Happy Feet

Patty treated me to a deluxe spa pedicure gift certificate, which I happily redeemed yesterday. The soothing legs and feet massages were heavenly. Relaxing in a vibrating chair wasn't shabby either.

I opted for the French pedicure again because it lasts so long and is very versatile. I don't have to change polish to match what I'm wearing. This time they put a dainty flower on my big toes with a hint of pink and a tiny rhinestone in the center. I feel so girlie!

While there, I had my eyebrows waxed again. Next week I will have another laser hair removeal treatment, compliments of my beautiful daughters for Mother's Day. Thank you girls and Patty! I appreciate all the personal attention!

Robin's Gellin'

Robin's feet were tired and swellin',

In his eyes the tears were wellin'.

I was so concerned I kept yellin',

"You and your shoes need to get gellin'!"

Robin was horrified that I wanted to write a post about his new inserts for his shoes. Not that he's embarrassed to have the new accessories, but because the gellin' commercial is so irritating. I agreed, but told him that is what makes it so funny. He cringes now when I ask if he's gellin'.

He's happy now is what I'm tellin'

'Cause the drug store now is sellin'

Cushioned pads to stop the swellin',

Hallelujah, Robin's gellin'!

Caught In A Mouse Trap

A couple of weeks ago I opened the pantry and noticed mouse droppings. Later, I discovered a tiny chew mark in a new bag of chocolate chips. I informed Robin that we had a mouse visiting our pantry. He immediately set a mouse trap. We checked it daily, but no mouse.

Well, we caught something last night. I opened the pantry to retrieve something I needed while cooking dinner. There was suddenly a loud SNAP and pain in my right foot. It felt like I'd stepped on fragile glass that splintered into my foot on impact. I looked down, expecting to find shards of glass and blood all over my foot. What I found was the mouse trap clinging to my flip-flop. Apparently when I jumped from the shock and pain, the trap let go of my foot but stayed with my shoe.

My thoughts went to Jude who picked up an activated mouse trap in my parents' pantry a few months ago. It also snapped on his fingers and he dropped it right away. He looked somewhat embarrassed, but not necessarily in pain. Now I know the big boy was holding it in. The bite of a trap hurts! It really felt like glass going into my foot.

Once I recovered, Robin and I laughed over it and he's been teasing me about how he caught a big rat. He told me this morning I should blog about the big rat that was caught in our trap. So, here it is, Robin. A laugh once in awhile at my expense is okay. However, there is a pesky mouse still on the loose.

Here Comes The Tooth Fairy!

Thomas, my oldest grandson, lost his first tooth last night. I was on the phone with his Dad when I heard Thomas's squeal of delight at finding his loose tooth had separated from his gums after biting into a stick of string cheese.

When I saw him earlier that day he had proudly showed me how his tooth would wiggle when he touched it. He took it as a sign of how big he was getting. Wow, about to enter first grade and a missing tooth - that's grown up!

He awoke this morning to look to see if the Tooth Fairy had remembered to stop by. His tiny tooth was put in a pill bottle so it wouldn't be lost and the Fairy placed two dollars in the bottle with the tooth. Notice his handsome, toothless smile. Congratulations, Thomas! You have paved the way for Jude and Ashton.

More Flowers, More Dirt

Apparently Robin thinks I had a wonderful time planting flowers so he rushed out and bought more while I was at church. This time we planted begonias at the mailbox planter. Robin has put me in charge of watering them. He's in charge of telling me when they need water since I have a bad habit of making my indoor plants beg. When they are slumped over as if in prayer, it reminds me that all living things need water.

I was really touched by Robin's interest in adding color and beauty around our house until he told me the act of planting would keep me off the computer. Then, in exasperation, he told me, "I bought you flowers to plant to keep you busy and away from the computer and here you are blogging about the flowers". Sorry. Such is the nature of blogging.

We added leftover flowers to the planter by the pool so we now have an assortment of flowers there. I will keep you informed about their growth in pictures. Or not. Depends on how well they survive under my care.

Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

I hope Robin and I aren't singing this old ballad in a few weeks after our recent attempt at gardening. I came home from work to find many bags of top soil and two large flats of flowers. While Robin cleaned the pool I emptied bags of soil into the flower planter, then asked him why I was doing the hard part. Those bags are heavy!

