Letters on Friday

Dear Weather, what the heck is going on.  Rain on Sunday, oh so cool and lovely, Monday & Tuesday, heating up on Wednesday, hotter than HE_ _ on Thursday.  Would ya settle down...I am ready for some nice cool Fall weather, to heck with this heat & humidity.

Dear Bible Study, this is definitely going to be a challenging term.  Learning to be WITH God instead of under, for, from, or over God.

Dear Orange, I love your color.  It speaks of cool weather, changing seasons, the smell of wood burning, a warm sweater, pumpkin pie.

Dear Book Club, thank you for being so welcoming to my granddaughter, Bailey.  She really wanted to be a part of a bookclub but none of her friends were interested, so I invited her to join our group.  Granted she is considerably younger than any of us, but young minds can present a whole different perspective.  She enjoyed us and we enjoyed her (I am not a bit prejudiced ofcourse).

Dear Son, I am thrilled that you are home.  It's been far too long between visits, and I am relishing each and every moment with you.

Hop on over to my collaborative blog Focusing On Life to see what other big event happened in my life this week.

Life is a song - sing it
Life is a game - play it
Life is a challenge - meet it
Life is a dream - realize it
Life is a sacrifice - offer it
Life is love - enjoy it
 ~  Sai Baba

Sharing with Nancy's

Until next time.....

 

Catch Up Letter

Dear Couple of Weeks....and good morning.  I don't think I need to repeat the bunches of lows that I have lived through these past couple of weeks, but  through many prayers, God's hand, and my sweeties strong will we made it through.

Dear Highs....I think since I have shared so many lows this past week I need to share a few highs, there are always highs mixed among the lows, how else would we be able to appreciate those good times if we didn't have a little of the bad times to balance out.

Two weeks ago, which honestly seems like 6 months ago, I was privileged to be invited to take pictures of my friend Mary's family who were visiting from the northwest.  It was a blazing hot day, and I was still in the middle of my fitful coughing and nose running but I was able to capture sweet moments like this between Mother and daughter.

Dear Family.....Seeing my family which is sometimes a rarity with the busy lives they lead was definitely a blessing this past week.

Also being able to see my extended family, my sweetie's brother and sisters made separate trips for a visit.  It was wonderful to see all of them, and to catch up on all the family happenings that we miss seeing due to distance...I was able to capture this tender moment between my sweetie and his brother....

Dear Happy Scene....Walking to meet some girlfriends for lunch on Friday I passed this lady. After passing I stopped, turned around and asked to take her picture....she was so pretty with her bright yellow sweater and that beautiful flower in her hair, it was just a happy scene.  She shared with me that today was the 19th anniversary of the death of her husband and she tried to stay happy for him.  What isn't happy about a "mature" woman with a beautiful bright flower in her hair?!

Dear Bright Beautiful Sunflowers...you are always a happy scene and I found these right down the street from the hospital.

Dear Yearly Mammogram....I had my yearly mammogram last week and the results were normal...again I say, normal is a good thing.

Dear Looking Ahead....Fall is approaching, altho the next couple of days the weathermen are saying 90's, and I am ready to move forward.  This has not been the best summer of my life, I am ready to say goodbye and tuck these events of the summer into cold storage, certainly hoping to gather more delightful times ahead.  My September calendar is filling up with Art Institute luncheons, photo walks, a visit from my son & daughter-in-law from California, book club, bible study beginning again and most importantly The Alzheimer's Walk being held here in my hometown, Naperville, IL on Sunday, Sept. 22.  Our family is walking together to help in this struggle against this disease that has totally robbed my sweetie of his life along with millions of others.

If you would like to donate to this cause, I would appreciate anything that you could possibly give to this fight.  This is not something I ever do via my blog, but I feel so strongly about this fight that I felt the need to allow people the opportunity to give to a most worthy cause.  Click on TEAM GARY to be directed to the link to give.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued thoughts and prayers, you will never know how much your virtual friendships mean to me.  

"Nothing in life is to be feared.  It is only to be understood."  ~  Marie Curie

Until next time....

Letters on Friday...

