My Random Five on Friday - The March 7, 2014 Edition

It's time once again for Nancy's meme Random Five On Friday....I always enjoy this, not so much for myself as I enjoy reading the randomness of other blogging buddies...so be sure and hop on over and read all the random fun thoughts from the many that join in the fun.

1)  First and foremost and the MOST significant event in my life this week is ....drum roll please, I am going to be a great-grandmother.  My grandson, Brandon and his lovely wife Hilary are having a baby....whoop whoop.  It has been far too many years since we have had babies in our family, so with this news I was beyond overjoyed.  Actually I have known this for almost 2 weeks, but they wanted to keep it under wraps until all was well.  Can you imagine how difficult this has been for me?  Me who likes to share just about everything about my life.

2) And another family event, today is my daughter-in-law, Nelly's birthday.  She and my son Lane have been married for 2 years and I can honestly say that she has made my son the happiest I have ever seen him.  He was 43 years old when he finally met and married Nelly, this Mom had pretty much given up on ever having a daughter-in-law, but fate moved in and the rest is blissful history.

3)  I am not sure which I enjoy more during these last days of winter....the bouquets of flowers from TJ's that bring so much color into the house, or the bright colors of the beautiful cardinals that brighten the world outside.

4) Read in the newspaper this morning that there are 24 days until baseball season begins...there is going to have to be a whopping amount of melting going on in these next 24 days for this summertime sport to make its debut in Chicago.  According to the forecast it could reach 50 by Monday....oh that makes my heart happy.

5) And, a hop over to my collaborative blog "Focusing On Life" would be much appreciated where I am musing on "Lasting Impressions" today.

So that's it...life is pretty calm right now, will see my friends from Arizona this evening for dinner after 3 days of them being with the family of his good friend who passed away.  I was hoping to spend more time with them, but they were where they needed to be.

"There's nothing like having grandchildren to restore your faith in heredity. "  ~  Doug Larson

 Until next time.....

Random 5 On Friday....uh Saturday

Joining in a day late for Nancy's Random 5 on Friday, only today is Saturday....that might give you a clue as to overall disposition lately. 

1) Oh my goodness, it has been 6 days since I have posted anything new, maybe, just maybe I haven't been totally inspired by much lately.  This winter has really taken a toll on my overall attitude.  This week alone we have had another major snowstorm that pushed us into the annuals of being the 5th snowiest winter since 1800 something...whoop whoop (fake excitement), we had temps that rose almost to the 50 degree mark which caused much melting of above stated snowstorm, followed by downpours on Thursday which caused major flooding coupled with the melting snow, after all the rain a major fog rolled in, cancelling another kazillion airline flights, followed by 50 mph winds on Friday.  Now I state again....where does one get inspiration from that series of events??? 

2) I did get excited the day of the major snowstorm when I spotted what I always think of when I imagine spring is on it's way.....a robin.  

He even turned around so I could capture both sides of him.

But then the very next day I read in the newspaper that the robins that we are seeing are either 1) those that hang here all winter, never going south or 2) Canadian robins that winter here.  Talk about bird brains, number 1 who wouldn't want to go south for the winter? and number 2 who would in their right mind want to winter here??  My attitude is showing again.

3) I am really trying to get in the mood of Spring by purchasing flowers....

I am even hanging on to the tulips even tho they are way past their prime....

4) I am really trying to eat better these days.  Leading a single life sometimes leads to bad eating habits. After preparing meals for almost 50 years, first for the two of us, then when the children came along, the four of us, then back to the two of us when the kids fled the nest, then my mom moved in and it was the three of us...so for many a year there were loved ones around to prepare meals for.  Gathering new recipes, watching cooking shows was then a part of my life.  But now with just me, that urge to prepare a meal has fizzled. I am finding new ways to add a little more healthiness to my daily diet. Trader Joe's has answered some of those needs.  They have (not only great flowers) but fresh veggies and fruits neatly packaged and already prepared which makes it super easy to correct some of my bad eating habits.  Instead of a donut for breakfast (not to say that never happens) I buy their already seeded pomegranates and sprinkle them on top of my cereal for breakfast.  They add that extra sweetness and crunch, actually I could eat a handful on top of nothing....!!

