Vacations as we knew them.

Let just start by saying I was a city girl till the rip old age of 13. Now down to the country my parents move and I'm not a happy camper! Not the outdoors type if you get my drift.I have been to the beach maybe 4 times in my life and don't know how to SWIM! The few times I was there it wasn't good. I really don't like the sand going into every part of the body and you find it for days...lol.

Now you have to say...I look really happy about being at the beach, but the one good thing is after 3 kids I still could wear a little 2 piece bathing suit.Now I wouldn't be able to get one of my thigh in that suit!

Meet Hubby get married and off we go for the wonderful life together. Now comes the vacations. First I have to tell you that I have Lupus and NOT aloud in the sun. Didn't know this for years and as a child I had sun poison so bad that it was to the hospital we went.

We always took day trips when the two older boys were little and I was happy about that. Now when I was excepting number 3 Hubby comes home to tell me he got a place at the shore for a week....WHAT! Now I will be packing for a week at the shore with a 7 yr old, 5 yr old and 4month old baby. Oh what joy this will be.

Now back then they really didn't have the sunblock they have now, and it really doesn't help that much for me.The sun just kinda eats holes into my skin and then I am scard. So needless to say after the first day at the beach I am fried! I am pale skinned as it is and this sure doesn't help. I not saying we didn't have a good time. We always did and Hubby still goes to the shore every year with the oldest son and his kids.Mom stays home with the dogs and other pets......lol

Well back to were I was....Do you have any idea what you have to take for a week with no washer and dryer for 3 kids and the food you need to take. Well before we even got out of the house I was tired. Oh don't forget the BIKES! We are off and running.

The week went well and as I knew what was going to happen next, on the way out to drop off the keys he books the place for 2 week the next year! Now I am fried to a crisp and have lugged a 4mouth old to the beach everyday and just want to get home. As it turn out we vacation at the same town for the next 14 years. As the kids got older we also added to the mix of friends and family with us. Each of the boys usually had a friend with them and of course the dogs went too.

I cook and clean for the whole crew and I still wouldn't change a thing about it. To me in a lot of way we were home with the beach outside the door. Sad to say it all came to an end for me when the Dr's finally found out what was wrong with me all those years. That what ended the weeks at the shore. I miss them and always will, but not much sense in paying all that money to sit inside. I do love going on the boat, but I can do that for short periods of time. So that has become my outdoor fun.Oh I do love being on the boat and flying down the river! I am glad that I got to do it with the family for all those years. Will always have great memories of the times spend there. So happy to know that the sons have carry on the same tradition for the grandchildren and their friends.

I have learn to love the beach over the years and Hubby and I will head down there a few times a year just to walk and enjoy nature.

How it all started

When this great looking Navy Man parents moved next door to us that all it took..I was hooked! The bait was there and I was the fish just swimming around to be caught..lol. It only took 6 months till we were walking down the to the alter to say the I Do's. Let just say that when I see what I want I go after it. I wanted that sailor boy! Oh I forgot to say that Hubby has the most beautiful blue eyes that you just melt into.

Now you might want to know that I was just 17 years old and Hubby was 25. I knew from the minute I saw him he was the one I wanted to be with the rest of my life.

I always felt like the ugly duck growing up and never in my dreams thought that anyone would think and feel that way about me.

I will never forget something that my Grandmother told me few years later and that the day that I felt pretty for the first time in my life. I still to this day remember it as if it was just yesterday. She told me that she had never seen a more beautiful bride then me and never saw a more in love man then Hubby. That when I came into the church it was if we were the only two people there and the look that cross between us was pure love. That was a very special day for me and in some ways more then my wedding day. Now I knew Hubby loves me, but when someone else say it and in a way that make you see it from their eyes. It does make you stop and really understand. Now most of the family didn't think we would last more that a few years. We have been together now for 42 years and I think it is safe to say we will make this marriage work...lol.

Oh we have had our days and I will get into a few of them later on in the blog. I hope to be able to tell a few story here that have made life fun and sad and all the things in between.

Oh Boy!!! The tree is DOWN!

As I am running a little late this year..lol. The christmas tree is DOWN! The living room looks so bare without it.

