More Celebrating!

 Another birthday celebration!! 

Yep, same guy. same birthday but 3 days later than the actual day. 

Michael and I drove over to the Eastern Shore... now, if any of you don't know what the 'Eastern Shore' is, it's this: The Chesapeake Bay splits off a slice of Virginia and the long peninsula that is on the east side is known as the Eastern Shore. It's Virginia but separated by a big body of water. 

Any way...Michael's big sister had promised him a seafood lunch as her part of his birthday. She and her hubby are house/dog/grandchild sitting at their daughters house and couldn't join us on his big day (the lunch at the Mexican restaurant). 

They took us to the Island House. What a view. 

Everyone got shrimp but me and I chose a crab cake sandwich. It was soooo good. 

We had a great time. And, Michael got his seafood! 

On another note: I don't know about all of you but I have a difficult time pronouncing worchestershire sauce. To be funny, Michael started calling it 'wash your sister sauce'.  Well, I knew what he meant.... and I thought it was cute. But, then Moms always think their sons are soooo darn cute, I don't care what age they are. 

Ole! Happy Birthday!

 We had a birthday to celebrate yesterday. 68 years ago Michael came into our lives and he's been a blessing ever since. 

He was the cutest baby!.

I treated him to lunch. I let him choose the location (of course, I did... it was his birthday)

We went to La Parilla's Mexican restaurant near my apartment. He was a happy camper. Loved his coconut margarita, his chimichanga, and best of all, the fresh guacamole made at our table. Oh lordy, that stuff was yum. 

We finished eating and he thought he'd escaped the usual noisy song and dance routine a lot of places do for birthday people. 

NOT SO FAST, buddy.

Here they come... a humoungous sombero and singing and they put a swipe of whipped cream on his nose. I loved it! He endured it! And, he had ice cream drizzled with carmel sauce all in a tortilla shell. 

It was just the coolest thing. We had such a great time and I am so happy I got to spend his special day with him 

Projects Galore!

 

September is here! How did that happen? 

Life goes on, doesn't it. 

I am in the midst of a project... seems I always am in the midst of one project or another but I have a great desire to finish this one. 

I've done genealogy for years and years. I had a lot of information that I know my kids are not gonna go through but they are interested in our direct line so............

I am going through my 'stuff' and making a notebook to give each of my children with the 'important' info bullet-listed for them. 

So, yes, I am busy. 

My son arrives on Friday for a visit. He's driving up from Alabama with his sweet little dog, Sadie. I'll be glad to see them. Sadie loves her 'grandma'. 

Michael is my only son so I rely on him a lot for important decisions etc.

A cherry-picker has been on the property for a couple weeks now. Not sure what they are doing. But, this is a 4 story structure and getting new air-conditioners to higher levels, replacing broken shutters etc. that cherry-picker comes in mighty handy. I regularly hear their beep-beep-beep.

                                            Quote for the Day

'Laugh often! It expands your lungs and releases endorphines'.    

                                                                                             Willie Latane Barton 

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. 

May He Rest In Peace

 It's Sunday!

A day of worship although we should be worshiping God in every way, every day.

I thought I'd post a picture of a historic church near where I live. It's St. Luke's in Smithfield, Virginia.

I have been there several times. When I first discovered that church, I felt a connection. Little did I know, at that time, that my 9th great-grandfather was buried in the chancel of that church, in front of the pulpit. 

St. Luke's was built in 1623, making it the oldest church in the state of Virginia and the oldest Gothic church in the United States. My ancestor, Joseph Bridger, was given much acknowledgement for the important contribution he made in completing the Church.

Oh, the story does not end there...

In 2007 descendents of Joseph Bridger gave the Smithsonian permission to unearth some of Bridger's bones in order to study why he may have died.

He was supposedly one of the richest men in Colonial Virginia. So, Joseph (well, at least part of him) traveled to Washington D. C. and he underwent extensive testing. Seems he died of lead poisoning, his body containing 7 times the amount of lead that would have been found in a corpse this day and time. He was rich, he ate off of pewter plates, drank out of pewter mugs and the lead from those articles leaked into his system and killed him.

Joseph bones were brought back to St. Luke's and he was laid to rest where he had always been. 

That's pretty cool, isn't it? Leastwise, I thought so! I'm so proud that so many of my ancestors were involved in the making of this country. 

Spilt Smoothie Makes for Fun

 Remember me telling you in my last post how I'd been down in the dumps but that I was feeling better?

Let me tell you what happened!!

I was on speaker phone with dau Susan and her son's fiance, Kelsey. That Kelsey is just a gift from God. She's so much fun, so bright, so smart, so kind. Anyway, put those two together and you can't stay in a dark hole for long!!

They were trying to help me so suggested that maybe I could try out a new recipe and asked what was in my refrigerator. Bad idea!! I say, 'yellow squash, yogurt, 1/2 slice of ham, eggs, milk ... and oh, a jar of pickles'. They about croaked! 

So, Kelsey started figuring out how I can make an omelet. Then she said, no how about a smoothie?

Somehow, we just moved on to other things and then said goodbye but I was feeling much better. Then Susan texted me, 'You have a delivery from Instacart in a few minutes'. Oh Goody. What?

It is a huge salad (mixed greens, blue cheese, strawberries, nuts and balsamic vinegarette). There are also a tub of chicken salad and one of potato salald and this HUGEMOUNGOUS bag of frozen mixed fruit. Oh... a smoothie out of the fruit. I get it now. 

But, I'd told them I don't make smoothies because I have a large blender and it's heavy, hard to clean etc, etc, excuse after excuse. The next morning I get up to find a box at my front door. It's a Magic Bullet. 

They call... want me to make a video of me making my smoothie. So, I get my yogurt out of the fridge, the frozen fruit and some water and I turn it on. Hey, it's working!! 

I took the container off the machine and set it on the counter. (I'd already taken the lid off it) and as I reached for the Yogurt to put it back in the fridge, I knocked over that smoothie and most of it went all over my countertop. And, it was on video. I'm not accident-proof and I have proof I am not. 

But, engaging in such a fun adventure with those girls just lifted me right out of my funk.

 I wonder if there is someone out there that each of us needs to lift up right now. Think about! 

                                                                    

                      QUOTE FOR THE DAY

"When one door of happiness closes another opens; but often we look so longat the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us."         Helen Keller

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.

A New York Adventure!

                     Wow! What a delightful trip. 

Two weeks ago (tomorrow) I left for my daughter's in New York. We celebrated her birthday, Mother's day, attended a Southern Women's Club luncheon, bought some new clothes, began a search for a wedding gown (My grandson and his sweetie are getting married next May but it's never too early to start planning), Susan hosted a get-together in their backyard for Tighe and his friends and their parents. An end of school tradition.  and so much more. 

I did far better than I thought I would. Tried to sneak in rest periods here and there and I slept very well at night. Then Susan drove me back to Virginia. We got to my apartment Monday night and I can tell you, that traveling, although so much fun, is hard on these old bones! I am sooooo tired. I ache, I feel like somebody threw my body against a brick wall.

And.... 

My son is taking me back with him next week for a visit at his home in Alabama. Talk about being a bit on the crazy side. I wonder if I will be rested enough by then to head out again. I'm going to have to see to it, that's what! 

Here are just a FEW pictures from my trip.... When you get tired of scrolling down the page just hop off here and say 'That's enough!' 

Susan and I at the Southern Women's Club at Susan's friends home. 

Susan celebrating her birthday (late) at a Turkish restaurant. 

Our Mother's Day lunch at Appawamus Country Club

flowers from the yard for the get-together for Tighe's friends

My 'welcome' bouquet

A combination bouquet from oldest daughter and granddaughter, Marie and Yvonne, for Mother's day 

A potted hydrangea for me from grandson Owen

Too soon,  it was time to leave. Tighe was in school, Owen not up yet, so Grffin and Kelsey bid Susan and I a goodbye and safe journey. 

On the road again.............

heading to Virginia with a smile on our face and food at hand. Perfect vacation.

A Different Easter

 

My Easter was definately different this year!

No egg hunt, no family gathered around a table ladened with ham, deviled eggs, sweet potatoes. 

The kids (that's great-grands for me) have grown past all that I guess. 

Everyone was scattered doing their own thing.

So, my grandson who was available along with his two young 'men' joined Shirley, John and I at a local restaurant. Some had burgers, Shirley had a salad and I had a brisket plate.

So far-fetched from past Easters but we all were so happy to get to spend some time together. 

Then we spent some time visiting at my apartment.

A good day for sure! 

Great-grandsons

Grandson and his Dad 

Shirley and me (her Mama)

My orchid which does not know how to stop blooming!

Have a great week! 

Hugs

Lost, not found

                                        Update on Lost Shoe Saga!

                                             It's still lost!

There have been 4 different people that have given this place a good search. No shoe! This is weird. Gee, I hope I don't just disappear into thin air like that shoe did! 

We still have a tad of snow in shady areas from the snow that we had a week ago. And, it's supposed to be bitterly cold next week! Guess it won't melt then either! 

We had a safety meeting the other day given by the police department. That was very informative. I learned some new things to implement and be on the lookout for. I certainly will be watching out for 'Mr. Right' to call me with promises of undying love..... if I will just send him some money! haha

My daughter called the other day. We exchanged greetings and she headed off on a report of all she had been doing lately. Twenty minutes into it, she said, 'Well, I just called to check on you.' then said goodbye. So, if I answer the phone that means I am still alive and she's good to go? I just laughed and laughed. 

End of Year Fun

 Okay, Ladies. I have no idea where to even begin! What a month December was. Full of family, fun, food and trips to the dentist. Can I lump all that together? I just did anyway. hehe.

The area where my abcess was is still touchy. I've been back to the dentist for a couple of fillings, go next Wednesday for the followup on the root canal...

Oh, heck, all of this is so boring....

So, I move on to more interesting stuff.

The day after Christmas my baby Susan (isn't it odd that we call them baby no matter how old they get!!) and her son, Tighe, who is my youngest grandchild, drove in from New York for a few days visit.  He is 17. I just loved every minute of it. 

We ate too much, lounged too much, visited a lot, slept too little, reminisced about old times, watched movies, played scrabble. Visited other family members, too. And, too soon, it was time for them to head home. 

I had one day to pull my act together, then two nieces and a nephew in law arrived for an afternoon visit. Hadn't seen them in quite some time so we had a good visit.

And, I kid you not. As much as I loved all the activities and visiting and such, the minute my nieces walked out the door I curled up in my recliner, covered myself with a soft blankie and watched tv til it was time to go to bed. Man, I was spent! 

I've had such little time to check in with all of you. I am going to be catching up in the days to come. I am sure there are lots of wonderful Christmas stories on your blogs that you've shared. 

                          Here's to a wonderful New Year!