This is Life

What could be better than a winter night, a good book, and sharing an afghan with a cozy friend? Parker and I have been spending our evenings this way right after the kitchen is cleaned. I'll miss his company when the book is finished. Actually, he's become my shadow and stays by me no matter what I'm doing. If I'm on the computer he talks to me and rubs my legs. But sharing the afghan is the best.

My red-headed boy with the freckles on his gums has become my buddy and we are getting along just fine.

I Am a Promise

Jude thrilled us all yesterday by having special music during the church service. His visiting grandparents from Missouri got to witness his talent and were just as proud of Jude as the rest of us.

I sat there remembering when Allison and Ron would sing for the church with their grandfather playing the piano. Watching Jude just flooded me with memories of days gone by and I wondered how the years could rush into the past so quickly. But the legacy continues with this next generation of singers and speakers.

The young man who stood so erect and proudly sang his song doesn't resemble the little guy who loves to visit and wrestle with Papa. I'm happy to say he knows how to act when given the situation. And there's not a shy bone in his body! But then, no child raised by Allison would lack in confidence, acceptance, and complete love.

Thank you, Jude, for your wonderful contribution to the church service. Jesus is so proud of you, too.

Patty's Pictures of Bandera

Patty captured a few pictures that I failed to get. Of course I couldn't take one of myself sleeping or my backside with a perfect view of my droopy jammies. I'm swallowing a lot of pride here to post this most unflattering picture of my broad, flat butt. I spent a week with two friends who were blessed with rounded bottoms and I guess Patty couldn't resist portraying my lack there of.

I took the pictures of the deer with Patty's camera since they were on my side of the car. I zoomed in and caught a trophy picture.

At last, a picture of me walking out of the store as a proud owner of a new laptop. It's performing like a jewel!

What A Birthday!

This has been another fabulous birthday, as they all are, thanks to my family and friends. Robin served me coffee in bed in a birthday mug and the phone began ringing with birthday wishes and songs. I feel very blessed and very wealthy!

My first thrilling moment was to read what Angela wrote on her blog about my birthday and the video of Ashton and Juliet singing to me. I've played that video over and over again. It is so sweet. That was followed by a song from Baylee, and later one from Jude. Nothing is sweeter that small voices bringing joy into a life - namely, mine.

Allison brought the girls to my office and before coming inside she wrote on my car windows in hot pink. The pictures say it all. I received a few horns honking today as I drove home. Allison also brought me petit fours with roses on top. I enjoyed sharing them and Sophia and I took turns having a bite.

Allison also was a guest blogger on my blog this morning. I didn't know she remembered my password, but there it was, bigger than life. How sweet of both my daughters to be so thoughtful and free with their flattery. I'm honored to be their mother. And it's a privilege to be called Memaw by nine beautiful, precious children. I am, indeed, rich!

Robin and I had a wonderful dinner of prime rib and filet mignon, followed by apple pie with a scoop of ice cream on top. It was all very good. I am stuffed to the gills.

Thank you to all who have left comments, sent cards and e-cards, and messages through cyber space. I appreciate all of you and I wish to remind you that age is only a state of mind. Be ever thankful for every year God has given to you. I sure am.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Guest Blogger: Randee

Today we celebrate the wonderful day 58 years ago when my mom entered the world. She was the first daughter born into a family of 2 boys so I am sure she was a welcome addition.

She is loving, giving, loyal, moral, considerate, smart, beautiful, fun, funny, and sarcastic. More than that she is a wonderful woman, mom and memaw.

We love you and wish you the best birthday!

Home Again

It was with a bit of sadness that we three friends ended our week in Bandera. The resort manager asked us to stay an additional three days but we felt we couldn't since we hadn't prepared our husbands for the extended stay, and Cheryl's flight home is on Monday. During off season the condo offers a "Bandera Bonanza" for its members. I've never taken advantage of it, but we are thinking of doing so next year (maybe indefinitely). The vacation package consists of a 10-day stay instead of the usual week. I could handle it easily.

After the car was loaded (thank you Robin for letting us use your Equinox) we headed "to town" to eat breakfast at the OST (Old Spanish Trail). Then we proceeded to bid a sad farewell to an indulging week of R&R. What fun we had! You'd think the three of us had been best friends forever. I felt so blessed sharing this time with my BFFs.

Patty and I stayed upstairs in a bedroom with twin beds. We opened all three windows at night and let the 30 degree temps invade our room. That was the best sleeping! You might have to be menopausal to appreciate this. Cheryl had the master bedroom downstairs and sprawled out in a king size bed and she, too, raised some windows. The only drawback was the toilet seat felt like an iceberg the next morning.