Now I have been busting my butt at work and am on a three day weekend...yahhhhhhhhhh. I have a lot to get done around here. This morning it was playing on the blog and changing a few things around. Tonight while Hubby watches the football game I will be working on getting a few old photo scan and maybe a few other things here.
That about it from Mole Hill...oh it is warm and sunny again today. We are at 55 degrees right now.

Surprize for this time of year.....

I was out filling the feeders for all the little critters that visit me everyday and I turn around to see this flower blooming. Now it is the last day of the year and I just couldn't believe that it was there. I know it has been warm here, but this is just a tad to much! I hope it doesn't mess up the blooming of the flowers for spring. This is a Scotch Bush and it blooms most of the spring and summer. It really get big and have to trim them back ever year.

Oh Chris is still here and I put out fruit for him this morning and he just about attack it...lol.

It is over for another year....

As I sit here tonight and think about the past month, I do have so much to be thankful for. Hubby is still with me and that is the biggest of all. This was the best present that I ever got.
It has been a tough month with sickness and almost losing Hubby twice in 24 hrs. He still has a way to go to getting back to his old self, but that will come in time.
We ended the year by going to the casino...dinner and some slots for me, poker for him. Yes Mr. Trump got my money again! We had a good time but was home early, don't feel like fighting the drunks on the road!

This week was good on a lot of way. This year for Christmas I gave a lot of photo that I have taken and was surprise at the response I got from everyone. I like to take pictures and think they are ok, so I thought give something of myself then just go and buy anything. Work out great.

The grandkids had a great Christmas this year and that alway makes us happy. It has been a rough year for a few of the grandkids after the spit of the parents, but they are getting by ok and making the ajustment.

Hubby got me a laptop for Christmas this year, I am trying to get used to it, but it is a really different feel to it, but I will get used to it in no time. I want to used it to get all my photos put in files. That way I can find a photo when I want it. I have about 5,000 photos to go through...lol. I think that will keep me busy and out of trouble for a bit..lol.

This fall my Aunt lost her husband of 42 years, I want to say that she has been doing ok for this time of the year and handle it well. He was a very fun loving man and we will miss him for a long time to come. She sent this to me in a email and I am putting it here to end this year with. She wrote this and it is a sign of healing for her.

Uncle Bob...Husband, Father, Grandpop, Brother and Friend to all.

A tear
Falling on my cheek
Remembering the love
Remembering the joy
Remembering the touch
Now saddened by the loss
The loss of the love
The loss of the joy
The loss of the touch
I will regain my strength
My strength to go on
My strength to feel love again
My strength to feel joy again
My strength to feel the touch again
My strength to remember the tear on my cheek
My strength to set it free, but always remember
the past. S.

I Wish you all a great year
Love.... Peace.... Hope..... DeeDee ^i^

Just a few more of who I like to call Chris

He really shouldn't be here, only suppose to be here during spring and summer migration. For some reason he is still here and hope he makes it though the winter.As a male I guess he forgot to ask for directions ...just like hubby. I will keep him well feed with all the things he like. Chris came on Christmas Eve and has been here everyday all day long.

The granddaughter were here yesterday and we did some bird food making. They just love to get into the making of the suet...lol. Usually gets messy!

Merry Christmas to all

Today is a special day...I love Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. A few days with family and friends and the joy of kids!

I started the day out like most other and was just enjoying my morning coffee and on the phone with a dear friend. As I was sitting there all of a sudden I saw a bright flash of orange in the bare trees. My first thought was it can't be! Then I saw him in all his glory and beautiful colors.

A Baltimore Oriole.

Now I don't see them much in the spring and summer. Sometime I will get one as it pass though. ( Oh I forgot to mention I am a birdwatcher ) So this is a real treat for me. I have been watching him most of the day coming and going to the feeders. I do have to say .... what a way to end the year and what a year it has been! I couldn't have pick a better way.

Now it time for me to get ready for the evening of fun.....Have a Great One

Christmas Gift Suggestions: To your enemy; forgiveness. To an opponent; tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer; service. To all; charity. To every child; a good example. To yourself; respect. Oren Arnold

This is just to good...

