JINXED!

Those who read my blog noticed that I changed the header pic..it used to be similar to this one of our pine trees at the end of the drive...they welcome all who enter with a happy heart. I have photographed them in winter, spring and summer..fall doesn't count because they don't change color! But I think I jinxed us. Did you ever have a flu that hit you hard, unexpected? Really miserable? So sick you were afraid you wouldn't die? That was how I'd describe this snow storm that hit us last night. It had been really pleasant. The temps last week were in the upper 50's..even 60 one day. I could see my bulbs coming up! I was so giddy I put this header pic of our backyard from last July. Then out of nowhere, BAMB!!! We got slammed with 8in. of snow and ice that fell very fast and furious...but then this morning it was calm, quiet, and someone said even the sun shown for a bit. I wouldn't know because I was holed up in the surgery dept...no windows..The drive home was much more pleasant this afternoon and all that's left is a snow covered landscape, and memories of shoveling out and making donuts for everyone last night when we came in! Donuts make everything better..but the real dilemma...should I change the pic back to snow covered pines and take this curse away?

My chairs...the ones that I sit on with a book when the sun is shining..even on cold days! Poor babies!
Even though we've had a cold and icy winter, the amount of snow has been manageable, only accumulating 3 or 4in. at a time. But with the amount that hit us last night the new, never used this season snow blower got baptized...It works!
Even with a snow blower, shoveling is necessary.
Please don't hit me with the snow shovel...yes, I'm sick of it too, and yes I will always carry my camera and snap a pic when you least expect it..and remember I'm your Mamma...May this be the last of the snow pics...(can't promise though!)

Yesterday/Today

Yesterday...The warmer temps from this past week melted all the snow and ice. I even headed up to the creepy woods with a spring in my step and was pleased to find no snow up here either! I'm really glad I enjoyed the day and the trek because Mother Nature had some surprises in store.
Today...Big juicy flakes quickly cover the backyard all the way up to the tree line..which has the creepy woods right behind it!
Yesterday...Sedum covered in snow just a few days earlier is happy to show itself to a warmer, sunny day.
Today...the drive up to the front of the house may need shoveling before nightfall.
Yesterday...Bulbs are bursting green shoots out to greet the sun.
Today...the side yard is quickly becoming a winter wonderland...again.
And finally...Yesterday I made this roast chicken and Jack thought it looked really good and also "blog worthy"...yep it looked great yesterday...But it wasn't eaten until today!

9 to 91

Today we headed over to help celebrate our Grandson Anthony's NINTH birthday!! Happy Birthday Buddy! He had a few friends from school over and we came by and so did his other Grandparents. He wanted pizza and 7 layer salad for his b-day dinner...Steph made his cake and we ate, sang, opened presents, and listened to he and his friends laugh and wrestle around like 9yr old boys do! It was a fun night and I can't believe how time has passed. It sounds like a cliche, but so true.

Let's open some gifts!
The cake was very yummy...make a wish Anthony and hopefully all your wishes will come true!
Anthony says: It's fine turning NINE!!!
Now for the 91...

Today would have been my Dad's 91st birthday. It's hard to even think of him at that age because he died in 1976 at the age of 56. He was a fun guy! In a room of strangers, he'd be everyone's new friend. He loved to tell stories, play his guitar, sing, laugh, write poetry, read and most of all, he loved his family. He was devoted to my Mom and always made us 6 kids feel we were his most prized possessions. He could fix anything. He built his own house in 1951..and Mom lives there still. He served in WWII..he drove a tank, was shot in the leg and came home to start a his life and live in peace. The saddest day was when he had to send my 2 older brothers off to Vietnam..thankfully both returned safely. He wrote a poem about it. It's long so I'm only going to give a few lines. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of him, and always wish he could have met my children and shared in our lives. Here are just a few of his thoughts about going to war and sending his children to fight....
Then once upon a monarch's whim
I walked upon a foreign land.
I never knew just why
The sun upon the earth was darkened
The laughter in me died...
And I was not so young, and I was not so young

I took the path God gave me
I walked it straight and true
The happiness I found was not laughter
But home, and love, and family
That was so young, so very young
Then one day for the very cause I served
The happiness left me
To walk upon a foreign land
I loosed the hands I guided
I watched these men depart

I know from long ago
They are no longer young, no longer young......

That's how time is. One day we're 9 and life is full of promise and fun and endless days...then in a blink...we are no longer young. But what wonderful times and memories are etched in our hearts when we spend it with those we love. And remember those we will always hold in our hearts. Happy Birthday Dad!

Have a Heart

The following pics go together...can you guess why?
These looked so much prettier when I first put them on the tray...looks like they were attacked! I think you can tell what they are!
Hmmmm....good or bad?
Yum...watermelon..a new "super food"
What is this?
Big clue here!
Uh Oh..we're getting more serious...
Did you guess it? It's heart health month and we had a wonderful lesson in our women's meeting (Relief Society) tonight. We talked about getting our hearts healthy and also our spirits..My friend Lisa from work came and gave a lesson on blood pressure and answered many questions the ladies had about heart issues. We learned much, laughed more, and loved every minute of it! After everyone had their blood pressures taken, they received a "red bag of courage" (see pic above) that had heart healthy recipes, many pamphlets on heart health and even a bag of healthy snacks..Cheerios! Hey, they're not just for toddlers! Refreshments were healthy...the chocolate covered strawberries had dark chocolate..the cookies? Ok, maybe not so much! Watermelon? It is the new heart super food people! Everyone left with a better understanding about heart health...hopefully it will save a life. Are you taking care of your heart?

