May Endings

As we come to the close of this month I would be remiss if I didn't mention the tragedy of this past week. All those beautiful children and their brave teachers. Victims of another mass shooting. We could go on and on about why, how, what, and also give many opinions of the reasons these keep happening.  I have no answers and I'm sure many of you don't either.  So maybe the only thing now is to keep all those families in our prayers and take the time to hug our kids and appreciate each day we have to be together as families. This weekend will bring many together to cook out, party, enjoy the Summer weather, and hopefully also take time to remember our brave men and women who gave their lives for our freedoms.  We need to be the kind of citizens worthy of a free nation.  Thank you to all who have served, and are serving to keep these freedoms for us.  Our little town always has a nice Memorial Day parade and ceremony at the cemetery.  For Jack and I we usually spend this weekend planting our vegetable garden and if the weather permits, the flower gardens will get planted and weeded.  Maybe a cookout? Not sure yet but I'm enjoying my 5 day weekend.  I only worked 2 days this past week and I now enjoy my days off again!  Going back to work has been interesting, fun at times, and also a test of my skills and energy levels! When I hear my much younger coworkers say they are tired, I don't feel too bad!  We've had a weird mixture of weather during this month...cool, wet, hot and humid here and there, but at least no snow! So as May ends I will enjoy the weekend but also remember that my Mom passed away 2 years ago on May 29th.  I think of her each day and miss talking to her and getting together to celebrate her birthday which was May 17th.  So goodbye month of May.  It was a month dreamed about in the cold of winter. The beautiful flowers and smells of Spring are so welcomed as we start to change seasons in a few weeks.

Azaleas, rhododendrons, snowball bush, and dwarf lilacs fill the air outdoors with beautiful fragrance and also inside the house as I cut some for bouquets!

Every room needs some beauty.

One of the doctors at the hospital gave me one of  his iris bulbs a few years ago and they are looking lovely still! Thanks Liggy!

We removed plantings in front of the deck that had gotten a little out of control. I'm filling in this space with other perennials that won't overtake the spot.

Our neighbors had their alpaca sheared and I think they look like little aliens! Well, that's it from Whispering Pines.  Enjoy this weekend and be safe!  God Bless America!

Lists

Are you a list writer? Do you jot down what you need at the grocery store or do you list what you're going to do each day? I was never very good at lists.  I was always listing in my head but as I've gotten older those "head lists" seem to disappear very easily!  Jack was always a list maker. He will keep a list in his pocket of things he needs to do or get at a store.  Every Saturday morning we sit down and write out our grocery list together. We actually have a list of dinners we enjoy.  That way we can look at that list and try and decide dinners for the week.  With a menu written down we then can make a better grocery list for ingredients plus any staples we might have to buy. It sure has cut down on running to the store during the week.  Yes, we do change the menu up if we decide to go out or just don't have the time to get it prepared...especially on the days I've been working.  I've worked overtime on the days when I'm at the hospital.  Those days can sap my desire to cook anything!  So over the years I've gotten better at list writing.  Working in surgery should have made me better at lists.  When you go to work  the first thing you do is look at the surgery list...look at the room you're assigned to..look at the surgeries listed and see what you need to do to prepare the room for the day.  The doctors have preferences has to what they use to do a certain surgery.  Two docs can do the same surgery but do it differently so a list of instruments and even instructions is important.  When I retired I had a habit of going over what I did during the day.  For some reason I just felt that I had to get "things" accomplished to not feel like a slacker!  Since I've gone back I don't do this on my days off.  I guess I feel like I'm working enough to not be a slacker! Ha!  But I do try and have a head list of what I want to get done on my days home.  Like today...catch up on blogs...check...write a blog post...check...clean bathrooms, vacuum, dust, pull weeds when the rain stops...those "checks" will come later!  Some days I have a list of  this, this, this, and this to do but only get "this" done.  Oh well, tomorrow is another day!  I'll just put it on the list!

Mothers And Birthdays

 Happy Mother's Day to all the awesome Moms out there! The awesome Moms in my family and in blog land.  I want to thank my Mom for a wonderful example of love, sacrifice, devotion, hard work, and just "Doing It" to get through each day whether that day is fabulous and fun or sad and heartbreaking. 

I miss you each day Mom...I sometimes catch myself thinking I could call to ask you a question or just to talk about what's happening in my life.  One day we'll have those talks and laughs again. But Happy Heavenly Mother's Day for now.  Here's a little photo bit of the other Mothers in my life that are amazing, strong, smart, and super fun women!

My sister, Midge who is Mom to Katie, Amy, Bill and Jono. She's also CEO of her own business, Corporate Communications, and her super Mom daughter's...Amy on the left whose Mom to Ella, Parker, and Conner and also is a nurse practitioner. Katie on the right who's Mom to Brooke and Mason and a police detective.  Strong, smart, loving and also super fun to be around. 

My Mother-in-law, Nelda who taught me so much after we moved to Ashland when Jack finished Chiro College. I learned how to be a better cook and gardener.  She could quiet a fussy baby in record time! She was the office manager for Jack and his Dad's Chiropractic office. She loved animals and they had many dogs and cats over the years that she took care of.  We traveled over Ashland county in her Volkswagen bus to find places to pick fruit or veggies and then bring them back to put up for the winter.

I can't look at a Volkswagen and not think of her! She is greatly missed and left us way to soon in 2000.She was Mom to Jack, Steve, Mike and David.  

My Daughter-in-law, Amy. Mom to my fabulous Grandkiddos, Katie, Taylor and Sophia. She keeps her family running smooth as Craig works and travels and she sure knows how to plan vacations and weekend outings that make life in their home fun! She also works for a University and can speak many languages. She's an amazing woman and I wish we didn't live across the country so I could crash in and have fun with them too!

My Daughter-in law Evelyn is Mom to Samantha and Megan and step mom to Jack's kiddos, Driana, Summer, Anthony and Cameron.  She's a respiratory therapist at the same hospital Jackie works as a respiratory therapist.  She's an amazing Mom who raised her daughters and now her oldest, Sam, is a Mom which makes her and Jackie Grandparents to little Hazel.  She so fun to be around and loves to come and visit and I enjoy going to her home to swim in their pool! I'm blessed with so many women who inspire me and uplift me and make life a journey that's worth taking.  Thanks to all who nurture my sons and Grandkids.  Love you all!  Also this weekend we celebrated the first of our May birthdays.

Happy Birthday Phil! You were the best Mother's Day gift I ever received!

Happy Birthday Lexi! ! I can't believe you're 16! We enjoyed a fun night at a Japanese Steak house with her, her best friend and her Mom and family and Phil. She's a wonderful young lady who is smart and sweet and just the best kiddo ever! Love you Lexi Lou!  So it's been a busy weekend but super fun. I want to thank everyone for my fabulous Mother's Day gifts and the time we had to celebrate being a Mom.  Before I end this I need to shout out to my wonderful hubby, Jack.  May 5th marked 45 years in practice as the best Chiropractor in the world!  Congratulations on a great career! Love you!

He was Arnold's favorite too!