Today Hubby and I did the shopping and had to take a few things over to DS for dinner on Christmas. After that we were heading out to have dinner at the diner. Now DS was held up at a meeting and we called and said we will take the grandkids with us. Now grandson didn't want to go. Guess when you are almost 15 you don't really want to go out with your grandparent and little sisters. So off we go to dinner..just us and the two granddaughters age 8 & 10. Dinner was fun and had some good laugh with the kids. The girls are so good to take out . Now we are on our way home and the girls are in the back seat of the car talking about the gameboy and what they are going to play. I was just sitting there enjoying the ride and the christmas light and listening to the kids. When all of a sudden I hear the one say lets play this game, now I am going to type it the way she said it .....Grand Pricks! Now I am hearing this and thinking to myself did she just say what I thought she said and I was right! With that I turn and ask her what is the game you are playing and one again she say it again. Now at this point Hubby is trying to keep a straight face and just drive. I said let me see that game..you just never know with the kids today and what the games are! She hands me the game and I read it..with relief I see the game is Grand Prix. Now I have to say to her WITH A STRAIGHT FACE and not doing well! That not the way it said honey and tell her the right way..Oh no Mom Mom it Grand pricks...NO HONEY it not! After much talking and just about busting a gut laughing the older one say oh MomMom that a bad word. Now I have to explain the difference in the way the word is used and she was just not saying it in a way that sound good. So now we had a great dinner with two of the sweetest little girls ( ya I am just a little bias on that one...lol ) had a great laugh and life lesson on the proper way to use a word and when not to use a word. It is ok to say you prick your finger on the rose bush, but not to say GRAND Prick! Just doesn't sound right coming out of that sweet child mouth...lol.

Well that was our day and evening with the grands today..Kids got to love them!

The human race is governed by its imagination.
Napoleon Bonaparte

The count down begins

Happy Hump day to all....Here I sit like I haven't a thing to do...lol. The cold has got the better of me! Thank goodness I'm not having Christmas dinner this year. We do have to head out to get the food as DS is having dinner and I am doing the shopping for him. He has 3 kids and being a single Dad he has enough to do to get ready for the big day. Oh he has the kids, they live with him.

I just about have my voice back and Hubby is doing better each day. They have been keeping me off the cash at work, I think they are afraid I will scare the customer away...lol. I don't mind at all. But I know come saturday I will be on as it will be one of our busy days. I am glad that I am off on Christmas eve this year. My first one in 5 years.

Talk to granddaughter last night and I have to say this kids is so funny. She is six years old and crack me up. As we were talking she says to me ...so how are things going at your house?? Now I was taken back just a bit, but didn't skip a beat and told her fine. with that she say good. So I ask her the same thing and she tell me good and I am being good for Santa. She is waiting for a tooth to come out and it is hanging by a thread..lol. I ask her how many is that now that she has lost and she put the phone down to count the missing teeth...lol. I can hear her Mom telling her to put the phone back to her ear and talk. She tells her she counting her missing teeth. Gotta love the kids they are so darn cute.

Well that about all from this little part of the world for now. time to get a move on and get finish.
Have a great day and enjoy the week it only comes around one time of the year and soon we will all be saying ..boy Christmas sure got here and went fast. I am so looking forward to spring that is my favorite time of the year...love the gardens and being on the boat!

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.

Seven days till Christmas

Well here is it only a short time to go and I am not even close to being ready!!!

I think maybe I should start wrapping the gift today since I am off work.

Speaking of work! I had to work the weekend and still after 5 years at working in retail I am surprise at some of the really dumb question I get. First of all I work at a close -out buy -out store, if you see it and want it you better get it because it might not be there tomorrow! We have the same people that are always there shopping and I always get the same question...Are you getting more in on the truck??? Excuse Me!!! How long have you been coming here and how many times must I tell you.

Now the kicker is I have a cold and it has left me with no voice above a whisper, so very hard to talk to the customers, but that doesn't seam to matter they just keep asking the same things over and over again. No matter how many time I tell the same customer that we aren't getting anymore Christmas stuff ( it is already mark down to 50% off) or No they won't be sending more toys! They still keep want to know when they will get here. I do have to say for me to talk and be able to hear me I am shouting...lol. So I do get some satisfaction from it...ROFl and they don't know my anger.

