Year end

Only a few more days left to this year and I will be spending some of them with the families of my son here and my daughter who is visiting from Atlanta. I'll be with three of my grand children and rejoice in the love that the season is all about. It feels like each Christmas is coming around sooner. Guess that's the sign of the times. Everything in warp speed. But, this week, I'll slow down, get on the floor and play. For these happy days, I am grateful.

Christmas long ago

Sometimes, we come across a photo of the past that makes us long for the simpler times. But, do we just forget the struggles and complications of those times gone by and only remember the warm and fuzzy feelings? Either way, we cherish the blessings of seeing Christmas through the eyes of our children. And, now double our joys with the thrill of grandchildren. For these past and present memories, I am grateful.

Not playing with a full deck

Well, every one's heard that expression before. "She's not playing with a full deck". But, today it actually happened. I play Bridge at my Women's Club and we played four rounds before someone realized that we were not playing with a full deck! Did we laugh! The deal came out even and we each had eleven cards. My opponent even made a Grand Slam, though she hadn't declared that. Then, we found the error. We use cards from a box of many decks that belong to the Club and these had extra large numbers and weren't in a box. We actually found the missing ones in the bottom of the box and continued the game, throwing out all previous scores. They always say that no two hands are ever the same in Bridge and these certainly weren't. Wonder if it's a blue moon.

Power Shopping

There's nothing more exhilarating than getting a really good deal. I like to call it Power Shopping. Girl Power to be exact. Papa wanted a new mower and he had been researching one for some time. He fell in love with a Toro that had a variable speed system like no others. $359. at the Main Street Mowers and $349. at Home Depot. Now, the girl thinking comes in. We just got a $25. gift card incentive from Lowe's if we used a certain credit card. So, I say, let's see if HD will honor it. They say yes, no problem. Then, we find out from their very helpful lawn mower dept. head, that they are sold out of our model, but do have one on the floor. Well, says I, then we'll have to get 10% off. He says, can't do that, but how about $20. off. Wonderful, I think, knowing I still have my $25. gift card. Well, at the register, Problem. The "register" won't allow double discounts. There's no way to over-ride the system. Ask for a manager, I'm talking to her. I stand there looking sad and perplexed. "This is why I came to this store". ( Didn't say Lowe's doesn't sell Toro). Just standing there wondering how to make the most of the situation when David, the helpful dept head comes to the rescue. Just give them $50. off and press the customer satisfaction key! Whooppeee! Who says there's no way to over-ride the system. Happy Birthday, Papa

More projects

Seems like I'm always adding more projects to my life. Hope I live long. I've got an active mind. Recently, a beach trip inspired me to make a beaded  necklace featuring a little conch shell I found. It's almost done. Half of the flip flops I'm crocheting for a fund-raiser are finished. I just made two pillows for a friend who had the material for a year and then remembered that I sew. And, then, there's the book I'm writing based on and including the letters my parents wrote to each other during WWII and shortly afterwards. As I stated, there is no end to the projects I can think up. I hope I live long enough to finish them.

connecting

This Monday, we had a visit from my High School friend whom I haven't seen in nineteen years. We had a great gab fest about all the places we have traveled since we last saw each other. Some things have changed, and some have stayed the same. It's good to reconnect and renew old friendships. And, the bonus is some new place to visit.

Orchid bonanza

Upon returning from a short vacation at the beach, I found an orchid bonanza! My birthday gift from Rae had seven more blossoms on it and two more buds about to open. That makes a dozen orchids on one plant. It has produced five before but this is outstanding. We've had recording breaking consecutive days of ninety degrees heat or more, so maybe it likes the extreme heat. Or, maybe it is Rae's special gift from the  heavens above. Maybe.

Ideas

I was a very active baby. I'm just learning about it now in the fabulous letters that my Mother wrote to my Dad while he was stationed in England during the war. A wonderful box of memories came into my possession and tells the story of my first eighteen months. I feel so excited about combining this personal history with her description of World War II events into a book for my family, if not for publication. All this leads to my very active mind. I hope I live long enough to complete just half of the projects I have in it.

Long time, no hear

Well, here I am again, trying to get with it. A long hot summer has transpired, (and perspired) and I'm going to try to blog more faithfully. Not that anybody reads them, but I'm at the computer fooling around with games and why not be creative?

Here is a photo of the beautiful orchid that my best friend, Rae, gave me for my birthday eleven years ago. It never fails to give me a gift or two in September. This year it was a day early. I notice that there are more buds forming. And how sweet the smell. The gift that keeps on giving and blooming memories of fond times with Rae.

Mother's Day

I'm grateful this Mother's Day to still have my Mother to talk to, visit and enjoy. She is an inspiration to her whole family with her sunny disposition and ability to adapt to all situtations. She makes each of us feel like her favorite and her grandchildren say she always makes sure that everyone feels included and is having fun. It's great to be nearly 90 and still have the spirit of a "party animal". I was blessed with a great Mother. For this I am very grateful.