Once the soil was even and smooth, we arranged the flowers and checked the spacing before pushing them gently in the damp earth. Now, we're hoping our thumbs are greener than we think they are. Neither one of us is given to gardening.

I wish gardening was my cup of tea. I love lush lawns and colorful blooms, but I want to admire them after someone else has tended to them. I equate gardening to camping. Why leave the comfort of my home to go outside and rough it? It's never made sense to me. I have a comfortable mattress, indoor plumbing, and central air and heat. To give all that up to sleep in a tent, on hard ground, would be torture. The lack of a bathroom is even more unthinkable.

So it shouldn't come as any surprise that I don't relish getting my hands in dirt, wiping perspiration, and feeling the aches and pains in my back as I empty another bag of top soil. I actually had dirt under my fingernails. Robin commented that he'd never before seen my hands covered in dirt. I assured him he probably hadn't.

I must admit, however, that once the chore was completed, I showered and cooked dinner, then looked outside and felt proud of our simple gardening. I just might tackle the planter around the mailbox next. But Robin will be lifting the bags.

Happy Birthday, Ashton!

Our Ashton

On the first day of summer

In the year two thousand and three,

Little Ashton entered the world

And the hearts of his family.

His big blue eyes, his handsome smile

Keep us hypnotized,

His loving, gentle presence

Has greatly blessed our lives.

Heaven must have rejoiced

When God made this little boy,

A mind so sharp that he uses

A calculator as a toy!

Numbers are his favorite

And he finds them any place,

From grocery lists to temperatures,

From Earth to outer space.

We stand in awe and wonder

At our young genius guy,

Whose knowledge is so vast

That his limit is the sky.

We thank our heavenly Father

For in His wisdom knew,

We'd be happier and richer

All because of you!

Happy 4th birthday, Ashton. Memaw loves you so much!

A Big Fish Story

This poor unfortunate fish did not have a good day. Not only was he being reeled in for dinner that night, but a shark decided it looked pretty tasty too. Fellow fishermen on Robin's deep sea adventure caught this fish and were trying to reel it in while a shark kept eating parts of it. I'm told the lower half of its body used to be a foot longer before the shark got it, but we all know how fish stories go.

It's bad enough that he was going to be eaten anyway, then have a mean old shark grab a few free bites. If I'm going to be dinner, I'd rather be dead when I'm served. Being eaten alive is a cruel way to go. That's what happens when you swim with sharks.

Slumber Party & Father's Day

This past weekend was wonderful! For all you young mothers out there who feel your free time is either limited or non-existent, take heart. Life isn't over when the nest empties. Never believe that age determines your quality of life. There is much to be said about hitting middle age and having the time to do those things that interest us.

As long as we roll with the punches and accept that our children are growing up and we find new excitement in every stage of their growth and our own, we will find happiness. When a child marries and leaves home an era ends, but another one begins. Not only is their life taking a new turn, but ours can too. We just need to know how to look for the silver lining when things change.

My new thrill during hunting season, business trips or a fishing trip like this weekend, is hosting a slumber party. Patty and I may plan all sorts of activities or we may be lazy. Since we had so much rain this weekend we did less browsing (although we always fit that in) and more relaxing at home with good books, games, and conversation. Saturday evening we watched the fat rain drops in the pool while enjoying coffee and cinnamon scones. There were times we were each doing our own thing but it was still great. No cooking, no rigid schedules, no nothing. Just doing what we wanted. The time passes so quickly and we enjoy every minute of it.

On Father's Day I drove to East Texas in the pouring rain to Gene and Rita's house for burgers, potato salad, baked beans, cookies and two freezers of ice cream - chocolate and vanilla. It was a smaller crowd and it enabled us to visit more. We insisted that Sugar, the guest of honor, go through the food line first. He and I competed on the ice cream and I don't know which of us ate the most. My scales could probably tell me.

Sugar hit the jackpot on clothes. Most of us gave him shorts and shirts. The last family gathering found him in white satin shorts with an elastic waistband and white shirt. Mother shook her head as she told us he can't buy for himself. In his defense, Sugar insisted the satiny shorts were all he could find without joining the younger generation and buying the baggy, long shorts. Anyway, I think he can now retire those shorts or use them for lounging wear.

