A Run For The Roses

 About 40 of us gathered in the common room for a party of epic style yesterday afternoon. Churchill Downs did not have a thing on us!

                            We had colorful fascinators, 

                                horses, 

      southern food,   

      

                         yummy mint juleps, 

  and betting on what we hoped to be the winning horse. 

I thought I had it won but Golden Tempo passed me by and my horse came in second. But, that was ok. I only lost a dollar!! And, wasn't it cool that two brothers finished in first and second place! We were cheering our jockeys on and just having a blast. 

My daughter has headed up the Kentucky Derby party here at Centerbrooke for the past 3 years and we always have such a good time. She made cheese straws which surpassed store bought one and her bourbon meatballs were out of this world. Lois made the mint juleps and they were divine. The staff furnished the potato salad, deviled eggs, ham sliders and pasta salad. 

There were some new residents attending and it was great seeing them having such a good time. 

     I just wish you all could come join us next year. 

Packing up, Flying Out

 I just wanted to post a quick note. I will try to have time to post about the Kentucky Derby Party tomorrow but I am in the midst of a very busy and exciting time. My grandson is getting married on May 9th to a lovely, sweet woman named Kelsey. 

At least two weeks ago I set my luggage on my spare bed and started gathering what I would need to take with me to Sea Island, Georgia where the wedding will take place. I mean,  at this age, you sort of worry that you'll forget something important... so, I started that 'gathering' early on. Lucky I had that spare bed!! 

I am being organized, I think, but you just watch..... I'll forget something. I have already packed my underwear and gowns, 3 pair of hose  in case one runs!! Yes, I wear hose when I need to. All  you 'young'ens go barelegged now but I'm old school. 

I've even packed some thread and a needle (just in case the bride or someone else splits a seam or loses one of 900 kazillions buttons she has down the back of her gown). 

I have a bag of candy that I just love so I am taking that for us all to snack on.... you have no idea how many times over the past week I have been tempted to rip open that bag and dive in! But, I've been a good girl. Gee it was hard, though. 

The wedding is taking place at a friend of the groom's summer home. And, we will be staying at the house. Geez, I  bet they might have needle and thread... nah, people don't sew anymore so I am safe by taking my own. 

The bride and groom along with his mom, fly from NY down to Ga on Monday. I will leave Virginia that same day and the four of us will have the rest of the week to 'pull our hair out' before the ceremony begins. Weddings are so stressful. But, what a beautiful event it will be. I can't wait!! 

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!

Nuts About My Computer

 I painted yesterday. Never could get the background like I wanted it but I finally just quit. Sometimes that's the best thing to do... if it isn't working, just quit. But, I'll share my effort with you anyway. 

I often find that people are amazed that I do as much as I do on the computer. I tell them it's like how I drive a car! I can drive that thing but just don't put me under the hood to fix something. That's what tech guy (son-in-law) is for!

It must have been 1989 when I got introduced to a computer. I was heavy into doing genealogy and decided I needed a way to keep it besides the tons of info I had on pieces of paper. 

So, I walked into Radio Shack (remember those?) and told the guy I needed something. I'd never even seen a computer but he showed me once and convinced me it was what I needed. I walked out of there with it under my arm. 

Got home and I managed to plug into the electrical outlet but now, what? So, a call to my son and he walked me through turning it on.....

And, the rest is history. 

I wrote my first book that was published on it. I cussed it alot during that time, too. I got on Myspace and later on Facebook. Just lately I was talked into getting on Instagram but I'm not nuts about it. For a few years I had a YouTube channel but I've not kept that up. I do enjoy some of what's offered on YouTube. 

And, I've been blogging since 2008. I do love my computer! And the friends I make on there.

But, as I said, don't ask me to fix any problems. It's just fun and I'm no technician. 

How long have y'all been blogging? 

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. 

A Perfect Life

 This journey that I've been on to find ME has been so interesting. And, I'm still finding out something new about myself every day! I'm loving it.

On April 10th I posted something about the woman that is my "life coach". She comes once a month and always has a 'project' for us to tackle. The latest one was this:

During the night a miracle happened... you awoke to find that you were living your PERFECT LIFE.. What would that life look like? 