I really enjoy my job 95% of the time and I really like working with the customers, but at this time of the year I swear they all become brain dead! I will never understand why people have to trash a store! We won't be able to get the store clean up for about 2 weeks. As fast as you get one area clean up and move to the next...go back to where you were and it is trash again...AMAZES ME!

Oh have to tell you about some of the help we hired for the season...It is a bunch of sloths, they can't move any slower unless they are in the stop mode!!!! I am 3 times their age and can run circle around them on a bad day. What really scare me is the fact that this is the next generation to take over!!!! They will be the ones taking care of me in the nursing home!!!! I think I will take my chance and just live at home till I die! It would be easier. I have my GED and this bunch have finish HS and can't even count! I have caught so many mistake they have made on the cash!
Well that is my grip for today ....time to wrap a few things and take a few pills for the cold.
Tah Tah for now and have a great day!

Christmas is a race to see which gives out first - your money or your feet.
.

He is Home

I am happy to say that Hubby is home and doing better every day. He tires very easy, but this will pass as time goes on. Guess you don't spend 6 days in bed in ICU and just come out and get right back into the daily life. Well that what I think, but keeping him down has been tough! I am back to work and have to trust him to behave...lol. Now the kicker is I have a cold now and feel rotten! Still have shopping to do and nothing is wrapped yet. Oh well when it get done it gets done...lol. Christmas will get here if I'm done or not, so I'm not worry about it this year. Just so happy to have Hubby home with me.

I feel like a tiny bird with a big song! - Jerry Van Amerongen

What a week!

I want to start by saying that I am married to a VERY stubborn MAN!

This all started out by a simple test, people have it done all the time. But my dear husband can't do anything simple. He is lucky to be a live right now!

Dear husband has what they call Barrett Esophagus, Now is you drink or smoke a lot and have had a wild life, you might want to look this up. Hubby will be 67 this month and like his beer for years! Was a Sailor for 8 year when I meet him. Just a little back round to help you along here.

On tuesday of last week he was going to have a scope of the esophagus and to scrape away the bad part of the esophagus, so the Dr thought might as well do a colonoscopy too. Well all went well hubby came home and was doing good.

I get up on wedsenday morning all is good so off to work I go. I call several times during the day and he is feels fine. Well that didn't last much longer! I get a call on my cell and he tell me I think I am having a problem "I am bleeding" So off I go tell the boss I am out of here! Now we only live 3 minute from where I work so I was home fast. I get in the house and ask him how bad is it? I say to him the next time you use the bathroom I want to see, his comment no you don't! With that I said yes I do. Not 5 minutes later he back in there and I go and check and the tolit is Blood red! That it we are off to the ER!

We get ther and he say I can walk in ( I told you he was bull head ) so he walks in and passes out just as we get in the door. Now I do have to say that as soon as they knew why he was there I felt like I was in the show ER with everything that was going on. I never seen so many people move so fast. First they had to get him stable then they had to find out where he was bleeding from. I want to tell you that I have been though alot with this man on health issues but this was the worst by far. We were close to losing him at this point! Ok now he is stable and at 4 in the morning they move him to another hospital that has better way of treating him if the bleeding start again.

I go up the next morning and he is looking ok, we got though this and he will be fine...NOT! I leave and come back at 5, he is in ICU I walk around the nurse desk and go to his room stand at the door and just stare HE NOT THERE! the room is a mess. I turn to the nurse sitting there and ask Where is my husband??? Oh I think they took him for a test. I turn back to the room and just stare at the room and know you don't leave a room looking like this if you go for a test! Back around to the nurse and this time in a voice that get your attention WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! With this a aid or I not sure what she is comes over and say to me I will take you to him. Off we go. He started to bleed again to the point that he fill 4 bed pans with blood! His BP was dropping to 50/45 and we were about to loss him again if the couldn't stop the bleeding. She takes me to the room where they are working on him and the Dr comes out and tells me what they are doing. They found the artery and were putting a coil in it to stop the bleeding. Now he has to stay awake to keep him from going into a coma. Hour and half later the Dr come to me and say they have it stop and it is a 72 hr wait to see if it will hold. Well 8 units of blood later and 72 hrs of holding your breath, He is still in ICU as of this moment and hopes to be move today to a room. But it is looking good so far.