Roses Are Red

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! AWWWWW...AINT LOVE GRAND!



THANKS FOR THE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS BABE!

I am not a poet...don't claim that privilege...but this picture of our sky that I took tonight reminded me of this poem I wrote many years ago..it fits this time of melting snow and warmer winds that were such a gift today.

Sun, please come up,
Show a pink smile over
A grey freezing city.
A grey halo engulfs us.
Street lights flicker out,
Startle me alert.
Time to face a winter morning
Finale.

Winter, your time is almost gone.
Make your final peace and leave
Me cold only a few hours more.
Wind-whipped mornings
Chill me on longer.

Sun-warmed days, melting
Snow into memory.
Not quite Spring,
But a close facsimile.
Enough to make me smile,
To feel warmth and hope for
Future days of lazy afternoons
And sweet, watermelon nights.

Cheap Fun!

Last night our Church social was the annual "Cheap nite out..Chili cookoff"..Chile experts from our little branch come and enter to see who has the best chili. I didn't enter this year. I just wasn't in the mood I guess! There were many that ranged from the weirdest...mussel and venison chili?...the hottest..to the tastiest...well, you get the picture. Skits are also part of the night and those ranged from the weirdest...to the funniest..well, it was a night of laughs and food and fellowship. One way to warm up a cold February night! Unfortunately, all of my picss of participants in the skits turned out blurry. I did manage a few that turned out. I had to show what food I brought since I didn't bring chili.

Summer came to enjoy the night...she looks very involved at something.
Ooops! Caught by YaYa...texting away! Atleast you weren't driving while texting..atleast you're still only 12 and I don't have to worry about you texting while driving!
Now this was a mistake...What I mean is, I was going to take a pic of my Greek chicken before this point. But I forgot so I quickly clicked away as it was heading into my mouth! Yummm...chicken, spinach, feta cheese..nectar of the Gods!
For dessert? Fruit pizza was fun to make and even funner to eat!

Grab Your Quarter!

Do you have a favorite store in your neck of the woods? We have a small variety here in our little town..some grocery stores that are pretty decent. But for some reason I just love this one. Do you have Aldi where you live? I don't think you can find it west of the Mississippi and that's so sad. I try and convert all my friends to this place. The prices are reasonable and the items range from the ordinary, to the gourmet, and they even have an isle with merchandise like crock pots, cooking items, toys, and it changes every week..so surprises abound! You have to load your own stuff, and bring your own bags or buy them there, but I like to bring mine so I feel "green"! Sorry, no cute little bagger boys to take them to your car like a couple of the other stores in town. If you have one, go..and then go again..pretty soon you'll be blogging about it and people will feel sorry for you for having such a boring life that you blog about a grocery store...
The isles are nice and wide and the selection is varied and fun and good prices too! It really was busy today, but I found an isle with no people so I clicked away..I didn't want to weird out anyone by taking their pics without permission..I try and keep that for family and friends.
This is the cool thing about Aldi..you bring a quarter..I actually have what I fondly call my "aldi quarter" in my car at all times..and put it into this thinga mabob and it releases the cart..you shop and when your done you return said cart and get that quarter back. No carts left in the parking lot..all neat and tidy!
Finally, here I am being amazed at the sunshine..it was 5de. below zero, but I was still amazed at the sun..check out my shadow! Hahaha! I don't know why I think it's funny..probably because it's 5de. below zero and I had brain freeze! Oh, and the sidewalk isn't shoveled for a reason. Underneath all that snow is pure ice..it's much safer to tromp through the snow, believe me.

The Cat's Meow

Somebody, or some cat I should say, is not happy...the following picture is probably the reason why.
Look who came for lunch on Saturday..Eddy and Jordan! We do miss them, but it makes the visits fun. Eddy can't run free in his new neighborhood, so Jordan brings him out to "blow the stink off" as my Grandpa used to say. The snow and ice are hard on his paws when he does go for a walk around his new home. But he was happy to go see the woods and yard although he came in for a few breaks.
Man and beast head up to the woods for a jaunt in the blowing, snowy day. The backyard is a sheet of ice under that layer of snow. As much as I want it to melt, the thought of all that liquid running toward the house in making me a little nervous. Hopefully it will melt slow and just sink in and water the lawn.
Hang in there little rhododendron, you'll be in bloom in a few months..Unless Mother Nature continues to goes crazy!

