Merry Christmas!

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Another Beautiful Fall Day



Mass this AM. The changing colors of the leaves is breath taking. Fun to run errands just to see Fall in action.

Hope you all get out and vote. Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love,

Mom

More of Autumn

The boot has been off since Tuesday--slightly slower---but doing well and luving the freedom from extra restrictions. Great to get back to daily Mass and volunteering.

Still working on sprucing/cleaning up flower beds and getting ready to tuck them in for the winter months. Got my to-do list going---and anxious to get it all done. Lots of garage cleaning, organizing, sweeping...

"Boys" are all doing well. Rowdy is now on maintenance medication(s), receives laser treatments 2 time/week and holding his own. Wonder at times if  he really has an ailment or just enjoys the car rides/vet friends/laser and general attention. What ever---just luv these little guys.

Busy week ahead: Plan to play turkey Bingo tomorrow afternoon at St. Pat's. Two MD appts, Bible study, Johnson Garden Center ladies night open house, lunch w/friend....

Stay safe, healthy, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

...and she will walk---unaided

Am so excited for Tuesday when I give the boot the "boot." Have been doing some trial steps (few) and feel confident I shall return to full force and get in step in no time. Have some walking sticks (thanks, Kat)and am looking forward to getting out and taking off w/them.

Next will get to the heart of the matter and make the matter move at a slow and easy pace. Have tried to remind myself--"just pace yourself." Am taking it to heart and hoping things will begin to even out and begin a nice steady pace.

Cool, crisp, clear morning---32 degrees. Met a friend and went shopping this AM. "Boys" are doing better and enjoying the cooler weather.

Take care, stay healthy, and keep in touch. Check out LJ's BLOG.

Love, Mom

Free and "Footloose"

• "Stepping out" this AM to run errands.
• Anxious to resume some "normal" activities.
• Nice be back on my feet and moving.
• Walked out in the yard yesterday to get a close look at my flowers. Noticed lots of broadleaf  (dandelion type) weeds in yard/flower bed(s)---emphasis above on close look. )
• And behold, my lawn service guy called this AM to tell me he was coming out today to put on the weed control application---Yea---he is even going to give my flower beds a tweek or two of spray.
• All monitored up and even put the recording phone number on my cell phone in case I need to send info to "headquarters."
• All is well.

Take care, stay safe/healthy, and keep in touch.

Love, Ma

Precious Boy

Still working on pic transfer----thought I would feature Spencer. Not thinking of trnsferring him----just in the pics. Isn't he just too cute?!

Weather is wonderful---cannot get enough of the outdoors. Going to spread mulched leaves tomorrow and get some major winterizing done. Do not want to bring in the deck cushions/dismantle deck yet. Plan to enjoy sitting/sunning/reading on the deck in October.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch. (and if you luv Spencer---clap your hands!!!)

Love, Mom

Just Wondering

Luving the cool weather. Took lots of pics but doing a new thing w/the pics files so will share at a later date.
Flowers are looking great. Getting ready to spread more mulched leaves. School volunteering winding down and making plans to settle inside come October. Wondering if we will have a Fall.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Ma

Enrollment...

Luving my volunteer opportunities. Still working on enrollment. Lots of hole punching, filing, sorting, organizing...

Lunch/dinner and learn meetings on Tues/Wed. Then more enrollment volunteering. Should have it all completed by next week.

Temperature is great, cooler w/nice crisp air. Planning to clean out some flower beds--remove dried/dying plants/weeds this week. Hoping to mow/trim this evening.

The B-Bobs are enjoying being out of doors. Deer are out in the back field during the daytime/evenings. They come right up to the back fence and have trimmed most of the morning glories from the top of the fence.

Remember our ill and infirmed family members in your thoughts and prayers. Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Sonny Days

Mass this AM. Volunteer project for school. Windows open, "cool" at 81 degrees. Has been cloudy/windy for the last week. The sky was so clear this morning (5:20am), plastered w/stars/planets---you name it. Just magical. Makes one want to lie down on the deck and just gaze away.

Volunteering most of the week at rectory/school--getting ready  for enrollment. Mass Thursday, 08/09/2012, 8:00am,  at St. Pat's for the special intentions of our famliy. Lunch w/friend on Friday, possibly a movie,  musical theater on Saturday w/lots of weeding, edging, and mowing throughout the week.

Stay safe, healthy, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

And then...

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

·         When loved ones come home, always run to greet  them;  

·         Never pass up the opportunity to go for a  joyride;  

·         Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in  your face to be pure Ecstasy;  

·         Take naps;  

·         Stretch before rising;  

·         Run, romp, and play daily;  

·         Thrive on attention and let people touch  you;  

·         Avoid biting when a simple growl will  do;  

·         On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the  grass;  

·         On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a  shady tree;  

·         When you're happy, dance around and wag your  entire body;  

·         Delight in the simple joy of a long  walk;  

·         Be loyal;  

·         Never pretend to be something you're  not;  

·         If what you want lies buried, dig until you find  it;  

·         When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit  close by, and nuzzle them gently;  

Mass being said tomorrow at St. Patrick Church @ 8:00am for the Special Intentions of the Ashpole Family. Busy week planned: Vet appt (Rowdy for reg. checkup--acc. by Spencer who will not take well to being left at home alone, PT,  meeting, volunteering, music theater, mowing, weeding...

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

That about sums it up.

Love, Ma

Ma's World

Another busy week.
PT/eye MD appt., weigh in for Buster, Music Theater on Sat.
Mass this AM.
All of the furniture removed in living room/den and waiting for tile to be installed.
Will spend down time reading, house cleaning, laundry, volunteering at rectory, entertaining the Dogmingos, weeding, mowing, yardwork, putzing...

Have a great week, safe travels, stay healthy/safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

What'z Up at Ma's

(Old pic)

Quiet weekend. Mass this AM. Planning a quiet week--sweeping out the garage to make room for the delivery of 11 window sashes, expecting out of town company in this week---nice.

More changes in the dog feeding plan. Buster has become a picky eater and is now eating Rachael Ray gourmet dog food. Now have one barking for food, one eating "normally", and one who needs coaxing to eat. Wonder if it is just a plan to eat better.  Luv those Dogmingos.

Mass Friday, 8:00am at St. Pat's for our family's special intentions.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Busy week and stuff

Mass this AM c/errands, volunteering at school, house cleaning, laundry, mowing, weeding, dogs to groomer, lunch/learn meeting, Holy Hour, and movie planned for the rest of the week. Now am hoping there are enough days this week to get all of this done. Just sounds busy----am glad to be able to stay busy.

Catch lili's blog---what fun and that garden is something else. Mass was said yesterday at St. Pat's for our family's special intentions.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Putzing AM and PM

Mass this AM.
Cool this AM.

Plan to run errands AM and PM.
House/yard work through AM and PM.
Work on sewing, staining projects around AM and PM.
Spend time w/the 3 "bobs" this PM.

That's my day---Hope yours is healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Ta Da Ta Da

Mass this AM, volunteered at rectory, ran an errand...trying to tie up some loose ends and stay on task to complete my "To Do List." Getting there. Plan to mow after the grass dries---always have mowing/yard work--nice. Should be nice day--mid 80's.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Chain Saws, pruners...

Tired of mowing around the hanging limbs/branches on the East side River Birch. Began trimming w/hand pruner---then brought out the "big gun"---my pole chain saw, to get to the higher limbs. Dragged some of the limbs to driveway, others to the backyard---cut most up to handle/throw over the back fence. Did the back field "Olympic Pitch." Will drag them back to my bird/animal blind when it cools down (95 degrees today) so I can wear long sleeves/long pants/socks/boots and avoid being tick bait. This was a 2 shower day (real humid).

Busy week---Daily Mass, lots of volunteering, errands, mowing, weeding, pruning the clematis aound Pop's plaque on the arbor... Mass offered at St. Patrick Church,  8:00am on Wednesday for the special intentions of our family. Nice.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch. Lots of birthdays this month/summer---nice.

Love, Mom

Stuff

Busy weekend.

Mass this AM. Ran some errands, swept out the garage. (Garage door opener went belly up on the 3rd garage this week.) Met w/the handyman to pick out new opener and will have it installed sometime soon. Also, having the florescent light replaced w/a plain light bulb so I can see in that garage area. Tired of tripping my way through the garage.