I have had great support from my sister who has been at the hospital with me whenever I called and a dear friend in Canada who I have called at all hrs day and night. I have had a few meltdown during this time and talking to my friend has got me though it. I will never be able to thank her enough.

I thought that while I was home from work and Hubby not here I could get a few things done. NOT! The phone never stop ringing and I don't mind. It just the tree has been up for over a week and it still bare...lol. Not one present is wrap and still have shopping to do. Oh well it will be a weird Christmas, but I have the bull head man of my life with me and that all that counts right now.

Now it is time to hit the shower and head to the hospital for another day of waiting to see what going to happen. Up date later.

These things, I warmly wish for you-Someone to love, some work to do,A bit of o' sun, a bit o' cheer.And a guardian angel always near.

Back with a up-date..Hubby is doing ok but his blood count keeps going down. If it doesn't come up today they will have to do another unit of blood. At least they are giving him real food now!

Space Aliens...as told to a 5 yr old.

One day as I was sitting and minding my own business at home, our 5 year old son came to me with a question. Now I have to say this was a strange one. To have your 5 year old ask...Mom how come I never see you go to the bathroom. Now my thought on this is what are having kids if not to have fun with them. So my answer to him was ...That is because I am a Alien and not from this planet. With that he look at me and walk away. After about half hour he came back and wanted to continue the discussion. With this he ask me if you are a alien wouldn't that make me one? I said yes. Well mom if I am a alien why do I have to use the bathroom and you don't. Now I had to do some fast thinking here, not to worry mom is quick on her feet. I told him your Dad not alien and you got that part of him, didn't you ever notice how much time he is in the bathroom! With that he said OK.
Now I thought this was the end of it, till I went to used the bathroom and he ran upstairs behind me and wanted to know where I was going and what I was going to do? So with this I spend two months trying not to get caught going to the bathroom. That not easy with a 5 year old! So finally he caught me! As I came out he was standing there. I had been snag! There he stood and said to me see you do use the bathroom and go potty. As I stood there like a deer caught in the headlight. I thought to myself I have to come up with something here. So I told him that I have to pretend so human wouldn't find out about me. With that he said OK Mom..but I still don't believe you. So I thought to myself the gig is up and we are done with this....Not! After a few years go by and life is going as normal as it can get. I was telling the story to a friend and she thought this was so funny. This friend and I used to do marathon Christmas shopping in one day. This son was about ten and we were just having a pit stop on one of the shopping trip, as we came in the house my son was watching TV, I had a few things to put away and my friend was sitting at the table with a cup of tea. Now my son came into the kitchen to get something to eat. With this she was talking to him and made the remark "You know every time your Mom and I go out it amazes me that she never has to use the bathroom and I have to go all the time. I think that is really strange Don't you".With that son's eyes got really big and his respond was and we had to keep from cracking up..."Oh Mom goes all the time at home"
Now many years later and he has become a young man. It seam he needed some knee surgery from many years of skate boarding. After the surgery when I talk to him he was doing good, but they found something in his knee at the time and weren't sure what it was. Now I couldn't just let this go..no way! With this I answer him with Oh No they have found a few of your Alien parts. Not to worry they won't ever know.Now this is one crazy Mom and this joke went on for about 20 years. I alway said got to have fun with the kids!
That my story and I am sticking to it!

A strong imagination begetteth opportunity.

Michel de Montaigne

Just a few more photos of our ride today.

Don't bunt. Aim out of the ballpark.

David Ogilvy

Horse back riding

Today we made it out to the stables and went on a trail ride. Now I have to start off by tell you that I haven't been on a horse for 44 years. Granddaughter takes lesson and at one of the lesson I said that looks like fun! Haven't done that in years. Well that how I wound up on a horse. As you see I will do just about anything for the grandchildren. But this old granny is hurting tonight...lol. My butt really hurts, not to mention the crack rib. I hope this works as I haven't done a blog like this yet.I am going to try and add the picture in order with the story.Ok now they bring out the horses for us to ride and tell me that this is mine for the ride. I just look at them and said you got to be kidding! I have admired this beautiful beast of a horse the time I have been there, but never thought I get on him...lol. If you know anything about horse, they measure them by hands. An average horse is about 14 hand high and the one they gave me to ride was between 16 and 17 hands high! As you see in the picture I am really ???? the thought of getting on this beast! They assure me he was very gentle. Ok on I go and away we go.

