Memorial Day 2010

Fun Monday has taken a patriotic turn this week, given that Fun Monday is also Memorial Day. Our host, The Church Lady set forth this challenge which is both easy and difficult: the assignment is to post a photo of something patriotic or post a photo honoring a veteran.

Memorial Day is actually a day to honor not our veterans, although I thank them all, but to honor our fallen heroes, those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

This is where, this morning, my husband, the veteran, and my grandson, veteran yet to be, will go to honor those who laid down their lives in service to their country - in service to us.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

Looking for Help

I am working on a project for a friend of mine. I need pictures of gardens. I know that I can find tons of pictures of gardens online but I would like for these to be pictures of gardens of people that I know...sort of.

They don't have to be glamorous or perfect or anything else. I just would like some pictures of flowers and lawns and water features and weeds and dog poop and whatever else is in your yard.

If you could just post them on your blog and throw them up on facebook or send them to my email, I sure would appreciate it.

Thanks.

Perspective

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay area. I spent summers in Southern California. When I grew up, I moved to the desert. The one thing all of these places have in common is weather reporting.

The minute it rains in California, the world stops. Every single news station's weather person dons their raingear, finds a puddle to stand near, and begins shouting into the microphone, reporting on "Storm Watch 1985" or "Storm Watch 2010", etc.

I now live in Tornado Alley in the panhandle of Texas. As I was driving to work the other night, our local news reporter was updating the weather. He said, and I quote, "this storm contains 60mph winds and quarter size hail. We do not expect any severe weather out of this storm".

It's all a matter of perspective.

One of those perfect days

This was it. I work nights and so does my daughter. Her son is staying with us until the end of the school year as they moved about a month ago. This morning, because the child needed his vest for choir tomorrow and it was at his house and not mine, I picked up my sweetie and the lil man and met my daughter for breakfast.

We went to the Ranch House Cafe in Canyon. Not only is it about midway between our homes but the home fries are to die for. OK, maybe not to die for but definitely worth a 30 mile drive. I had home fries, Juls had home fries, Moose had chocolate chip pancakes and Shorty had a traditional breakfast with home fries. We got the vest, Juls and Moose got to see each other and it was just plain nice.

On the way home, Moose took it upon himself to clean the backseat of the car. This is not as simple as it should be. He would pick something up, ask me save or no and put it in the appropriate pile. Shorty napped. When we got home, we went past the dumpster first and the trash actually made it out of the car.

I then proceeded to go to bed. I had changed the sheets last night so they still had that lovely slidey cool feeling. That's all that I can tell you until 7:00 tonight. Shorty woke me to ask what kind of shirt the kiddo needed. Collared and white and evidently, it's at his mom's, too. Thank goodness for Walmart. Shorty and Moose went hunting for clothes and I woke up slowly and quietly.

The guys returned home with the shirt and a new pair of Wranglers, too, just in case. I opened the curtain and, voila! my yard had been mown. Shorty got a new riding mower the other day and I never even heard it. Moose had been on sabotage patrol, picking up all of the things that might damage the new blade. The yard is not perfect yet but, oh my gosh, what a huge difference.

Moose had also finished cleaning his room and he and his Grampits had de-dogged the living room floor behind the couch where the dogs destroy all that is good and holy and leave the debris as evidence of their mighty powers. If anyone can explain to me why DVDs and toilet bowl brushes are worthy of destruction, I would be very appreciative.

The guys did all of this work together today in harmony. It was so nice to wake up to calm, happy, smiling faces. Shorty then further spoiled me by cooking dinner;shrimp and corn on the cob for him and Moose and tamales and corn on the cob for me. Moose ate a good dozen shrimp and two ears of corn and a small ice cream!

Moose had all of his homework done so he got to play on the computer until bedtime with a promise to me of a shower in the morning.

Just a really nice, unspectacular day.

Persian Pickles

My husband and I were at the World Market today buying my monthly supply of PG Tips tea and my grandson's supply of Walker's shortbread cookies and Dad's root beer. There was a sign at the cash register advertising "Paisley Scented Candles".

My immediate question to the cashier was, "What does paisley smell like?"

