Greatest Day in History!

The Thrill of Bluebonnet Hill

Contrary to the well-known song "Yellow Rose of Texas", the bluebonnet is the official state flower of Texas. This time of the year we see the bluebonnets, but only for a short time, so it's a BIG deal when the bluebonnets are in bloom.

Everyone finds the closest bountiful field of blooms, and goes to take pictures with their loved ones sitting or laying on the ground among the blossoms. It's tradition and must be done if you're a real Texan!

So, this past Saturday we went for a "stroll"--or should I say "roll" (actually, we drove in our Corvette with the top down--the car top, not mine) down Bluebonnet Trail in Ennis, Texas. It was beautiful--both the weather and the scenery! It always delights me to see people enjoying the beauty of nature in this way. Lovers snuggle, children romp, and parents just try to keep everyone in the picture, always trying for just the right pose.

I love this tradition!

 

Here We Come -- Ready or Not!

(This is part 3 of our move to Dallas, Texas. To start at the beginning of the story, click here.)

    Sunday, April  11, 2010:    Texas, we have arrived!

  We are soooo glad to finally be here! Man, was that a long drive!



 It feels great to be out of the car and into our new homeland!

For the first few days we will bunk in with some family friends.

Tomorrow (Monday, April 12, 2010) Larry starts his new job with Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in Dallas.

        It's good to be "home"!

That's all for now, folks. It took me way too long to get the photos and the text to align properly and then stay where I wanted it!

When the Rose Will Bloom Again

I penned this today in honor of a FB "friend" (Paula Knight  and  husband Glen) for whom I have been praying almost constantly during the last few weeks.  Paula's struggle with pain and multiple life-threatening crises ended today when God took her Home to be with Him.

April 2010 (continued)

What a month this was four years ago! (If you haven’t read the beginning of this saga, you can click here to start at the beginning.)

Our daughter Sherry arrived on the last Tuesday of March, and organized a huge “clean out our house” project (also known as a mega garage sale). From the time she arrived until she left, we pretty much stayed busy from early morning till next day early morning, except for a few hours of sleep in the early hours of morning each day. It was exhausting, but highly productive and successful!

As I write this, on the first Friday of April, 2014, I realize that it was also on the first Friday of April, 2010 that our pre-move garage sale began. Long before the published start time, people were already parked outside, waiting for the garage door to open, to get “first dibs” on the treasures within. After two very full days, the garage was nearly empty, and the remaining treasure trove was carted away by two people who had stood by (prearranged) waiting to receive the unsold bounty—for free.

The next day was Easter Sunday and we gladly enjoyed a Sabbath rest, complete with a family dinner that was enjoyed by a family (including our son Jim and daughter-in-law Patti) so happy to celebrate Easter together!  Getting both of our kids together with us under one roof is a rare treat, since our three families live in three different states, all across the county!

On Monday I had the fun challenge of helping Sherry pack as much of my chosen stuff as she could fit into her suitcase to take home with her. (I think we even added another suitcase to her load to cart home.) Monday was also Larry’s last day of work as a Bank Examiner for the State of Oregon.

On Tuesday, not long after we said g’bye to Sherry, my friend Maggie (from California) arrived to spend the next 2 days with me. Wow! Straight from a week’s visit with my daughter into a visit with one of my best friends! What a way to close out life in the gray and rain of the Pacific Northwest!

Thurday, April 8, 2010 dawned bright and early as we began our journey to our new life in Texas! That’s it for now, y'all!

To be continued . . .

Choices Reap Natural Consequences!

I guess this means if I choose to have my wisdom teeth pulled out, I also have to endure the painful consequences!

Hmmm, I wonder if there's any way to escape that.....

Seen yesterday in an oral surgeon's office

Having my wisdom teeth (both upper) pulled out seems like a BAD dream! (There goes half of my wisdom), and if "today" is all I have (and my wisdom teeth haven't bothered me at all ever), then why get them pulled out???

4 Years Ago

On this date in history, our daughter Sherry arrived at our house in Beaverton, Oregon (from Montana) to help us get ready to move to Dallas, Texas.   What a whirlwind that began!

 

She began her visit by systematically taking me on a guided tour through my house, gently (but somewhat firmly) suggesting I get rid of 2/3 of my stuff!  You see, her purpose in coming was to help me with a garage sale, which I didn't want to bother with, because there wasn't much I wanted to give up.  Larry had tried suggesting we have a pre-moving garage sale, full-well knowing the resistance he would get from me.  His next "suggestion" was to invite Sherry to come for a visit, knowing full-well that one of her favorite specialties and expertise is garage sales.  He also knew that I couldn't resist an opportunity for a visit with Sherry.

 

She gladly accepted that invitation and came.  My home became "her" home and my stuff became "her" stuff for a whole week!  She watched me try to resist her suggestions, and she hugged me when I cried.  She reassured me whenever I struggled with decisions to say "goodbye" to relatively unimportant possessions, and "high-fived" me whenever I succeeded in giving in to her advice. She also wisely backed off whenever she realized I just couldn't let go of some things.  

 

By the end of the week my home contained a mere skeletal amount of what had filled the closets and cabinets before she arrived, but our piggy banks were full, and boxes to be packed would be fewer!  I think we sent Sherry home exhausted, but my heart was full of gladness and gratitude for the week spent with her.  

To be continued . . .

(Click here to continue reading)

Peace & Joy

I can't help but feel at peace when I place myself in this boat.

Ahhhhh, the joy of being in such a tranquil setting!

Who knows the location of this picture?  

Happy Spring!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Just One of Life's Little Oddities

Whew!  I made it--just in time!   I walked in, quickly closed the door behind me and slid the latch bar to the left.   Immediately, I turned my attention to the white carton and began removing a sheet of  white paper from it.  My hands trembled a bit.  I was anxious to get on with the task at hand. 

Then I sensed something amiss, and whirled around to find the door swinging open . . . I thought I had locked it.  Good thing I hadn’t begun to disrobe yet!   Once the door was securely returned to its locked position, I returned to the matter of removing the piece of paper from the white carton.  Once removed, I quickly unfolded it and spread it out.   My breathing quickened a bit as I began fumbling with the fasteners on my clothing, eager to get comfortable and relax for awhile.  

Whoosh!  The sound made me jump, and I spun around just in time to see the white paper swirling and disappearing right before my eyes!  I couldn’t believe it!    After all that work and wasted time, alas, it was gone!  So, I resigned myself to starting all over again, and, in my state of being half-dressed and half-undressed, I pulled out another sheet of paper from the white carton and began to work with it.  As I tugged and pulled at it in all directions, it seemed to be shredding badly.  In my attempt to separate it at the appropriate places, all the parts that needed to remain connected had become disconnected, and  before long, I realized it was so torn-up, it was useless!

By now my frustration had risen to such a level that all I could do was laugh out loud as I tried once again to open, spread out, and smooth down a third sheet of protective toilet seat covering!  So much for being in a hurry!

Ah, the fun of laughing out loud, in a public place, at life’s private oddities, and having no one to tell about it!  Oh, Jeannie, Jeannie!

To blog or not to blog . . .

. . . that was the question . . . until now:

This blog is now closed . . . until I change my mind (a women's prerogative).