Today, Sunday, Cheryl and I went to Murphy (near Plano) to visit her nephew Marc. We toured his beautiful home and had a great visit with him. Marc treated us to lunch at Calabara where Cheryl and I continued the Bandera diet. Oh, it was yummy!

Something is wrong with my laptop and trying to correspond while in Bandera was frustrating. We suspect the problem is in the keyboard and were told that the repairs would almost cost as much as a new laptop. So, my buddy Cheryl insisted on buying me a new one. Her husband did some research and found a good deal on one at a chain electronics store. Patty went in on the laptop, too, for my birthday. She had planned to give me perfume and I asked that she contribute to the laptop instead. I asked the same of Robin, who was also giving me perfume. I must want a laptop badly to forfeit two bottles of perfume! The gift from my parents and Allison will also apply.

So, I'm sitting here typing on a brand new laptop and having no problems at all! I am so thrilled with it. My old one was two years old but used daily. It got more use than my stove. I must have worn it out. Thank you, Cheryl!!!!! And thank you to all who contributed to a wonderful birthday present!

Cheryl leaves tomorrow and it seems like she just got here. The time went by so fast and we are always saddened when it comes time for her to leave. But we are so thankful that we can slip away once a year and enjoy our friendship. The Bandera trip gets better every year and our excitement is greater as that special week approaches.

The pictures are of the three of us at breakfast before heading home, and our visit with Marc today. What a special young man he is!

Time To Say Good-bye

Our last full day in Paradise has been bittersweet. We miss those at home but have loved the fun and laughter and being away from work. Having no schedule has been heavenly. We spent the day watching a movie and playing games. Now we are having coffee in front of the fire and contemplating having to pack.

The resort manager paid us another visit and let us tour a one bedroom condo that my parents expressed interest in for their 63rd anniversary in March. It was cozy and beautiful.

My computer is dying and this is my final post on it. Catch you tomorrow.

Birthdays Xs 3

We dined on steaks at Brick's River Cafe on the Medina River. Our waiter, Robert, waited on us last year and remembered us. His birthday is the day before mine so we actually celebrated 4 birthdays. And just like last year, he brought us a piece of cake but with 3 lighted candles this time.

Yesterday was another pajama day with junk food, naps and a chick flick. We also witnessed a huge shadow of a bird pass by our windows a few times. We guessed it to be a vulture by the size of the shadow and worried that they smelled something dead in A4. We have been taking baths and Cheryl and I finally washed our hair today for our outing to dinner.

I am thrilled with the camo shirt Patty bought for me. In rhinestones it says "Trophy Wife". But I have a feeling Robin still wants the rack on a buck.

More Bandera Pictures

Today we ventured out for more firewood (ok, Angela, Duralogs) and an early dinner at Sonic where we ate in the car like we did at drive-ins during our teen years. I was the pajama-clad driver so I stayed in the car while Cheryl and Patty picked up more junk - I mean, groceries.

Back at the condo we shared more games and laughed at the American Idol auditions. Then it was milk baths for everyone so we actually smell quite nice right now.

Sherry, our resort hostess, is in one of the pictures and a Blizzard indulgence is pictured here, too, another Bandera tradition.

This is the Cowboy Capital of the world and boy! is it wasted on us! BTW, Robin sent a very suggestive picture to me over the cell phone. I'm reserving the condo for another week.

Happy Birthday, Sugar!

My Daddy is 81 today and so active that he makes me ashamed of myself, especially since I'm in Bandera doing nothing. I'm sure the fact that he's a hard worker keeps adding years to his life. Thank you, God, for such a sweet, loving Dad.

I love you, Sugar!

Basking In Bandera

We are having the time of our lives! We ventured out today for lunch, browsing, and a few more groceries. While out, we stopped by Radio Shack for an internet connection disk, hence my presence here now. Sherry, who runs the resort, came to visit and share some junk food with us. We always look forward to seeing her upon check-in.

The drive Saturday was easy and fun. The miles just flew by as we talked, shared, and laughed. Once we arrived and unloaded our luggage it was time to stock the kitchen. Want to enjoy grocery shopping? Get your two BFFs to go with you to buy for a week of leisure!

We have napped, played games and watched two movies so far, Casablanca and Love Actually. We've even had a fire crackling in the fireplace.

And no, we aren't ready to go home!

Cheddars Group Picture

What a fun bunch of women!

Cheryl's Birthday Gift

Here is Cheryl getting her ears pierced and clutching the teddy bear provided to calm the nerves. She was a big girl and suffered the pin pricks bravely. She selected some studs for when the ears heal and it was off to lunch. This outing was my birthday gift to her.

Now, it's off to Bandera where no "studs" are allowed!

Cheryl's Here!

It's always exciting to go to the airport and hear the squeals of joy when Cheryl and I see each other. Our time together is so limited since she moved to Florida that we live for this annual week in a condo.

We officially began the fun when we met with Donna, Allison, Deborah, Patty, Cheryl and I at Cheddars in Saginaw. We had a ball visiting and laughing. We're a rowdy bunch! There's nothing like a Girls' Night Out!

Today was a day to fit in a birthday celebration for Cheryl since our condo week is always in honor of our birthdays, a tradition that was implemented 8 years ago. I took Cheryl to get her second ear piercing, then to Jason's Deli for salads. We really enjoyed the outing.

We also baked oatmeal raisin cookies and brownies for our trip and made a roast dinner for Allison and her family. I still have packing to do, which I will start now that the final load is out of the dryer. That sounds heavenly! The final load of wash for a week!! I know all of you envy us to pieces.

Patty arrives in the morning at 7:00 for coffee, then we will hit the road. Do you remember what we do at the corner of my street? We squeal like newborn piglets!

I'm So Excited I Could Just . . .

Tomorrow is the day! Cheryl arrives in the morning and the year-long wait will be over! We have e-mailed and paged OH BOY so many times this week. We also commented on how rushed we were at work to tie up loose ends, but that it was so worth the end result.

After we leave the airport we will go to work so I can do double payroll and satisfy the IRS with a payroll tax deposit. Then, we pick up Patty and head to Cheddars where we will meet Allison, Donna, and Deb for dinner. Just the ladies, no husbands, no kids (except one of my kids, Allison, but she's no trouble).

Once back home I'm sure Cheryl and I will see if the Yahtzee game still works. We've thrown those dice so many times that the black spots are disappearing. Friday is set aside to bake for our trip and cook dinner for Allison and her family. Saturday morning??? Bandera!!!!

Cheryl, board that plane already!

Grumpy & Lumpy

These are the two new names for our cats, Weasil and Parker. Weasil is Grumpy because - well, he's so grumpy. He growls and shows his anti-social self every time Parker gets in his line of vision. Parker, of course, is Lumpy, named for the big lump he makes under the comforter.

Robin enjoys naming the cats. Our outdoor cats have unique names, although not their real names at all, providing they actually have owners. The rusty colored cat is Rusty. Fraidy Cat is the one who is skittish around us. Zorro is the black cat. The other black cat was first named Clone after Zorro, but Robin changed it to George Cloney. We used to have Bernice, a playful black cat with an extra "toe" on each front paw. Because of her color, I named her Ebony. Somehow Robin got Bernice out of Ebony. Beats me.

I will still use the names Weasil and Parker, but I'm sure Robin will enjoy the nicknames he gave them. As much as I hate to admit it, the names fit both of them. Weasil is Grumpy and Parker is Lumpy and I'm totally in love with them.

A Box of Surprises

Patty and I were sitting at the kitchen table last night with coffee when Robin checked the mail. He carried in a box and handed it to me and right away I recognized Angela's handwriting. Then I noticed it was also addressed to Patty and Cheryl, with a note to open before our Bandera trip next weekend.

Well, I tore into the box and you've never seen two more excited women! Then I called Cheryl and told her about it and her excitement just escalated. What a precious thing my daughters did for us! Inside the box were three picture albums for all three of us, and three pairs of slippers, a package of candy, a tin of milk bath, a movie (chick flick), and a set of Victoria's Secret perfume samples. Inside a card, Angela wrote:

Bandera is for . . . . .

- Watching movies in your pajamas.

- Eating chocolate for breakfast.

- Taking long milk baths.

- Padding around the condo in slippers.

- For making memories - take lots of photos.

- Being girlie and swapping perfume.

How perfect is that? Angela put a lot of work into our albums. Each one starts with our home city with a destination point of Bandera. There are scrapbook dividers that she made to organize our pictures into those of deer, eating, playing Yahtzee, forever friends, sharing coffee, and movies. It is so special and pushed our excitement level into orbit when I thought we were already there.

Patty took her slippers and album home with her last night so the box shows mine and Cheryl's and the goodies the three of us will share. Cheryl told me over the phone that if any of the candy is missing when she arrives that one of us is dead. Cheryl takes her candy very seriously.

Thank you, my precious daughters, for making our fun week even more exciting. I love you both so much.

In Search of a Bed

Normally I'd rather have a root canal than show anyone the inside of my closet. But this was too cute to pass up. Apparently during the night when we were sound asleep Parker was looking for another cozy place to cuddle up and cat nap. I awoke to sweaters and swim trunks pulled from a cabinet in my closet. However, on further inspection, I found him back under the comforter being a lump.

Our Red-Headed Step-Child

Our red-headed step-child emerged from under the comforter and made himself at home. Late last night he and our foster cat Weasil were officially introduced. Parker just sort of stared at the gray mass in front of him while Weasil was clearly angry about the whole situation. Parker walked away after being hissed at and Weasil proceeded to hiss at Robin and slap me with his paw when I tried to reassure him. Accepting a new sibling isn't always easy.

The pattern I see on our second day as dual cat owners is that Parker spends his day napping under the comforter, comes out in the evening and rubs my legs and enjoys some scratches on his head. Then he explores. He readily comes when I call him and we've been spending some quality time together. He will feel at home in no time.

Isn't he adorable?

Introducing Parker

That's him, the lump under the comforter. He decided he liked Angela's old room and first went under the bed, then crawled under the comforter. I don't think the room holds a lingering scent of Angela. I think he's being a typical cat. You know, if I can't see you then you can't see me. Regardless of the lump in the bed.

Actually, I think Parker has done well for his first day in his new home. I introduced him to the litter box the minute we hit the door, showed him his food and water and within seconds he was rubbing against Robin and my legs. Then he did the disappearing act under the comforter and probably caught up on some much needed sleep after his stressful ordeal today. I'm sure he had jet lag.

Unfortunately, Weasil and Parker haven't come face to face yet. I'm sure Parker recognized a foreign cat smell at the litter box and Weasil sniffed all over the cat carrier that caged Parker half the day. Robin called the carrier a trailer, then called it a trailer park(er) home. Robin and I pulled out the welcome carpet and in time I feel Weasil will do the same or exercise some tolerance.

We're happy to have Parker and look forward to the day when he feels as comfortable here as we feel having him here.

We're Having A Cat!

Parker will be joining our family this week when I pick him up at the airport on Thursday. Parker has always had a place in my heart. He won me over when I first laid eyes on him at Angela's house. His unique, sweet face and his playfulness were a hit with me. Angela knew how smitten I was with Parker that one Christmas she gave me an apron and she had painted his face on it.

One odd, yet endearing, trait about Parker is that he will fetch spit wads and return them to the one, usually Angela, who tossed it across the room. That's unusual for a cat who has the reputation of doing what it wants and not following orders.

When Angela approached me about giving Parker a home I was reluctant since she was also offering Jack, a frisky feline I'd met when i visited them in September. Jack managed to get into my suitcase and eat homemade bread I'd brought from Nanaw to Angela. He also brought blood on me a few times. He'd bite playfully, yet hard enough to break the skin, each time I tried to pet him. Yet he loved sleeping with me while I was there. Well, Jack ran away again and this time only Parker was offered to us. I was so tempted but Robin had reservations.

We have our Foster cat Weasil living with us. Weasil is not the most hospitable cat. He loves us and is very happy in our home, but he doesn't care for children or other animals. At times, he doesn't care for us. We can think he's in the mood for a good rub only to be bitten when our hand gets close to him. Weasil has attitude. I wasn't sure he would get along with Jack or Parker, but especially Jack. Now that Jack has taken off in search of greener pastures (I think he knew they were trying to get rid of him) I decided to really push Robin's buttons about how much I love Parker and how he would fall in love with him, too.

He finally relented and told me to do "whatever I want". Which I did. I wrote Angela an e-mail and told her we would take Parker off her hands. Not that Parker was a problem to her. He was just being denied the full attention he was used to since Callan came upon the scene. The vet suggested that the move and the busier schedule had had a stressful effect on Parker. I'm sure he will adjust and soon be happy as ever in a home with grandparents who have the time to spend with him. Every cat that crosses our threshold is loved and pampered. Robin even has an assortment of cats who arrive at our back door every day for rubs and food. I have no doubt that Robin will be as smitten as I am once Parker joins our loving home.

We're having a cat! If anyone wants to plan a shower for us, we will appreciate the gesture. Welcome, Parker! We can't wait to see you!