To the Moon and Back

 Remember when Artemis 11 went around the moon and back to earth? I bet you didn't know that I was aboard that flight? 

Well, not my physical body but my name was onboard and it made the journey of a lifetime. 

My son-in-law is all into this space stuff and my dau finally told me the other day that I went around the moon. I wish I'd known it at the time of the flight!

Of course, I bet there are times she'd like to send me to the moon (as would, I to her) hehe. 

I have the boarding pass to prove it, too. This has been a ton of fun.... I went to the moon!! 

On a more earthly thought....

some of us residents met the other day in the common room to make hats for our Kentucky Derby party which will be Saturday. 

I still have my hat from last year so I just watched the others at work. 

I don't think the party will be as much fun this year. Only about 1/2 the number signed up to attend but there is something about the weather that keeps people in their apartments. And, it's gonna be rainy and in the 60s. But, those of us who will be there will enjoy ourselves and eat all that good food. I hope I pick the winning horse!

A Night To Remember - Paris

 This is a 'blast from the past' ....

In 1986 my dau. Susan needed to work in Paris for awhile to upgrade her portfolio. Models have to do that and Europe is an excellent place to achieve a better book. 

She invited me to go along. Neither of us had ever been to Europe. If any of you have been in another country you know that things are different 'across the pond'. And, I was nervous about us not knowing one word of French! So, I bought one of those books 'See Paris on $10 a Day' or something like that. I found a listing for a hotel that might work for us... the staff spoke English. 

We take a cab to Hotel Marginan, the driver sets our suitcases on the sidewalk and away he goes. We go in to find the check-in desk in a tiny cubby hole. No lobby. Okay, that's different. 

We follow the clerk up a narrow wrought iron stairway to the second floor and down a long hallway. We open the door ... it looks like a girl scout camp! 3 small cots lined up along one wall, covered with those stiff, indian looking blankets. There's one small wardrobe to hang our clothes in, a chair and a telephone on the wall.

No bathroom? Oh no, there's just one bathroom for the entire floor and it's back down the hall.

We are exhausted. I mean, there's no getting any sleep on an overnight flight! So, we crawl into bed. It's January, folks. and those people don't believe in heat evidently. I got up and piled our coats and other clothing on top of us to stay warm.

Sometime during the night I needed to go find that elusive bathroom. One tiny light gave me enough guidance as I wandered down the hall. I finally found the place. I went in, tried to turn the light switch on but it was weird. It was a knob that you turned. I sit down to take care of things and notice that the ceiling is very high and there is a small window up there and the darn thing is open. Cold air was flowing in. 

All of a sudden the light goes out. I am in total darkness. That thing was on a timer. I stumble to the door and make my way back to the 'comfort' of my bed. 

Needless to say as soon as we got awake we set out to find a different place to stay. And, we found it, too. Hotel La Louisanne ..... 

We had our own bath! Glory Be. And, it was warm inside and was on a street filled with sidewalk vendors (flowers, fish, etc, etc). So much for following a travel book to find lodging. We'd done better on our own.

that's me with the camera standing behind the truck. 

As I say things are different in different countries. Americans are pretty used to comfort. We might could use a little more restraint on that level. But, that's another story. 

My Life in a Nutshell

 Some time back one of the bloggers, Brenda, asked if I would give some info on myself like where I live, favorite place and where I grew up etc. I'm at a total loss as to which blog Brenda has so if you are reading this, Brenda, let us know where you are.

Well, here goes. 

I was born in 1934 in Alabama to a newly widowed mother. We lived with my grandparents because Mom had to work and heaven forbid she have her own apartment in town! A single woman. That was unheard of back in those days. 

Me with my grandparents and hen that was wandering around. 

I married when I was 16 to a Navy man! Handsome, the most kind, gentle and happy person ever. We were married 60 years. 

This picture was made shortly after we were married.

20 of those years I followed him around, when I could, to various bases so I've lived in a lot of places. All of my babies were born in different states.