5)  Yesterday when the winds were blowing, another good day to stay inside I started reading "The Girl He Left Behind" by Jo Jo Moyes.  Well, honestly I couldn't put the book down.  The title of the book is actually the title of a painting that was painted before World War I by a young artist in Paris for his beautiful new wife.  The early story begins with the German occupation of France in 1916 then moves to present day London with the painting being the connection of those lives and times.  Well written, wonderful characters and I am returning today to finish it.  The "kids" sleep either on my lap or on the floor near me as I read on.

I know I lead such an exciting life, but in February, in Chicago this is about as good as it gets, for me anyway.  

"The word happiness would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness." ~ Carl Jung

Until next time......

Random Five On Friday - The January 10, 2014 Edition

1) I am beginning this post with trepidation due to the apparent hiccups blogger is currently experiencing. We will see how this unfolds....as I said yesterday, I was feeling really smug because I had sailed along via blogger for years...since 2009 (wow has it been that long ago since I began this blog??) without a stitch of trouble until yesterday.  Oh baby I bet their inbox was overflowing with disgruntled bloggers.  Oh and btw....that is my first of my random five on Friday.  I am going to have to dig dip to come up with 5 random thoughts today.

2) It has been kind of a (ho-hum) boring week with the only day out being Wednesday with my gal pals for the start of our new Bible study where I blasphemed (not really) Beth Moore on a recent post and then enjoyed lunch with more gal pals to examine, deliberate and confer about the new season of Downton Abbey.

3)  Today it is warming up....the drips can be heard from the melting of the snow, and Toby is in his glory.  He was feeling mighty trapped being in the house all day and not able to patrol the grounds.

4)  This week brought disturbing news from a friend and then from a relative about some difficult medical issues....and both of my granddaughters are having medical issues...all very unnerving and worrisome...all are being taken care of by the best means possible.   I am sure this is part of my "grumpiness." with the worries and the knowing I can't do a thing to help anyone of them except pray.

5) And this one is definitely a world shaker...I have decided to let my hair grow.  I cancelled my last haircut appointment then never re-booked therefore the hair continued to grow.  Returning to Bible Study after almost a month without, a couple of ladies told me that my new style made me look "younger"....well that's all you need to say to me. so no haircuts in the near future for this "younger" woman.  (giggle, snort)

So there, that is my random five...all so very notable (snore) but I would appreciate a hop over to my collaborative blog, Focusing on Life where I am musing on "begin".  And of course a trip to Nancy's, the host of Random Five on Friday is always a fun time.

"Each moment is a place you've never been."  ~ Mark Strand

Until next time....

Random Five on Friday - The January 3rd, 2014 Edition

Happy to see that my blogging friend, Nancy has re-started the Random 5 on Friday practice...always fun to read little known and interesting tidbits on fellow bloggers.  Makes you really think of them as girlfriends that you could just sit and chat over a cup of nice warm coffee or tea. I'll provide the coffee and/or tea if you will bring the baked goods since my presence in the kitchen is very limited these days. Sounds like a plan.

Fact - I love berries hanging from trees, in any size, shape or color.  But I particularly like the ones above because they are 1) red (one of my fav colors) 2) they are shriveled which makes us related in some way and 3) they are snow covered, a bonus.

Fact - I also like to come across a critter or two in my wanderings and grab a snap before they bound off into the woods from whence they came.  This coyote just hung around for the longest time....wonder if he was frozen to the spot.

Fact - the term bird-brain comes to mind when I see these critters.  Uhh do ya think they need to be reminded that this is NOT water they are sitting on.

Fact - I love that we were dumped on yesterday with about 10 inches of snow.  The most we have had in several years in one shot....but now comes the cold and fact....I don't like that miserable below zero cold.  Time to "begin", a form of my word of the year (beginnings), a couple of new indoor projects for the year.

Fact - I love berries....oh I said that earlier didn't I, but not only do I love them hangin' but I love them sitting in pots too.  And because it was so dang cold while I was out in my bathrobe (yeah another fact, I do wander around outside in all kinds of weather with my bathrobe...I do believe every neighbor on my block probably has seen me in my bathrobe, and it ain't pretty either) you are going to get another berry shot.

I bought these before Christmas and they were so festive....but sadly they are approaching the time in their short life when they will be nothing but droppings swept away with the rest of the trash.

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'  ~ Erma Bombeck  

Linking to Nancy's .....

