Relating to my last post about co-birthdays…today is a barn burner…several friends of mine have July 25th birthdays…when they popped up on FB this morning, I thought I should introduce them to each other… also the anniversary of my cousins, John and Patty Green which is also the birthday of their youngest son, Matt. I’ll bet that was a memorable anniversary celebration for them! He and I often laughed about how exciting we made our anniversaries…several of them were spent eating at Country Kitchen with our girls….instead of wine and dancing….I don’t regret a thing!

Went to Target yesterday to get Jax some building blocks…I was going to buy them the last time but thought that he may not be ready for them yet..but also thought it might be a way to learn his primary colors…Grandpa opened them up this morning:

and was I wrong!!!! Sometimes I feel like a bad mother because I don’t remember milestones of my girls. It’s a whole new learning experience being a grandma and enjoying the details of his wonderment…much different than being a parent. Different distractions and a lot less stress!

He is working on creating a new living area in the basement *ahem craft room. I’m very excited to get everything organized so I don’t have to make a plan and find what I need in order to craft. I put together a games wall in the hallway over the last couple of weeks..finished it last night..

I spent way too many years being too busy to create.

It’s going to be a hot one today…I told him I was going to go out and water flowers…but got sidetracked…Tonight is Friday auction night at the Ice House Auction house. Enjoying the day…

Until next time….

I recently found out that our part-timer at the shop has the same birthday as I do. I guess it is not that astounding when you consider the odds…but I went many years not knowing anyone who shared my birthday…then there were three…when I worked for the sheriffs office, each division had a March 9th birthday, the jail administrator, a deputy and me. Its a trivial but fun connection!

I have lots more on my mind today…but haven’t formulated words to talk about it…

So… Until next time

Until my friend, Deb Cooper, posted a video on FB this morning with several gorgeous voices singing this song in different languages, I had never heard it before. Yes…under a rock! I’ve listened to it several times and have tears streaming. I feel it is kind of my anthem…where I’ve been…I’ve slammed the door…distance does make things look small!

Let it go, let it go
Can’t hold it back anymore
Let it go, Let it go
Turn my back and slam the door

The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen
A kingdom of isolation, and it looks like I’m the queen
The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
Couldn’t keep it in
Heaven knows I tried

Don’t let them in, don’t let them see
Be the good girl you always had to be
Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know
Well now they know

Let it go, let it go
Can’t hold it back anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn my back and slam the door
And here I stand
And here I’ll stay
Let it go, let it go
The cold never bothered me anyway

It’s funny how some distance makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me can’t get to me at all
Up here in the cold thin air I finally can breathe
I know I left a life behind but I’m too relieved to grieve

Let it go, Let it go
Can’t hold it back anymore
Let it go, Let it go,
Turn my back and slam the door
And here I stand
And here I’ll stay
Let it go, let it go
The cold never bothered me anyway

Standing – frozen in the life I’ve chosen
You won’t find me, the past is so behind me
Buried in the snow

Let it go, let it go
Can’t hold it back anymore
Let it go, let it go,
Turn my back and slam the door
And here I stand
And here I’ll stay
Let it go, let it go
The cold never bothered me anyway…
(let the music go on)
let it go, let it go
Let it go, let it go

He and the brother-in-law are back in Des Moines…so close to being home. I can’t wait until he is home!!!!

Until next time….Let it go!

…and it was a very good day. I stepped on the scales this morning and I’m down 4 pounds since Monday – I know – that is too fast to lose weight but it is coming off because I’m eating right and I’ve been exercising….AND…I’m not thinking of dieting..I’m just not constantly thinking about food. I was in a hurry to pickup Jaxon this morning so I ate carrots while walking out the door and I took a bag with me because I knew I was going to need them. We did some shopping and I walked from Kohls to Target and back again pushing him in a stroller – this isn’t miles – but its a pretty significant stroll. I will admit that when we got home, I could tell my blood sugar was low. So while fixing us lunch, we both ate some yogurt, honey and blueberries. I fixed some hamburger and quinoa with tomato sauce and I was FULL! I helped out at the auction house tonight and I did feel a little shaky when I got home so ate the rest of the hamburger and quinoa. I had 10,710 steps on the Fit Bit. But the best part is I’m not thinking about food. Time will tell.

I posted the pic of Jax in the high chair 1) because Benny was so funny…totally focused on Jaxon eating and 2) The wear marks on the foot rest of the high chair were first made by me…then by Jenny…then by Katy and now Jaxon. I’ll bet my folks never dreamed that it would be used by 3 generations when they bought it back in the 50’s!

I bought the Monopoly Board Game today. I’m 58 years old and have never played Monopoly…When he and I have some down time, I’m going to find out what all of the hoopla is about.

Bought a push lawn mower at the auction tonight and a rocking chair for Jenny and a ton of revere copper pans, etc. I kind of forgot that I didn’t have the truck so had to call Justin and Jenny to come pickup the rocking chair…then Jenny came back and picked up the lawn mower, hauled it home and unloaded it for me…bitching the whole time..but she did it. Also bought a “darling” rocking horse for Jax. I have to pick it up tomorrow. I certainly hope it fits in the back of the juke or there could be tension.

Until next time…

I could have sworn that someone told me/I read/I heard that when you replant/plant peonies that they won’t bloom for 2 years…I purchased/planted peonies this year and they soon bloomed…Maybe Missouri peonies are different than Iowa peonies? Kim Balmer – you are experienced in peonies…what do you think?

I also planted some day lilies…one was blooming when I bought it..the other wasn’t. Yesterday – they were both blooming. Here’s my favorite – the late bloomer…

I have a favorite bowl…It is about 31 years old and used to have blue cartoon characters on it.  I know it is that old because I got it for Jenny when she was about a year old.

It’s rubbery plastic and been in the dishwasher so much that it is probably bleeding carcinogens…but I continue to use it.  I started thinking about it tonight while trying to be healthy with my non-fat, unsweet greek yogurt mixed with cinnamon, honey and blueberries.

With him being gone this week, I’m trying to change the way I eat and have been doing pretty well.  Jenny and I just got back from Cosco where she helped me buy healthy and gluten free by asking me if I was sure that is what I wanted, reading my labels or just giving me the look.  Just for the record though – she did buy a package of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups….so there!  I have veggies, blueberries, blackberries, organic chicken and hamburger and gluten free noodles.  I seriously think I’ve been feeling better for giving up wheat bread at the beginning of the week.  Dr. Oz had a dr/author on today talking about how today’s wheat is just not good for you and said many health ailments disappear a week after removing wheat from your diet.  He also said that wheat grown now has a very high glycemic index and is known to cause an addiction so you crave it.  I can say that may be true in my life.  I’m nearly convinced.  Well, that is all that is on my mind tonight…so

Until next time….

Our geese…technically not OUR geese but they eat out of my grass and poo on my lawn so….

Artificial wildlife…got them at the 1/2 price sale at the end of June…

Phil has an awesome picture similar to this taken during the day…you can’t tell which is the sky and which is the water..obviously you can tell in this picture.

Rabbits, Rabbits, Rabbits…no fear…

Love my little lanterns….

….and I suppose you will say you can’t see the bats…BUT THEY ARE THERE!!!!

Got my steps in!!!

I’ve been left on my own this week. He and his brother took off for California yesterday morning to visit the B.I.L’s son and take a motorcycle out to him. I’ve been getting snapshots of each state via message. I was torn with my decision to stay home..but in the end, I really had no choice because I needed to work in the shop..I also didn’t really want to think about 25 hours in the back seat of the truck with my knees pressed against my throat. I have no idea how they are going to make this trip without me – He mentioned in a text that it was hot – 106 degrees..I suggested they turn on the air conditioner…they thanked me for it. It would have been better with facial expressions and tone of voice.

Had quite a little storm here last night – heavy, heavy rain – many of my flowers have just fallen over and died because of the heavy rain the last few weeks. I replanted a couple of pots once but am in the screw-it mood now. Lost a tree along Sugarland Drive last night.

No other damage that I could see except for a lot of small tree debris down.

I drove into Lee’s Summit this morning to Legacy to get an hour of swim time.  Been to the storage room in the basement to find a couple of things – didn’t – but did find some other “stuff” I had forgotten about.  I’m going to try to make good use of my time alone this week.  For the most part, our retirement is quite busy and he really isn’t very demanding…but it will be nice to have the house to myself…to do my own thing…will see if I still feel the same way in a couple of days!

Until next time….

Two more firework fundraiser tent pictures because I knew you would want to see them….

Hope everyone had a great day celebrating and being thankful for Independence Day of the United States.