Ice Age...Don't Leave The Camera

The arrival of sun meant that the ice was slowly..emphasis on slowly..melting. To give it a hand and get it off some of the driveway, Jack and our son Jack(ie) chopped and scraped and pushed and shoveled this mess up off the concrete.
They tried to make a dent in this...that's all ice baby!
I took advantage of the sun and grabbed a book, a chair and soaked up some vitamin D. That is until the wind picked up and forced me inside. But not after I watched and even helped a bit, to get that ice under control.
Thanks for helping the old folks out Jackie.
Remember the Robins from a previous post? I don't think they'll be stopping here for a bath any time soon.
Now, because my life isn't exciting enough, I decided I really needed to go to Wal-Mart tonight. While getting ready to leave I noticed my camera on the table. My son had already accused me of being like the paparazzi. Snapping pics left and right. So I decided to leave it behind. Why would I need it at Wal-Mart? I know many pictures of weirdos shopping there show up on the Internet daily, but I like to really just ignore them shopping in their PJs. By the way, when did that become acceptable dress attire for shopping anyway? Well, never mind that. I get to the store and it's dark inside..no lights in the middle section at all. That does not deter any shopper in that store, including me. I just wished I had taken that camera! I'm a blogger for crying out loud. I lead a very boring life too, so every chance I get to blog about something out of the ordinary, with pics included, is grabbed. I hurry and get my items and I run into my little friend Jan. She's a retired nurse that I used to work with who now works at Wally world. She loves it too! She's been there for many years and wouldn't think of missing a day. She's 80yrs. old and you can always find her stocking shelves, laughing (or maybe flirting?) with the customers and just having a good ol' time. She informed me that the whole store had to be evacuated about an hour before I got there because it smelled like a fire, then the lights went out. See, I miss all the exciting things. But you know what's creepier than shopping in the dark? Or wondering about how many people were actually stuffing their pockets with merchandise in the dark? It's walking out to your car in the dark..no parking lot lights, wondering why you parked in the nether regions of the lot. See, those creepy PJ wearing nut cases look even creepier walking behind you with their slippers on. I hurried and got home to safety, warmth and a fresh apple pie thrown in the oven. Let the weekend begin.

Serve With Love

Tonight a sacred ritual was performed..A ritual that is performed in every Church in every land and is understood in every culture. It falls into "mourning with those who mourn..comforting those who stand in need of comforting". I'm sure it was done in prehistoric ages..I'm sure a Woolly Mammoth was slaughtered and brought to the tribe. It's what we do when we can't do anything else. We feed the masses. We bring our casseroles, our bread, our meat, our sweets, our jello. We bring our love for the ones suffering the loss of their loved one. Not knowing what to say, perhaps not being able to help in any other way, food can be the universal point of understanding. It gives a grieving family time to sit and talk to each other, reminisce, and remember with love one who's not there to join in. The food arrived in containers, crock pots, foil pans..a seemingly endless trail of sustenance. Enough to feed, and more to take home for later. The fishes and the loaves..We worried at first if there would be enough. Then we worried about where to put it all. My Mother was/is the greatest testament to that parable. No one ever left our home hungry. My Greek Mom knows how to extend a few cookies, crackers and tuna into a feast. Her magic wand? A wooden spoon. Her magic words: Just Do It..(Nike stole it from her). She passed it on to her children and I've used it as often as the occasion arose. Maybe not quite to Mom's height of serving..she is the Master after all..the Yoda of Church funeral dinners. But I think even she would have been proud of us today. I'm proud of the women I serve with in our Church...our tiny branch here in Ashland. What we lack in numbers, we make up in casserole dishes! But tonight one of them is going home to a house without her loving husband. Tonight she was in need of comfort. In need of help. In need of friends who didn't hesitate to give, to serve and will be there whenever she needs us.

Cafe Starkey

This weekend was filled with Grandkiddos, and food..making it, sending it out to Church for a baptism, making more, feeding the starving Starkeys, making more, sending more to Church for a funeral dinner, making more and of course eating more. Whew! But it was fun to have all the kids here and the noise level around the usually quiet dining table reminded me of when we had a house full of boys eating at this same table. Cameron came in and immediately said he was hungry and was happy with an appetizer of cheese and crackers!
We all gathered around the table for the request meal..spaghetti! I know it's Driana's fav. She didn't want her pic taken so I was polite and didn't, but I laughed at this shot because at first I thought Anthony was eating with his elbows on the table, but really he didn't want his pic taken either and was hiding his face. I think they are getting sick of YaYa and her crazy, come out at every occasion, camera.
Ummm...is this a "boarding house" reach Jackie?
Saturday night was make your own pizza night. The kids created their masterpieces and I think they really enjoyed the fun of cooking and having their own pizzas just the way they like them.
Oh Yummo!
Things that happen in the night..this white dusting on all the trees took me by surprise this morning. I was up until atleast 1am and I never saw any snow. Then I look outside this morning around 7am and..voila! Powder sugar has coated the Pines.
Most people who visit the Pines come to the front door..usually they don't walk in the yard, especially when it's covered in snow. These prints are not the human variety. I'm always amazed at the many tracks I find in the yard because most of the time I don't see what's making them. I can guess when I see them what's been cutting through...deer, rabbit, cat, and I'm sure other creatures. The big prints? Oh, that would be me.