of honor, has always been so good about remembering our anniversary and sending a card. This year is no different and her card is what inspired me to put in the picture of Kenny and I in a photo booth. So here's the card she sent us - Thanks Linda! I LOVE IT!!!

So, next week we'll take a little trip to Reno, hopefully win a little money, go out to a nice dinner and go see Pirates of the Caribbean 4 and get started on 46 years!!

My thought to leave you with this time: Who knows what can happen when you go out on a date with a boy your best friend went out with first?? Life is full of surprises!!

Until next time . . .

Oh My - Mother's Day

Mother's Day is not one of my favorite "days". I wouldn't really call it a holiday so for me, it's a day. I guess you could say I carry a grudge, I don't have a Mother to celebrate in life with, so on a daily basis I celebrate her in my mind.This is a picture of her in her "wild & crazy" days!! Mom grew up in Millbrae, just 16 miles south of San Francisco. During World War II she worked in a dime store (now that's an oldie but a goodie word) and loved to go to San Francisco to dance the night away. She got married when she was 21, had me when she was 22 and became the center of our family's life. Dad was always working to give us a better life and Mom was home - I mean that in the sense that wherever Mom was - was home. I could go on and on but I won't. Her family loved her so much and I sometimes wonder if she knew how important she was to all of us. I MISS HER!!!

Now it's crazy to say it's not one of my favorite days. I have 4 beautiful, wonderful children of my own. And I do know they love me. But I don't think they could ever love me as much as I love my Mom. I know, that's where crazy comes in!!!

This is a picture of me and the kids back in the early 80's. I realize after looking through a lot of pictures, I have very few pictures of me and the kids. That's probably because 1) I don't like to have my picture taken and 2) I'm usually taking the pictures.

I had a quiet Mother's Day. Got a call from Erik, Mike lives here and wished me a Happy Mother's Day early in the morning, Jeff came up for a visit and I got a nice big hug from him and Tina called from Mississippi. I had received a package from her a few days before and waited until today to unwrap my gift. It was so special. She sent me quite a few cd's that I can't wait to start listening to and she also sent me a book. At first I thought she had sent me a journal. I thought I recognized it as one that she had bought here in Santa Rosa. When I started flipping through the pages my heart skipped a beat!! She had cut out pictures of my life - Mom and Dad, our whole family, Kenny and the kids, Kenny and I when we were young, me when I was young, my kids, my grandkids!!!! I immediately started crying, the kind of cry when your throat closes up and you are literally "choked up." Her fiance, Max, is an artist, and he had done illustrations and wording throughout the book. Oh my God, so special to me!!! I told Tina later on the phone that it was the best gift I've ever gotten, except for my 4 kids (and my 7 grandkids)!!!

So, although quiet, it was a special day. I thought about my Mom alot. Thought about the 4 great kids that got me into this Mother's Day club and thanked God for blessing me in so many ways!!!

My thought to leave you with this time is: As you get older, memories become so much more important to you and then wouldn't you know, your memory goes!!! Use it or lose it!!!

Until next time . . .

Oh What A Glorious Day!!!

The title of my blog this time was actually how I felt yesterday. I woke up (always encouraging) and the sun was out, we had slept the night before with our window open and the blinds were pulled up and sunlight and blue sky were giving us a wonderful way to start the day!



Then the paper shouted that Osama binLaden had finally been found and killed!!! I had seen the news the night before on the computer and listened to President Obama's speech. When I listened to his speech it made me remember why I wanted him for President. I am not a political person. In fact I had never voted before the 2008 election. But President Obama has a wonderful way of speaking and it reminded me of when I was young and would watch John F. Kennedy in his news conferences. Just let me add, I know that people are not thrilled with him and feel he is letting America down some how. Let me just say that is how alot of people felt with the administrations before him. We all have to live with who our President is and hope that whoever it is is always trying to do the best by the American people.



Anyway, that's beside the point. We all will never forget the images and stories and we all saw heard when the terrorists attacked us on 9/11 and I just think most Americans felt vindicated in some small way.



That's kinda weird I had all that to say. It's just that I was out yesterday and everywhere I went people were smiling and friendly and I must say HAPPY!! At first I thought it was just the sunshine because we've been dealing with a lot of gloomy days here but then I heard some people talking about the binLaden situation and I realized it had a more significant effect than I had thought about.