Now we had a good time riding and I am no worst for the wear. I do hope the granddaughters remember this..lol. The ride was though the woods and I did get slap in the head a few time with the bushes. Well you have to remember I was sitting really high up!Now for the pictures of us all together.

Happiness grows at our own firesides, and is not to be picked in strangers' gardens.

Douglas Jerrold

Thanksgiving

It was a day to give Thanks and that we did. We are thank full that our oldest son has the kids after the separation. The grandaugther were with their mom but Grandson stay with us. It was a quite day but good anyway. After dinner other son and family came for dessert and Mom and sister and her husband. So we had a nice day in all.

Today I am going horse back riding with the grandaughter's and it not going to be easy with a crack rib, but a promise is a promise. I work retail and the pass 2 day have been right from hell. and this was hard to do with the rib thing going on, so it will be to the dr's for me tomorrow!

Well hope to have some great pictures when I get back, haven't been on a horse since I was 15 so this sould be good for a few laughs.

Grandson's first dance!

I sit here with mixed feeling tonight, as grandson has his first dance to go to with his new girlfriend. I am happy that he is going and sad that he is growing up so fast. I have to say that he was the only grandchild for 4 years and had all my attention. They only lived a few blocks from us and I had waited so long for this child. We have 6 grandchildren now, but he is the only boy. You have to understand that we have 3 sons so it was like having one of our sons hand back to me. I love all my grandchild for different reason and each has a special place in my heart. But Gregory is the first and only grandson.
I used to take him to school everyday the first year and one of the rules as I call them was that I couldn't let anyone on the play grounds see me give him a kiss and hugs before he went in to school. So I work out a way to do it and no one knew...lol.. and he was happy about it. Just a little thing in life that made us both happy at the time.
Last year we got to watch as he walk from 8th grade to the high school at the grauation and I have to say it was a very moving moment. To see the little boy turn into a young man and have some many chance in his life the past year. I love you more then you could ever know Gregory! I hope that you have a wonderful time tonight and get that kiss at the end of the dance. Our little boy has become a young man!

Yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope. - Anonymous

Horse back riding

Last weekend we went to see our grandaughter have her riding lesson. I so enjoy watching her and see how much she has learn in a short time. I hope to do a little riding with her in the next week or so. I have to say that I haven't been on a horse since I was 15. Hope this video works if not here is a picture of the two of us...lol.
I hope to be out riding with grandaughter next sunday.


It is the marriage of the soul with Nature that makes the intellect fruitful, and gives birth to imagination.
- Henry David Thoreau

Just a little bid about me....

I came into this world in 1948 a big healthy baby of 9 lbs 2 oz and very much in a hurry to get here, poor Mom never made it to the delivery room!
I had a very normal childhood, living in the city. At about the ripe old age of 7 or 8 year I started to get sick a lot and losing weight. If someone was sick it was a sure deal that I would get it. Little did they know at that time what was wrong with me and it would take till I was 40 yrs old to know. I had Lupus! Now according to every Dr that I've seen I shouldn't been able to have 3 beautiful sons and have lived the life that I have. I have come down with several health issue over the years and manage to get though them with some sense of humor will get into to this a little later in the blog. Now at the ripe old age of ( well almost) 59 I am enjoying life to the fullest! Each and everyday is a blessing to me and I hope to have many more. I still have so many things to do. Well you see I have a list of 25 things I have to do before I die and if I keep adding to the list then I can't die..lol. Well that just let you into the way my mind thinks and works. I am a little on the rose-colored glasses and the glass is half full type of person. So I hope you enjoy the trip through this blog of my past times and life. But of course like I said before I will just kind jump around here and write down what is on my mind at that time. Now for my quote today....

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light.
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.

Hi

I would love to write a story tonight, but we have a meeting tonight at the Yacht Club. I hope to do one tomorrow after work.
I also will start putting quotas here at the end of each story. Have a great evening. Tah Tah for now.

May you have the hindsight to know where you've been
the foresight to know where you're going
and the insight to know when you're going too far.