mom's house in Oklahoma
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Friday, September 29, 2006
Wedding Pictures
I am enjoying looking at the wedding pictures...occasionally without tears in my eyes.
Back from Oklahoma!
George and I just spent nine days at my mother's home in Oklahoma. It was an epic trip. We pretty much wore ourselves out keeping up with mother. She celebrates 97 years in November, and she keeps a tight ship. When we got there, she had a long list of things that needed doing, and the first thing she wanted to do was go shopping. I don't know if I have talked about shopping much in my blog. I am a good shopper, but my mom takes the cake. We went to Kohl's and she found eight blouses and bought two for my niece and I got two, plus a suede-cloth jacket in a beautiful turquoise. She refused the wheelchair, and walked with her walker all through the store, until she got to the middle and had a huge pile of clothing in her walker basket, and THEN we got her a wheelchair to finish the trip to the cash register. She loves to go places, and when she is feeling up to par, we took her out wherever we were going.
George and I visited my niece Crystal and her new baby Kaitlyn Faith in Muskogee while we were there. The three hour drive went right through "Indian territory", as mother said, and there were casinos tempting us all along the way. The drive was pretty and peaceful and we really enjoyed our visit to the toy store with Devin and his little sister Alyssa. They were polite and nice, and just lovely children to be with. I'll not forget that long hug that Alyssa gave me for a long long time!
We did a lot of birdwatching every evening. Sometimes with a delicious Braum's ice cream shake in hand, and sometimes not. There are scissor-tailed flycatchers in that part of the country, and in trips past, we would see one or two and get really excited. This trip, out near the El Reno Reformatory, near a field of wild sunflowers, there were hundreds of them! Mom cautioned me not to say "hundreds". She wanted to me to say "dozens". We certainly saw a lot of them, and mom got to see them with us too. We had a great evening trip out there. I say hundreds! They were so elegant and beautiful with their 14" long tails and their apricot and pale grey markings. They fly up to catch a cricket or bug, and their wings and tail spreads out like a giant scissors. It is beautiful to behold. More about them when I get the pictures.
Our flight back was horrendous. We got up at 3:30 a.m. to catch a 7:00 flight through Minneapolis. The flight was cancelled at 6:30 due to mechanical problems, so we were rescheduled to atlanta, with three hours to wait before we took off, and another two hour wait in Atlanta. We got home last night at 9:00 p.m. A VERY LONG DAY! The high point of the trip home was a delicious roast beef sandwich on panini bread at The Atlanta Bakery Co., at the airport. I never tasted anything so good. We had coke from a bottle, and a frozen yogurt. Delish! The flights were fine, once they took off. Who knew we'd be having lunch in Atlanta!
Thanks to my good friend Joan for her lovely letter. I'll be responding soon! So nice to catch up with old friends through a blog...very neat stuff--blogging.
Have a great day.
George and I visited my niece Crystal and her new baby Kaitlyn Faith in Muskogee while we were there. The three hour drive went right through "Indian territory", as mother said, and there were casinos tempting us all along the way. The drive was pretty and peaceful and we really enjoyed our visit to the toy store with Devin and his little sister Alyssa. They were polite and nice, and just lovely children to be with. I'll not forget that long hug that Alyssa gave me for a long long time!
We did a lot of birdwatching every evening. Sometimes with a delicious Braum's ice cream shake in hand, and sometimes not. There are scissor-tailed flycatchers in that part of the country, and in trips past, we would see one or two and get really excited. This trip, out near the El Reno Reformatory, near a field of wild sunflowers, there were hundreds of them! Mom cautioned me not to say "hundreds". She wanted to me to say "dozens". We certainly saw a lot of them, and mom got to see them with us too. We had a great evening trip out there. I say hundreds! They were so elegant and beautiful with their 14" long tails and their apricot and pale grey markings. They fly up to catch a cricket or bug, and their wings and tail spreads out like a giant scissors. It is beautiful to behold. More about them when I get the pictures.
Our flight back was horrendous. We got up at 3:30 a.m. to catch a 7:00 flight through Minneapolis. The flight was cancelled at 6:30 due to mechanical problems, so we were rescheduled to atlanta, with three hours to wait before we took off, and another two hour wait in Atlanta. We got home last night at 9:00 p.m. A VERY LONG DAY! The high point of the trip home was a delicious roast beef sandwich on panini bread at The Atlanta Bakery Co., at the airport. I never tasted anything so good. We had coke from a bottle, and a frozen yogurt. Delish! The flights were fine, once they took off. Who knew we'd be having lunch in Atlanta!