This has been a wonderful week. There was a nice reception for all of the Seminarians Thursday evening. Vespers, introductions, with light meal, drinks, and visiting. Setting up a reception this afternoon for our newly ordained priest. Father David Voss will celebrate his first Mass at St. Patrick Church at 3:00pm tomorrow. Baking a cake this evening to take to tomorrow's reception. Will open rooms tomorrow for Priest/Seminarians to vest prior to procession to Mass and then serve at the reception following the Mass. 

Humidity is high. Not pleasant to be out of doors. Glad I did all my errands this AM. Thought I might share a little lavender and ornamental grass (w/an arm shadow in the lower right corner.)

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Done, Done, Done

Front/back deck posts, back deck flooring, and daylight window covers done...very nicely done. The "boys" can finally walk out on the back deck. It has been a stressful 2 days of "outing" the "boys" on harness/collars to get their business done. More sniffing/marking than business. They are now as Martin Luther King said "Free, free at last"---then add to poop and roam their domain.

Window sashes are the last project----now just waiting insurance approval for the window staining. Am pleased we are getting to the end of repairs and can get back to "normal."

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

On the Move

Had planned to drive to Haven, KS this AM to have the new tires put on my car but...

Got a call from the carpenter/painter last night saying they would be here early tomorrow to power wash and prepare for staining/painting  the deck. Got up early---5:00am to begin moving everything off the decks into the garage. Lots of barking from the dogs---in fact too much barking!!! Don't know whether they are coaching me on or upset w/the deck(s) being bare. Please someone research and see if there is a doggie all summer camp--or better yet a Ma summer camp (and I am not talking about a nursing home).  The "boys" have no idea what a thin line they are treading on today.  We will be very close and confined today----not nice.

Pics show a real bare deck, no birds, lights etc. (Kat---just how you like it.)

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Ma

Memories and Projects

Mass this AM, stopped by the store, and finished the errands w/a trip by Echo Hills. Echo Hills has closed for business and having a sale. Talked w/Tom last week and asked if he still had Pop's hat hanging up on a hook in the shop. Tom told me the hat had been on the hook since Pop put it there on his last day at the course. So 3+ years later; the hat has returned home. Oh, run away Ray! How nice to have a part of you back home. Taylor had a request for the 17th hole flag, also picked it up along w/the 17th hole plaque compliments of Bert. Nice.

Busy week:  "Boys" currently at the groomers, volunteering at Church, meeting w/tile person(s), lunch/learn meeting,  new tires on car, possibly an outdoor concert, and McKinley's Baptism on Saturday evening. Still working on the ongoing yard/flowers stuff. Found some more buried rocks (no names, just nice rocks) in the flower garden. Plan to unearth them and place them about the garden.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

More flowers--everyone needs more flowers

 Thunder, lightning, and rain during the night makes for great AM pics. Got up at 3:00am to turn my water sprinkler system off. It was going to cycle on at 4am and again at 6am. Nothing better than rain water on the plants.

Mass this AM was offered for the special intentions of our family. Ran an errand and home for a visit w/Becky and McKinley. Nice.

Featuring the AM pics: pots of Verbena, Nasturtium, and trellis Jackmanii Clematis.

Stay safe, healthy, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Say Eye

Mass this AM. Then off to eye MD for post op laser eye appt. Eye appt went well--no further appts w/surgeon until cataract removal. Will now follow up w/regular eye MD every 2 months for pressure checks.

Still spreading out the mulch/filling up some low spots w/top soil.--(bought a few more plants today). Am anxious to do more digging in the dirt. The "boys" are right beside me digging up a storm---I put the plants in; they rough up the soil around them. Call us the Dig Team.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Volunteers

Check out these volunteer Snapdragons. Everything is doing very well w/all the moisture. (Recommend double clicking).

Mass this AM. Drove a friend to the Dr. appt., had a nice visit over lunch, picked up some groceries, then home to mess w/the "boys."

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Brace up---Pics on the way!

Ready, set, snap that pic! Will call that my flower garden cheer. Nice rain throughout the night continuing in spurts throughout today with same expected tomorrow. Yea!!!

