Friday, November 29, 2013

Thankful


Enjoying a wonderful crisp fall day. Planning a quiet weekend--setting up for Advent---bringing up advent candles/wreaths, and table runners. Going to clean out and organize my sewing box---what a mess.

Mass this AM, volunteered at Church, home to eat breakfast, enjoy the "boys", fix a dish for a funeral dinner, and hopefully, read.

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

Love, Mom

Friday, November 22, 2013

BRRRR...




So, Fall has moved aside to allow the Winter chill to set in. Twenty-five degrees, slight breeze (making it 15 degrees), and few flurries of sleet. Know it is time but never ready for the piercing chill. Just makes one want to make soup, cookies, search the on line plant catalogs for next years plantings, and settle in w/a good book.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom



Thursday, October 24, 2013

Fall is Here


Luving these crisp mornings. Cleaning out flower beds, trimming, digging, moving, and sharing some over grown plants. Removed all the morning glories from the fences---a 2 day job--all volunteer plants.

Has been a fun different week. Wine tasting at one of our local wineries, Mass at St. Pat's on Monday, Cathedral on Tues/Wed, St. Jude this AM. (Priests are on retreat so Masses are not being held at regular churches), last of semi annual maintenance check ups due today (Termite/pest inspection/turn, winterize sprinkler system), dinner w/friend this evening,  and 70,000 mile car checkup in AM.

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

Love, Mom

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Lantanas and Butterflies



The Monarchs are showing up and luving the Lantana plants.  They are flitting all over the backyard. Also, as a bonus have a little green hummingbird joining the dance. They luv the morning glories and Lantanas. Note to self ---make sure there are plenty of all of these plants to enjoy next year. The colors are great, require no care, and the little creatures luv them.

Temp is cooler, misting rain, very slight breeze...Nice.

Daily Mass, volunteering at St. Pat's rectory and school this week. Doing lots of  reading, still going to PT, will see knee MD on Monday for release from care, movie w/friend on Tuesday, eye MD  Wed. for vision field testing, return the 30 day heart monitor on Thursday----then plan to break into a line or two of the Hallelujah Chorus w/a big AMEN!!!!.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom



Saturday, August 17, 2013

Pics to share






Just a sample of some of the back flower garden. It has exploded w/all the wonderful rain. Check out the second pic of the parsley---it is covered (7 or 8) swallow tail larvae---they are devouring the plant. I plant a couple of pots each year---just for these little fellows.

Mass this am, ran an errand, home to pick up, ride the stationary bike, and enjoy a wonderful day out of doors. Busy week ahead--"boys" to groomer, PT/MD appts., starting another 30 day monitor session, daily Mass, volunteering a rectory/school...

Have a great weekend. Stay safe, healthy, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Friday, August 9, 2013

Remembering...

Remembering

Mass offered this AM at St. Patrick's for the special intentions of our family. Have had a Mass  offered for each of your birthdays. Kind of becoming a tradition---nice. Gives all of us a special time to remember our family.

Have been going to daily Mass, volunteering at rectory and school. Have a  lot of (school) weekend projects to complete. Nice to be able to complete volunteer things at home---and also getting back to getting out of the house.

Still raining here, river/ditch banks are full, "boys" are fluff balls, everything is growing wonderfully and green, green, green...

Recovering nicely from knee surgery. Began PT yesterday and am conferring w/another therapist to do some cold laser therapy. Should hear about it on Monday. It works well for the "boys"---thinking it will also work well on this old dog.

Have a great weekend, stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Monday, August 5, 2013

I'd like to order this for Spencer.  Can you send me his measurements?
Kat

Sunday, June 23, 2013

More Lilies...




They have survived hot, windy days and are still intact. Think I want to be a Lily. Really need to clean out some flower beds. A lot of them are over grown and need to be thinned out.

Saw a rabbit in the flowers this AM. Also, have a mole invasion. Not going to have any of that going on. Really miss Buster and Rowdy---they were my mole/rabbit  trappers/chasers. The two living here now are slugs---I would have to catch the rabbits/moles, skin, gut, clean, cook them and serve them on a platter to get them interested in the unwelcome creatures. I do have a neighbor Jack Russell who is a great "moler"---unfortunately only in his yard. The neighbors have agreed to bring him over for a hunt.

Going to a movie this afternoon to see the Internship. The trailer looks funny. Mass last night, out to eat and home to read.