Thanks to my good friend Joan for her lovely letter. I'll be responding soon! So nice to catch up with old friends through a blog...very neat stuff--blogging.
Have a great day.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Where the wind comes right behind the rain
We are in Oklahoma, visiting my mother. So far, we have had one incredibly windy day which followed a gray morning of rain just like I remembered when I was a kid and had to walk to school. Today was bright and sunny and beautiful, with anvil clouds that looked like nuclear clouds on the horizon. The jet stream goes right over this town in the middle of Oklahoma, and the weather is always interesting and sometimes downright scary. George said to my mother that this was not the season for tornados. She replied that ANY season is right for tornados, and you never know.
We have had a good time, although somewhat exhausting. Not sure why it is hard, but there is a lot to do, and a lot of people to please. Mom keeps us all hopping.
Last night George and I took our nightly drive to find the scissortail flycatchers, and we hit the motherlode. Right near highway 66, George said, "there's one"...and then "there's a whole bunch of them". On the phone wires, there were about 30 of them, hanging in the wind with their long tails feathering out in a V-shape. It was a sight to behold and very exciting. (Maybe you had to be there.)
Tomorrow we drive to Muskogee, which I am looking forward to, and who knows what excitement we'll find here after that.
One day at a time. Have a great one.
We have had a good time, although somewhat exhausting. Not sure why it is hard, but there is a lot to do, and a lot of people to please. Mom keeps us all hopping.
Last night George and I took our nightly drive to find the scissortail flycatchers, and we hit the motherlode. Right near highway 66, George said, "there's one"...and then "there's a whole bunch of them". On the phone wires, there were about 30 of them, hanging in the wind with their long tails feathering out in a V-shape. It was a sight to behold and very exciting. (Maybe you had to be there.)
Tomorrow we drive to Muskogee, which I am looking forward to, and who knows what excitement we'll find here after that.
One day at a time. Have a great one.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Sunday, September 17, 2006
A busy week
Mike sent me an email with links to pictures he and Michelle took while they were on their honeymoon. They were in Glacier Point on Thursday, and the pictures are incredible. There are pictures of Lake Tahoe, and the giant redwoods, and the scenery just goes on and on. I hope that being surrounded by so much beauty for two weeks will see them home safe and rested and ready for the rest of their journey as a married couple.
My week has been spent making and listing new jewelry. I have also been making some special orders, and delivered two yesterday. Tuesday we leave for Oklahoma to visit mother. I'm always happy to be going there, and she get so excited to have us there. She wants to take us out for the new Chinese buffet that they have in El Reno. She is truly amazing. Every day, when I wake up and stretch, I wonder what it is like to live 97 years and stretch out for a new day every morning. She is very flexible, and interested in the world, and doesn't give up on what she wants. She is formidable! I love her.
George is going to his flying club picnic today, and we are meeting friends who are bringing their 11 year old son. It is a fine day to fly and eat hamburgers, both.
Oh, the other thing I did this week was spend 5 hours total on the phone with tech support about my new Dell laptop. Unfortunately, it took us a lot of time, and three lengthy calls to three different technicians to finally fiqure out the problem: a bad memory card. By unscrewing the back and replacing and testing, we discovered why it took 10 tries to boot up my computer, and now I'm going to be all fixed when the new card arrives at my mom's house on Tuesday. I waited for George to come home to unscrew the back and replace cards. That whole idea of unscrewing a computer freaked me out. I'm not blaming Dell, and the technicians do good work over the phone and try their best. They are patient and it was amazing to see how they handled the steps on the process of narrowing down the options. The problem was compounded by the fact that the computer booted up fine when it was warm,...so we would think we had the problem solved and then the next day, nothing. All's well.
Have a great week. Happy Trails.
My week has been spent making and listing new jewelry. I have also been making some special orders, and delivered two yesterday. Tuesday we leave for Oklahoma to visit mother. I'm always happy to be going there, and she get so excited to have us there. She wants to take us out for the new Chinese buffet that they have in El Reno. She is truly amazing. Every day, when I wake up and stretch, I wonder what it is like to live 97 years and stretch out for a new day every morning. She is very flexible, and interested in the world, and doesn't give up on what she wants. She is formidable! I love her.
