GO DUKE!

Jacob has always wanted to see Duke play in person.  So he made that happen . . . and invited his dad to go with him.  Great time for both of them.  

Smiling is good for the soul!

 

the skeletons are out . . .

It's the most wonderful time

of the year!

crazy, lazy summer days . . .

With temperatures of over 100 . . . this is what we do.

Happy Wednesday!

peace ~ love ~ summer

I am not quite ready to post pictures of the fort we are building for the grandkids . . . but almost.

Just wanted to share the hanging of the peace sign.  

Peace . . . Love . . . Summer

little jenny zombie . . .

Little Jenny Zombie

Sitting in the sand . . .

She doesn’t even realize

She’s part of Zombieland

She’s not quite sure what happened

But what she would like to ask . . .

Is what happened to her vacation . . .

And why is she wearing a mask?

Little Jenny Zombie

Wandering dune to dune . . .

Wants to go back to normal

She hopes that happens soon

* * * * * 

The zombie doll that I made for Yarnigras' Zombie Swap is shipped and on it's way.

This swap is always fun . . . and even more so having an extra swap this year.  

These weird little dolls just make me laugh . . . 

Richard got the railings around the front of the fort.

I will take some more pictures soon.  Next a roof . . . then siding . . . then paint . . .

So far they have come up with the name Fort Awesome,

but the kids may decide on something else.  

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

This picture of my brother and Jacob . . . It makes me smile (and tear up)

My "Cancer Sucks" coffee mug

Avery putting on purple lipstick . . . then checking herself out in the mirror
. . . Avery then having to call her daddy and show him the lipstick

Sitting outside with my coffee . . . enjoying the quiet

Rain . . . my garden and sunflowers are happy . . . and growing
Getting a zombie doll in the mail today!!!  I will post pictures soon!

progress on the fort . . .

It is fun watching the project progress.

Today we are staining and sealing the floor/deck of our fort.

We have a ways to go . . . stay tuned for more pictures.

random . . .

What a wonderful morning!  

It is warm and sunny and smells like newly cut grass.

I have no place to be and that feels great!

  cats . . . big rabbits . . . paint and doodles . . . words on my walk . . . 

. . . and I think to myself

what a wonderful world.

just because . . .

"I am learning to find JOY

right here in the mess of things."

                                                ~ mhn

I am pretty sure I was the cause of this stain on the driveway.  I get a little

sloppy sometimes when I am having fun with a project.  

Then I hate that there are stains on the driveway.

Oh well . . . I will go with a fun project any day . . . and the stain turned out to be fun also

Richard sent me this the other day . . . just because!

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

Another rainy day

Flowers blooming everywhere

Logan giggling like only a one year old can giggle

Richard seeing the face in this stain . . . 

doodling . . . sewing . . . reading

Schitt's Creek . . . I love shows that make me both laugh and cry

The creative mess that is still going strong in my house

. . . and not letting that mess bother me

Being able to stay in touch with my family and friends through this "lock down"

My orchid is getting ready to bloom

Peace ~ Love ~ Grandma Dona

What a Spring Break!

7 days . . . over 3200 miles . . . 6 states (twice) . . . snow . . . rain . . . wind . . . fun stops along the way . . . junk food . . . some good food . . . 

. . . and my mom now lives in California.

Life changes . . . so you may as well enjoy the change and have some fun!

happy new year . . .

I love new beginnings . . . big or small.

I love starting a new school year at work . . . using a new journal . . . moving into a new house.  (I haven't done this in years, but the first few years of our marriage - Richard was in the Navy - so we moved often).  I always liked unpacking and making a new place our home.  He accuses me of recreating this feeling on a regular basis by rearranging or redecorating . . . or reorganizing closets just because I get in a mood. He's probably right.  So a NEW YEAR . . . I have to love it - right? . . . I do, but to be honest this New Year hasn't really felt like a new beginning to me.  Maybe because I had my mom visiting me for a couple of months and I had to say good bye to her . . . and right after that I got sick.
 . . . or maybe some years are just like that.  

So I find myself 17 days into this year without the usual feeling of a new beginning. 

A few years back I started choosing a “Word for the Year”.

Now that I am feeling better, maybe that is a good place to start my new year . . . choosing a new word. 

Last year I chose the word FAITH.  I was feeling like I needed to worry less . . . and let my faith get me through things.  It may have been a case of “be careful what you wish for” 
. . . because I definitely had to draw on my faith.

I watched my son deal with some things in his personal life which hurt him and tested him.  I am happy to say he got through it and because of his own faith he keeps moving forward.  It is hard for me to watch my children hurt – even if they are adults and I know that life can be hard and I know they will get through it and life will eventually get better for them again.  Sometimes all I can do is love them, let them know that I am there if they need me, and pray!  I prayed a lot last year!

Then there was Richard.  A few years ago he was diagnosed with throat cancer.  Unfortunately he had a recurrence this past year . . . and according to his doctor, “It came back with a vengeance.”  
Did I mention I prayed a lot last year!

Two rounds of chemo and 45 radiation treatments later . . . beardless, weighing 30 pounds less, and not being able to taste anything . . . he made it through that.  His scans continue to come back clean and we are thankful each and every time they do.  His strength and determination through his treatments was amazing.  He has gotten a little wacko since his treatments ended . . . we are dealing with that.  I am finding that the hardest thing about dealing with him having cancer has come after the treatments.  This seems to be true for both of us.  Life can be hard and I know we will get through it and life will eventually be better again . . . WAIT!!  Life is better again!

Let’s see . . . after that Richard tore his rotator cuff and had to have surgery.  In light of the cancer – this seemed like a small thing, but it is has been a little trying not having him able to do the things he normally does.  It was during this recovery that he made the comment that he hopes this next year is better than this past year.  I have to agree, but . . . This past year ended with Richard being cancer free, we have a beautiful new granddaughter, his beard grew back, I have amazing children and grandchildren who I see regularly, and in spite of whatever life throws at me I have a faith that gets me through.  Now more than ever I realize we have to celebrate the good days and love each other through the bad ones. 

So my word for next year . . .

CHANGE

I have some very personal reasons for choosing that word . . . and if I get in the right mood I may just tell you all about them. 

great day for a GREAT day . . .

 We took Charlotte to pick out a Christmas Tree on Saturday.

The weather was beautiful.  It was a great day to be five!

 She wanted to do everything and go everywhere . . . 

and if you let yourself enjoy a day through the eyes of a five year old - you can have

nothing but a great day!!!

 I am thinking Richard looks a little bit like Santa? . . . 

or does Santa look a little bit like Richard?

I just like to smile,

smilings my favorite.

~ Buddy the Elf. 

It's November?

It's November . . . and I'm starting to get ready for Christmas, but I guess I have rubbed off on this guy over the years . . . there are still skeletons lurking about.

How to make a four year old smile . . .

. . . throw Grandpa in the pool with her.  

Merry Christmas!

Thanks to these two . . . my Christmas shopping ended with a smile.

Now to get on to the important stuff . . . celebrating the holidays with family!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

coffee, bakery, snowman. . . . skeleton & elf

christmas tree farm

The light in a child's eyes is all it takes

to make Christmas a magical time of year.

We took Charlotte to pick out a Christmas tree on Saturday.  It was a beautiful day . . . a day of train rides, suspension bridges, rusty tractors, stone castles, flowers, and Santa Claus.  We found a beautiful tree . . . (which I didn't even get a picture of.)  

My fake tree is boxed up this year . . . after the great day we had I may never use it again.