I have been so busy working in our yard. In my mind I was calling it my "geranium summer" in honor of my Mom. My Mom loved to go to nurseries and if she saw a geranium she liked, she just broke a piece off of one, went home and stuck it in some water and eventually planted it and had some really pretty geraniums. So, my geraniums never grow, always die back and get so ugly over the winter but this year I decided I would save them and plant them somewhere else and they would be reborn!!! And BEAUTIFUL!!! Well, they are starting to grow although I haven't seen any evidence of any flowers but I'm sure they are all going to be great!


I have been so creative in my yard this year. I've made new planting areas, repainted some of my stuff on my fence that was all faded, been working on a drip system and tried to do a little something everyday. Well, you would be amazed at how good everything looks and it's only a few days into May. I have told you before that the peak of my yard is Memorial Day and after that it goes downhill drastically. So, I only have this month to enjoy the beauty. I have not taken pictures yet but you can be sure I will. Then I will post them here. Maybe I'll even do that tomorrow and add them to this post. Bottom line is that I am enjoying myself. And I LOVE to go outside and sit at our patio table and enjoy the yard, the birds the clean yard!


I have a new picture of our little Rhone. He's 6 months old already!! He is the happiest little baby. Obviously sitting up now. He's not too sure about Grammy yet but I will be working on that little situation.

I haven't lost one yet. He just has to get big enough that I can ply him with sweets!!!

The boys in our family are totally into their Little League teams. We spend at least 1 night a week out at the ballpark and Kenny has been out to see everyone play on Saturdays. Zachy was involved in a triple play the last game he played. Joe is pitching and doing very well although his team has only won 2 games. Matt is playing out in left field and he's made some great plays from out there. They seem to all like it. Mike is really busy. He's managing Zachy's team - the Mets - he's coaching on Joe's team - the White Sox - and he gets to be a Dad at Matt's games - the Diamondbacks. Although he hasn't gotten to see many of Matt's games because Mike's teams have been playing the same time as Matt's team quite a few times. It's a busy time!

Well, I think that's about it for this post. Time for me to go check in on "The Biggest Loser." My television season is just about coming to an end. And Oprah is finishing up her 25 years on her talk show. I will miss her show. I always record them, don't always watch all of them. But I think she has made the world a better place and shown differing views and opinions on all sorts of subjects and really has made a big impact on our world concerning acceptance, caring and letting people know that whatever our situations, there are people "out there" who are experiencing the same thing as some of us. I don't think I said that as well as I could have, like I said, I will miss her show.

Coming up on our 45th wedding anniversay in 2 weeks. I cannot believe 45 years has come and gone. Time plays with your mind and then, you look in the mirror and realize - wow, 45 years has had to have gone by - when did I fall apart!!!!

My message to leave you with this time is: Find something to be happy about, it makes you feel good, inside & out!!!

Until next time . . .

Oh Happy Day!! Matt is 12!!!

I started my blog a little over 2 years ago and on April 7th my blog has always been about our oldest grandson, Matthew Jerick Richmond, and today is no different - Matty boy is 12 years old today!!! Here is a picture we took this morning as I brought him cookies to share with his 6th grade class.

And there's little Mr. Zachy over to the side, 10 seconds before the picture was snapped, Zachy was behind us giving us bunny ears. Look how big our boy is getting. I have said over and over and will continue to say, this boy has brought so much love, joy, happiness and laughter to our lives and to our family. Last year when he turned 11 he told us he was a "pre-pre teen" so I guess now he's a "pre-teen" and all the signs are there that being a teenager is the next step on our journey, but wait, I'm getting ahead of myself, he just turned 12 today, let's enjoy the year 12 journey first!!! I'll tell you a little bit about our relationship, I woke up at 6:00 this morning (unheard of!) and basically laid in bed (going down memory lane in my mind) and was waiting until 7:30 when I thought it would be okay to call and sing the Happy Birthday song to him. At 7:20 the phone rings, it's Matty, I sing his song and tell him that I was laying in bed waiting for 7:30 so I could call him and he said "Grammy I've been waiting for 20 minutes for you to call me!" He knows he can count on his Grammy and his Grammy knows he loves me and that a "lovie" and a kiss are always there for me!!! Oh Happy Day!