I had 5 children, 3 girls, 2 boys. One of my sons died when he was 3 months old. I was all of 20 years old when we had to bury our baby. That was tough.

My husband retired from the Navy in 1969 and we moved back to our hometown. Stayed there 30 years and then moved to Wakefield, Virginia where a daughter and her family lived. ( I now live in a nearby town)

My husband died in 2011 after years of battling Alzheimers. 

As for favorite places: We lived in Honolulu, Hawaii for awhile. That was a cool place and could be classified as a favorite! 

my two daughters standing outside our apartment in Honolulu

Then we moved on to Midway Island. That was not a favorite place but one that was so different and unusual that I  had to mention it. 

We are about to board a plane bringing us back to the U. S. after our stint on Midway Island.

If I could have, when I was younger, I would have lived for awhile in Paris, France. My favorite place!! I've been twice on short visits and if I had the energy I'd go back again. I can just imagine going out every day, grabbing a pastry and some tea and sitting at one of those sidewalk cafes for hours maybe reading a bit, watching passersby and listening to music being played out on the street. Scents of flowers fill the air. They are in big bins lining the sidewalk. But, alas that is just a fantasy! 

1986 Susan and I are in Paris.

I've always been involved in learning, going to museums, etc. I paint, I write, I enjoy classical music and I used to quilt all the time. Nowdays I blog, I watch tv, read, paint and just putter around in my apartment alone. 

                   Glad I have my blogging buddies to keep me company. 

                                                                                                                   Latane

A Fun Saturday

 Wow, yesterday was fun!

The family couldn't get together for Easter so one week later we met at my granddaughter's home for a taco party! Complete switch from the traditional ham and potato salad, wouldn't you think! It was delish! 

We always get entertained by my great-grandson, Dylan. He taught himself to play the piano when he was about 11. At 14 he won the National Beta Club instrumental contest in Orlando, Florida. So, the entertainment is delightful and we are so proud of him.

As we headed home we stopped at Quail Cove Farm Store in Machipongo, Va. Oh, my gosh... I could have spent a fortune in that place! They are organic farmers and besides their produce they carry all those things you can't find in a regular grocer. I wish that place was right around the corner from me but alas it is about an hour and a half drive from my apartment. 

I bought 2 chicken pot pies, a jar of local honey, a bag of red lentils (I have a recipe I want to try), colby cheese (that's my favorite and oft times the grocery store's brand just doesn't taste much like Colby). I haven't tried it yet but I just know it's gonna be great. I found some German bologna and of course, I had to have that. I used to buy Garlic bologna at my grocer but they quit carrying it. I had a sandwich when I got home and YUM! seems like there was something else I bought but it doesn't pop into my head at the moment.. 

Here are some pictures from the place: Not mine. I 'borrowed' them from Quail Cove website. Hope they don't mind. 

I have to go visit my granddaughter more often. Or perhaps I can get her to pick stuff up for me. 

Y'all take care... have a great week coming up. 

Excitement is in the air!!

 There is so much going on in my life right now.  Here at Centerbrooke we have some great events in the near and not so near future. So, we've been planning those. The biggest event of the year is the Kentucky Derby Party in May. I'll keep you updated on how that is going. 

But, the big thing taking up most of our time and effort is the May 9th wedding for my grandson and his bride. If you don't think there's texting back and forth going on, pictures of potential outfits to wear during that weekend, making plane reservations and hotel stays going on.... oh my. It's overwhelming. We all are so excited.

The bride and groom are in New York 

as is the groom's family. Her family is in Texas. Grandma (that's me) as well as several others of the family are in Virginia and Alabama. And, guess where the wedding will be!!

                          Sea Island, Georgia!

So, yes there's a lot of planning going on. It's the main topic of conversation any day of the week. I'm about on wedding overload! and it's 5 weeks away. 

Oh to another strain of thought....

I want to share with you a picture of a platter that I once owned, a gift from a friend. She was out walking in the woods one day and saw the edge of it sticking up out of the ground. I was flabbergasted that she would part with it and I would be the new owner. 