Mass this AM. What a wonderful Homily about the good shepherd. Father Jerome is leaving in the morning for 2 weeks in the Holy Land. He asked all of us to sign our intentions in a small book---he is taking the book, offering prayers for us and placing it in the Wailing Wall. I signed "for the intentions of the Ashpole Family." Enjoy your trip---you are all included!

Okay, back to flower pics. Are ya ready??? Featuring Columbine, Clematis, and long view (w/some blurring of limbs to the right). Great morning to take pics, weed, trim...

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Garden time

Nice rain this AM. Everything is coming up,weeds, plants, etc. Recent plantings are all doing well. Plan to spread cedar mulch and move some path stones on the east side of the house today. Figure it will take all of the 40 bags of mulch.  Will start taking more flower/plant pics now that they are all in the ground.  Found some neat plants/vines and received some neat plant gifts and deck accessories from Kat and Stacy ---thanks gals!

Stay healthy, safe, keep in touch, and have a great weekend!

Love, Mom

Wonderful

Wonderful weekend company.

Wonderful weekend weather.

Wonderful weekend planting.

Wonderful mail from NJ w/wonderful great grandchildren art work.

Wonderful VA (grand daughter) daughter/dad sock hop pic.

Planning on having more wonderful this week.

Stay healthy,safe, and keep in touch.

(Laser surgery on right eye went well this AM---wonderful)

Love, Mom

Amazing Find

It once was lost and now it's found--Thanks to my dear friend DeeDee who helped not only plant flowers but turned up finding the lost rock. Can hardly wipe the smile off her face as she bought plants today and can now deduct $25.00 from the cost of her plants. Everyone can rest the rock is found and the debt paid off.

DeeDee sends her thanks to all of you.

Proof of find:

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

HB K

Special day today.

Mass will be said at St. Patricks for out family at 8:00am tomorrow.

Stay healthy, stay safe and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Still Counting

Took Buster to vet today for teeth cleaning. He will be there all day. Picking him up around 4:00pm. Had the semi-annual yard sprinkler check/turn on done and now off to run errands. Planning to attend Mass at noon at Via Christi Hospital.

Checked the calendar and noted still on count down. Yea-Hah!!

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Count Down

Heard tell countdown is one week + 2 days.

More to come.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Sharing

Found a post I put on another Blog in 2009. Wanted to share it w/you on the family Blog:

Just growling

Real sad to be alone without my buddy---letting out a growl to say so.

Real sad to be without my girl and boy---letting out a growl to say so.

Real glad to have my kids, grand kids, great grand kids---letting out a growl to say so.

And God Said No

I asked God to take away my pride. And God said “No.” He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. And God said “No.” He said her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience. And God said “No.” He said patience is a by-product of tribulations. It isn’t granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness. And God said “No.” He said He gives me blessings, happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain. And God said “No.” He said suffering draws me apart from worldly cares and brings me closer to Him.

I asked God to make my spirit grow. And God said “No.” He said I must grow on my own. But He will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. And God said “No.” He said He will give me life, that I may enjoy all things.

I ask God to help me love others, as much as he loves me. And God said “Ah, finally you have the idea!”

by Claudia Minden Weisz

 

Just about says it all.

 

M.

Thank You

Thank You for this day!

Mass this AM--Mass was offered for the special intentions of our family. Meant to tell you that sooner---sorry. Beautiful suuny day---nice. Having dinner this afternoon w/the Rico bunch.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Hail of a Night

Had ping pong and golf sized hail for a couple of hours last night. Holes in the (not now) new daylight window covers, deck pelted causing pits in wood and stain/paint on flooring, tresses, rails (you name it--mostly cosmetic), garden/deck decor broken (Don't laugh Kat) and just pretty discusting. Have already filed a claim and should have estimator contacting me by next week. Saved a truck total claim for State Farm---my neighbor parked his pickup in the extra garage area. Thinking about moving to Delaware where nothing ever happens.

Mass this AM, ran errands and getting ready for a busy, busy next week. Have plants to set out today--patting myself on the back I did not put them out yesterday.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Outdoor Day

Mass this AM, stopped at post office, planning the day---no second thought---Outdoor Day!

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Ma's Doodle Day

Mass this AM, volunteered at rectory, ran an errand, made a special BD call, getting inside house chores done (bummer) so I can get lost in a book later this afternoon (nice).

(BUMMER)

(NICE)



Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom