• Sweet visit south…

    June 12, 2021 / 1 Comment

    Mid April, Doug and I, along with our seven month old Cocker Spaniel Beau, traveled South.  Beau actually was a very good traveler which surprised us both.  We spent one night with my niece and her husband and the next morning we all traveled about an hour south to my sister’s home.

    I wasn’t able to be there for Eddie’s Celebration of Life service a few weeks before, so it was sad not to find him there to welcome us as he usually did.  I remembered the stories he had told us on our last visit and I could hear his laughter in my mind.  He will be missed so much.  I took a walk around the property and into one of his favorite places – the little barn.  The horses are gone now, of course, but I remember his amazing way with them.  He truly was a “horse whisperer”.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Doug and Beau traveled back to Iowa the following morning and I stayed behind for a much needed visit with my sister.  My nieces Sharon, Cindy and Leigh all traveled to spend a couple of nights with us.  That was so much fun!  So much laughter and catching up.  I loved it.  We indulged in my favorite caramel cake from Sugaree’s in New Albany, Mississippi, as well as their amazing cupcakes and chocolate pie!

    On Sunday, we had a wonderful visit with my sister’s daughters and their families.  My niece Becky and her husband Tommy brought delicious Corky’s barbecue.  Always a treat!  As a matter of fact, there was a small wedding on the front porch on Sunday (my great niece and her fiance’)!  We all enjoyed delicious cake and fresh fruit after the barbecue.

    My sister and I had decided that each visit we could accomplish one project and the rest of the time we’d relax and visit!  Our project this time was the front porch.  Doug, my niece Sharon and her husband Tommy painted the front porch swings and one of the rockers that needed freshening up.  I had ordered some pillows and quilts for the front porch, and the end result was wonderful.  Rather like Country Living Magazine of days past.  My niece Sharon painted the delightful board for the front porch.  The weather was great and we spent a lot of time enjoying the front porch swing – from coffee in the morning to late afternoon sweet tea!

     

     

     

     

     

    One of my favorite places to visit in the nearby town is the antique store.  Of course, I was flying home and wouldn’t be able to take anything with me!

    A sweet visit with wonderful memories until next time.

  • Heaven bound…

    March 24, 2021 / 6 Comments

    Over the past two plus years, my sweet brother-in-law Eddie has courageously battled cancer.  Through numerous surgeries and treatments, he persevered.  He did not want to leave my sister Eunice, the love of his life, and his wife of 64 years.  As the days grew closer and the pain grew worse, he acknowledged he was ready to go home to Heaven.  After seventeen days in Hospice care, Eddie went home to be with the Lord late Monday night.

    Eddie was in the United States Army before he met Eunice, stationed in Germany. 

    There are people in this world who leave a big hole when they leave this earthly life.  Eddie is one of those.  A father of three daughters, a grandfather and great-grandfather, he loved his family with all his heart.  He was one of twelve children with six of his brothers and sisters gone before him.  He had such a ready smile, big dimples and an amazing sense of humor.  I’ve thought more than once today about the laughter there is in Heaven now.  He could tell a story and have you laughing deep belly laughs in a heartbeat.

    I can just hear Eddie laughing in this photo!  I’m guessing one of his granddaughters took this photo of him. Those granddaughters are now nurses and spent a lot of the nights with him in Hospice.  

    He loved horses. Over the years, he had several.  He was truly a horse whisperer and could get a horse to do anything.  I firmly believe there are horses in Heaven.  I bet Eddie will find them and have them trained in no time.

    Eddie with Cherokee, his last horse.  He loved all his horses and they loved him.  

    I loved to hear Eddie pray…dearest, sweetest, richest prayers.  By now, Eddie has seen Jesus, face to face.  He has beheld the majesty and glory of Heaven.  He has heard the angels sing.  By now, he has seen his parents and grandparents, mine and Eunice’s parents and sisters…all the loved ones who have gone before.  At one point during Hospice, though sedated, he sat up and exclaimed “Wow!  Wow!” several times.  Personally, I think he was seeing angels waiting to take him home.

