Thank You Vietnam Veterans

 March 29th is National Vietnam War Veterans Day.   I want to thank all those who served in that war and give them the honor and recognition they so deserve and didn't receive back in the day when coming home from that conflict.  My brother Greg served in the Marines and went to Vietnam.  My older brother Phil also served at that time and was in the Army and stationed in Thailand.  They both served faithfully and honorably and came home safely.  It was a difficult time for my parents. My Dad served in WWII and knew what they would be going through.  My Mom worried again for her children as she did for her brothers and my Dad when they went to war.  I was a freshman in high school.  Although absorbed in my early teen life I still held my breath also those 2 years until they returned.  Many prayers went up for them.   Last weekend Jack and I were privileged to attend a Vietnam Era Veterans reunion.  We attended one last year where an Army nurse who served in Vietnam was the keynote speaker.  This year it was Colonel Robert Springer who grew up in Ashland and was a fighter pilot in the Marines and went on to become a NASA  Astronaut.  His talk was about his service and duties performed in Vietnam.  So inspiring, so moving and so much a hero in everyone's eyes. He was a Bird Dog and Huey Pilot and flew 250 missions. 

Also mentioned in the program were Veterans who have passed away.  I was touched to see my brother Greg's name on there thanks to our good friend Greg Gorrell who was one of the program's organizers. Jack and I felt funny attending since we hadn't served in the military but Greg assured us it was OK as we were representing my brother who passed away 2 years ago this June.  I know my brother would have loved to attend something like this and feel the warmth and welcome the Vets who were there were feeling.  It was a touching evening and I'm so glad we could be there.   Also featured was a painting by a local artist, Robert Kent Halladay.  Mr. Halladay was a Marine Combat artist who painted this work of art for those heroes who lost their lives.  It's called: "Going Home"

It depicts 2 angels carrying a soldier "home" as all his war gear is shown leaving him as he's taken. Such a wonderful work of art and very moving to all the Veterans who saw it.  Everyone was given a small picture to take home.  I know it's a little late now to say thanks on this day but I think any day is a good day to shake the hand of a veteran and say thank you.  Don't hesitate to do so.  

Happy Birthday Midge!

 I left home on Saturday morning heading to Chicago to help my sister with a St. Joseph's Day bake sale and breakfast that is held every year and she heads it all up.  It's also her birthday today and it was a bit crazy with all the food that needed to be priced, wrapped up, prepared and set out for folks to stop in after mass. We did this on Saturday too but not the breakfast part, just the bake sale.  The funds will go to help the new parking lot reno.  So here's a few pics of  the room set up.

Lots of goodies were donated for the sale. 

This area was set up as a sampler table where everyone could have a variety of things to taste and it was free but lots of people did leave donations.  All in all it was a very successful event.  It was lot of work too and I was glad I was able to be there to lend a hand.

This is Midge in red with one of the lovely lady helpers. This sweet lady is 80yrs old!  I was shocked and also surprised that she also works at the local McDonalds! Maybe that's the secret to her young looks.  So frankly, I'll have what she's having!  After the event we met Midge's daughters and their families for a delish lunch at a local Greek restaurant.  It was very good but way too much food. Lots of take home boxes left with us!  Something didn't agree with me and I've been spending the evening in the loo more than I'd like!  Hopefully by tomorrow I'll be back to normal because we have a few plans to do some shopping.  Here's some pics of my sister's girls and some of the grandkids.

This is Katie, Midge and Amy.

A few of the kiddos who joined us today.  Very fun, very loud too!  So that's it for now.  I left sweet Annabelle at home on this trip.  I knew I'd be gone much longer than she's used to being left alone and that she would be happier at her own home.  This is the first time she's been without me for this long. Jack says she's doing good so I'll keep my fingers crossed that it continues until I get home on Wednesday.   Happy birthday Midge!  You're the best sister anyone could want and we all love you!

March Madness

 I know March madness is usually about basketball playoffs...at least I think that's what it means! Anyway as this month "marches" on I feel a bit out of step.  In the beginning of the month I didn't work for almost 2 weeks because one of the endoscopy docs was on vacation.  I worked just one day last week on Friday and it was a long 10hr day. I survived but paid the price over the weekend trying to recoup.  Then I agreed to work 3 days this week. Then I also agreed to work an extra morning because a friend of ours was having surgery and wanted me there if possible. OK,  so now it's 4 days of work.  No biggie but I also decided to take a trip to Chicago this weekend to help my sister with a church fund raiser (a bake sale) and also help her celebrate her birthday.  I really wasn't planning on doing this but just felt I should and I know I will be glad after I go.  Also I baked a lot of stuff for the sale.  The house has smelled delish every night as I finish baking around 10pm.  However, after working all day it's been a struggle to stay motivated! To top it off I brought dinner in tonight to the friend who had the surgery. It was a simple, not hard to make meal but I ended up cutting the tip of my thumb with a knife.  So dumb!  Tomorrow at work should be interesting with a big bandage on it!  Hmmm....March madness? Or YaYa madness for biting off more than I can chew?  I'll let you know when  I get back next week if the phrase "No good deed goes unpunished" is a reality!  Miss Annabelle is staying home with Jack and Jordan. She's pretty attached to me so this should be interesting! Hopefully she will behave and all will be well.  So I'm taking a deep breath tonight and I'll finish this whiny post with some pics from the week and a very Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone tomorrow!  Our town creek is getting dyed green as usual and if the weather cooperates I guess there will be a parade.  Now don't have too much corned beef and cabbage! (or green beer!)