The antique apprasier that I took it to said it was most likely hidden from northern troops during the civil war and never retrieved. It came from the Maddock Company in Shaffordshire in the 1860s. Such a gem and I treasured it but then passed it on to my daughter. 

A Drive in the Country

 There's nothing like a drive in the country, especially those not planned, that just happen.  

I left my car in a nearby town one day last week so that Shirley could drive me to a further town for lunch. When we finished she automatically got on the road to take me back to my apartment. Whoops, mistake there. 

So, she started taking little side roads trying to find the one she should have been on in the first place. Hence the drive in the country. 

The winter's been long and cold so this was a welcomed treat, even if it was a mistake. 

I love dead trees and saw lots... Here is a favorite.  Just so many branches reaching in every direction. 

We came to a pasture filled with goats. Loved the one stopping his munching to check us out. 

Some of them had escaped the fence and was wandering about in another field. 

There were geese, too. We have lots of geese around the area. They are everywhere.

Finally we got on the correct road, I retrieved my car and came on home. A nice drive. Glad we got lost! 

Surprise fun!

 I know you girls are dying to find out what happened about the surprise grocery delivery yesterday. We never did find out who they belonged to and baby, come to Mama, do.... I had fun unloading each bag. It was quite a trip! 

Well, I've come to the conclusion that it wasn't meant for this 55+ community anyway.... not with what I found in those bags. These are older people living here, lots of apartments with only one person and certainly not more than two and they eat 'old-timey'. Well, some of us are more adventurous but you know what I mean. 

I mean, there was some STRANGE stuff in there. How about jalepeno stuffed olives? Or three bags of large bell peppers, a huge bag of basmati rice, coconut milk? I could go on and on... There was no bread, eggs, milk or cleaning supplies. Strange.  

Here is a pic of a few of the odd things.... At least they seemed odd to me. The amount of bell peppers just blew my mind.

There were two huge packages of chicken tenders, 3 packages of smoked sausages. Nah... noone from here ordered that stuff. But, I am the happy recepient and I am experimenting. 

I am guessing they are coffee drinkers. I am not. But, I have me two huge bottles of coffee creamers.... flavored. Any idea what to do with those?

Made myself an omelet this morning adding some of those peppers, pimento stuffed olives, some fresh spinach that was in a bag. Man, it was good. I topped it all with shaved parmesan cheese. Happy camper, that I am! 

I consider it a gift from God. I hate some one had their order messed up. I wouldn't wish that on anyone but I am so thankful that it was my apartment that it happen to land at. I am going to have so much fun trying some of this stuff.

Now, what will I make with coconut milk? I've never used it... any ideas? 

My Elf In The Snow

                                                                We Got Snow!!

The first of the year here at the Commons at Centerbrooke. It was beginning to stick late in the afternoon and by the time I went to bed we had a couple inches. 

While I lay slumbering in my bed, all cozy and warm.... my Elf On A Shelf got off his shelf and sneaked outside. He had a fabulous time in the snow! 

I'm gonna have to keep my eye on that fellow!! No telling what he'll get into next! 

Beautiful Sunday Drive

 A Beautiful Sunday...

Too nice to stay inside so I headed up to my daughters, 35 miles away, for a visit. I don't drive much anymore so I got in that right lane and I stayed there. No switching lanes for me!! 

We had a lovely visit. Shirley and I went  for Italian food for lunch leaving the guys to fend for themselves. The salad I could eat a ton of... 

We then drove around searching out all the signs of Fall that we could find. 

I came home, happy, content and tired. Crawled up in my recliner and turned on the tv. But.

What a beautiful Sunday it was! 

Just Find Me Some Good Food!

                  If anything can happen, it will happen to me and Shirley!

A lunch date and we decided to go to one restaurant, but we got lost and ended up a block from another place that we had eaten several times before. We were hungry .. we just parked and went in to Place #2. 