Stay healthy/safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Ma

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Told Ya There Would Be More Flowers




The lilies are blooming. Took these pics this AM. They get better each year---have done especially well this year w/all the moisture.

Mass this AM, ran an errand, home to eat breakfast, let the "boys" out, and then off again to pick up some things on my west side list. Quiet time this last week (torqued my right knee last Sat.),  snuggled w/"boys", read, napped, weeded...Appt. w/the heart MD and am now off Coumadin---Yea!!! Knee is better (heat/rest), better in general since off the Coumadin.

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

Love, Ma

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

More Plant Pics--Thanks Keith...







Taking pics again since I can download them into retrievable file---thanks Keith. My IT guy has done such a great job---thanks Keith. The pics are all worth a double click. Has been sunny, "windless", and more enjoyable to work in the flowers. Less time spent on the heating pad. No more 6 hour sessions of weed pulling, rock/pot moving...really was a 10 day bummer following that day. I can now stand upright and walk straight. Nice.

Mass this AM, volunteered at rectory, picked up around the house, and then to the store to get some groceries (and dog food for the "boys"). The doggies really enjoy playing, snuggling, and competing for attention. Hard to believe Hans is "new"---he has moved right in and is such a sweet little guy. It is so much fun to watch them rip and roar around the house. Spence is getting quite svelte from all the extra exercise.

Planning on volunteering one day/week beginning Monday after Mass. Will do filing, paperwork, and get started on the Fall enrollment papers/files. We have only one school secretary. She has been there 20+ years and is a delight to work with. She is like a fine tuned machine. She has everything ready---just tells me what has to be done. Luv it. Saves her a lot of busy work.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Ma

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Summer is here...no, windy is here...no, cloudy/overcast is here...




                    (Clematis, white columbine, variegated native grass, autumn clematis on fence)

So we missed Spring---now trying to move directly into summer. Cannot open patio umbrella for fear it will become air borne or do the Mary Poppin's thing. Humidity is in the 70's. Thinking of opening an outdoor sauna on the deck. Not really complaining----just amazed as to what each day will bring.

Mass this AM. Going to the rectory to celebrate a secretary's birthday at 1:00pm, mow this afternoon, and eat out this evening.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Ma

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Quiet Weekend

Busy, busy week. Meetings, dinner w/neighborhood group, Pella window check up, sprinkler system turned on for the summer... Ended it with a wonderful opportunity to go to Vesper Services w/our Diocese Seminarians, hearing the Bishop address the Seminarians (before he leaves to become Archbishop at Dubuque, IA), and then had a gathering w/our local Priests and Seminarians and great food to eat. Got home at 9:30pm.

Mass this AM. Planning a quiet weekend, reading, resting, and just chilling out. My back is telling me it needs some extra  garden/yard free TLC this weekend. Will attend a 50th wedding anniversary get together on Sunday evening.

Luving  the new computer---thanks for the generous Mother's Day gift. Learning more about all the programs---really appreciate the speed and access.  Added a pic of Allie w/Statue of Liberty---Keep our people in the service of our country in your thoughts and prayers.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

We Want More---We Want More...

 
 
Phia's Message

Had to share this w/everyone. Am glad Phia left this message on the covered deck as well as on the basement floor. This is what makes me feel good inside. It was such a wonderful visit, nice to have the laughing, happiness in this house. We want more---we want more!!! It is so quiet----will probably offer another contest this summer--w/free room, board, and dogs to go around to all the guests. Will have to work up a theme and challenging contest.

Mass this AM. Rainy, cloudy day--no wind---nice. Worked all day out in the yard yesterday, planting flowers, weeding, removing some more of the Jasmine vines (should have them done by the end of the week.)

Keep safe, happy, healthy, and in touch. (All motorcycles riders stay safe on Sunday).

Love, Ma


Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Hans the Groomed Dog



HANS

This is the sweetest little guy. He has such a cute personality, plays w/toys, cuddles, eats w/o barking (unlike the guy sitting behind him in this pic---the barking/eating thing.)

Still doing lots of yard work, volunteering at rectory, going to daily Mass. Expecting another turn in the weather--supposed to be cooler (32 degrees) and snow. Is it May???

Stay safe, healthy, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Hans the Dog

HANS

Hans before his haircut. He now looks and acts like Rowdy--sans the dance. He is the sweetest little guy, loves to play, run, torment Spencer...Get excited!!!!--Will take more pics of the Hans and send his after grooming picture(s).