Well, now, that was mind-provoking. You'd think I would say something like, I'd be healthy, rich, traveling, eating at fancy restaurants, have a perfect family and staff so I didn't have to do anything. HA HA. 

Here is what I said:

1. I would never get cancer again. I mean, I've had it twice already. Isn't that enough! There is always a niggling in my head saying, 'suppose you do'. 

2. I'd know that the lives of my children were as good as it could  be. There's some changes that need to happen there.

3. I would never again feel guilt in saying the word, NO.  I wish I'd learned that years ago.

4. I'd be an elegant lady with perfect manners and have a real sense of fashion. I always feel like I am not put together very well. 

5. I'd find out I just won the lottery. I'd hire an assistant and the two of us would travel to all those places I've always wanted to go. 

Here's the thing. If you'd like to play along, I hope you will post your perfect life in the comment section. That will be some fun reading!

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

German Chocolate Cake

                  Guess what I have been doing? 

I have been scanning and then saving my recipes to my pictures on my computer. I already had several but decided I needed to do the rest of them. Goodness knows I need another project!! 😉

My daughter asked me why!! Good question. But, when someone wants a recipe from me I can just email or message it. When I want to share a dish with all of you... I just load it into my post. 

Even though I don't cook like I used to I do enjoy trying new recipes. Some I keep... some go right into the trashcan. 

All of my recipes are on file cards and I store them in a file box. 

Then when I am ready to use one, I clip it in my duck's beak so I have it handy to refer to as I cook. 

Oh, golly,  my duck needs a bath!! and it would help if I painted an eye on there!

I picked up that cute little duck years and years ago at a yard sale. Good buy!

So, today I will share one of my recipes with you. 

It is sooooo good. Wish I had a piece right this minute. 

We were living on Midway Island (back in the late 1950s) the first time I ever heard of German Chocolate Cake. My step-sister sent me the recipe and it is still a family favorite. 

Finding Yourself

 We gals have all led lives that were and are filled with giving and caring. When my husband died in 2011 after 11 years of Alzheimers, I rattled around in our big house just wondering what I was supposed to do next. It was very unsettling. 

I'd been a wife, a mother, a caregiver, a caretaker, a butcher, a baker and a candlestick maker... Whoops got off on a nursery rhyme tangent there! But, you get the picture. 

I did not know who I was supposed to be. Some months of therapy helped. Then I started reading self-discovery books. The ones that helped the most were "The Artist's Way" and 'The Original me". 

It's been quite a journey and one I would not have missed for anything! Every day, through every new door opening to me I became more aware of who I was as a person. The real me!! and I am still seeking and searching for new and exciting facets of my life. 

I am ticked that all this happened so late in my life. But, there is a time and place for everything under the sun. And, this was my time. 

I hope you girls will start on your own journey to becoming your authentic self. You just might be surprised at what lies deep inside of you.

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. 

My Fill of Breakfast Food

 Hi there,

Long time no see! I am struggling so much with what to post so I just don't post. I'm gonna have to come up with something.... let's see. 

I have a lady that comes once a month. I am not sure what her title is since dau. Susan was the one who found her. Bless her heart, Susan thought I needed more help. This lady does a ton of different things but I do my own cooking, laundry, straightening up (have a housekeeper come in to do the rough stuff) This gal  also is a pseudo-therapist/life-coach.

I like her company so much that I just couldn't tell her no so I finally said, "you can be my life-coach. Keep me focused on what I want out of life". I think we do more just visiting than any thing else but that's alright, too. We all need someone who loves to listen as well as talk. 

Anyway... we went to First Watch the other day for a late breakfast. I said, when they opened that place, I was going to go until I had tried every item on that menu and I am well on my way. 

I got the Chile Chorizo Omelet... So good.

             My friend/life-coach had the Eggs Benedict. 

I wonder what I'll order next time. 

Well, now, wasn't that just the most boring post you've read lately? Like I say, my post "well" has run dry! But, I'll keep posting something!! 

Happy Easter

Sending a very blessed and happy Easter to each of my blogging buddies! 

 

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. 