  • Sweet FaceTime visit…

    March 4, 2021 / 2 Comments

    The phone rang late this afternoon and I was so happy to see that it was my two youngest granddaughters calling me on FaceTime.  I had ordered them a few things, which thankfully fit, (they are growing so fast!) and they wanted to show me.  The next hour was full of the latest news, magic tricks, showing me their art work, their latest inventions, talk of school and a lot of laughter.  Whatever I am doing comes gladly to a halt while I enjoy my time with these sweet girls.  They are so creative and smart.  They love to read and both read far above their school level.  I signed them up for Literati and they love the day the books arrive.  I really miss our condo and being close to the girls in Chicago!  Thankfully, we will receive our second Covid vaccination in a couple of weeks and will feel better about traveling after that.

    January 2020 at our condo in Chicago.  I miss those days!

    I also had a sweet talk with my firstborn granddaughter this afternoon.  She is a senior in college on a full-ride scholarship.  It’s difficult to believe that she will soon graduate from college!  She is now trying to decide where she will go to complete her Masters.  I remember when she was the age of the youngest two granddaughters!  Where does time go?!

    I can’t believe this little angel is now about to graduate from college in a few short months. 

    Grandmommy and Kenzie

  • Chicago, January 11…

    January 11, 2020 / 2 Comments

    It’s 31 degrees outside with a drizzling cold rain.  Snow showers are expected.  Tiger and I are inside where the old-fashioned radiators keep everything warm.  In fact, I have a window raised slightly.  Tiger is asleep, curled into a ball on top of the leather sofa, one of his favorite places here in our Chicago condo.

    Doug flew to Texas a few days ago to join a group of men from our church in Iowa on a mission trip.  They are building a church in Mexico in the midst of an extremely poor village.  A couple of the wives went along and prepared a hot dog lunch for about 150 of the villagers yesterday and gave out small gifts for the children.  This is Doug’s first mission trip and, in spite of the hard work, he’s enjoying it.  In the short video clips he has sent, you can hear the wind howling.  They are staying in Southern Texas but cross the border into Mexico each day.

     

     

     

    Thankfully, his flight arrives back in Chicago tomorrow night – weather permitting.  I’m praying there are no obstacles to his arriving back to O’Hare safely!  We are supposed to return to our Iowa home on Monday – again weather permitting!  I have my pre-op physical on Wednesday for my ear surgery on the 23rd of January.  I’m ready to get it over with!

    I’ve loved my time with our family here these past few weeks.  All of us celebrated Doug’s 73rd birthday before he left for Mexico.  It was soup night.  We made big pots of homemade vegetable beef soup,  homemade chicken noodle soup and a bowl of fresh fruit salad.  Of course, you must have hot cornbread to accompany homemade soup.  I am Southern after all.  My only concession to this Midwest way of life is a little bit of sugar in the cornbread.  When we go home to the South, I get it my way – no sugar!

    Last night I enjoyed pizza and a movie with my youngest and his family,  My six and eight year old granddaughters chose the movie Abominable (about a baby Abominable snowman trying to get home to Mt. Everest and his parents!) and it’s adorable.  Amazing how far animation has come!

    I had plans to get so much done while Doug was gone but, to tell the truth, I’ve been a bit lazy!  I’ve enjoyed reading, watching a few British mysteries and I’ve kept up with the basic necessities here.  I did get to walk down to the school to get the girls a couple of days and that’s always fun.  I should have also walked down to get a haircut from my favorite Chicago hairdresser yesterday!  Instead, I did the unspeakable and took the scissors to my hair – never a good thing!  I’ll go get it straightened out when we get back to Iowa.  😉

  • An Autumn afternoon…

    October 18, 2019 / No Comments

    I’d spent the past two days cleaning out and reorganizing my walk-in closet.  I felt like a hamster spinning her wheels.  At least the Goodwill pile was growing and I had a little more room on my shelves.  The problem was – and is – there are too many things that no longer fit!  I’m nothing if not optimistic and, for years, have said I’ll keep it for when I lose weight!  Does that sound familiar to anyone?!

    Anyway, I had escaped this task and gone outside to help Doug work on the old, original shed.  It will just take twenty minutes he’d said.  If you recall from a previous post, Doug has a new shed that is rather like a workshop now, so this old one needs help.  He will store his riding lawnmower and a few other things in the old one.  Winters are tough here and Spring rains are relentless.  Between the two, the old shed is about to fall down.  I suggested we tear the whole thing down and start over!  Not without an attempt to save it apparently.  So, as Doug attempted to lift the 10′ x 12′ building, I carefully placed wooden braces beneath.  I thought we were doing great in getting the building up 2″ when he mentioned it needed to go up SIX!  The building sits on a hill and the Spring rain needs to go under the building.  I’m sure there’s an emoji that would resemble my face just then, I just can’t find it!

