New Face for the Living Room!

So, today Doug is painting my accent wall in the living room. What used to be "funeral home" green, is now becoming a dark sage green ("Intense Oliver" to be precise...don't you love the names of paints and/or nail polishes?) I've got some new wall art and will be changing up the top of the piano, too. For now, I'm going to pack away Beethoven & Kevin's winter scenery. I've used them for more than 15 years. The photo is beautiful, Kevin took it coming home from a Christmas gathering at my sister's house one year. We stopped on a bridge, and he got the shot. Everything was covered with ice...it was a Wonderland for sure. And Beethoven is something we picked up at a flea market in Arkansas. They will be new again at a later date...just wanted to change things somewhat. Hope everyone likes it.

And with the leftover paint, Doug covered the "baby poop" gold color on the front door that I asked him to put on it last week! I like this so much better!

Summer Shandy

Well, summer is nearly over. I've turned off the A/C. Evenings are finally cooler, the humidity should be decreasing, too. Football, volleyball, and school activities are starting again. I'm grateful to have Cathy's family here, so that I might be able to attend some of my grandkids' activities! I wish I could attend them all!
Doug painted my front door for me this morning (Labor Day). I thought I wanted a dark gold color, but it looks more like baby poop actually! Think we'll be changing it to a dark barn red color REAL SOON!

I've also added a picture of my new dining room furniture. It looks small, but there is an 18" leaf for the table, so I'll be ready for future family dinners!

I'm also trying to come to grips with my age this summer. I'm figuring out where to shop for clothes that will fit my expanded girth! What is up with that? What cruel joke is being played upon me? I used to be able to bend over to tie my shoes with great ease, but now find myself huffing and puffing as though my lungs were being pushed up into a smaller space! The eyes, the ears, the SKIN! Oh...woe is me!

Doug and I have developed a taste for Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy this year. A seasonal beer, it is brewed in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and is billed as a "Weiss Beer with Lemonade". It's wonderful! (Could that be the cause of my lost waistline? I miss my waistline!)

Some "deep" thoughts!

Why is it a bad thing for an adult to "move back home"? Seems like everytime I turn around, someone is making the remark that only Losers return home...never get out in the world, never explore other ideas or philosophies, can't "grow" spiritually, etc. This is nearly always followed by the slam that one is "simple-minded" and stuck on a personal philosophy fed to them by the Fox News Channel....ggrrrrhhh!
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And along those same lines, people who do return home to the quiet life in Iowa sometimes are haunted by the Past. Usually a perceived notion that hometown folks only remember the bad things, and do not see them for who they are now. I say, "Hogwash!" (goes along with the simple rural life) People who never leave have changed, and believe you have too! Or, maybe even experience a little envy because one did get out of SWI and have returned with stories, travels, experiences, etc., that are so fun to hear when you share them!
The world is smaller now. There are fewer and fewer backwoods places. And, who said "You can't go home again?" Only Bon Jovi in the song of the same name. Life is what you make it, no matter what your address.
We bring it with us...our memories, our experiences, our knowledge...and grow in love with our friends and family.
That's it for now.

Back again!

It's been a very long time...this digital diary has been missing me! I have had a rough summer. Though all the 1st anniversaries have come and gone, I'm still feeling a little depressed. Made it through the first anniversary of Dad's passing, Jay's passing, Jay's birthday, and Dad's birthday. Whew!

The picture of Mom and Mike was taken on Mom's birthday at the new Ice House. Cute, aren't they?
Baseball with Austin on the traveling league kept me busy at the first of the summer. And a planned trip to Maryland didn't pan out...Brandon is getting transferred out of the AWG and back into the regular Army. He will be returning to his old brigade at Ft Campbell, so they are busy, busy, busy readying their home for the real estate market. I'm planning on seeing them later...possibly around the end of the year...and helping out with kids if they want to go house-hunting in Kentucky/Tennessee.
My friend Nancy had a major surgery last Friday to remove a cancerous mass near her kidney. They were only able to get 80% of it, and then discovered another small marble-size one lower that they couldn't get. So, she will be doing chemo and radiation.
School will start soon, and I will be going to volleyball games, football games to watch the band, and youth tackle football on Saturday. Busy times are good!
Bought a new dining table and chairs, and a new recliner for myself, which will be delivered on Friday. Am looking forward to that. My chair is broke down and I'm pretty "squirmy" in it!
That's all for today!

Friday, April Fools Day - No Joke

I went to Glenwood last night with Cathy & Austin to watch the first track meet of the season. Rain in 40°...cold! We huddled under a blanket and watched the girls throw. After Halle threw her four, it wasn't too long before I told Cathy that I would take Austin to Pamida to look for a jacket, long underwear, stocking cap, umbrella...anything to cover him! He had come with us, straight out of school, with nothing but his slick exercise pants, shirt, and fleece jacket. So, he and I piled into Cathy's Explorer, and took off. We couldn't find anything at Pamida, but at least he was able to warm up a bit in the car...drying out was another thing. When the evening was over, Halle threw 87.6 ft in the discuss, placing 3rd. She also threw shot and ran sprint medley. Wish I could go to LaCrosse matches in Maryland to see my other grandchildren. Despite the weather, being a spectator at a grandchild's event, sporting or otherwise, is AWESOME! Today, I'm getting ready to go to Des Moines with Doug. We are guests of Lisle's at the Bill Cosby show Saturday night. We'll be staying at the Courtyard at Marriott. A nice weekend away, and more on that later.

Birthday dinner

Cathy organized a birthday dinner for me at Jay's tonight. We had a great time, with Doug, his parents Lowell & Lois, Mom, Keith & Kris, Cathy, Mike, Halle, Austin & Lukas, all there. Cathy had baked a chocolate cake with "60" on it...Yikes! They sang "Happy Birthday" while I was trying to hide! Thanks, honey...it was a nice dinner and good company!

My "Big" Birthday

Of course, every new decade I refer to this day of the year as my "big" birthday...but, this one really is for me. I'm trying to not think about it, guess that's my coping mechanism. I put it for this day as a vacation day a couple of weeks ago, in anticipation of avoiding all reference to the number sixty. And, this morning I took Mom out to the Garrison for coffee & bagels. Cathy and Lukas arrived shortly after we got our order. Cathy came bearing a gift...a large potted lily with dark pink blooms that I will be able to plant outdoors when Spring finally decides to grace us with her presence! I was also gifted with a surprise at the cash register...Carolyn (manager & Doug's aunt) gave me a gift card from my sister Emily & her oldest daughter Gelena! I gave Mom a look and said, "How'd they know we were going to be here?" She just looked startled, then said, "Oh! I told Gelena on the phone!" Mystery solved. Mom also presented me with a card which brought back many sweet memories of the day she and Dad brought me into this world. She told me he was so proud of me, would hold me all the time and just gaze at me, and never once responded to friends' question, "Do you ever wish you'd had a boy first?" in any other way than "No". When she cried, Cathy jumped up, went around the table and put her arm around her. I held her hand, and we all tried to smile through the tears. Dad, I love you...we all love you and miss you.

The Amazing Pizza Machine

Before Kevin and his family headed off for their next adventure in the Azore Islands, I wanted to get them up to the Children's Museum in Omaha and lunch (and play) at the Amazing Pizza Machine!

What a day! (And scarey, too...when I nearly side-swiped my car on a "merge" on the interstate!) Guess the GPS guy doesn't talk soon enough!

We enjoyed the museum before heading off for pizza...and boy, did we gorge ourselves there! A huge buffet and delicious soft serve ice cream at the dessert bar...makes great root beer floats!

Catch-Up

I've been sadly neglecting this posting...and will try to "catch-up" in the next few days. First of all, the wedding with off without a hitch, as they say. Missing from the great day was Keely & the girls. But, it was nice of her to send her husband (my son) and her son (my grandson) to share this occasion with us. Cathy was so excited to have BOTH her brothers there with her...it meant so much!

The reception area was packed! I think Cathy was overwhelmed with the number of family & friends who came down to the Ice House after the wedding ceremony.

As you can see, the bridesmaids were beautiful! Halle was her mother's Maid of Honor, and she looked so grownup! (L to R in picture is Nichole, Halle, Kendra, & Yvonne)

The guys looked great, too! Kevin, Brandon, Michael, & Austin stood up with Mike. And I got to hold Lukas in my lap on the front row! He was such a good boy!

There had been no rehearsal, but we all met early and Joe Moore took pictures. Everyone was able to talk to Pastor Andy Rubenking, so they all knew what there responsibilities were and where they'd be standing.

When the ceremony began, the groom & groomsmen all came in, then the girls began walking down the aisle.

When Cathy was in the back, ready to come up to the front, Austin left the other groomsmen and went to the back of the church to his mother.

He reached for her hand, then walked her up to the altar and left her with Mike.

I couldn't hold back the tears! I still cry when I think of it now, three months later!

It was a simply beautiful ceremony. Since there was no unity candle or special music, Pastor Andy had Cathy & Mike sign the marriage certificate right there on the altar! It was cool!

Winter Swimming Hole

On Wednesday, Dec 29th, Brandon flew into Kansas City from Maryland. He brought his son, Aaron, with him (much to the sadness of the girls!). Aaron hadn't been with Ethan & Isaac for several years, so this was an opportunity to play with them, plus attend his Aunt Cathy's wedding the following day.

We decided to take the kids to the Lied Center where they enjoyed some indoor swimming. As you can see, it was a hit!

And Kendra enjoyed a good book!

We all met up with Cathy later (she worked until 7 pm that day) for some more food & fellowship! The big day was coming up next, and everything was ready!