Did I Ever Tell You?

We are Crazy? 

 I was going through pictures and found these. 

I forgot how funny they are!

Jerry has been known, on occasion, to try to get into the handicap parking area based purely on his hand. 

Little did he know it would be his back and not his hand that got him the placard.

AND....

We are not opposed to making silly faces for the camera.

The next time I have the rest of the family here we need to do the silly faces again.

By The Light of the Silvery Moon

After a break in the hot weather, the heat is back! Tomorrow through Tuesday is supposed to be in the triple digits. So...I decided to get the yards done tonight...at dusk. I got the front yard done in the daylight. As I started the back yard the sun was quickly setting.

I turned on all our yard lights and continued.

I have a mowing partner, my grandma. 

As a child she was playing with the family push mower and cut her pointer finger off. When I was a teenager I would mow her yard for her, with her old fashioned push mower. She would always remind me to keep my hands away from the blades. I do not own a push mower but we do have front throw mowers. Every time the front basket fills up, the right side always has more clippings than the left. I always wait until the blade stops moving before I even out the clippings, and I hear her voice reminding me to keep my hands away EVERY time!

Tonight I decided to write a post on how I always feel her with me when I am mowing. As the sun set lower and the moon began to rise I thought how funny it was to be mowing the yard with the light on and the moon out...a full moon. I guess Grandma was really with me because when I saw the moon the first thing I thought of was when she used to sing By The Light Of the Silver Moon to us.

This led to many more songs that I may or may not have learned if she didn't sing to us. 

One Dark Night

How Much is That Doggie in the Window

Ka Ka Ka Katie

Red Wing

 I think Red Wing was one of her favorites.

These songs sung to a little girl so long ago got me to thinking about my grand kids.
I sure hope one day in the future something jogs the memory of songs and lullabies sung to them...and they remember me and those moments fondly.
 I can honestly say this is the first time I have ever mowed the lawn after dark.
When the sun rises I hope the yard looks as good as it did in the moonlight!

Dinner at the Fair

Some things never change at the L A County Fair.

Some things leave, and come back better.

 Some things are totally new.

 Some sights are just beautiful

 All you have to do is look up

Some of my favorite things....

                                                                         

 are just tasty!

AND

 I got some penny love!

I Floated Down a Murky River

Today is my birthday. 

I am 54 years old young. 

I woke this morning feeling very sad. 

This sadness has nothing to do with being another year older. 

To me, age is all in how you feel.

I have earned every line, pound, and gray hair I have.

This is why I am sad....

Last night, I floated down a river.

The water was warm, looking very much like milky coffee.

 There were lots of people, all having a great day on the water.

I was comfortable even though I didn't know anyone I was floating with. 

The river was one I have never seen before. 

It was narrow in places and was very unique in that it had tunnels that were almost cave like.

While in the tunnels it was cool,
 the water warm,
and light just up ahead proving the coolness would soon be replaced with the sun's warmth.
I felt content,
so many things I love adding to the experience.
Water, the river
floating
the sunshine....and much to my surprise,
floating next to me!

My Mom!!!!

What happiness I felt to have her with me, floating down this new found river.
No words were spoken, her presence was enough.
Then, at a bend in the river it was time to go ashore.
We were walking out of the water and when I turned around she was gone.
I woke this morning with my face and pillow tear stained, and a sadness in my heart.


Not a day goes by that I don't think of her.
In 21 days it will be six years since I have seen her.....
and I sure do miss her.

Decorating on a Dime

Fall is almost here! 

I love swapping out decor for the changing seasons.

So, I brought all my fall decorations out.

 I used stored towels and added blue ribbon...

 

THEN

I used someone else's 

 Home Goods gift cards 

dime and bought a blue bathroom rug.

My next purchase was white dishes, serving platters and bowls.

My largest purchase was new dining room chairs!

I am in love with the new fall look.

THANK YOU

 Home Goods!

End of Summer Heat Wave

The high in our city today was 108! 

It seriously felt like desert weather.

Tonight is better, but not by much.

Remember When...

Norm's Coffee shop was not in our city? 

The corner where Norm's now sits was the home of  Steak Corral. 

It was a nice family steak house. 

With it's Cowboy out front 

that started out in the planter 

and later, was moved to the roof because of high school pranks.  

Inside, 

 the covered wagons that had writing all over the the fabric covers. 

The food was just plain good! 

Tonight, Jerry and I stepped back in time and had dinner at Steak Corral....

this one in Whittier.

 "The Cowboy"

 Remember those croutons...and fake bacon bits?

Yes, tonight Jerry and I stepped back in time and had dinner at Steak Corral.

I can easily recall years ago when our young family would have dinner at

 "The Cowboy"

 as the kids used to call it. 

More times than not Grammy and Aunt P joined us.

Those were the days!

I'm Giddy!

This job was well worth the wait!

The End is in Sight!

Hooray

We finally have a beautiful, working, just missing a shower door bathroom!

This was such a big job for us. 

We have tackled bigger in the past, but this seemed HUGE!

 This room is sparkling clean with everything shiny and new.

This Holiday Weekend...

...we spent working! 

Things are coming together. 

I am beyond excited for this project to be history.

 Sneak peek