Facebook

I can't believe I've neglected to post for over a month. Facebook is to blame. It's great to get daily updates of friends and family and I check it several times a day. Therefore, my blog site has been neglected. I have enjoyed the return of warm weather and spending time in my yard. This year, the poppies have out-done themselves and I have batchelor buttons in my garden for the first time. They are my new favorite flower.

All of this plus attending the Spring Convention of the GFWC FFWC has kept me busy. My Artful Bra entry made the tour and my Memory book of the Reger Life won an honorable mention. Suddenly, there are more things to be grateful for than I can count.

Signs of Spring

The signs of Spring are in the air. The freeze damaged plants are hinting of their comeback. I've worked in my yard planting gladiola bulbs and picking lettuce. The sun and outdoor activities have renewed my spirit and Easter is not far away. The 5 1/2 inch rain has turned the brown crunch that was a lawn green again. Nature is restoring itself from the long winter. For this I am grateful.

Hopeless

Here it is the 5th of March. Two weeks have gone by without a post. So much for the outfit a day theme. I'm just too down in the dumps for blogging. The cold weather has been hard on me. My fingers are doing funny things. Like pins and needles and turning white. I don't like what the internet says about this. At least it hasn't happened the last two days. It's not good for the outlook when the body starts to act up. But, so many others have bigger challenges that it's foolish to whine. I know Spring is right around the corner. Then, everything will look different. I'm an outside person. I need my outdoor time. I'm going outside tomorrow. Even if it's just to my composte pile!

Then, I'll feel better.

Pink and pearls

It's all about me. I just saw the movie, Julie and Julia, which was so charming. It's the kind of movie you refer to when you say "they just don't make movies like that anymore". Well, they did. And, I loved it.
Then, today after shopping and putting a fabulous outfit together, I thought why not do an outfit a day post? It's all about me anyway.
The outfit of the day is pink sweater and pearls with dark navy jeans black heels and purple swede purse. It's the one I left the house in. The one I purchased will be revealed later.

Valentine's Day

I didn't really feel like celebrating Valentine's day, but I was committed to taking the photos at our Women's Club Tea and fund raiser. There's nothing like a cure for the blues than to be around other people and have a job to do. It was a lovely occasion and a successful fund raiser for our philanthrope efforts. I'm grateful for places to go and people to see. When the going gets rough, the rough get going!

Blue

Today, I woke up crying. My eyes ran tears like a waterfall. I was blue. All the repressed sorrow rose up and came out. I wondered if it was the effect of not sleeping in my contacts, which I take out once a week. That would have been a way to explain the flood of water leaking out. But, sometimes it just happens. And it's not to say I didn't have reason. It just surprised my usual up-beat personality. So, I gave into it, dressed in blue and bought this Blue Martini candle to burn with dinner tonight when I know I'll feel more like myself.

Closure

Today was a day for closure. It was the Celebration of Life for my best friend, Rae. The service was family only but included me. The Does from the Elk's Lodge where she was a member, did a nice ceremony. Individuals spoke of their relationship with Rae. My Sorosis President was there also, and encouraged me to say something: 

           
Rae was my best friend for 33 years. Our connection was lunch on Fridays, followed by shopping. When I first met Rae in the 70's, she had a page-boy hair style with slanty- shaped glasses. The next time I saw her, she had a curley Afro and huge, round, Sally Jessie Raphel glasses. A total make-over. I loved make-overs and here was one right before me. I thought this gal was wonderful.

We loved shopping and her quest for yellow shoes was unending. We were fashionistas before all others. When we shopped she would say, I'll wear this for Sorosis Women's Club. Soon, she was inviting me there as a guest, and when it was not so easy for her to drive, she sponsored me into the Club so we could go together. She never dreamed I'd be raising my hand to volunteer for so many postions there.

I was a Republican and she was a staunch Democrat but she lived long enough to see me vote Democratic.

She was one-of-a-kind and the world will be a duller place without her.

Love you, Rae. Your BFF

Christmas past

On my daughter's blog, http://mamabegood.blogspot.com/2010/01/recycle-reuse-resled.html  she reminisces about the Christmas that she and her sisters had velvet hot pants and knee-high boots. This is one of the bonuses for living in Florida. It was the time when the sorrow of divorce was easing and the prospects of a new life were on the horizon. It was just me and my four chicks, (well, one was a drake) and our dog, Samantha. And then, there was fashion and boots which still thrill me today. For this, I am grateful.

Happy New Year 2010

Can you believe the "0's" are gone already? Where did that 10 years go? Well, a great deal of it in cyberspace. But, look at all we learn and how we connect. I must admit that I check my Facebook page daily but am not as faithful with this gratitude journal.

I'm looking forward to an active year of family, friends, and gardening duties plus volunteering and fund-raising at my Women's Club.

I say I'll take fewer photos, but maybe I'll just print fewer and make DVDs of the rest. I've just seen what too many albums look like at my Mom's move to a smaller space.

Hubby and I will go on dates to the movie theater. And, maybe this is the year we will get out the bikes again. Sure miss those rides.

Wishing all who may look in on this page a Happy, healthy New Year. Take time to smell the Angel Trumpets.