Mother told the story of when she was heavily pregnant with Donna and she had to get on top of the house to get me. I was three and had climbed a ladder that was left leaning against the house. When she discovered what I'd done, I was already on the roof and having a grand time. Three-year-olds don't know the danger, only the fun of such a climb. So, Mother had to climb that ladder, get on the roof, and grab me. She successfully carried both Donna and me back to safety. Sorry, Sissy, if you've lived with an unexplained fear of heights.

Gene and Rita's log house is nestled within a grove of big trees that keep out the noise. There were no sounds of cars or planes or sirens. It was quiet and peaceful with a light rain.

When I made it back home, Robin had already arrived from Galveston. I'd left him a new camera case on the table with a note from me and our foster cat, Weasil, telling him what a wonderful foster Dad he has been. It was great seeing him again after his four-day trip. He ruined it by telling me he'd missed my cooking, so I guess it's back to the kitchen. All slumber parties must come to an end.

Love Letters

"Writing love letters in the sand . . .", the hit by Pat Boone in the years of my youth. Only thing is, Robin has the sand and I have the love letters.

Robin is in Galveston with his son for a few days of deep sea fishing. I came home from work and went to make my usual after work coffee. There was a note that said "I love you" in the coffee canister. I thought that was sweet. Robin is not given to writing notes or sending cards, so I consider this a keeper. When the coffee was ready, I opened the cabinet for a mug and there was another love note. Okay, an inkling of suspicion is seeping in. This is not the man I married.

Still, I revel in the thoughtfulness and feel a little guilty that I was looking forward to a night at home alone with a good book. Not just a good book, but a comfortable, faded lounging gown that only I appreciate. So, I head to the bedroom to change clothes and there is another note propped up among my bottles of perfume. Yes, he knew I'd be into the perfume. Then it's time for dinner and I remember the leftover salad and lasagna in the fridge and lo and behold, there is a note on the salad! By now, many thoughts are going through my head. I am female, after all.

Why the sudden thoughtfulness? Does he plan to be a naughty boy on this trip and is buttering me up? He quit drinking so I'm not worried about bar hopping. Was he missing me even before he left for the coast? Nah. Is it because I baked banana nut bread for him to take along? Was he remembering that our first date was in Galveston and he got all touchy-feely over it? No, that's not Robin.

I decided to stop trying to guess why my husband would suddenly put pen to paper and tell me how he feels. It's much better to enjoy the attention and not attach any negative thoughts to it. He knows the past weeks have been hard on me with the machine problems at work and money dwindling. He knows, too, that I'm happy about this trip and that he gets some time to enjoy himself. I take enough trips with my friends that I could never begrudge him this time on a fishing boat. I'm happy, too, that I'm not on that boat with him. I'd be sick and it wouldn't be pretty.

So, I thought this would be a nice post for my blog, letting the women in my life know that men can be spontaneous and surprise you when you least expect it. I grabbed my coffee and settled at the kitchen table in front of my laptop. Guess what I found when I opened it? A note on the keyboard that said "I love you". Maybe I should check under the toilet seat.

Thank you, Robin. I love you too.

P.S. Finally sat down with my book and found another note where my bookmark was.

Viva Las Vegas

Robin and I are returning to the scene of the crime. Or close enough to it. We were married in Vegas nine years ago and although we aren't staying in the same hotel, we're still in Vegas.

We booked a resort at the Hilton Vacation Club which is on the Las Vegas strip. We'd hoped to get a two-bedroom condo, but were only able to get one. This will teach us not to wait so long to plan and book our vacations. Now, if we invite anyone to join us, they will have a queen sleeper sofa in a roomy living room.

We're anxious to visit the local sights, including Lake Mead and the Boulder Dam which I haven't seen since I was a child. In those days, it was called Hoover Dam. The back roads in Nevada should be interesting too. And, of course, there's a pool at the condo.

We will arrive on Sunday, September 16, and stay a week. Don't freak out, Angela! I know your due date and suspect a date will be set for you in late August, but I'm here for you just the same. Robin would probably have more fun if he took someone else along anyway!