Dear Week....wow you were definitely full to the brim.  Since last Friday my visit with my FOL buddies is over, sad face inserted here...something that I looked forward to for a very long time. We had a whirlwind time together, loved EVERY minute from our visits on the porch, to the trek to the countryside, eating pizza (everyone that comes to this part of the world HAS to have Pizza), strolls along our beautiful Riverwalk to the wonderful day spent in Chicago.  Perfecto....

Dear Monday & Tuesday,  since I was hosting Book Club this week, and I chose the book, thought I better get busy and read it...Monday I could NOT keep my eyes open long enough to read more than a page or two before I would fall sound asleep sitting straight up in a chair...couldn't possibly be caused by too much activity the week prior.  Tuesday was a little better, this has no reflection on the book itself.  I actually thought it was one of the better ones I have read in a LONG time. Well written, page turner, totally surprise ending, I would recommend it.

Dear Morton Arboretum Photography Organization....have been intending to look into this organization and I just happened to hit it right.  Their monthly meeting was Monday evening. Went, had no idea what to expect, and was surprised it was such a large group.  In observing the attendees there seemed to be a scattering of ages, mostly older (over 50) and there seemed to be more men than women.  Nice presentation by a young man that had just opened a Print workshop space in a burb not too far from me plugging his courses and giving us samples of the papers used.  His motto is "No photo is complete until it is printed."....how many of us leave all of our photos catalogued in files on our computer and never ever see the light of day?  All in all a worthwhile trip and I will definitely join again next month.

Dear Cool Dry Weather....you know you have been really nice to sleep with covers on, but we sure could use a little rain.  Ofcourse when we had all that rain in the beginning of the summer I had the sneaky suspicion that while we were saying "stop" in June we would be saying "come back" in August.  I was right.  Darn it.

This week was a little milestone for our family.  My youngest granddaughter returned to her junior year in college at Iowa State, my middle granddaughter got her first "adult job" after graduating from college, and my grandson celebrated 3 years of marriage.  All really good things....!!!  LOVE YA

Linking to Nancy's

Sure hope you had a great week.....

"I want to be all used up when I die."  ~  George Bernard Shaw

Until next time.....

Letters On Friday

Dear Week.....whew you have been packed full of ups and downs, running the gamut from happy to sad.  Don't really want to repeat weeks like this too often....too hard on this "aging" woman.

Dear Pinterest.....I love you.  You give me idea upon idea, recipe after recipe, hint after hint, how to's after how to's, inspiration...well you could "while away" many moments on pinterest.  And speaking of recipes, I did try this one and it was definitely a keeper and recommended.  My friend Marti and I occasionally go out to dinner on Monday nights, it's always the night her husband goes to the gym, and it's usually a trip to a local casual restaurant here in town, but Deanna decided to cook on Monday night.  Now that is an occasion, in other words that don't happen ner're too often anymore. But this is what I prepared, right off of pinterest.

Shrimp, Zucchini & Pesto Angel Hair Pasta

We finally found a brand of frozen shrimp we love – found it at Whole Foods. It’s frozen wild USA shrimp, already peeled, and tasty! (I used fresh from my local grocery store)

 Recipe {serves 2}

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb shrimp, peeled
• 4 ounces angel hair, cooking according to package
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1/3 cup prepared or homemade pesto sauce
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Method

• Prepare pasta according to package.
• Add 1 tbsp olive oil to medium high skillet and cook shrimp until brown. Don’t stir too much or you won’t get a crust! Remove from pan.
• Cook pepper and zucchini in remaining olive oil until tender
• Toss all together in a bowl with pesto.
• Serve in bowls!

Dear Meadowbrook Manor, you are now the keeper of my sweetie beginning today.  His previous keeper (Lincolnshire Place) was wonderful, so you have some big shoes to fill.  But truly what is important is that you provide him with good care and keep him safe.

Dear Wednesday Gal Pals, I love you.  I love our get-togethers every Wednesday usually at B&N, this week here, talking about everything (this week's discussion centered around whether we liked our given names, I think only one of us really liked what our parents placed on our birth certificates as our "official name").  This week one brought along this sweet bouquet and other's brought sweets to eat.  Again, I love you.