Doing Crossword Puzzles

 I used to often wonder when my time to sit in a rocking chair doing nothing would happen! Well, when it finally did I wasn't so sure it was what I wanted. I don't make much mess around here to clean up. I'm not fixing huge meals or doing laundry for upteen people. It's just me. 

And, so I sit in my chair (it does rock but it is a recliner as well) and that's nice. I don't mind it so much but I do get bored as all get out! 

I'm not into puzzles or Suduko or word search. But, I do enjoy crossword puzzles so I got online and ordered me a whole set of them. That ought to keep me occupied for a bit. 

What do like to do in your space time?

                                                                                                                        Latane

St. Patty's Day

 We certainly celebrated St. Patrick's Day here at Centerbrooke. Not many of us could claim more than a drop or two of Irish blood but we all said we were Irish, if only for a day. I mean, who wouldn't, just so they could join in.

We had games and food and fun and we even got to meet a new couple who has just moved into the complex. Shirley outdid herself with the cupcakes. Just the cutest idea ever and they were so tasty. Everyone bragged on them being so yummy. There was even gold at the end of the rainbow on every single one of them. 

The spread of food was furnished by the staff and it was perfect. We had sub sandwiches, 

                               a fruit platter

                             deviled eggs 

and an excellent pasta salad. Shirley made a trail mix that was sooo good. Of course, we all were stuffed when we finished eating. 

We even had a leprechaun show up

Her name is Genie but she didn't come out of a bottle, however she did pass around chocolates that looked like gold coins. 

It was a grand time.

I just got a new phone and am loving the camera on there. So, you'll probably see more pictures from me in the future. 

Hope your St. Patty's Day was extra special!

                                                                                           Latane

My Oh My. it's PI Day

 Today is PI day... you know, the mathematical thingofamajig. 

But, we here at Centerbrooke celebrated yesterday. Oh my, did we celebrate. I about got a sugar overload! 

I didn't count how many pies that were brought in by the residents but it was a bunch and of all kinds. There was everything from chocolate to cherry cheesecake (hey, it's supposed to be a pie but we didn't care). Daughter Shirley brought one, too, even though she's not a resident. Everybody here wishes she was!! 

Hers had the PI emblem on top. Wasn't that cute? 

She started off the event with trying to get us gals to figure out the circumference of our pie using PI. But, we all just had a blank stare on our faces. It was Greek to us. I mean, how long has it been since we took algebra and have we ever used it since!! 

And then we dived right in to sampling as many of those pies as we could. 

We had a such a great time, so many stories shared, laughter heard, friendships reenforced. Nothing like pie to make a person happy! 

On another note

I have been anxiously awaiting the new season of Virgin River on Netflix. It came out Thursday and I have finished watching the entire season already. I couldn't NOT watch. Now, what will I do until the next season comes out which will take FOREVER. 

A Kick In The Butt

 In my last post I was saying that I had been down in the dumps. It appears that all I needed was a 'boost of spirit' and suggestions from my son to turn all that mess around. 

He's a man of few words (except when he is talking about sailing. ha) and what he says has thought behind it, sometimes long, long moments of thought, or days even. But, I can trust him, I depend on him for guidance and support and he never lets me down. 

So, I'm telling him about my dumps and ask if he has any suggestions on how to remedy that. He says, 'pull out that manuscript you stowed away and finish that book!'  Well, that was direct. I know the children want me to finish it so I'll give it another try.

'And' he added, 'you need to study up on perspective. I notice that some of your paintings looks 2 dimensional and your lines are off.'  So, I laughingly asked him when he became an artist critic? He does beautiful pen and ink drawings so he knows what he's talking about.

I think this is the painting that threw him over the edge. Yep, perspective way off there!

Well, my dumps were gone. I have purpose. No more lying around like a slug. 

I watched a video on YouTube about perspective. I need some real practice in that department but I'll improve, I promise.

The manuscript still hasn't been dragged out but it will be. I had some loose ends to tie up for I tackled that.

In the meantime, I started learning sailing jargon so I can better understand my son when he drones on and on about his boat. It will be good to know what he's talking about! He took me for a sail back last year and that was a very special time. 

Sometimes we just need a 'kick in the butt' to jerk us back into focus.