Many dates were already taken up and I thought it funny that September 16 was open. That's because that's the date I was admitted into the hospital during our last vacation week. I'm hoping history doesn't repeat itself and this year's vacation pictures won't include some of me in a hospital room with a tube up my nose.

In other news, Robin is leaving this week to spend Father's Day weekend deep sea fishing off of Galveston with his son. That means slumber party time at my house! Come on over, girls!

In Loving Memory

Fourteen years ago today, on my mother's birthday, I lost the love of my life. I don't want to think about that day and all the pain involved. Instead, I want to remember the man he was and the difference he made in my life.

I know what it's like to be envied. Any woman who witnessed how Chezzy treated me would comment on how wonderful it must be to have a husband like that. It was incredibly wonderful! I wasn't just loved, I was adored by him. He showed his love in so many different, amazing ways. I'd find little love notes in my office when we worked together. Especially if he went out of town, he knew which files and drawers I would use the most and hid his loving thoughts there. And before going to work, when I was still home raising our children, I'd find notes and gifts all around the house. It was not unusual to find a gift in the clothes hamper, under the kitchen sink, in the pantry, or in a bathroom vanity drawer.

My most memorable birthday with him was when I turned 30. I went to the mailbox that day and there were 30 birthday cards from him, a sweet combination of funny and romantic. I still have those cards and the envelopes that were addressed in many clever, romantic ways. The day could have ended on that note and I would have felt pampered beyond words. But Chezzy had more in store for me. He took me to dinner at Steak & Ale after Donna arrived to get the kids to babysit. Imagine my surprise when I walked into a private dining room at the restaurant and saw all my family, Donna and the kids included, and a group of friends and co-workers. Chezzy bought steak dinners for 40 people to celebrate my birthday. It was a beautiful day that I will never forget.

Even though Chezzy knew how to keep the sparks alive in a marriage, I think I loved him most of all for the way he adopted my kids into his heart. We were a family of five and we all belonged together. So few blended families have that connection and I thank God for giving me a man who could love so deeply. These relationships define him more than anything else. Many years after that awful day on June 4, 1993, I have had customers and vendors alike tell me how much Chezzy talked about his family and loved them. What greater compliment could anyone hear? It showed how much we were on his mind and in his big heart.

I lost my husband just 12 days before our 19th anniversary. Those 19 years weren't long enough. But those 19 years were so full! How blessed, how fortunate, how beautiful to be loved by such a man. His memory will always be alive within me and I look forward to that glorious day when we will meet again on the heavenly shores.

Happy Birthday, Mother!

We celebrated my mother's 81st birthday yesterday at their home, a place we lovingly call "the farm". Today is her actual birthday and I want to wish her a happy, healthy one. One thing I greatly admire about her is her stamina. Even though it was her birthday, she pitched in and did most of the work. She made the patties for hamburgers and Donna grilled them. She also made the baked beans, chocolate ice cream and did all the slicing and cutting up for "the fixins'". And I can't fail to mention the two cakes! All very delicious, but can't compare to the work she does during holiday meals.

Her freezer was loaded with her homemade wheat bread and we were welcome to take home as many loaves as we wanted. With all the kneading of dough she does, her arms are strong. I believe her talent for making bread and her desire to keep her family well fed is the secret to her stamina. I admire and respect her for all the years she had stood in front of the stove and prepared wonderful meals for us.

Mother was my favorite babysitter when my children were growing up. I knew she loved them and would take care of them. They loved going there too, to be pampered. Now that I feel my age more I can't believe I left them with her for a week on several occasions! But what a comfort knowing my children were in safe hands.

The picture of mother was taken yesterday as she proudly displayed her painting from Angela. She was showing it to everyone and telling us she knew the perfect place for it. The new room addition, their sun room, is in pretty spring colors and the painting will fit perfectly. She is thrilled with it and kept the box closed until we arrived and she could open it in front of us. She will be sending Angela a thank you note, but asked that I tell her in the blog how happy she is to receive an Angela original!

Happy birthday, Mother. Enjoy your day and may God richly bless you with many more years as the grand matriarch of our family. We love you.