She looked at me and rather abashedly admitted that she didn't know. She said that she had never smelled a paisley and, in fact, did not know what one was.

If memory serves, they smell a lot like patchouli oil.

Does This Mean I'm Married 49 Years?

Last week, I made mention of the fact that my husband and I had two anniversaries every year, one in May and one in June. I was subsequently asked to explain, please. No problem.

My husband and I had a whirlwind courtship. Although we had known each other for somewhere around 4 years, we started dating in March of 1985. Shorty was retiring from the Navy in June. I still maintain that I was his midlife crisis.

Anyway, he proposed. I accepted and we started to make plans. There was a little tension involved. Shorty and most of his buds rode Harleys. I worked for the Sheriff's Dept. I don't know to this day which group was more surprised when our engagement was announced.

The retirement ceremony was set for 10:00 a.m. on the 28th of June. Our wedding was scheduled for 2:00 p.m. of the same day and the party was scheduled? to last for 2 or 3 days. We had chosen as our venue an old, old hotel just over the county line so that if deputies were required, they would not be from the department where I worked.

Somewhere around the beginning of May, it occurred to someone that, as a mother with 2 young children, marrying someone 4 hours after he retired from the military was not exactly practical. If we wanted benefits for me and the kids, the ceremony would have to be before his retirement and early enough that the paperwork could be completed.

Hence, the two anniversaries. Shorty, our matron of honor, Kimberly, the girls and I went to Las Vegas on May 16. Shorty and I were married and all was well.

On the 28th of June, he was retired and then we had a wedding ceremony at the Little Lake Hotel with the Rev. Mr. Black presiding. I tend to celebrate the May anniversary and Shorty prefers the June date.

So, from me to him, Happy Anniversary, baby. I love you.

Goose, Goose, Duck

This was Goose around Christmas time after the cow kicked her.

This was Goose last week.

This is Goose next to the Duck. She is growing very well.

In Thanks on Armed Forces Day

Thanks to all of those who are dedicated to life, liberty and the pursuit of all who threaten it.

Thanks, guys and gals, and God bless.

New Traditions-Old Memories

One of my favorite stores is Texas Threads. Texas Threads is where I appease my yearning for all things Vera Bradley. They are everywhere - down the street, in my mailbox, and on facebook.

Last week, Texas Threads announced, on facebook, the arrival of a new-to-them line of jewelry,Chamilia. It's a lot like Pandora but a little easier on the pocketbook. In honor of their launch, they had a little contest. Go online, find the charm that speaks most to you, and let them know about it.

I found a charm called "Endless Love". Endless Love was the song played at our wedding, 25 years ago next month. Our wedding anniversary is actually this coming Sunday but we had our actual wedding in June, on the day of my husband's retirement from the Navy.

I won!

I went into the store today to shop and to redeem my gift certificate. I got the bracelet, silver of course for 25 years and my first bauble. Endless Love is on order (thank you, ladies) but I fell in love with this Murano charm. When first we met, my husband the sailor was stationed in the middle of the desert. It just seems appropriate.

Footnote: my daughter, who was with me, says that it looks like the blowing wind and Hereford feedyard dust. She could be right!

Guess who lost the bet?

Happy Mother's Day

Fun Monday - You Looking at Me?

The Duck

Today's hostess is Sayre, who wants to get up close and personal with our pets. Here you are. The Duck is 11, Holly is 9, Bonnie is 1 1/2 and Goose is 9 months old.

Enjoy and no, Goose does not really have blue eyes. I am doing this at work and do not have my editing software with me.

Goose

Bonnie (AKA BonBon)

Holly

"Holly Farms Chicken Lips"

Semantics

According to Webster, a mistress is:

4 a : a woman other than his wife with whom a married man has a continuing sexual relationship

I only bring this up because, last night when I was listening to ABC News, they referred to a public figure who was caught cheating on his wife. According to the "news" sources, several dozen mistresses then appeared out of the woodwork.

I just want to know when a one-night stand, a conquest, a notch in the bedpost became known as a mistress. I find it hard to believe that this individual had "continuing" relationships with that many women. Why can't we just use the correct words? These women are not mistresses. They are adulteresses.