Dear Thursday Evening Band Concerts, you are always a delight.  Last night the weather was perfect, the crowds were filled with all ages and the music was a delight.  Jazz Big Band sound which is my favorite of the summer.  There were young ones with grandparents, elderly people from the local nursing homes, and sweet little, teeny tiny dogs.  Always a fun evening.  

Next week while Carol from Buttercup Counts Her Blessings is here in Chicago for a Blogging Conference (why didn't I sign up for that??) we have scheduled a meet-up on the weekend.  Fun Fun!!  How our world expands when we blog. 

Next week us gal pals are celebrating Elaine's 91st Birthday.  Elaine has been a little "under-the-weather" lately so I am hoping that all is well on Monday and she can enjoy her celebration.  

And next week I am heading to Michigan to do a family photo shoot on the beach.  All good things!!

Oh, and one more thing....I am relishing YELLOW on my collaborative blog Focusing on Life today...sure would appreciate it if you would stop on by. 

Joining Nancy at Random Five On Friday. 

Until next time.....

Letters on Friday & Happy Birthday Blog

Dear Blog....Happy Birthday or is it Happy Anniversary??  Two years ago I hit that "publish" button and I was off and running or I should say posting...!!  It has been a wonderful two years.  Because of you dear blog, I have made so many new friends, even met and enjoyed the company of a few of you, which I highly recommend if ever presented the chance.  Your comments, your encouragement, means the world to me...you have lightened my darkest days, brought me tears and laughter, inspired me, gladdened my heart, and opened up worlds to me.  Never in my wildest did I ever imagine the joy that blogging has brought to me.  Thank you dear blog, I love you. PS...today is the last day to enter my giveaway in celebration and thanks for 2 years.  See details here.  I will publish the winners tomorrow.  

Dear Crab Apple Tree....Goodbye, on Wednesday afternoon you were carted away by tree removers after giving me almost 30 years of spring beauty.  Unfortunately, you suffered from the dreaded diseases of apple scab and fire blight which eventually took your branches away one by one until there was only one left.  I managed to save a few of your branches to enjoy for a few more days.  I loved you

The tree removers....

Dear Spring, this has to be one of the most beautiful springs we have had in many a year.  With the cool weather lasting so long, holding off the blooming, and then the warm-up last week...our world has burst into one fine feast for the eyes...the crab apples are all in bloom, whites, pinks, reds.  The tulips, bleeding hearts, phlox, apple blossoms, red buds and lilacs are creating a chorus of spring that is shouting for joy.  This is the first year in memory that the crab apple blossoms will still be in bloom for Mother's Day.  Usually they have dropped by now.  Thank you Spring, I love you.

Dear Yard Work....ugh.  Spring clean-up is always hard laborious work, raking out the dead, trimming, edging, weed pulling.  The time it takes me to complete all this continues to lengthen with each passing year.  It may be time to hire someone to help with this chore, since my sweetie is no longer here to assist.  I don't love you, yard work.

Dear Bailey, congratulations on your college graduation. I am so proud of you and know that your future will be bright and full of adventure,  just like you. I Love You, Nana

Until next time.....

Letters on Friday - May 3, 2013

Dear God, thank you for bringing me and Toby home safely from our trip to Dayton, OH, 6 hours down and  6 hours back.  

Dear Dog Car Harness, maybe Toby wasn't that crazy about you, but I think you are a life-saver in more ways than one. You kept Toby safely strapped in the front seat while I was able to drive without him sitting on my lap perhaps causing an accident.  

Dear Spring, thank you for arriving (finally) and boy are you purty!!  With your pinks....

Your purples....

Your yellows....

Your whites.....

Your reds....

Your fresh greens....

Dear "The Following", OMG what a way to end this season, do you really think Joe Carroll is dead??

Dear Over-Head Fans, thank you for sending soft breezes overhead making it possible to be comfortable sleeping as the weather begins to warm.  I think I remember reading that over-head fans are "out" when it comes to decorating....huh??   The decorator trend setters obviously have not slept with a post menopausal woman who still gets too warm in the nights.  

Dear Warm Weather, thanks for returning, it has brightened up our world.  

Please follow me over to my collaborative blog....Focusing On Life where I am musing on "like".

Linking to Nancy's Random Five On Friday and Mona's Floral Love 

Until next time.....