The Richmond's have been very busy lately and the next couple of months prove to be equally jam packed!!! Towards the end of March we went on a week long trip to Disneyland. Kenny and I, Mike, Matt, Joe, Zach & Benji and their Mom, Jenn. We'd started planning this trip in January and picked the week we went because the kids and Jenn were all on spring break. Basically the month of March was a filled with rain, but we were going to LA where it seldoms rains and the temperatures right up until the day we left had been in the mid 70's. Well, it does rain in LA, and it rained nearly every day we were at Disneyland. BUT - we had a GREAT TIME!! I had "Googled" - "What do you do when it rains at Disneyland?" before we left. The answer was "Put on a poncho and have a great time!" And that's exactly what we did. Some of us did have shoes that filled with water (Mike) and sleeves that were soaked from below the poncho down to our fingertips (all of us). But all in all, it will always be part of our story of Disneyland. Benji our little 4 year old grandson went on Thunder Mountain Railroad like 8 times, always in the rain - shouting "Bring It On!" the whole way! Mike, Matt & Zach went on California Screamin' (a huge roller coaster over in California Adventures) 3 times and would've gone over and over if they'd had the chance, I think everyone but me went on the Matterhorn and had a great time. We saw the beautiful fireworks show, had delicious ice cream cones, pushed Matt around in a wheelchair 1 day because his ankles hurt, went on the Roaring Rapids ride, saw the Aladdin show and wished we could've seen that one again!! We went on The Pirates of the Carribean ride and all the kids thought it was "boring" - which it was - we waited in lines, ate popcorn & churros & ice creams, walked back and forth to our motel, rested on some of the many benches and sitting areas, rode the train and really had a wonderful time. Jenn took plenty of pictures, I took some and I took some short videos. I will try and figure out how to get some of the pictures on here. Memories that will last forever!!! To the left you will see a video. This is a song that they played when the Disneyland fireworks were over - I loved the song and Mike was able to find it on youtube.com ~ One of the other things that I love about it is that it is introduced by Jiminy Crickett and he's my most favorite Disney character and I wasn't able to find any souvenir of him, so Mike finding this song was perfect!!!

When we got back Erik called and asked if Chloe could spend a few days as she was going to be on her spring break the coming week. I said "Yes!" of course. Chloe was nervous about doing this because Cyrah would not be with her. Cyrah is doing an internship down at the California Academy of Sciences and got a wonderful opportunity to tour southern California colleges (all expenses paid) for the spring break week. So, Chloe was going to have to be here alone! She had a few rough moments at bedtime but other than that she had a great time. She got to play with her 2nd cousin Julia (my niece Gena's little girl) they are 2 days apart in age. We had Benji over and she and Benji had a great time in the hot tub and playing MarioKart on the Wii. And for me personally, to just be with her for an extended amount of time was great. I read to her at bedtime, brushed her hair (it's long and silky) watched Secretariat and Tangled with her. But one moment stands out in my mind, I read one of her books to her and then asked her if she would like me to read one of my favorite books that I had when I was a little girl. She said yes and so I went and got my book and read it to her. The book is like 60 years old and falling apart but I read it to Chloe and looked into her beautiful eyes as I read it to her and cherished the moment. She wasn't too thrilled with the book but it was a special, special time for me.

On Monday night Zach had his 1st Little League game for this year. He's in the Peanuts this year and Mike is his coach. His team is the Mets. Zach was very excited, as soon as we got there he started waving and turned around to show us that he is #13. This is Zach's first year on a real field with dugouts. He played in the outfield and he played catcher. He got a hit off the pitching machine every time he was up, it was the best Little League experience that Zach has had. Matt & Joe will both play at the same time on Friday night and Saturday. It works out pretty good for us because we can watch both games from one spot. It's going to be a busy couple of months ~ So, let the games begin!!

We've finally had a few nice days around here and Benji and I were out working in the yard last Saturday. He's working on a special surprise and so I took some pictures so we can have a record of his progress. He's very excited about this surprise. He's also taking karate now and loves to do his kicks and punches while jumping on the trampoline. He is so ready for school. He just turned 4 and he's telling everyone "When I am 5 I get to go to kindergarten!" He's got a bit of a wait but he's excited. If you scroll all the way to the end of my blog you will see pictures of Benji working on his project.