Went to friends grandson's BD party then Mass yesterday evening, ate supper w/friends. Was overcast, misty, rainy, cool most of yesterday. Today the sun is up, no breeze, absolutely beautiful day.  Plan to do some yard work and go to Holy Hour at 4:00pm this afternoon.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Thanks to all family members who visited last week. Such a great crew--really miss the laughter and fun.

Love, Mom

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Daffodils and Dear Ones


 (Daffodils: 2001 BD gift from Kelli---still blooms every year)




Snow melting, sun peeking in and out of the clouds, no breeze----nice. Can hardly wait for the ground to dry enough to be out and about in the garden.

Mass this AM for the intentions of our family. Attending monthly meeting this evening, Triduum services the rest of the week, maybe Shocker TV basketball tomorrow evening...

Really getting excited about April company---kind of feeling like a little kid----are they here yet!!!!????

Stay safe, healthy, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom



Saturday, March 23, 2013

Snow/Sleet/Fog/Rain/Overcast...



Rumor has it---even the snow leopards do not like Snow/Sleet/Fog/Rain/Overcast days.

So we do winter again---just days after celebrating the first day of Spring. Know we set our clocks ahead but do we also set the seasons backwards? Please give the answer to this strange phenomena. Oh, I forgot we live in KS and are considered somewhat backwards.

Mass this AM. Plan to do a little housework (sweep, dust, laundry, etc). Of course, there is always time for Spencer in between chores. He loves (demands)  the solitary attention but has a sense of sadness about him. At times I think he is in need a of a furry companion---then I come to my senses and silently scream "NO, NO, NO you silly old fool---don't give in to this pathetic dog's sad demeanor."

Looking forward to spending a quiet weekend. May have dinner w/a friend later today and. Catch up on some reading and some recorded TV shows.

Have a safe, healthy weekend and keep in touch. Looking forward to April---expecting some special house guests and fun times.

Love, Mom

Tuesday, March 5, 2013


Mass this AM, volunteered at rectory, then home to eat breakfast and luv on Spencer. Most of the snow is melting, 35 degrees, sun shining, slight breeze----could turn out to be a nice day.

 
Worked out in the yard most of yesterday afternoon pruning and cutting down native grasses. Plan on cleaning vines off the fence in the next week. Really excited for Spring.

Have some special BD's this week---check your calendars. Mass for the special intentions of our family offered tomorrow at St. Patrick's at 8:00am. A special time to keep all of us and others in thoughts and prayers.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Monday, March 4, 2013

Just for Pop

 For those gone, but not forgotten.

 Thinking about how quickly the years have passed.  Just want to say thanks to our family for being part of our lives and sharing that time w/us.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Thursday, February 21, 2013

And then...

Rowdy

Before humans die, they write their last will and testament, 
give their home and all they have to those they leave behind.  
If with my paws, I could do the same, this is what I'd ask . . .

TO A POOR AND LONELY STRAY, I'd give my happy home, my bowl and cozy bed, soft pillow and all my toys; the lap, which I loved so much; the hand that stroked my fur; and the sweet voice that spoke my name.

TO THE SAD, SCARED SHELTER DOG, I'd give the place I had in my human's loving heart, of which there seemed no bounds.

NOW THAT I AM GONE, PLEASE DO NOT SAY, "I will never have a pet again, for the loss and pain is more than I can stand."

INSTEAD, PLEASE GO FIND AN UNLOVED DOG, one whose life has held no joy or hope, and give my place to him.

This is the only thing I can give . . . the love I left behind.

But most of all, because someone has to keep Spencer in line.

----------------------------------------------

Snowed in---beautiful snow---lots of drifts---snow removal crew should be here this afternoon. Planning on walking down to my neighbors this evening for our monthly neighborhood dinner.

Stay healthy, safe, and in touch.

Love, Mom

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Just Good Thoughts

Thinking of happy times. Just makes me smile when I think of this girl. How blessed I am to have shared my life with her. Have such great memories.

Stay safe, healthy, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

 

Monday, January 14, 2013

Winter time



Chilly, clear skies as expected---It's January!!!

Spent a quiet weekend, Mass, reading, checking out plant catalogs, messing w/the "Bobs"---just putzing.

Busy week ahead--daily Mass, volunteering at rectory, attending a consumer panel meeting, going to a dentist appt., having dinner w/neighbors, and  taking Spencer to Vet for his annual check up.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom