Stop Think Remember

I hope everyone took time to STOP today and THINK about the importance of Memorial Day and also took time to REMEMBER those that gave the ultimate sacrifice.  Thanks to all my blog friends, family and friends who have served or are serving in the military.  You all are heroes!  Today I went to our small town parade as I do every year.  It seemed smaller than in the past..not sure why but this year it celebrated woman in the military. The high school marching band played those patriotic numbers that always make me misty eyed and there was the memorial service in the cemetery and a wreath placed on the Veteran's Memorial.  Afterwards I'm sure many went home to picnics and fun on this day off.  Spending time with family and friends and just enjoying a beautiful day is what we all should be thanking our military for today.

At the beginning of our parade this sign made me shake my head...It's a shame that we have to be reminded to put our hands over our hearts and men to take off their hats when the flag passes.  I think this needs to be taught in school more than any new math.

 Thanks Dad (in heaven) for your brave service in WWII.  I'm so glad he made it home back then but miss him every day.

Thanks to my brother Greg for his service during Vietnam...and also my brother Phil who served during that time in Thailand in  the Army...Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of him in  his uniform. However I do have his words from his Facebook page about his recent trip to Europe to see where Dad fought during the war.  I hope he doesn't mind me posting this today:  My brother's Words:

As we leave Caen, France after 6 days I was able to try to appreciate the tremendous sacrifice all of 160,000 American, British, and Canadian soldiers and especially 9388 who are buried here. The peace you feel at the American Cemetery as you gaze over the graves and look out at Omaha beach and hear the waves breaking the shore it is so incredible that such a beautiful place was such a violent terrorizing place on June 6, 1944. The width of the beach that is half today of what it was on that day. Landing in water sometimes over your head with loaded gear and if you manage to make it to that beach then to negotiate that killing field full of confusion, terror, and death to be alive is impossible for me to imagine standing on that beach. I took many pictures but I am posting just a few of the beach, the American Cemetery, and one picture of a Sherman tank like the one my dad drove on this beach. I smiled as we traveled the motorway that was a different looking road when he took it to St. Lo. So I can scratch this one off my bucket list. Thanks dad for being one of the some 160,000 that landed here and fought to save an idea that allows us to taste freedom everyday.

Thanks Phil for giving us a taste of what it's like to visit there..  
STOP--THINK--REMEMBER....GOD BLESS AMERICA..

A Week Of....Nothing?

Last week I whined about a week of Mondays and mentioned a little virus that crept up on me. Well that little virus turned into strep throat.  So I didn't repeat another week of crazy Mondays, just a wasted week of being ill.  I hate when I'm not busy and working and getting my many projects done. But after some antibiotics and steroids...yuck...things are back to normal. Well, YaYa normal anyway!  We've had a full weekend already.  On Friday we had a church social.  One of our church members has a fabulous piece of property that he's been working on for a few years to make it a fun gathering place. He's built this himself and it's been a great place to come and enjoy a summer evening,

It started with this cabin. It was pretty primitive at first but now has indoor plumbing and electric and the inside is as pretty as the outside.

He just put up this pavilion and is almost completely done with it. It has a kitchen addition on it and that's the last part to complete.  Throw in a huge firepit and tons of good food and you have a party! We continued the party mode today.  Our Granddaughter Summer had a golden birthday last week..she turned 21 on the 21st!  So today we went to her bday/graduation from college party.

Summer and her Dad....my #1 born!

Summer and her sister Driana.

More good food...glad my sore throat was over!

Arnie enjoyed the festivities too!

Happy birthday our little Summie! You are sunshine in our lives!

This really sums her up..and I guess I didn't really have a total week of nothing..just a little delay in the plans. Tomorrow we have nothing special going on here at the Pines. Probably hitting the parade and then back home for outside work.  Takes more than a little week of nothing to stop me!

A Week Of Mondays

Did you ever have a week that seemed like everyday was Monday? What does a that mean anyway? Mondays  have a tendency to go not so smooth. Maybe it's coming off  of a lovely weekend and facing the stress that awaits at the workforce.  Maybe it's because that song said: "Rainy days and Mondays always get me down".  In surgery we face cases being added on that came in over the weekend.  Or it's short staffed because of a sick call-in.  Who knows, but this past week was National Hospital Week and frankly everyday had it's stresses, it's arguments, it's nurses bickering.  I came home on Thursday and told Jack I was a serial killer in my brain because I wanted to strangle everyone I came in contact with that day!  (Even the old dude..who was probably younger than me.. that was in KFC ahead of me in line) Plus they forgot the gravy with the mashed potatoes and the coleslaw had a chemical taste to it.  I could go on but that would just be considered whining.  So I'll end with a Happy Birthday shout out to my Momma who turned 93 yesterday.  Unfortunately, her gifts I sent didn't make it on time (of course), But one came today and another will be there on Monday..hopefully she'll enjoy them.  Love you Mom! Finally,  I came down with a little virus or something last night and felt pretty crappy and to top it off I'm call this weekend.  Whining again? Probably.  However, Jack took great care of me and I'm feeling much better tonight. Thanks Babe! So now I'm done complaining and I'm going to pretend next week is a week of lovely Saturdays...how about you?

Post Mother's Day

I titled this "Post Mother's Day" but maybe it should be a post about Mother's day?  Anyway, I did have a wonderful Mother's Day yesterday.  I told the kids that if they wanted to come and worship me they could  come by at 1:30 for lunch...( I do hope you know I'm only kidding about the worship part!) We had a nice lunch with the boys, Evelyn, and grandkids and I didn't even pick up my camera!  Sometimes I do get busy just enjoying the day.  My son in Oregon called later that day and we talked for quite a while.  I can't wait to see them in July.  I know I'll have plenty of pics then!  I also talked to my Mom too.  She will turn 93 on the 17th and I'm so blessed and appreciative to still have her with us.  I know that Jack misses his Mom on these special days.  He doesn't talk about it much but I know how much he loved her and so did I.  I do miss her southern charm, directness, wisdom and her fabulous lemonade and potato salad!  If your Mom is still living I  hope you spoke with her or saw her on Sunday.  If she's passed away I''m sure you miss her.  Here are a few of my favorite Moms:

My Mom of course...#1 in my book.  When my Mom was 10yrs. old her mother passed away on Christmas day...1936.  She was raised by her Dad and 4 brothers.  How she had the skills to be a good Mom to 6 kids of her own is a miracle.  She's still the glue that keeps all us kids coming home to her and enjoying spending time with her.  Love you Mom!

This is my Dad's Mom...I loved my Grandmother, the only one I had, and we had a special bond.  She was funny and I enjoyed her stories about her youth and her almost opera career! (atleast that was her story and she stuck with it forever!)  She could make the best donuts and cream puffs too...She wasn't my sister's favorite...Midge claims she tried to drown her....but I still think she was pretty special!

My sister..(on the right)..is a super, wonderful mother and Grandmother.  She's my best friend and confidant too! I love her pieces and always look forward to visiting her and laughing the whole time. '

My Mother-in-law, Nelda Rae, was a classy lady, and one smart cookie...in fact her nickname was Cookie!  We had many fun adventures in her VW van as we drove all over the county hunting bargains or berries to pick!  She was a wonderful second Mom to me when we moved to Ashland. I miss her and think of her on those special holidays that she loved that gathered all her kids together. I've tried to do the same in our home now.  I hope she would be happy about that.  She passed away in Feb. of 2000.

My Daughter-in-law, Amy...she's a sweetheart and a fabulous Mom.  I love her energy and her willingness to go anywhere on a trip!  She loves to travel and we love it when we visit them out  in Oregon. She's always thinking of fun things and places to go when we come.  Love you Ames!

My Daughter-in-law Evelyn.  She's such a hard working gal that also takes good care of our son and has fit right into our family.  We love her kids too!  She's always happy to come over and spend time with us and enjoys the family holiday gatherings.  Love you Evelyn!  These are just a few of the special Moms I know.  There are many more in my family and my friends too.  I wish all of them a Happy Mother's Day! 

Celebrating And Bragging

We had a full weekend of celebrating and bragging!  To anyone who would listen, or read, we were hailing our Granddaughter, Summer, for her accomplishment in graduating Magna Cum Laude from Ashland University.  She has a BS in business. She completed her studies in 3yrs while also working at multiple jobs.  She was named perfectly because she is sunshine and happiness...just like the season!

Congratulations Summer! We are very proud.  I know you read the blog and also know I always brag about you...good luck in the future...you've got this!

After graduation we had lunch at a local restaurant and I coudn't resist catching these dudes in their plaid duds next to a plaid wall!  Love these guys! Also this past weekend we celebrated another Granddaughter's birthday.   Lexi will turn 13 tomorrow and we went and had a fun evening with her.

Phil's a proud papa!

Her BFF since babyhood...Mackenzie was there as always to celebrate another birthday with her!

So was sister Rae Rae!

There was plenty of pizza..

A yummy blizzard icecream cake..

And of course gifts!  What really touched me was when Lexi saw she had money in her some of her cards she was excited because she wants to donate all of her bday money to help build a playground at the city soccer field in  honor of a beloved soccer coach who passed away this year from cancer.  She's been working with her middle school to help get it funded and even made a presentation to the Mayor to get his approval for the project.  It gives me hope for the future when kids work hard to do something for their community and have compassion for others. Yep, a great weekend of celebrating and bragging!  Feeling very blessed indeed.

Slow But Sure

 Spring is making it's way to the Pines...slow but sure, and also on the end of raindrops!  We've had quite the rainfall these past weeks and the yard is very squishy!  The grass is growing at record speed and we try to keep it clipped between weather patterns.  At least it's not snow!  But the visible signs of the season are finally here:

Looking out the dining room window at the flowering trees.

I took this photo this evening and it seemed like the trees blossomed out even more than the earlier pic from this afternoon looking out my window.

When I was in Chicago last weekend I found this cute sign and knew it would be a fun addition to the front door.

Looking good with a Spring wreath.  Everyone is welcome~

My son Craig (from Oregon, Portland...right Shady?!) was in Chicago on business yesterday and stopped to see Mom. She was so happy to see him.  It's been a while since he's been there.  Wish we could have coordinated our visit but we'll see him and the family in July.  We miss them!  I got lots of outdoor work done today since I had a low census day off.  It's good to see the changes the seasons bring and also good to get outside and work and feel muscles aching!  I made a raspberry chocolate pie today too!

Yum! Hope your Spring is surrounding you with pretty flowers, lovely flowering trees that smell amazing and maybe something delish to enjoy after a hard days work!