I am very, very pleased to report that my husband Kenny is really doing better in his recovery from his heart surgery. He still gets tired but he's playing golf every chance he gets and walking on days when he doesn't golf. He got some new golf clubs and tonight he's off to golf with his friends in a golf league that he's golfed in for years. So I'm pretty encouraged, it's been a long almost 9 months but we're making it through!!!

As for me, it's Spring and hope springs eternal for me that this year my flower beds will look nice and our yard will look nice throughout the summer. Hope springing eternal is really a good phrase for me to use, my yard is usually at whatever peak it can be by Memorial Day, then more heat comes, the need to use less water to water with and the yard becomes a giant clothes line with wet towels all over the place, goggles, squirt guns, tubes, you name it. What's the trade off?? A very nice yard and no kids or grandkids visiting OR a messy yard with kids and grandkids having a great time at Grammy's & Grumps house??? A no brainer but still I try!!! Maybe this year will be the year that I get all the plants that I buy planted and then the hope that they'll grow - Hope Springs Eternal!!!

Well, this has been a very long post, I was being harassed by one of my children, Mike, to be exact, that I hadn't written anything since March 9th and we had actually done something!!! So, here it is Mike!! Our family is well and active and we all have things we're looking forward to in the summer months, so onward & upward!!!

My thought to leave you with this time is: Making memories, we can all do it in the simplest of ways but the making of them stays with us forever!!!

Until next time . . .

Happy Birthday to Benji!!! He's 4 TODAY!

Here he is - our Benji Boy - 4 years old today!! My how time flies. That could be the title of my blog - How Time Flies! Benji makes me laugh, he's very loving, he makes up songs and sings them out and now he's quite the performer of songs he hears on his brother's mp3 players and is now adding dance moves to go with them. He likes to play Mario Kart on the Wii and loves to take Grammy on!! He's better than I am and he likes to rub it in - Bring it On Grammy! is one of his favorite taunts. He's very smart and really would have a great time in pre-school, but it's just so expensive. His other Grandma works with him and he knows all his letters and is sounding out words. He's a cutie pie, our family was blessed (once again) the day he was born!!!

I've been keeping myself busy - read some new books - worked on some more sewing projects. Every once in a while I've even made an attempt at cleaning the house. Really, every once in a while!! I am not a cleaner, I come from a family of non-cleaners!!! It's not something I'm proud of but I'm accepting of the floor not being swept every day!!

I had a wonderful surprise 2 weeks ago. I came home and there was a package on the table for me, I opened it and found 5 boxes of Girl Scout cookies!!! My cousin Judy and her husband Paul sent them to me. Judy's little granddaughter is a brownie and apparently a totally terrific cookie seller. It was such a nice surprise. I think I've mentioned before that Judy and I are both retired now but as we were growing up we were really close cousins. When we were teenagers (always on the lookout for "cute" boys) we would always find some and they always went for Judy, I was always the 2nd fiddle. We had so much fun!! In fact, speaking of brownies, her sisters Linda and Jani & Judy were all brownies/girl scouts and so were my sisters Cathy and Connie and I. I got to the girl scout stage, I don't think Cathy and Connie did. Anyway, Judy and I call each other and laugh on the phone for about an hour or so every couple of weeks, we have a great time

We're planning a trip to Disneyland, we'll be going with our grandsons - Matty - Joe - Zach - Benji and their Mom and Dad. I guess most of the people who read my blog know that Mike and Jenn (the parents) are divorced but we're making this a family vacation nonetheless. The kids are very happy that both of their parents will be seeing Disneyland with them and it reinforces to them that families come in many different configurations. I'm sure I'll be posting pictures here once we get back.

Our littlest grandson, Rhone, just started daycare this week as it was time for his Mom to go back to work. I made him a really cute little bib and his Mom sent a picture of his first day. Here's the pictures of both.

He is just the happiest little guy. So easy to get a smile out of him. He's almost 5 months old now.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!!

Actually as I write this, it is January 28th - not only the month - but the new year seems to be speeding by. My mind is constantly abuzz with thoughts that I would like to share on my blog but it seems they stay buzzing in my head rather than me getting them into my blog. But I will share some of thoughts that my old 64 year old brain can remember.

I had a wonderful birthday. It was on a Saturday so everyone was here except for Tina who had returned to Mississippi earlier in the month. But of course I heard from her several times that day. I heard from 2 of my sisters, Cathy, back in Montana and Connie, down the street. My cousin Judy and her husband Paul sent me a beautiful bouquet of tulips and my son Jeff brought me a gorgeous vase full of flowers.

It was a beautiful day so when Erik and his family arrived we were able to go outside and the kids were able to ride bikes. Chloe rode Matt's old bike and Benji zipped around on the bike he got for Christmas. It was fun to watch them and I'd love for all of us to go down and visit Erik & Seni on a Sunday when they close Golden Gate park and let bike riders ride all over without having to worry about cars.

The newest member of our family, Rhone, was 3 months old on my birthday. We had pizza for dinner and it was just a very special day for me. I kept saying "I want a picture of me and my 7 grandkids before everyone leaves" and for once we actually didn't run out of time and I got a really nice picture of all of us. It's very unusual for me to ask for a picture of me with anyone (I don't like to have my picture taken). But what I said to myself was "Get over it!" So although we couldn't get Rhone to look up, I think it's a very cute picture!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~I LOVE IT!!! They are all so cute!~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next week a very good friend of mine took me to lunch and bought me a "decadent" birthday cake, it was delicious!! So, turning 64 was great for me!! I really have never been hung up on age, my theory has always been, if you're not getting older, you're dead!! So, I hope I live to be a 100! Also, when I was thinking about my birthday blog I wanted to put the Beatle's song "When I'm 64" on the blog, somehow playing in the background but I never figured out how to do it. I was a teenager when that song came out and now "when I get older, losing my hair, many years from now - will you still be sending me a valentine, birthday greetings, bottle of wine - will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64".

I've been doing a bit of sewing which I am enjoying. For Christmas I finished some placemats that I had started years ago and decided this was the year I needed to finish them. I made 19 of them - 18 for our family and one for my sister Connie. They were very time consuming but turned out great, as you can see! Well, actually, you can't see them right now. I've been trying to get the pictures to this spot for about 45 minutes. So I'm abandoning that idea right now and hopefully I'll be able to put some pictures on the sidebar. Anyway, I've made a couple pair of slippers and a blanket for Rhone. And I've done it with material I already had, so hopefully I'll keep it up!

When my children were little we always watched "The Waltons" I'm pretty sure it was on Thursday nights. Well I've bought myself some seasons of the Waltons on ebay and Amazon and Mike got me 2 seasons for Christmas so now I have seasons 1 - 5. I have been watching episodes every day and I have enjoyed that show again, 35 years (or more) later, so much. It was such a simpler time then and the show holds up well because it's set in the 30's so it's not like you're watching a show from the 70's that looks ridiculous. The cast is wonderful and each person fits their part so well, I look forward to an episode or 2 every day. I won't get any seasons after John Boy leaves and the other children are older, I never enjoyed those as much, but will have to figure out if any more seasons will fit what I'm looking for. Our daughter Tina used to always say goodnight to us the way the Walton family did every night.

Good night Tina!

Well, I guess I've gone on and on and it's time to wrap up this edition of Life in the Retirement Zone. I really do enjoy writing on this blog. I will try and be better about posting because now I have so many posts on it, it's like a diary of the past 2 years. As an update, my husband, Kenny is doing better. Not better enough for his liking but he says he's about 80% of what he thinks he should be. I think that a huge improvement over him not being able to get out of bed by himself!!!

As for me, to steal a line from Oprah, What Do I Know For Sure ~~~I know that I am loved, I know that Life Goes On (whether we want it to or not), I know that my Mom and Dad are with me and listen when I talk to them, I know that God works in mysterious ways ~ His wonders to perform, I know that friends and their friendship are as important to me as my family, I know that a sense of humor is an essential part of living and I know that I am a caring, compassionate person who aches for the injustices in our world!!

To all that read this blog, Thank You So Much!!

My message to leave you with this time is: Listen to some music, read a good book, go out and plant some spring flowers! Life isn't waiting, go LIVE IT!

Until next time . . .