George is going to his flying club picnic today, and we are meeting friends who are bringing their 11 year old son. It is a fine day to fly and eat hamburgers, both.
Oh, the other thing I did this week was spend 5 hours total on the phone with tech support about my new Dell laptop. Unfortunately, it took us a lot of time, and three lengthy calls to three different technicians to finally fiqure out the problem: a bad memory card. By unscrewing the back and replacing and testing, we discovered why it took 10 tries to boot up my computer, and now I'm going to be all fixed when the new card arrives at my mom's house on Tuesday. I waited for George to come home to unscrew the back and replace cards. That whole idea of unscrewing a computer freaked me out. I'm not blaming Dell, and the technicians do good work over the phone and try their best. They are patient and it was amazing to see how they handled the steps on the process of narrowing down the options. The problem was compounded by the fact that the computer booted up fine when it was warm,...so we would think we had the problem solved and then the next day, nothing. All's well.
Have a great week. Happy Trails.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
The Honeymoon
Mike and Michelle sent pictures of their honeymoon in Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. Kitty sat on the back of my chair this morning, and we both enjoyed a half hour slide show of some beautiful people in some beautiful country! Wow.
I have added a couple of pictures to my blog. I couldn't resist.
Have a great day!
I have added a couple of pictures to my blog. I couldn't resist.
Have a great day!
Monday, September 11, 2006
One Day At A Time
Since the wedding, things have sort of piled up here at home, and they just seem to keep piling. I call it my "One Day At A Time" stage, where I try to keep it simple, and not plan too much. Life goes on, and housework will always be there. George and I tend to be interested in a lot of things, and we don't like to live simply. I admire people who do.
Sunday School started yesterday and I had eight eager 9&10 year olds, and we had a great time. They read the bible lesson, Genesis 3, and dove into the apples that I had brought as a snack. You would think those children had never seen food! Then we played with the polymer clay and made tiny garden-themed items which I baked and will return to them to put into their backpacks to remind them of our theme that day--God cares what we do!
Yesterday afternoon I started working on a prayer shawl. This is a ministry that is starting at my church, and we meet once a month. We make knitted items to give away to people who are ill. The first meeting is next week. I have started a orangy/red throw, a rather ambitious project. It quickly came to a frustrating halt. I had to rip it out three times and start over. Maybe it was that we were watching the first season of 24, and the excitement got to me, or maybe it was that I just wasn't thinking, but after getting a whole three inches done,...I found that when I picked it up after dinner, I had reversed direction and made a complete mess of it. Oops, a hole. Lace isn't easy to rip out and then find your place again, so I just ripped again... and will start another day. My mother has always said, "Good ripppers make good knitters", so I am joining THAT club.
On Saturday, I enjoyed going to the Marlborough bead show with George and my friend Connie. This one was smaller, but just big enough to spend about all of my available beading money. We went from booth to booth, set up in very tiny rooms at the Embassy Suites, made for just such a show, and I bought some lovely strands of sterling silver spacer beads, some chandelier findings, some gorgeous strands of gemstones, and some Miyuki glass for my crocheted necklaces. It was a haul. We ate our lunch in the car after the show. It was a very "keep it simple" lunch: cheese sticks, granola bars, oranges, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and peppermint patties.
Today is Monday, the anniversary of September 11, 2001, and I am not eager to revisit my feelings on that day. I will concentrate today on the heroism and hope that exists in America like no where else, and I will pray and reflect and be grateful that I live in America.
God Bless Us All
Sunday School started yesterday and I had eight eager 9&10 year olds, and we had a great time. They read the bible lesson, Genesis 3, and dove into the apples that I had brought as a snack. You would think those children had never seen food! Then we played with the polymer clay and made tiny garden-themed items which I baked and will return to them to put into their backpacks to remind them of our theme that day--God cares what we do!
Yesterday afternoon I started working on a prayer shawl. This is a ministry that is starting at my church, and we meet once a month. We make knitted items to give away to people who are ill. The first meeting is next week. I have started a orangy/red throw, a rather ambitious project. It quickly came to a frustrating halt. I had to rip it out three times and start over. Maybe it was that we were watching the first season of 24, and the excitement got to me, or maybe it was that I just wasn't thinking, but after getting a whole three inches done,...I found that when I picked it up after dinner, I had reversed direction and made a complete mess of it. Oops, a hole. Lace isn't easy to rip out and then find your place again, so I just ripped again... and will start another day. My mother has always said, "Good ripppers make good knitters", so I am joining THAT club.