Until next time....

Lordy, It's Friday Again...

Lordy, it's Friday again.  Thanksgiving month has arrived and Christmas is literally just around the corner.  Yesterday I was in a quandary over if or how much Halloween candy to buy, today I am thinking ahead to Thanksgiving and the fact that my whole family will be here at the house to help in giving thanks for all of our blessings.  And btw, I never left the house yesterday to buy that candy, convinced that there would be no Trick or Treaters because it rained & rained & rained...but then just about 4:00 PM the clouds began to clear, the rains stopped and with that this woman grabbed her purse & literally ran out the door to get to Walgreen's to buy candy for those I knew would be coming. And come they did, it was like the flood gates opened (in more ways than one).  Big kids, who I thought were a little too old to be going door to door with their hands out, and the cutie little ones. It happened quickly and was over quickly.  Another Halloween gone and done with.  I guess many towns postponed their trick or treating until the weekend due to bad weather.  Sure hope those towns aren't any where near me, because I have very few pieces of treats left.

Tuesday was a gorgeous day with temps in the 60's and lovely blue skies.  I really thought that by the time I came home from Tennessee all of our color would be gone, but this year we have been pleasantly surprised.  The trees are just now peaking, with many still filled with green.  Usually by Halloween the trees are bare but this year we have enjoyed longer color.  I walked around the neighborhood and captured some glorious colors....

And to top it off I found a heart shaped apple on my neighbor's tree.  I do believe I am turning this into a canvas for the wall in my family room.  I think I will do 2 other "red" finds and make 3 8"x8" square canvases.

And Wednesday before it started raining I went to the Arboretum to grab some more color with my camera, you can't have too many pics of this wonderful time of the year.

 

And quickly 5 random stuff...

• Snicker's is my favorite candy so that was my back-up bag in case I ran out of M&M's. Never had to open the back-up bag, so guess what....it's all mine now. (followed by a wicked laugh)
• I am shooting a small wedding on Saturday, my first wedding but it will be VERY small, just immediate family attending and it is 2nd marriages for the "mature couple".  Wish me luck!!
• The kids (aka the dogs) are getting along so much better now.  I think it was the week they spent so much time together alone in the house while I was in Tennessee.  The kid across the street came over 3 & 4 times a day to let them out and feed them and then my granddaughter, Bailey came Thursday, Friday and spent the night both nights.  So they were alone together for quite a bit of time.  
• I am reading a creepy book, "Help for the Haunted" by John Searles recommended by one of my blogging friends, Karen at Away for the Weekend.  Figured it was that time of year for a scary book. 
• There are 2 TV shows that I watch without fail....I am totally addicted to "The Watchlist" and "Scandal"...they leave me hanging each week, wanting more.  

And please, if you could hop on over to my collaborative blog "Focusing On Life" where I am talking about "watching your back(grounds)"....it would be much appreciated.  Hope you have a wonderful weekend and a grateful filled month ahead.  

Joining Nancy & Kim....

Until next time....

Drinking It All In

It's Friday....when I worked this was absolutely the best day of the week.  Now as I grow older, it means that another week has flown by, another week gone from my life.  Funny how your perspective about a day of the week changes as you grow older.  I love this time of the year, but it also makes me feel a little nostalgic, knowing that another year is coming to a close and not knowing what the next year will bring. Having a husband with Alzheimer's and almost losing him this past summer, has truly awakened the reality of endings and I guess that is why I am feeling somewhat nostalgic, especially this year.  I want to drink in everything, I don't want to miss anything.  I drive down the street and see a row of trees turning red and I want to stop the car and figure out a way to get thru that industrial park to take that picture, or capture that single bright red leaf, or the apples hanging on trees, or that misty fog when it rains, or the berries....oh those berries.

or berries with a bird's nest...even sweeter!!

Or finding a lady bug on a drying Queen Anne's Lace...

or the gourds with their curly stems....you know I do belong to the Pumpkin Snob Society....

or finding a field full of black eyed susans all still in bloom...

So even tho I am feeling a bit nostalgic at this time of the year....the beauty is astounding, and I am trying to drink it all in before it too shall be gone.

If you have a moment, hop on over to my collaborative blog Focusing On Life, where I am musing on the beginnings of my photographic journey.

Linking with Nancy & Kim....

                                                          
Until next time....