Neither of us was 'feeling it'. The items on the menu just didn't click for us. I finally selected a chicken salad sandwich and fries. Shirley got 2 sides. The chicken salad was just cooked chicken chopped fine with some mayonaise mixed into it... no taste. So uninteresting. And, my fries... they were limp as a wet noodle!! No crisp to the outside, mushy inside. We gave up after a few bites and left.

Got in the car and we look at each other and asked 'What just happened? We just spent $35 and we are still hungry. I get this idea that we should just find place #1 and get us another lunch. 

That's what we did. Have you ever done that? Had two lunches within an hour of each other. It was funny as heck and we kept laughing about it. But, Place #2, the food was good. I had soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. There was plenty of food and flavor and we were happy. 

On a sadder note

My Susan lost her best buddy last weekend. She'd had him for 8 years but poor fellow got cancer and couldn't make it any longer. 

Snickers was attached to Susan's hip from day 1. It's a tough time for her so just give her a thought and prayer. I am sure she'd appreciate it. 

We Went To REDDs

 Yesterday Shirley and I met at a new restaurant in the town of Windsor, which is about 15 miles from my apartment. Totally new experience. 

                      REDD's SERVICE STATION

It is in an old service station (with the pump still outside) and they serve chicken fingers and Blue Bell ice cream among other things.

I got a chicken sandwich and the meat was tender and tasty. I told Shirley I thought they had Chic-fil-a beat but she would have none of it! That girl is sooooo totally taken with her Chic-fil-a and I am so tired of her taking me there!! I am not in to eating the same stuff time after time.

But, anyway...We had a great time. The music was loud and the people were all chatting away. I usually don't like loud music while I am eating but this was different, somehow. 

There was an old juke box in there...

And, an old coke machine. Shirley got one just for the heck of it. It's such a novelty! It cost her 5 bucks but that once was alright. 

The decor I am not sure about. Industral architecture so the acoustics were bad. There was a huge disco ball and the front end of a car as part of one bench. 

Like I say, it was a new experience!! I want to go back but I bet the next time we gals head out we end up at Chic-fil-a. 

An 'Arresting' Time

 So, I've not been on here for a few days. Been tied up. Or handcuffed up!! A good looking policeman 'arrested' me for starting a riot....

There's more to the story!!

It was National Night Out last Tuesday. Our apartment complex always participates and a good time was had by all.

National Night Out, in case you don't know, is held once a year where the First Responders meet with various groups in communities throughtout the U. S. in a effort to promote better connection and understanding between law enforcement and the public. 

We had a cookout with all the yummy food associated with a grill! There were over 75 in attendance. The Firemen arrived first,came roaring up our drive in a huge ladder truck. They are here on a regular basis... false alarms, people falling, disputes (although that's seldom) and to check our fire safety procedures. They are a great bunch of guys. 

A part of the crowd trappsied out to get their picture taken in front of the firetruck.

Then the police arrived, one office driving the forces brand-new mustang patrol car!

Isn't that thing a dandy!! 

I  wouldn't mind getting arrested if I could take a ride in that beauty. Of course, if those handsome officers were my arresting officers, that would be a big plus! 

We had such a great time. There was a DJ playing '80s music, great food, a lot of yakking going on and the 'eye candy' wasn't bad either! 

Just sailing along

 Sunday was a perfect day. I mean, how could it not be! The sun was bright, the sky was blue and my son Michael and I sailed along on the blue waters of Wheeler Lake (north Alabama). 

I took the wheel at one point, sort of a bucket list thing for me.

 And there were a zillion pictures made. Daughter Shirley, back in Virginia, was constantly texting her brother... You gotta get a shot of this..or that..or something else. But, sadly, we never got one of me and Michael together.

I am not a sun lover and can't remember when if ever I got a sunburn. But, now I have both arms a nice shade of red!

Sunday certainly will go down as one of my most memorable times. So glad I got to spend it with Michael. He's a superb sailor and son.