On Saturday, I enjoyed going to the Marlborough bead show with George and my friend Connie. This one was smaller, but just big enough to spend about all of my available beading money. We went from booth to booth, set up in very tiny rooms at the Embassy Suites, made for just such a show, and I bought some lovely strands of sterling silver spacer beads, some chandelier findings, some gorgeous strands of gemstones, and some Miyuki glass for my crocheted necklaces. It was a haul. We ate our lunch in the car after the show. It was a very "keep it simple" lunch: cheese sticks, granola bars, oranges, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and peppermint patties.
Today is Monday, the anniversary of September 11, 2001, and I am not eager to revisit my feelings on that day. I will concentrate today on the heroism and hope that exists in America like no where else, and I will pray and reflect and be grateful that I live in America.
God Bless Us All
Friday, September 08, 2006
The day after the day after the day after...
It is post wedding time. I can hardly believe that Michael and Michelle are on the third day of their honeymoon. It is a joyous time for them, and I think of them all the time. Here at my house it is time to do some organizing, pay some bills, make some jewelry, and plan for the next trip--Oklahoma in two weeks. We are going to visit my mother for 9 days and see what we can do to help her a little.
The neighborhood is much quieter now that school has begun again, and I can really notice the difference during the day. There are a lot of people who work 9-5, but i have noticed that there are a lot of people who are NOT working during the day. Grocery stores, post offices, coffee places, stores...everyone is everywhere and it all looks like Saturday to me. Not working 9-5 means that I am busier than ever, with errands, career workshops, and working on jewelry sales.
Things are getting back to normal, and I'm not sure I'm ready for normal. I am still in post-wedding bliss.
Have a great day today Mike and Michelle, wherever you are!
The neighborhood is much quieter now that school has begun again, and I can really notice the difference during the day. There are a lot of people who work 9-5, but i have noticed that there are a lot of people who are NOT working during the day. Grocery stores, post offices, coffee places, stores...everyone is everywhere and it all looks like Saturday to me. Not working 9-5 means that I am busier than ever, with errands, career workshops, and working on jewelry sales.
Things are getting back to normal, and I'm not sure I'm ready for normal. I am still in post-wedding bliss.
Have a great day today Mike and Michelle, wherever you are!
Thursday, September 07, 2006
The Wedding
I don't know quite how to write a blog when I am speechless and have tears in my eyes. I just can't express how wonderful it was to be present at Michael and Michelle's wedding and to see all the good wishes they received from our families and friends. It was a weekend full of fun, parties, dinners, quiet times with each other, errand-running, shopping, nervous anticipation, and then...the wedding.
Michael and Michelle had a wedding that was perfect. It reflected who they are as individuals and as a couple. It was beautiful, and it unfolded like the wings of a butterfly. Held in an outdoor garden where no florist flowers were even necessary, they were surrounded by lush gardens, butterflies, and small fountains. The setting was gorgeous, and simple, and the wedding day was cool and sunny.
The wedding was held in beautiful Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland, and just before the ceremony began, I saw a beautiful large Tiger Swallowtail butterfly fly right past me like an angel. I am sure that this was a special blessing to me, and reminded me again of how special it is to be able to share this day together.
In the garden, under a gazebo, Michelle and Michael made their vows to start their new life together, and the ceremony was perfect and they were surrounded by people who love them. It was an occasion of a lifetime for me, and one that I will never ever forget.
Michael and Michelle had a wedding that was perfect. It reflected who they are as individuals and as a couple. It was beautiful, and it unfolded like the wings of a butterfly. Held in an outdoor garden where no florist flowers were even necessary, they were surrounded by lush gardens, butterflies, and small fountains. The setting was gorgeous, and simple, and the wedding day was cool and sunny.
The wedding was held in beautiful Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland, and just before the ceremony began, I saw a beautiful large Tiger Swallowtail butterfly fly right past me like an angel. I am sure that this was a special blessing to me, and reminded me again of how special it is to be able to share this day together.
In the garden, under a gazebo, Michelle and Michael made their vows to start their new life together, and the ceremony was perfect and they were surrounded by people who love them. It was an occasion of a lifetime for me, and one that I will never ever forget.
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