    About that time, Doug had a good suggestion:  let’s leave everything and go for a ride.  Perfect idea.  I was tired of working in the closet and didn’t think I had it in me to brace the building up another four inches.  So off we went.  We still needed to place Autumn flowers on his grandparents’ graves so we started there.  He had already taken flowers to his parents’ grave and to Johanna’s (his late first wife).  It is getting later in the season and I was glad we were going to be able to get this done.

     

     

    I’ve been working on Doug’s family history for several years and feel as if I knew his grandparents.  

     

    I love an Autumn afternoon, especially when it involves a drive in the country. 

    There were many farmers out in their combines harvesting beans and corn. 

    I really should have grown up on a farm because I love the countryside!

     

     

     

     

    I think Doug’s original goal for the drive was to stop by the shed company – the one where he purchased his workshop.  Well, as long as we were going to be in Ankeny, I suggested we stop by the ARL!  (The Animal Rescue League of Iowa!)  Doug actually helped create the water feature at the front entry there so he was all for it.  We started on the side that houses the dogs first.  There were three I could have brought home:  an eight month old American English Coonhound named Hank,  a six year old gorgeous German Shepherd named Ranger and an eight month old English Mastiff!  Needless to say, we did not come home with a single pup.

    Next was the Cat side of the building.  They have so many cats that need homes!  We held a little eight week old orange tabby kitten.  Adorable!  Wonder how Tiger would like a little brother?  In the end, we left the little guy there.  I have no doubt he will find a good home.

     

     

    Last stop was the shed company.  We went inside each one of their “samples” and at the end of the day, Doug decided to take off a lot of the bad boards on the old shed and bring it back to life.  Reasonable decision but I think he’ll need someone stronger than I am to lift the last four inches!

    Then it was home where we baked a pizza and relaxed for the rest of the evening…

     

     

     

  • Gerry…

    October 14, 2019 / No Comments

    Eight years ago yesterday, I was in Chicago meeting my new little granddaughter Maggie.  I can’t remember who called on the telephone, probably one of my nieces, Cindy or Sharon.  I just remember the tears starting as I realized what she was going to tell me.  My beloved sister Gerry had lost her battle with ALS.  I hadn’t said a word but Maggie’s precious mom took one look at me and her tears started too.  I was due to fly to Memphis in a week and spend time with Gerry.  It wasn’t meant to be.  I changed my flight and flew home for her funeral service instead.

    Gerry was one in a million.  I’ve written about her before.  If you’ve read my blog very long, then you know she was my guardian angel.  The one I fled to when my heart was broken.  Fifteen years older, she was the one who always made sure I had what I needed.  The one who saved an engraved, gold Elgin watch for me until I was twelve and old enough for it (she had won it for being President of the Mississippi 4H when she was eighteen).  She was so good to everyone, not just me, but I was her baby sister and that’s what she always called me.  Her baby sister.

    She loved the Lord with all her heart and I know she’s loving Heaven.  If there are angel biscuits to be made in Heaven, she’s the best one for that job.  Faithful to the end.  It was hard flying back to Oregon after her memorial service.  Back in Oregon, I would sit at my computer overlooking the beautiful mountains in the distance and I would cry.  Evidently, I cried too long for my husband at the time asked “are you EVER going to quit crying?!”  I didn’t know there was a time limit on grief, but I tried to cheer up.  It wasn’t his fault really.  He hadn’t known her very well and certainly not like I did.  We were divorced a year later.

    Each year gets a little easier.  I miss her and my sister Dot so much.  She and my oldest sister Dot are keeping Mama and Daddy company in Heaven.  They’re wondering when Eunice and I are going to get there but let’s hope it’s a little while longer.  In the meantime, I’ll remember the good times and cherish the sweet memories.  

     

    Below:  Gerry in front of the pond down from their “house on the hill”…

     

    Below:  Gerry, Bill, Eunice and Dot.  Just Eunice and I are left now.  The rest are in Heaven.