A little snow this week.   We've had a pretty mild winter here unlike many across the country. We got about an inch the other day but it's all gone now.

A little frosting on me too~

Annabelle doesn't mind the weather as long as the wind is mild and doesn't scare her! She loves her walks!

Here's one of my baking results.  Drop scones...orange, raison, with mini chocolate chips. They aren't for the bake sale..in fact they're all gone! Ha!  Don't worry, I have plenty other goodies heading out to Chi town on Saturday! Gee, when I get back it will officially be Spring!  I'm ready!

March Came Strolling In

  March came strolling in with mild temps and many sunny days.  Compared to the rest of the country we've been very lucky so far this Winter.  (I'm knocking on wood now!)   In other news, I've been 70 for a week and  so far so good!  It was a good birthday even though I spent part of it with my Dentist and I'll be getting an implant in the near future. Midge sent me a super cute package filled with lots of goodies like new Easter towels, a Spring table runner, a box of chocolates, cute pens and note paper, plus a bunch of scratch off  Illinois lottery tickets.  After finding out I would need a tooth implant I was hoping for a big win!  Well, $28 isn't bad but Dentistry demands a bigger win! I got some lovely gifts from my hubby.  A gift card to my favorite little place, The Parsley Pot, and something worth more than gold these days:

A dozen eggs! Green ones! Now lest you think he's not a good gift giver, I received a cool gift from him a few days later.  It's a portable CD player!  I know, I know, that's a thing not used too much now,  However, I have lots of CD's and no CD player in my newish car.  Plus I can use it at the gym or my walks instead of my phone. 

It's so cute!  I'm looking forward to using it and also dusting off my CD's!  Another gift I got was from my son and daughter-in-law in Oregon.

Beautiful flowers! 

A week later and they still look fresh and pretty.  Another gift my son sent was a throw blanket with all the things that made up 1953.  Prices of stuff, movies, who the President was, etc,  So fun to read and realize how times have changed.  A new house was about $6,000 while a dozen eggs was .70 cents.  That did surprise me a bit because sometimes eggs have been less than that here.  Along with cards, gift cards, and lots of birthday greetings I felt very blessed.  I need to give a quick update that I forgot from last month.  Remember the chili cookoff I entered?  Well, I didn't win first place but I did win "Hottest chili"...I was surprised because I don't ever make super hot chili and this wasn't that hot.  All the others must have been more mild I guess.

The funny thing were all the folks coming up and asking me what number was my chili. Then when it was time to leave  I went to get my crock pot and mine was the only one totally empty of chili!  That's a win win in my book!  I've noticed that whether I'm working or not, my days are filled to the brim and I'm always busy.  These past 2 weeks I haven't worked because of Docs being on vacation.  This week I'm only working Friday.  This has given me time to use my gift certificates from Christmas to get a few massages.  A sweet gift from my hubby!  Also to take extra walks with Annabelle and to get a project done that I've put off for way too long.  Cleaning out closets.  I've been working on the one in our spare room.  It's a pretty good size closet and was the place I put things until I had time to find a better place.  It turns out the better place is mostly the trash!  I found more comforters than anyone needs.  Some shoes I didn't know I had...bad me!  Many papers from church or just ones that I didn't take time to look through until now. Yep, garbage or the fire pit!  I did find a few old photos:

This was taken the year we were in a parade and had made a banner with my BFF Donna.  We had a float for Starkey Chiropractic and we combined it with Donna's husband's business, Starkey Glass. This was probably 20 or so years ago.  Fun times!  One of the other things I found was fountain! Yes, a fountain!

It's small and fits on a table top.  I wondered why it was hiding in a closet.  When I put it all together I remembered why.  It looks good, works good, but when it's running you don't hear the soothing sound of the water cascading over the rocks!  Hmmm...not sure where this will end up but it's not going back to the closet!  I'm sure I'll find more things that will surprise me but the best surprise will be a clean, organized closet!  It's the little things in life that make me smile!  Hopefully March will stroll out as calmly as it did coming in.  I'm looking forward to seeing my daffodils in full bloom soon!